ambient lights

[2013M3]

Originally Posted by 95wildtt

Got the parts today... this is a crazy simple mod!!
Can't believe I didn't do this years ago...

The package is held together with 3 small clips, so you can easily open it without any tools.

There is a 1/8W 610 ohm resistor and a T1 LED inside, so about as simple as you can get. (see photo attached)
I don't know the specs on the LED that is used, but lets just say it's "Not very bright" so it's easy to see why the strips in the doors don't light up much.

I have these Orange (605nm) LEDs on order and will decide which I want to use based on the brightness, but likely the brighter (18000 mcd) is what I will use.

9000mcd
https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...gle/4051/8767/

18000mcd
https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...gle/4050/8768/

All you need to do is replace the LED (re-use the resistor) with the new one (very basic soldering) and you are ready to go.

I'll post pictures of before and after when done this weekend.

Thanks & Enjoy,
John

WAITING

If it works I wil do it

[JMX6V8]

Subscribed! I want to make the doors ambient lights brighter.

[95wildtt]

Completed this mod yesterday and I have to say it's much better but not as bright as it could be... especially given my all black interior.
You can definitely tell the LEDs are there now, but they aren't going to affect your night vision in any way

The strips are now about 2-3 times brighter than they were.

After trying both types in front and rear panels...
With the LEDs mentioned earlier in this thread (I went with the 18000mcd/15 degree beam angle as they we noticeably brighter once installed).

In the photo comparing the LEDs, the 9000mcd/30 looks brighter, but is not once connected to the clear plastic diffuser in the door.
I think the narrower beam angle works better in the diffuser.

The LEDs are a perfect color match (about 605nm) for the orange LEDs in the instrumentation and through out the interior.

These photos are looking up at the front (OEM/new) and rear (OEM/new) in similar lighting conditions (about 75% dark).

There isn't enough light showing on the doors for my iPhone to capture it on the doors themselves, but your eyes can now see it, especially at the front of the openings, where you would be most likely to see it when seated.

If you were to change the LEDs to another color like white or red, there are much brighter LEDs out there BTW in other colors (you need a forward voltage of about 2V and current of around 20mA) then you may see a much more drastic change.

Thanks,
John

[Lunker325]

Very nice, thanks for the updates and info! Stupid question, do you need to take the door card off to remove these light assemblies?

[95wildtt]

Yes, you do have to take the door panels off.

But, it's only removing a few screws then using a trim tool to pop the first couple of clips lose.
Then just unhook the wiring...

There are a few videos/DIYs floating around on how to do this, but trust me when I say it's VERY easy and only takes a few minutes for each one.
Here's one that I have used (only need to watch the first 2 minutes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmsmyIBnznk

For the driver's door the process is the same, except you just pop up the switch panel and remove the 2 torx screws under it.

BMW did a very good job on this aspect of our X5s, so don't sweat it, as it's really no problem at all.
I did all 4 of mine in about 90 minutes, including the modification to the LEDs.

Thanks,
John

[2013M3]

Thanks for the write up. Will try this!

[2013M3]

Are u happy with 18000mcd? Or would u go higher?

[95wildtt]

Originally Posted by 2013M3

Are u happy with 18000mcd? Or would u go higher?

I'd go higher with a narrow beam angle if I could find them.
Can just change the resistor if more current/voltage is needed.

[2013M3]

Originally Posted by 95wildtt

I'd go higher with a narrow beam angle if I could find them.
Can just change the resistor if more current/voltage is needed.

Would 10 mm led fit?

http://www.ledssuperbright.com/10mm-led-c-9/100-10mm-amber-led-70000-mcd-p-183

What do u think of these?

[95wildtt]

Originally Posted by 2013M3

Would 10 mm led fit?

http://www.ledssuperbright.com/10mm-...0000-mcd-p-183

What do u think of these?

WOW!
They would be VERY bright, but they are 2x the diameter, so they won't fit in the holes of the "holders".
I don't believe there would be any way to make the holes in the "holders" big enough to make these fit (see photo earlier in the thread), there just isn't enough space...
Sorry.

[2013M3]

Originally Posted by 95wildtt

WOW!
They would be VERY bright, but they are 2x the diameter, so they won't fit in the holes of the "holders".
I don't believe there would be any way to make the holes in the "holders" big enough to make these fit (see photo earlier in the thread), there just isn't enough space...
Sorry.

yeah that's what I figure. it probably won't fit. did you happen to see brighter led of the required size? I've been looking online but can't seem to find any that are above 18000 mcd. the ones i've seen are not amber in color.

i wonder what a blue or green ambient light would look like in the background of the amber instrument lights.

