Rear tail light LED brightness

[TheNextFederer]

Hello Everyone,

I have an odd issue with my passenger side led tail light being considerably dimmer than the driver side.

I checked the connector for any problems but all seems fine.

Are the LED's starting to burn out or could the the drivers side be too bright !

Any help and advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Albert
Z4 E85 2006 (Face lift)

 

[inkey$]

Never seen the LED part of those flare up or go before. Have you got a code reader to check for errors? Might be a good place to start.

 

[mmm-five]

I thought these were standard halogen bulbs, and the only LEDs on the rear are the high-level/3rd brake light?

If that's with just side-lights on, then it looks more like the passenger side is 'normal' and the driver side is way too bright...more like foglamp brightness (you haven't got your foglight on have you, or got wires cross over?).

 

[inkey$]

I thought these were standard halogen bulbs, and the only LEDs on the rear are the high-level/3rd brake light?

If that's with just side-lights on, then it looks more like the passenger side is 'normal' and the driver side is way too bright...more like foglamp brightness (you haven't got your foglight on have you, or got wires cross over?).

Those top parts of the facelift rear lights are in fact sealed LED. Something I learnt only very recently.

 

[TheNextFederer]

Hi,
Think the top row is for LED tail lights only. Fog Light is below on far right.
I'm going to hook it up to ISTA tonight and see if that uncovers anything.

It's very strange as all the LEDS are working albeit dimmer than the other side and the other side seems brighter than it should be.

Thanks for your comments.

 

[inkey$]

Hi,
Think the top row is for LED tail lights only. Fog Light is below on far right.
I'm going to hook it up to ISTA tonight and see if that uncovers anything.

It's very strange as all the LEDS are working albeit dimmer than the other side and the other side seems brighter than it should be.

Thanks for your comments.

Its as if the voltage is being weighted somehow. Maybe a bad earth? Interested to hear what it is and how it's solved as these Si lights are getting on now, so could be an issue that comes up more and more.

 

[DevonPaul]

Are the brake lights the same as the tail lights?

In the old days that would be a bulb in the wrong way around, but if they are LEDs then I gather most car rear lights are pulse driven, with a higher duty cycle meaning they appear brighter, rather than current/voltage limited.

Pretend it is Italian and disconnect the battery for 10 minutes

 

[smorris_12]

Drivers side looks far too bright. Had it been replaced by a non OEM one at some point?

 

[TheNextFederer]

Hi Paul,
The brake lights are separate from the LED tail lights (21 watt single filament 380).

I'll disconnect/reconnect the battery to see if that helps before opening a can of worms with ISTA!

Thanks

 

[TheNextFederer]

Hi Scott,

I have no idea if the brighter lamp is non OEM and I agree that it looks too bright so that may be the problem side now.

 

[inkey$]

Just in case its needed, and you cant get one from one of the breaker guys on here...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204290699648?fits=Plat_Gen%3AE85%7CModel%3AZ4&epid=8010331454&hash=item2f90acb180:g:iKUAAOSwdWRkJrZE&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8Gwx3POyl2%2F3ZOB84%2FNjfQo5irqLsNGwZs%2FHI%2FZlpxm9WaPdSsSBZZzjV5qP8oLhJZFuRKp1VsaGom66TZ3MDAzdIjhR%2BFcRotG1xvmBRzrr6fO%2F6lBxH2n%2FXu1ko%2BWBLuCn3XinyjXr7NZ%2F9ESHNW7xlQPsptBirywT%2FZIiXHc2axv21YDwhBPafVsgNJ8420T8Ln6kaCPwJwQP0WI9tD1wEBKrRYFhd4xwn9%2BaY0nR%2B1VmmS7187mJg6%2B1vHFfqEWGxbjJox1rk87eW2d6OdPlIPAWxVplzge01THLU%2BDlz3s8lffrAGdHlL85pIGLrw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8b2vt2AYg

 

[TheNextFederer]

Thank you for that Lifer.
Now I'm not sure if it's the dimmer or brighter lamp that is faulty !

 

[mmm-five]

I thought these were standard halogen bulbs, and the only LEDs on the rear are the high-level/3rd brake light?

If that's with just side-lights on, then it looks more like the passenger side is 'normal' and the driver side is way too bright...more like foglamp brightness (you haven't got your foglight on have you, or got wires cross over?).

Those top parts of the facelift rear lights are in fact sealed LED. Something I learnt only very recently.

Well, I suppose that's another item I can add to Trigger's list of parts-not-yet-replaced

 

[TheNextFederer]

Hello,

I disconnected the battery for 10 mins and no change unfortunately.

Hopefully ISTA will reveal something.

 

[TheNextFederer]

Nothing showed up on ISTA so I've biten the bullet and ordered a new lamp.

Fingers crossed!

 

[inkey$]

Nothing showed up on ISTA so I've biten the bullet and ordered a new lamp.

Fingers crossed!

I guess if its the same then maybe your NSR light unit is too dull (tricky to tell with a night photo on a camera phone as it can flare up). Easily resold though.

 

[TheNextFederer]

Hi,

Judging by the brightness on other BMW tail lights my OSR lamp doesn't seem that bright at all now.

Eagerly waiting to find out if my LEDs are burning out (Surprising really as you would expect the other side to suffer also).

 

[TheNextFederer]

Just replaced the lamp and all is working.
Old LEDs were burnt out.
Expensive bulb replacement that!