LED Tailights from EBAY
09-10-2009, 07:12 PM
#1
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Central Jersey
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2011 535i xDrive M-sport
I know that the best way to go is OEM, but what is the deal with these LED taillights on EBAY? Do they give the same effect as the OEM Hella LCI taillights? It seems like the seller is covering his behind by saying that it might not be plug and play and there might be some reprogramming involved. Will a Bruce cable do the job? I want to retrofit the LCI LED taillights on my 06 525I but not really sure if I should go this route. I have a funny feeling I am not going to be happy with this look. The 3 led bars do not even appear to light up! I believe the OEM taillights have 5 LED bars, right? Has anyone purchased these or know someone who has??? What was their experience, cheap knock-offs?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...RK%3AMEWAX%3AIT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...RK%3AMEWAX%3AIT
09-10-2009, 07:16 PM
#2
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: So. Cal (SFV)
Posts: 17,508
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: 2011.5 Alpine White E90 M3 | Black Novillo Leather | Carbon Fiber Leather Trim | ZCP | ZP2 | M-DCT | Navigation | Moonroof | 6FL Mods: TMS 12.5mm spacers all around l Hawk HPS Brake Pads l OEM M3 Edition Grills l Paint Matched Side Gills l Key Hole D
member luigi542td has these installed....
https://5series.net/forums/index.php...opic=66063&hl=
looks like that ebay seller is using his pic...hope luigi knows....
https://5series.net/forums/index.php...opic=66063&hl=
looks like that ebay seller is using his pic...hope luigi knows....
09-10-2009, 09:04 PM
#3
Contributors
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Temecula, Ca
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: '10 Switzer "Ultimate Street Edition" GT-R
These are not Lci lights.....Like they always say, if its to good to be true it probably is....I would go the oem way if you are looking for that look....
09-11-2009, 06:05 AM
#4
Members
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 BMW 545i, M-Sport Bodykit, Sports Suspension, Sports Seats, Active Steering.
If you like the OEM "LED Bar" look, then go OEM, only the brake lights are not LED, the turn signal is though.
If you like the multi LED globe look, then go the Ebay route.
If you like the multi LED globe look, then go the Ebay route.
09-11-2009, 06:17 AM
#5
Contributors
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 656
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
$209 is about right. I recall seeing these advertised for about $225-$250 a while back. Again, NOT LCI lights so no cables for these lights from Bruce. Here are some from a trustworthy site:
http://www.bekkers.com/Merchant2/merchant...._Code=btailse60
I would approach the ebay seller and inquire whether or not his lights are like the ones in the link above. GL!
http://www.bekkers.com/Merchant2/merchant...._Code=btailse60
I would approach the ebay seller and inquire whether or not his lights are like the ones in the link above. GL!
09-11-2009, 08:39 AM
#7
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Central Jersey
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2011 535i xDrive M-sport
Originally Posted by theXman' post='1004831' date='Sep 11 2009, 10:39 AM
Like everyone said, the eBay one is not LCI at all. It's a totally different design and doesn't need Bruce cable.
09-11-2009, 08:40 AM
#8
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 2,718
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
My Ride: 2006 525XI, Jet black on Dakota beige. Premium and winter packages. I consider myself a purist and intend to keep my car absolutely stock and shiny.
2008 328I Convertible, Sapphire black on beige interior. Premium package, NAV, iPod adapter.
Retired: 2002 325I, Titanium silver on black leather. Premium package. Absolutely stock and proud of it.
Originally Posted by GENEaTALS' post='1004540' date='Sep 10 2009, 11:16 PM
member luigi542td has these installed....
https://5series.net/forums/index.php...opic=66063&hl=
looks like that ebay seller is using his pic...hope luigi knows....
https://5series.net/forums/index.php...opic=66063&hl=
looks like that ebay seller is using his pic...hope luigi knows....
09-11-2009, 03:53 PM
#9
Members
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: Silverstone 2007 BMW M5. Acquired June 2009 ... with only 5,600 kms, and A$100k off new car price!
Amethyst Grey 2004 BMW 545i standard Australian delivered specs including: 6 speed Steptronic, Active Steering, Standard Cruise Control (not Active CC), Bi-Xenon with Adaptive Headlights, 8.8" colour monitor with Professional Navigation, TV and Voice Recognition, Elec rear sun blind. Options: BMW 124 alloys, elec sports seats, full BMW M-tech body kit, darkest Aust legal window tint, 2000 kg tow hitch, cubby box
I had a set of these "plug n play" lights on my pre-LCI M5 and the check error was occurring all the time.
I then took the car to a non dealer BMW specialist that the lights importer asked me to go to to see if a simple flash of the computer could do the trick. It could not.
The specialist said that it could be done but needed the car for a day and new update program installed. Knowing that these cars can be a bit tempermental on program updates (on my 545: 2 hours to phyiscally install the tow hitch; 8 hours+ to reprogram the computer to tell the car it has the tow hitch after several computer crashes!), and the fact that IF anything went wrong, I could end up paying lotsa dollars to have the computer fixed by a dealer (this knd of work I believe is not covered by BMW warranty), I returned the lights to the importer who gave me a full refund.
I am serious considering the OEM lights now.
Cheers
I then took the car to a non dealer BMW specialist that the lights importer asked me to go to to see if a simple flash of the computer could do the trick. It could not.
The specialist said that it could be done but needed the car for a day and new update program installed. Knowing that these cars can be a bit tempermental on program updates (on my 545: 2 hours to phyiscally install the tow hitch; 8 hours+ to reprogram the computer to tell the car it has the tow hitch after several computer crashes!), and the fact that IF anything went wrong, I could end up paying lotsa dollars to have the computer fixed by a dealer (this knd of work I believe is not covered by BMW warranty), I returned the lights to the importer who gave me a full refund.
I am serious considering the OEM lights now.
Cheers
