When Did BMW Decide to Add Back Rear Reflectors on 528 & 535?
02-19-2008, 09:48 AM
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I thought BMW took away the ugly rear red reflectors on the bumper of the 528 and 535?....when and why did they decide to add these back on....the 550 and M5 models do not have these eye sores.
I thought BMW took away the ugly rear red reflectors on the bumper of the 528 and 535?....when and why did they decide to add these back on....the 550 and M5 models do not have these eye sores.
02-19-2008, 09:52 AM
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They both have them on the front though............ easily painted !!!
02-19-2008, 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by elchevere' post='533154' date='Feb 19 2008, 10:48 AM
Greetings:
I thought BMW took away the ugly rear red reflectors on the bumper of the 528 and 535?....when and why did they decide to add these back on....the 550 and M5 models do not have these eye sores.
I thought BMW took away the ugly rear red reflectors on the bumper of the 528 and 535?....when and why did they decide to add these back on....the 550 and M5 models do not have these eye sores.
Uh-oh. Some forum members actually prefer the red reflectors to the black or painted units, as they are stock items on Euro cars and denote, in a subtle way, that they are informed owners/customizers. I prefer to keep mine black, since the silver/black theme is what I'm after. However, they look pretty sharp on some member's cars. Your mileage may vary lol.
02-19-2008, 11:18 AM
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I'm actually in the process of moving from an SE bumper to an M-Tech bumper and I actually will miss my red reflectors. I'm actually thinking of trying to find a way of adding them on to the M Tech.
02-19-2008, 01:07 PM
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Originally Posted by elchevere' post='533154' date='Feb 19 2008, 01:48 PM
Greetings:
I thought BMW took away the ugly rear red reflectors on the bumper of the 528 and 535?....when and why did they decide to add these back on....the 550 and M5 models do not have these eye sores.
I thought BMW took away the ugly rear red reflectors on the bumper of the 528 and 535?....when and why did they decide to add these back on....the 550 and M5 models do not have these eye sores.
The original design (pre-LCI, no M sport package) had reflectors but there was some issue with the US DOT approval at the last minute so they were never certified as legal for the US market (other countries had them from the beginning.) On 2004 MY cars, BMW slapped in a black plastic insert to deal with the issue because they didn't have too many options available at the last minute. On 2005 MY cars up to 2007 cars, BMW began to use a painted insert to match the color of the car. In both cases, many members here replaced the inserts with reflectors since they felt the inserts looked like an afterthought (it was.)
With the redesigned rear bumper of the LCI (2008) cars, BMW was able to get the reflectors approved for use in the US market (as well as continue to use them in other countries.) The only models that don't have reflectors now are ones that have the M sport package (which is standard on the 550i sport package), or a true M5.
02-19-2008, 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Rudy' post='533244' date='Feb 19 2008, 05:07 PM
Not sure they ever "took them away"...
The original design (pre-LCI, no M sport package) had reflectors but there was some issue with the US DOT approval at the last minute so they were never certified as legal for the US market (other countries had them from the beginning.) On 2004 MY cars, BMW slapped in a black plastic insert to deal with the issue because they didn't have too many options available at the last minute. On 2005 MY cars up to 2007 cars, BMW began to use a painted insert to match the color of the car. In both cases, many members here replaced the inserts with reflectors since they felt the inserts looked like an afterthought (it was.)
With the redesigned rear bumper of the LCI (2008) cars, BMW was able to get the reflectors approved for use in the US market (as well as continue to use them in other countries.) The only models that don't have reflectors now are ones that have the M sport package (which is standard on the 550i sport package), or a true M5.
The original design (pre-LCI, no M sport package) had reflectors but there was some issue with the US DOT approval at the last minute so they were never certified as legal for the US market (other countries had them from the beginning.) On 2004 MY cars, BMW slapped in a black plastic insert to deal with the issue because they didn't have too many options available at the last minute. On 2005 MY cars up to 2007 cars, BMW began to use a painted insert to match the color of the car. In both cases, many members here replaced the inserts with reflectors since they felt the inserts looked like an afterthought (it was.)
With the redesigned rear bumper of the LCI (2008) cars, BMW was able to get the reflectors approved for use in the US market (as well as continue to use them in other countries.) The only models that don't have reflectors now are ones that have the M sport package (which is standard on the 550i sport package), or a true M5.
02-19-2008, 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Rudy' post='533244' date='Feb 19 2008, 04:07 PM
Not sure they ever "took them away"...
The original design (pre-LCI, no M sport package) had reflectors but there was some issue with the US DOT approval at the last minute so they were never certified as legal for the US market (other countries had them from the beginning.) On 2004 MY cars, BMW slapped in a black plastic insert to deal with the issue because they didn't have too many options available at the last minute. On 2005 MY cars up to 2007 cars, BMW began to use a painted insert to match the color of the car. In both cases, many members here replaced the inserts with reflectors since they felt the inserts looked like an afterthought (it was.)
With the redesigned rear bumper of the LCI (2008) cars, BMW was able to get the reflectors approved for use in the US market (as well as continue to use them in other countries.) The only models that don't have reflectors now are ones that have the M sport package (which is standard on the 550i sport package), or a true M5.
The original design (pre-LCI, no M sport package) had reflectors but there was some issue with the US DOT approval at the last minute so they were never certified as legal for the US market (other countries had them from the beginning.) On 2004 MY cars, BMW slapped in a black plastic insert to deal with the issue because they didn't have too many options available at the last minute. On 2005 MY cars up to 2007 cars, BMW began to use a painted insert to match the color of the car. In both cases, many members here replaced the inserts with reflectors since they felt the inserts looked like an afterthought (it was.)
With the redesigned rear bumper of the LCI (2008) cars, BMW was able to get the reflectors approved for use in the US market (as well as continue to use them in other countries.) The only models that don't have reflectors now are ones that have the M sport package (which is standard on the 550i sport package), or a true M5.
02-19-2008, 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by moschse' post='533259' date='Feb 19 2008, 05:23 PM
How the hell do you know everything? F the forum, I'm coming straight to you next time I have a question.
02-19-2008, 03:53 PM
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Originally Posted by moschse' post='533259' date='Feb 19 2008, 05:23 PM
How the hell do you know everything? F the forum, I'm coming straight to you next time I have a question.
Rudy,
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02-19-2008, 04:14 PM
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Take a look at the following post from a thread where we discussed daytime running lamps.
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?s=&sho...ost&p=40553
In it, I posted a link to the actual DOT specification (section 108 is where it begins) -- I think after looking at it, you'll understand why nobody has bothered to figure things out further.
Besides the text of the regulation, there is a table on the last few pages that describe what is required, etc. but again, it doesn't explain why the reflectors didn't pass whatever certifications they needed to. If you do figure it out what happened, be sure to let us know what you learned! 