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Happy to inform that I have now completed this retrofit and
EVERYTHING WORKS
Thanks a lot @smartshah for all your help, I would have had a much more difficult time figuring everything out.
I went with the chart/table from my last post and everything just worked so I'd say for pre-03/05 E60s this is the best/least invasive way to retrofit AHL. Also the pin swapping in the LM2 was minimal (just AEs, ground(s) and that's it)
Splicing/soldering into PT-CAN was kinda tricky as there was virtually no slack in the wires anywhere. I had to cut short (2-3 cm) extensions from spare wire and solder into them. After heatshrink it almost looks like a factory splice.
AHL is much better than I imagined, it reacts so fast and the light is just where needed. I highly recommend setting AHL2_ENABLE to aktiv, this will make your driver side headlight look funky when stationary but that's as designed.
This will enable AHL2 / Variable Light Distribution, which is like a level above "normal" AHL
Overall this mod took me about 12h in total (incl installing LCI front and tail lights) and was so worth it it's unbelievable. My experience in such work is very limited so I think it would take half that for someone who's familiar with working on cars.
Now onto another project
Well done mate. 12 hours is a long time though. It took me around 4 hours.
The most painstaking part was finding the PT CAN splice. Removing the carpet and the side trim. Those wires defo dont have slack. Hence why i recommended having spare wire. I soldered them using a rubbish gas soldering iron. And used a heatproof mat, to protect other wires. If i had a garage or a drive, it would have took lot less time.
You found your own way of doing the pin swaps. However, yours would be slightly different i would imagine as you are installing the LCI Lights, and you can modify some wires at the plug.
Keep us posted on your projects. Good luck.
I just finished replacing my brake flexi hose, from standard to HEL braided. Took me 2 days.
The front left, was seized rotten. I cut the line, tried to add a socket still no go. Had to cut the hardline. Rang BMW they said that the hard line costs £60, and 7 to 10 days.
Got copper brake tubing 3/16". Brought union jacks 10x1mm.
Brought a flaring tool, and then had to buy another flaring too. Brought pipe bending tool. I recommend pipe bending pliers. Then had to work out what type of flare BMW brakes have.
Just so anyone doesnt know, BMW or European cars will have DIN flared brake lines also known as bubble flare.
Completed a 1 hour job in 2 days lool. The joys of working on cars
Well done mate. 12 hours is a long time though. It took me around 4 hours.
Yeah took me a while. Most time was spent on repinning the headlights (gotta wrestle the grommets a lil bit), removing the seat (I like having plenty of room) and figuring stuff out on the go
I bet next time I could do it in 6
Originally Posted by smartshah
The most painstaking part was finding the PT CAN splice. Removing the carpet and the side trim. Those wires defo dont have slack. Hence why i recommended having spare wire. I soldered them using a rubbish gas soldering iron. And used a heatproof mat, to protect other wires. If i had a garage or a drive, it would have took lot less time.
I used what I had so a cheapo soldering station (I do electronics for a hobby). Not the easiest to work with in a car, but it did the job
Originally Posted by smartshah
You found your own way of doing the pin swaps. However, yours would be slightly different i would imagine as you are installing the LCI Lights, and you can modify some wires at the plug.
Yep! Exactly why I went this route. I had the luxury of being able to move pins under the hood instead of LM bc I didn't have to maintain compatbility with pre-LCI lamps
Originally Posted by smartshah
Keep us posted on your projects. Good luck.
Thanks! Next one's most likely gonna be a heated steering wheel or ACC if I can find parts for cheap and the end-goal is to retrofit AS/DD (but that's gonna be a hell of a job)
Originally Posted by smartshah
I just finished replacing my brake flexi hose, from standard to HEL braided. Took me 2 days.
The front left, was seized rotten. I cut the line, tried to add a socket still no go. Had to cut the hardline. Rang BMW they said that the hard line costs £60, and 7 to 10 days.
Got copper brake tubing 3/16". Brought union jacks 10x1mm.
Brought a flaring tool, and then had to buy another flaring too. Brought pipe bending tool. I recommend pipe bending pliers. Then had to work out what type of flare BMW brakes have.
Haha yeah that's the kind of a job that I will absoulutely go to a shop for
Last year I had all of the rear brake lines replaced because they were pretty corroded. Fronts are still OK though.
Originally Posted by smartshah
Completed a 1 hour job in 2 days lool. The joys of working on cars
Happy to inform that I have now completed this retrofit and
EVERYTHING WORKS
Thanks a lot @smartshah for all your help, I would have had a much more difficult time figuring everything out.
I went with the chart/table from my last post and everything just worked so I'd say for pre-03/05 E60s this is the best/least invasive way to retrofit AHL. Also the pin swapping in the LM2 was minimal (just AEs, ground(s) and that's it)
Splicing/soldering into PT-CAN was kinda tricky as there was virtually no slack in the wires anywhere. I had to cut short (2-3 cm) extensions from spare wire and solder into them. After heatshrink it almost looks like a factory splice.
AHL is much better than I imagined, it reacts so fast and the light is just where needed. I highly recommend setting AHL2_ENABLE to aktiv, this will make your driver side headlight look funky when stationary but that's as designed.
This will enable AHL2 / Variable Light Distribution, which is like a level above "normal" AHL
Overall this mod took me about 12h in total (incl installing LCI front and tail lights) and was so worth it it's unbelievable. My experience in such work is very limited so I think it would take half that for someone who's familiar with working on cars.
Now onto another project
I coded the AHL2 functionality. Last time i did this, it would send the driver side beam high to the right. Which of course is very dangerous. Anyhow.
i code this to enabled and it does light up the road better. I reckon OSRAM Night Breaker bulbs will be better. But i believe it is because of the projector lens on these cars that are way too hazy. With my X5 the lights are much sharper and brighter.
@smartshah
that makes sense! Is the pin 5 for PT-CAN the only one that needs to be added to LM socket?
In the thread you posted the OP moved a lot of wires from AHL module to LM2.
What about the connection between LM and the headlamps, will my wiring have all necessary wires to cover all 11 pins or will I also need to route new wire(s) to lamps themselves?
is there a retrofit kit for the 12 wires for lm2 from lm1 with AHL? I coded lm2 without the rewire and now i get a butt load of codes. So my question is should I go back to lm1 coding, (which I forget now what I changed) or continue to lm2. It's already reading lm2-e6x.
is there a retrofit kit for the 12 wires for lm2 from lm1 with AHL? I coded lm2 without the rewire and now i get a butt load of codes. So my question is should I go back to lm1 coding, (which I forget now what I changed) or continue to lm2. It's already reading lm2-e6x.
12-30-2021, 11:28 AM
