Pix of Rear License Plate Bulbs
03-05-2007, 07:12 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by bmwbonehead' post='398945' date='Mar 5 2007, 10:27 PM
Well, that's strange. The dome lights are all 194's, but for some reason, the hole in the housing for the center bulb is smaller than the two side ones. I couldn't get the LED to fit, so I used a hyper white incandescent bulb instead.
As far as the footwells, trunk, and rear doors, I wonder why they didn't include the same lights for those in the regular 5-series vehicles as in the M5? Does it really save that much money in production costs?
As far as the footwells, trunk, and rear doors, I wonder why they didn't include the same lights for those in the regular 5-series vehicles as in the M5? Does it really save that much money in production costs?
03-05-2007, 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by cmansbimmer' post='398967' date='Mar 5 2007, 11:12 PM
ok....now I'm all confused. Ed - If I see you on Sunday, you'll need to give me the low down on all the exact bulbs I'll need.
03-09-2007, 11:05 PM
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So I received my package of bulbs today from Autoillumination; long story short, I'm not going to install the bulbs. Reason being, the bulbs are so dim. Also, the moment I installed the bulbs to test them, iDrive would keep intermittently display "low battery". Reinstalled the old bulbs, and the battery drain message hasn't come on since.
My advice, these Xenon colored OR LED bulbs are a waste of money. The Xenon colored ones aren't bright at all, and the LED one's are mainly a straight directional light path. You can use LED's in the interior, but you need one that has bulbs on the side as well, so that the light can reflect off the silver backing to be bright. Also, the LED's are expensive at ~$7/bulb.
In my opinion, changing interior light bulbs is one mod that is not worth the money. However, still do the white LED's for the license plates though.
My advice, these Xenon colored OR LED bulbs are a waste of money. The Xenon colored ones aren't bright at all, and the LED one's are mainly a straight directional light path. You can use LED's in the interior, but you need one that has bulbs on the side as well, so that the light can reflect off the silver backing to be bright. Also, the LED's are expensive at ~$7/bulb.
In my opinion, changing interior light bulbs is one mod that is not worth the money. However, still do the white LED's for the license plates though.
03-10-2007, 09:00 AM
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Originally Posted by blinkme_210' post='401060' date='Mar 10 2007, 03:05 AM
So I received my package of bulbs today from Autoillumination; long story short, I'm not going to install the bulbs. Reason being, the bulbs are so dim. Also, the moment I installed the bulbs to test them, iDrive would keep intermittently display "low battery". Reinstalled the old bulbs, and the battery drain message hasn't come on since.
My advice, these Xenon colored OR LED bulbs are a waste of money. The Xenon colored ones aren't bright at all, and the LED one's are mainly a straight directional light path. You can use LED's in the interior, but you need one that has bulbs on the side as well, so that the light can reflect off the silver backing to be bright. Also, the LED's are expensive at ~$7/bulb.
In my opinion, changing interior light bulbs is one mod that is not worth the money. However, still do the white LED's for the license plates though.
My advice, these Xenon colored OR LED bulbs are a waste of money. The Xenon colored ones aren't bright at all, and the LED one's are mainly a straight directional light path. You can use LED's in the interior, but you need one that has bulbs on the side as well, so that the light can reflect off the silver backing to be bright. Also, the LED's are expensive at ~$7/bulb.
In my opinion, changing interior light bulbs is one mod that is not worth the money. However, still do the white LED's for the license plates though.
03-10-2007, 09:39 AM
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Regarding the "battery charge low" warning I mentioned in post #23, that may just be coincidental, and not related to the installation of the bulbs. Started up the car this morning with the stock bulbs, and I still got the message. So looks like it's off to the dealers we go for some battery discharge TSB work.
03-10-2007, 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by blinkme_210' post='401174' date='Mar 10 2007, 01:39 PM
Regarding the "battery charge low" warning I mentioned in post #23, that may just be coincidental, and not related to the installation of the bulbs. Started up the car this morning with the stock bulbs, and I still got the message. So looks like it's off to the dealers we go for some battery discharge TSB work.
Besides, I'm not doing any reading in the car 
03-13-2007, 03:30 PM
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Guys I just finished doing the License plate bulbs, They Look Great. I had done these once before using the same bulbs, but I got annoyed with the I-drive warning. Now with the use of the resistors, its great. I re-orderd the LED bulbs from autolumination because I couldnt remember were I had put the previous ones. After installing today, I just remembered I used them in the front foot wells 
I have the bimmian bulbs everywere else. Anybody figuire out which LED bulbs can be used in the center domes??
I have the bimmian bulbs everywere else. Anybody figuire out which LED bulbs can be used in the center domes??
03-14-2007, 12:23 AM
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Using Autolumination.com bulbs:
Blue: 194 SMT Tower (10mm diameter x 27mm overall)
Red: 194 Superstar Bulbs (9mm diameter x 22mm overall)
I used the 194 Superstar Bulbs in the side (blue) domes, but they aren't bright enough. Because the LED's are forward directional, so the light isn't reflected off the silver backing of the side domes to create that bright field of light. Run into your car and look at the domes, you'll see what I mean.
Blue: 194 SMT Tower (10mm diameter x 27mm overall)
Red: 194 Superstar Bulbs (9mm diameter x 22mm overall)
I used the 194 Superstar Bulbs in the side (blue) domes, but they aren't bright enough. Because the LED's are forward directional, so the light isn't reflected off the silver backing of the side domes to create that bright field of light. Run into your car and look at the domes, you'll see what I mean.
03-14-2007, 09:21 AM
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My Ride: Gone: 2004 525i Jet Black, Built 03/04, Premium Package, Black Dakota Leather, Halogen to Euro Spec Bi-Xenons Retrofit, Dark Poplar Wood Trim, Steptronic Breyton Spirit Reps 20x9F 20x10R - Nitto NT555 245/35/20F-275/30/20R, M5 Front Bumper, H&R Sport Springs, Chrome Grills, 20% Tint, Euro Reflectors, Debadged, Aux Input, CIP v19.x
I loved the mod but my festoons kept blowing or strobing. I reverted back to the stock bulbs until I find some reliable LED's :\
05-16-2007, 03:29 PM
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Those festoon LED don't last long at all. In 6 months, I replaced 3 bulbs already for both driver and passenger sides.