LED Brake lights

[jaq03]

Told you so

OK, but hey, I'm foreigner so I can always blame language barrier

Normal led is on/off type, unless you'll find dimmable one. I think it's no can do.

 

[thepits]

Told you so

OK, but hey, I'm foreigner so I can always blame language barrier

ok, I'll let you off, at least you're interested and have given some constructive input

Normal led is on/off type, unless you'll find dimmable one. I think it's no can do.

I fear you are right :thumbsdown: but I'll keep searching



OT - I had a couple of LED bulbs left over after blinging the interior - so they are now fitted to the side indicators

TOP-TIP use one of these (and some muslin cloth to protect the paint) to easily get the cover off & on

 

[jaq03]

You could also ask here http://www.bikevis.com/

They are specialized for led lights and like I said earlier, BMW bikes has also canbus system

 

[thepits]

You could also ask here http://www.bikevis.com/ They are specialized for led lights and like I said earlier, BMW bikes has also canbus system

Ta.

I've had a quick look, but couldn't see a LED 566 which is what we need - I'll call them tomorrow.

 

[thepits]

I may as well also add this into this thread

Main & Dip lights = H7
Front side lights = 501
Front Indicators (2 each side ) = 382
Fog light = H11

Side Indicators = 501 / 501A - [501's work okay :wink: ]

Rear Indicators = 382
Rear Running / Brake Lights = 566
Rear Fog Light = 382
Reversing Light = 382

number plate = 501

Internal / boot lights = 501


Hope this helps.


p.s. I've located them all as available as LED except [so far] 566 -

but the search goes on, I'll keep you posted

 

[Larsbjerregaard]

p.s. I've located them all as available as LED except [so far] 566 -

but the search goes on, I'll keep you posted

Please do so. I've changed almost every single bulb to LEDs but still need the rear running and brake light as yourself. Hope there's a solution out there... If so maybe we can place an order together...I'm sure a lot of forum members would be interested.

 

[thepits]

Please do so. I've changed almost every single bulb to LEDs but still need the rear running and brake light as yourself. Hope there's a solution out there... If so maybe we can place an order together...I'm sure a lot of forum members would be interested.

Well, I thought I'd found some on fleabay as after I emailed the seller asking if they would run at both 6v & 12v he replied yes

But, the ones that turned up today had off-set pins so don't fit :thumbsdown:

I have re-contacted him, and awaiting his response.

 

[thepits]

p.s. I've located them all as available as LED except [so far] 566 -

but the search goes on, I'll keep you posted

Please do so. I've changed almost every single bulb to LEDs but still need the rear running and brake light as yourself. Hope there's a solution out there... If so maybe we can place an order together...I'm sure a lot of forum members would be interested.

Wrong bulbs on return, "right" bulbs on order - ETA Thursday 22-01-15.

Seller assures me they work on 6v & 12v, we'll see. :|

He's agreed to refund all my costs if they don't

 

[Larsbjerregaard]

Wrong bulbs on return, "right" bulbs on order - ETA Thursday 22-01-15.

Seller assures me they work on 6v & 12v, we'll see. :|

He's agreed to refund all my costs if they don't

Sounds interesting

 

[jaq03]

Waiting for the result with new bulbs....

When you changed indicator bulbs, did you use canbus bulbs? Any resistors needed and did it affect on blinking "speed"?

 

[hopz121]

p.s. I've located them all as available as LED except [so far] 566 -

but the search goes on, I'll keep you posted

Please do so. I've changed almost every single bulb to LEDs but still need the rear running and brake light as yourself. Hope there's a solution out there... If so maybe we can place an order together...I'm sure a lot of forum members would be interested.

Wrong bulbs on return, "right" bulbs on order - ETA Thursday 22-01-15.

Seller assures me they work on 6v & 12v, we'll see. :|

He's agreed to refund all my costs if they don't

Keep us up to date mate and if it all works out dont forget pics

Thanks

Ash

 

[thepits]

Waiting for the result with new bulbs....

Wrong pin layout [again] on the latest bulbs - contact with seller in progress [this time with pictures :wink: ]

When you changed indicator bulbs, did you use canbus bulbs? Any resistors needed and did it affect on blinking "speed"?

