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NON-OEM LCI Type Ebay Tail Lights

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Old 12-09-2009, 05:20 AM
  #81  
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Originally Posted by redEYEjedi' post='1070692' date='Dec 9 2009, 01:09 AM
Wow thats pretty ridiculous on their part. Well.. if you see a FEDEX truck rolling on VMR's.. you know where to start looking. So much for buying your tires.



Ah. In that case, my answer still applies in the fact that you can use brighter bulbs if you are afraid they're not bright enough but you will be using 3 out of the 4 existing bulbs from your OEM tail lights, one of them being the reverse lights (the bulb in the little white rectangle). Hope that helps!
Just to clarify - there are 4 bulbs you will transfer from the OEM lights to the new: 2 bulbs from brake/running, 1 bulb that is a running light only (inner circle all by itself), and the reverse light.
Old 12-09-2009, 05:50 AM
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Originally Posted by nigxdoof' post='1070672' date='Dec 9 2009, 12:54 AM
1. pjinca (tinted)
2. bimmer530iguy (clear non-tinted)
3. vlad_b (clear)
4. Nigxdoof (clear)
5. Sportzfan76
Old 12-09-2009, 06:38 AM
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Originally Posted by UncleFodder' post='1070800' date='Dec 9 2009, 02:15 PM
Interesting about the resistor packs. Want to know my theory? I think they are artificially dimming the bulbs perhaps to keep them from being overly bright against the LED rods. Easy to test - the resistor packs are plugged in-line to the bulbs so just a jumper is needed to bypass. I'll check the voltage drop with the packs in place.

I didn't think about the startup strobing. I'll have to check that out this evening after work.
So are the resistor packs wired in series or parallel with the bulbs. Series then your theory is good, parallel them mine is.

If its indeed series then this is just plain daft, not only are the bulbs dimmer while running they will be dimmer while braking as well. One would have thought that a company with injection moulding facilities to mass produce lights would invest a little in some engineers designing a better circuit.
Old 12-09-2009, 06:52 AM
  #84  
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Originally Posted by bruce_miranda' post='1070835' date='Dec 9 2009, 07:38 AM
So are the resistor packs wired in series or parallel with the bulbs. Series then your theory is good, parallel them mine is.

If its indeed series then this is just plain daft, not only are the bulbs dimmer while running they will be dimmer while braking as well. One would have thought that a company with injection moulding facilities to mass produce lights would invest a little in some engineers designing a better circuit.

Quite possibly Bruce, but for those of us who plan to buy the lights and don't have an EE degree - well, that's what we have you and Mike for, isn't it?
Old 12-09-2009, 06:52 AM
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I'm think I'm going to give these lights a try....Help to stimulate the economy and such


I seems like our resident electronic gurus will be analyzing these taillights with an eye toward wiring / bulb upgrades for better appearance & performance.

Count me in on the group buy.

now do I want smoked or non-smoked ?
Old 12-09-2009, 06:53 AM
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i might be in for this, how much is the group buy? i'll deff take tinted
Old 12-09-2009, 07:10 AM
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Originally Posted by pjinca' post='1070841' date='Dec 9 2009, 10:52 AM
Quite possibly Bruce, but for those of us who plan to buy the lights and don't have an EE degree - well, that's what we have you and Mike for, isn't it?

I'm no genuis or have a degree in electronics.. I'm just lucky.
Old 12-09-2009, 07:12 AM
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Originally Posted by bruce_miranda' post='1070835' date='Dec 9 2009, 09:38 AM
So are the resistor packs wired in series or parallel with the bulbs. Series then your theory is good, parallel them mine is.

If its indeed series then this is just plain daft, not only are the bulbs dimmer while running they will be dimmer while braking as well. One would have thought that a company with injection moulding facilities to mass produce lights would invest a little in some engineers designing a better circuit.
I tried to make out the PCB traces, but they have the whole solder side covered in a protective backing so it was hard to make out. The other interesting thing was that there were two possible wire connection points on the board - I think one is for series, the other parallel. Looking at the bulb brightness, I think the brightness was dialed down for both running and (by default) braking, so I'm leaning series. Since there should be no damage to a 12v bulb, I will bypass and confirm my theory this evening.
Old 12-09-2009, 08:23 AM
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I just emailed the seller. I am getting pricing for:

1. pjinca (tinted)
2. bimmer530iguy (clear non-tinted)
3. vlad_b (clear)
4. Nigxdoof (clear)
5. Sportzfan76
Old 12-09-2009, 09:54 AM
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Also, here is a quick side by side comparison shot of the tinted version. The difference isn't actually as pronounced as in the picture since the flash made the OEM's look brighter.



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