[95wildtt]

Originally Posted by 2013M3

yeah that's what I figure. it probably won't fit. did you happen to see brighter led of the required size? I've been looking online but can't seem to find any that are above 18000 mcd. the ones i've seen are not amber in color.

i wonder what a blue or green ambient light would look like in the background of the amber instrument lights.

No the 18000 mcd were the brightest I could find in Orange and the correct size.
Be careful with the color, Amber is not Orange.
Amber is what is used for turn signals and is more yellow than Orange...
You really want something very close to the 605nm color or it won't be orange.

Here is a color chart:

[2013M3]

https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...gle/4048/8762/

I'm thinking about adding these. What do you think? should I change the resistor as well?

[95wildtt]

Originally Posted by 2013M3

https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...gle/4048/8762/

I'm thinking about adding these. What do you think? should I change the resistor as well?

You could go down to a 470 Ohm resistor (20mA) and drive them harder (more current) than the 610 Ohm (15mA) that is in the package now...
You wouldn't have to, but the change would make them a bit brighter.

Might try both and see what you think. Resistors are cheap!

John

[2013M3]

Ok. I finally got the fronts installed. It was pretty quick, once you figure out how to pop the panels off. I only took off the screws at the bottom of the doors and just pulled the wire harness out. It didn't require taking the whole panel off.

It is so much brighter than the stock. I used these: https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...gle/4048/8762/

kept the resistor and just cut off the OEM light. Soldered the new ones. It was actually a very quick modification. The pictures don't do justice as it was a phone camera. It is bright enough to see your foot while sitting but not intrusive at all.

I like it alot.

[2slick4u]

Awesome! I'm considering doing this mod as well. Only thing is that the amber LED option is only half has bright as the green.

[2013M3]

Originally Posted by 2slick4u

Awesome! I'm considering doing this mod as well. Only thing is that the amber LED option is only half has bright as the green.

Yup thats why i went with green. If u find amber let me know.

[2slick4u]

Originally Posted by 2013M3

Yup thats why i went with green. If u find amber let me know.

Searched, but only color option with a equiveant output/intensity to Green is Aqua. So the Amber color at 18000mcd is the best option to remain with a OEM look (my goal) and Orange at only 4000mcd output is just plain no bueno.

QQ: Did you order the 63316971823 with the black case/housing or only the bulbs from superbrightled.com and reused the existing black case/housing to complete the project? B/c at only $0.24 per LED bulb this sounds super cheap and super easy w/o ordering the 63316971823 .

Thanks for answering.

[2013M3]

Originally Posted by 2slick4u

Searched, but only color option with a equiveant output/intensity to Green is Aqua. So the Amber color at 18000mcd is the best option to remain with a OEM look (my goal) and Orange at only 4000mcd output is just plain no bueno.

QQ: Did you order the 63316971823 with the black case/housing or only the bulbs from superbrightled.com and reused the existing black case/housing to complete the project? B/c at only $0.24 per LED bulb this sounds super cheap and super easy w/o ordering the 63316971823 .

Thanks for answering.

I just got the bulb and used the original black case.

[95wildtt]

Update:

Changed out a buddies Orange LEDs for Cool White (6000k) and they really show up at night. So this may be an option if you want to brighten the storage compartments and actually make them useful.

You could use an LED something like this (18000 mcd):
https://www.superbrightleds.com/more...-mcd/256/1183/

Be sure to change the resistor from what is in the module to at least a 330Ohm and a larger 1/4 W or you will "fry" either the LED of the resistor, or both.

Just an FYI,
John

[Tyno]

Good to know you can swap out that little bulb! I gave up on that and decided to try some El Wire in the door trim. I think I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. I know I'd seen some people do it to the 3 series so I figured I'd give it a try. I tapped right into the wires that feed the door pocket lights. It doesn't give off quite 12V of power so it's not as bright as it could be, but it looks quite nice IMO.

The only downside is that the little wire strips that light up are actually orange even when off. Some people may like that look (I guess it looks kind of sporty), but the jury's still out for me. I think it'll have to grow on me. However I'm absolutely in love with the look at night. One option to avoid the orange strips being orange during the day (or when off) would be to go with white instead. The white is clear when off so you wouldn't really see or notice it, but the orange matches the interior lights almost exactly so I don't know. I may get some white and just see what they look like. The good thing is once you have them wired all you have to do if you ever wanted to change colors is just take the window switch out (that's where I have them coming into the door from) and then there's a little plug on the wire you just unplug and can easily switch them out without ever having to do any re-wiring.

[m5james]

Can you share a link to the EL wire you used and pics of how it looks in the daytime? Did you just tuck this between the door card and power window switch, meaning it's just being held there by tension?