1/ - no idea - they were just some 501's I had 'left over' from a set I bought [fleabay] for internal bling. 2/ - no resistors. 3/ - no blinking change

 

[jaq03]

I bought today led bulbs for swapping parking bulbs.

I got covers opened, but did not locate them( I have xenons). I should probably take off wheel to get better view.

So I swapped indicator bulbs. They were canbus leds, so no change with blinking. A bit brighter compared to original.

 

[thepits]

Update - just spoken with seller. He now understands [I think / hope] exactly what I need

He hasn't got this spec of bulb, but says he will be contacting his supplier to see if it they can manufacture my (our) requirement.


He also know the market that could be available to him if they are available - and I'm only on 10% of nett sales

 

[Yorkie Z]

I suppose with the full circle mod you lose the BMW safety feature of full the circle illumination only when braking hard but then again how many drivers behind you know the full circle is only on because your're braking hard therefore bit of a pointless safety feature on BMW's part really.... I wonder how many German man hours/Deutsch Marks went into thinking that one up?

Nailed it

 

[jamesbond]

sorry chaps

this can not be done . .as this is one area where I am a expert (I am a qualified electronic engineer Ford trained) and a senior electrical safety engineer with TUV status credentials

On your car it only uses a single filament lamp that is 12v rated, this is driven by a semiconductor device from the light switch module. Now when normal lights are on you only get 6v on a 12v lamp, when you press the brake pedal the 6v is increased to the full 12 volts.

Just putting in LED lamp will function very poorly if at all .. it will also throw a lamp failure alarm so you will need a correct calculated loading resistor for this.

The best mod on these cars is the full circle brake modification, which is listed else where on this forum

hope this helps

 

[jamesbond]

Had another thought

you could use a 12v led lamp (change all 4) and do the full circle brake mod and see if this works.

Because when you do the full circle brake mode the voltage increases slightly to 8v or 9v .. cant remember exactly now when I measured mine.

The full brake mod causes the light cluster to use 2 internal transistors in parallel inside the LCM module so you get a slightly higher voltage.

This means you will get your LED lamp to work from a 9v to 12v range ... if you throw a error lamp failure code then you are not drawing enough current so will need a loading resistor (unless you can get your LCM re coded my some one)

a loading resistor will need to be calculated to the type of led lamp used so as not to hog all the current when in use ..

regards

 

[thepits]

Had another thought you could use a 12v led lamp (change all 4) and do the full circle brake mod and see if this works. Because when you do the full circle brake mode the voltage increases slightly to 8v or 9v .. cant remember exactly now when I measured mine. The full brake mod causes the light cluster to use 2 internal transistors in parallel inside the LCM module so you get a slightly higher voltage. This means you will get your LED lamp to work from a 9v to 12v range ... if you throw a error lamp failure code then you are not drawing enough current so will need a loading resistor (unless you can get your LCM re coded my some one) a loading resistor will need to be calculated to the type of led lamp used so as not to hog all the current when in use .. regards

interesting

So you are suggesting that without the braking mod the full circle running lights are still at 6v and then the outer brake light is at 12v, but if I apply the mod so that both lights illuminate under braking then a 12v LED may work?

 

[jaq03]

Hmmm... Just thinking.

If you'd raise 6V to 12V (http://www.eleccircuit.com/simple-dc-to-dc-step-up-converter-using-tda2822/) and take brake signal from 3rd brake light?

Using P21/5W (556) led bulb, normal running light signal to 5W filament and brake signal to 21W filament....

Just to mess things more


I'd say it can be done, but not by just changing bulbs.

 

[jaq03]

This means you will get your LED lamp to work from a 9v to 12v range ... if you throw a error lamp failure code then you are not drawing enough current so will need a loading resistor (unless you can get your LCM re coded my some one)

It still be on/off, no running/brake light.

I thought this while driving today and simplified my solution. This is just theory

You still need this P21/5 bulb, route running light from licence plate light and brake light as it is now. Probably you dont need to touch brake light wiring at all, but need solder running light directly to the bulb.

I'll take no responsibility!!!