When Did BMW Decide to Add Back Rear Reflectors on 528 & 535?

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Feb 19, 2008 | 05:05 PM

#11

brandlj

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From: west monroe Louisiana

[My 2007 530i came with the painted plastic inserts. I did not like them and have installed the red reflectors. I like the looks of these reflectors. My car is Titanium Silver, I have owned it for one month and am really enjoying it.

John
2007 530i
1986 Mercedes 300sdl
1985 Mercedes 380se
1967 VW Beetle
2000 Toyota Camry ( daughter's car )
2003 Honda Odyssey ( wife's van )

Feb 20, 2008 | 09:49 AM

#12

CWS530

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From: St. Louis Burbs, USA

My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Coversï¿½ from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudy' post='533346' date='Feb 19 2008, 07:14 PM

If you were hanging around here since 2004 when the E60 first came out, you'd have known that too...

I can't say I know for sure what the reasoning was but we've speculated over the years that it either didn't get submitted for approval in time or it violated one of the many details defined in the DOT specification.

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!

Thanks, and will do (although we all know that will never happen!).

Feb 20, 2008 | 10:18 AM

#13

ITNurse

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From: L.A. Burbs

My Ride: 08 535i, Platinum Gray, Sport Pkg

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWS530' post='533604' date='Feb 20 2008, 10:49 AM

Thanks, and will do (although we all know that will never happen!).

I like the red reflectors and know others that have added them to model years without them - My preference

Rudy - answer to the Tootsie Pop question?

Feb 20, 2008 | 10:31 AM

#14

Ace90

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From: Texas

I agree. I love the reflectors. So much so that I'm having the M-kit front bumper installed but will leave the back bumper stock.

Feb 20, 2008 | 10:44 AM

#15

CWS530

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From: St. Louis Burbs, USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by ITNurse' post='533619' date='Feb 20 2008, 01:18 PM

I like the red reflectors and know others that have added them to model years without them - My preference

Rudy - answer to the Tootsie Pop question?

When I said "that will never happen" I was referring to reading through that gawd-awful DOT manual and coming to a different conclusion than Rudy or others several years ago. I was just a little perplexed as to why the DOT would have "outlawed" something so seemingly innocuous as a couple of reflectors to the point that a major manufacturer would have to alter the US model from 04-07.

My car has the painted ones and I may end up getting the reflectors--can't really decide. Or maybe better said, I really never paid that much attention to it so as to form an opinion until I saw it a couple of times on this forum. For that little cash and time, if I don't like them, I can always change back I guess. Cheers.

Feb 20, 2008 | 05:32 PM

#16

ExGMan

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From: Brookline, MA, USA

My Ride: 2007 530Xi - Navigation, Premium package, Steptronic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWS530' post='533643' date='Feb 20 2008, 02:44 PM

My car has the painted ones and I may end up getting the reflectors--can't really decide.

Well, I like the way they look, and perhaps, on some foggy night, viewed by a foggy driver, the little bit of reflection provided by these things might make him/her decide to brake just a little bit sooner than he/she might have...and then Mrs. ExGMan would be coming home.

Feb 20, 2008 | 05:48 PM

#17

HotLap

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From: Left Coast, USA

My Ride: 2008 535i, 6spd mtx, Monaco Blue w/Beige interior. Sport, Preimum, Logic 7/HD/I-Pod/USB, Nav sys, rear sunshade, HUD, PDC, Split seats,

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWS530' post='533643' date='Feb 20 2008, 11:44 AM

I read somewhere that it was because in the event of a rear end collision the lenses could shatter and present a hazzard. I don't know if it was due to the material the reflectors were made from or their location in the event of an impact....seems that both are the same and they are approved now. I like'em and any extra protection from a rear ending is a good thing....

Feb 20, 2008 | 09:46 PM

#18

pennetta

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From: Long Island, NY

My Ride: 2008 535i: June 6th start build, complete June 17th, at NY Port July 5th, at dealer July 10th, took delivery Friday July 13- Plantimum Bronze/Natural Brown Leather/Light Poplar, Sport Package, Sport Auto, Active Steering, Premium Package, CWP & PDC. Dinan Performance Software 384hp & 421 ft/lbs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWS530' post='533262' date='Feb 19 2008, 05:26 PM

Rudy, just out of curiosity, do you know the reasoning behind US DOT deeming these reflectors not legal for the US market in the first place?

In the USA, all lights and reflectors need to survive a 5 mph rear impact. The pre-LCI did not pass those tests.