All this really got started when the 2004 cars shipped with the cheap black plastic insert. I can tell you that the inserts looked awful, particularly on the lighter paint colors. The body color inserts being shipped now are not a bad alternative, especially on the darker colors. You'll make your decision when you see your car. Heck, the black insert were not even flush w/ the rest of the bumper, they were kind of like black holes on the back of the car!

 

It is exactly a legal issue. They were not approved for use in the U.S. because they didn't meet federal regulations. Too low I believe. Seems like a rediculous application of the letter of a law - as if no reflector is better than one that is too low somehow. Nevertheless, I suppose it isn't desirable to allow a variance from one supplier or all of them might try it on. Rather than re-design the rear bumper to make it pass, BWM just slapped on the band-aid solution.
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It is NOT a legal issue for a couple of reasons:

1. Back in the autumn of 2003 when the US e60 came out and it did not have the reflectors some people (mainly BMW salesmen) immediately started to say that it was a legal issue. It did not seem to make sense to me because many cars (including the e46 coupe and the Z8) had these type of reflectors on the US versions. There was also talk of the height of the reflectors not meeting US specs, so I did some research and here's what I found: The US DOT regulations indicate that the height of the "center" the reflector must be between 15" and 60" above the ground. At this point I went to a BMW dealer and measured the heights of the reflector (actually black plastic) of both a Sport Package and regular E60 and in both cases the height was within DOT specs. Not only was the center of the black plastic above the 15" limit but even if you took the lowest part of the plastic it was still within the limit. On the Sports Package E60 (which is lower) the bottom of the black plastic was at about 16.5" above the ground, which is within the 15-60 inch range. Also, i measured the height of the reflector on a US e46 coupe and it was lower than that of the e60's. So if the e46 met the height requirement then the e60 would for sure.

2. Here's my second piece of evidence that the reflectors are indeed legal for use on US e60's. They are shown in the 2005 <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>US E60 ACCESSORIES CATALOG</span> and are officially available for sale at <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>US dealerships</span>. Obviously, if the height did not meet US regulations BMW of North America would not be allowed to sell the reflectors here as an accessory and install it in cars that have the wrong height for the reflector to go in.

By the way, the reflectors that I bought from Germany do indeed have the "DOT" marking on them, so the reflectors themselves were also up to US DOT specs. all along.

 

Maybe the reflectors will become standard equipment with the e60's "face-lift."

 

Here you go.

 

There ya go... thats the big face lift

 

You know Stream....every time I see your car, I want to go wash/wax...er...Rejex my car, and park it in the sunshine, lol. Damn fine looking 545 you have there!

 

Bokke, you think you can shine you car a little more? I think I see my own reflection coming through! Wow!!
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Rudy - thanks. That's after just 3 coats of Zaino! You sweat your a$$ off but it sure is worth it.

 

Bokke,

Love the wheels...... Those are the same ones I'm looking at. What size did you go with? Did you have to disable the low tire pressure gizmo? Did you keep the stagger?

Post more pics please............

Thanks,
Spartacus_33
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Spartacus_33 - thanks. I love the look of the SSR GT3's. See my signature for the sizes. Did nothing with the low tire gizzmo - it's probably not activated to tell the truth. Did keep the stagger, but went with 10's in the rear

I am planning on taking some more pictures this weekend if the weather cooperates and I'll post.

Cheers

 

I'm dissatisfied with the amount of light the backup lights put out. Can somebody make a red reflector replacement with some powerful lamps that can be wired into the backup light circuit? If it could point downward to show the road behind the car... would be nice.

Just an idea for an aftermarket entrepreneur. Soon please.

 

That's because they were an afterthought!
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Kind of gives thinking a bad name!