Interior door panel light

markehz · 04-12-2016, 06:55 AM

Over the course of the weekend, I discovered that my car is equipped with an LED (10) and optical conductor (11) inside the door panel compartment or storage.
I said "discovered" because I've never seen these lights on.
Is there a way to turn them on?

JupiterBMW · 04-12-2016, 08:30 AM

Hmm interesting. What are the specs on your truck? Year? Options?

-c- · 04-12-2016, 09:18 AM

Lol I found the same thing, the LED is so dim the only way you can see it is if you run your hand under the door pocket. Otherwise you'd never know it existed.

I was hoping you could buy a new LED light engine for the tail end of the optics but couldn't find it anywhere

But I'm thinking that is part 10 or 8 on the schematic.

I'm wondering if changing them with new ones will bring back their brightness.

markehz · 04-12-2016, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JupiterBMW

Hmm interesting. What are the specs on your truck? Year? Options?

2011 35d with the option 563 (Light Package)

markehz · 04-12-2016, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -c-

Lol I found the same thing, the LED is so dim the only way you can see it is if you run your hand under the door pocket. Otherwise you'd never know it existed.

I was hoping you could buy a new LED light engine for the tail end of the optics but couldn't find it anywhere

But I'm thinking that is part 10 or 8 on the schematic.

I'm wondering if changing them with new ones will bring back their brightness.

Not even dimmed in my case. They are completely off.

Bklynjoker · 04-12-2016, 10:51 AM

I think we are all on the same boat, it's like they try to "test run" with E70's with this fake light strip. How bad ass would it be to do a DIY and make it brighter.. Mine is dim as FK

-c- · 04-12-2016, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markehz

Quote:

Originally Posted by -c-

Lol I found the same thing, the LED is so dim the only way you can see it is if you run your hand under the door pocket. Otherwise you'd never know it existed.

I was hoping you could buy a new LED light engine for the tail end of the optics but couldn't find it anywhere

But I'm thinking that is part 10 or 8 on the schematic.

I'm wondering if changing them with new ones will bring back their brightness.

Not even dimmed in my case. They are completely off.

It's possible that the LED just died, they have life spans after all and they are always on so its possible they just wore out. I'd start off with new light engines and see where that takes you.

Also the dial near the headlight switch controls brightness but if it's dialed all the way then they may just need to be replaced.

I will say however black door cards will be harder to see the light vs a lighter color.

X-static · 04-12-2016, 01:09 PM

Also, if the door panels have ever been removed, they may have been left unplugged, or worse snapped the plastic connector on the led. They are very delicate and brittle.

markehz · 04-12-2016, 07:00 PM

Solved. They go on when the headlights are on.

-c- · 04-12-2016, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markehz

Solved. They go on when the headlights are on.

Lol well that was easy but I would have thought that you knew that

04-12-2016, 06:55 AM	#1
markehz Enlisted Member 2 Rep 35 Posts Drives: E90 / E70 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: MTL iTrader: (0)	Interior door panel light Over the course of the weekend, I discovered that my car is equipped with an LED (10) and optical conductor (11) inside the door panel compartment or storage. I said "discovered" because I've never seen these lights on. Is there a way to turn them on?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

04-12-2016, 08:30 AM	#2
JupiterBMW Self Proclaimed Roundel Junkie 627 Rep 1,593 Posts Drives: '11 E90 M3 & '13 F25 X3 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Jupiter, FL iTrader: (6)	Hmm interesting. What are the specs on your truck? Year? Options? __________________ 2018 F15 X5d Carbon Black/Nutmeg Individual- Oil Burner Tow Rig 2013 E82 1M3 Carbon Black/Black- S65/DCT Track Toy 2013 F25 X3 35i Alpine White/Chestnut- German American Family Hauler Past: '11 E91 335is, '11 E90 M3, '10 X5M, '14 328d, '03 330i Dinan3 ZHP, '04 330i ZHP, '12 X3 35i
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-12-2016, 09:18 AM	#3
-c- Colonel 886 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago iTrader: (5)	Lol I found the same thing, the LED is so dim the only way you can see it is if you run your hand under the door pocket. Otherwise you'd never know it existed. I was hoping you could buy a new LED light engine for the tail end of the optics but couldn't find it anywhere But I'm thinking that is part 10 or 8 on the schematic. I'm wondering if changing them with new ones will bring back their brightness.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-12-2016, 10:51 AM	#6
Bklynjoker Lieutenant 85 Rep 479 Posts Drives: G20 %E2%80%9C22%E2%80%9D MSpor Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (1)	I think we are all on the same boat, it's like they try to "test run" with E70's with this fake light strip. How bad ass would it be to do a DIY and make it brighter.. Mine is dim as FK __________________ LeXxiNGToN aka LeXxDiAMoNDS
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-12-2016, 01:09 PM	#8
X-static New Member 1 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 2011 X5M Melbourne Red Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Long Beach, MS iTrader: (0)	Also, if the door panels have ever been removed, they may have been left unplugged, or worse snapped the plastic connector on the led. They are very delicate and brittle.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-12-2016, 07:00 PM	#9
markehz Enlisted Member 2 Rep 35 Posts Drives: E90 / E70 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: MTL iTrader: (0)	Solved. They go on when the headlights are on.
	Appreciate 0 Quote