Hi
has anyone seen or read or done a DIY on how to add mood lighting in to a 2006 BMW e61 - I have seen newer cars come with subtle lighting in the footwells and other areas and would be interested to read how to do this and if someone has done this - thanks in advance.

 

E61 has already mood lights, i.e. footwells are lighted and also LEDs in the door handles inside (back and front).

If you refer to the different colours of mood lights, then I would consider exchanging the orange LEDs into multi-color LEDs and have a circuit change the color.

 

Thanks for the reply... sorry should have explained in more detail - the type of mood lighting i am referring to for example if a light subtle glow of light in the footwell when the night time head lights are turned on and the mood light will remain on.
The current lighting in the footwell switched off when car starts and is too bright to remain on constantly. I was wondering if someone has tried doing this - and i would like to put lights under the driver and passenger seat as well as the front foot wells - hope what i am trying to do is more clear.
thanks

 

I don't think anyone has done it. I am into the automotive lighting scene and am yet to see it on an E60 let alone an E61. Go for it!

Evan

 

Thanks for msg. I have never done this before and was looking for a write up which i could follow along very closely. For instance the LED lights look nice but i know they will be extremely bright and not be 'mood' lighting - so looking for which type of lights to buy and also how the wiring would be connected.

 

Spending time on this forum will be your best bet, this is where the automotive lighting elite gather:
HiDplanet : The Official Automotive Lighting Forum

Spend time in the LED sections in both "The HID Planet University" and "Showoff"

Evan

 

I used to actually care about the "mood" lighting.. as some of my other Audi's had more red glow under there.. just barely enough so that it helps. Actually on my E60 there is a little bit of orange light, just not a lot, and definitely not from under seats etc.

Wiring with a potentiometer on a dimmable LED, or a pretty weak one would help. Just have to find the right wiring that goes on at night, or even whenever the interior lights go on once the headlights are turned on. Sorry I'm not a lot of help, but what you're proposing isn't all that hard.

What I noticed on 2012+ E60 there is a nice strip along the door trim that lights up, very cool and thought it was on the 2008+ but I didn't see it on any of them now that I've been in more, and purchased mine.

 

I plugged a usb charging device into the cigarette outlet under the passenger footwell. The device has a "glow ring" that effectively gives you mood lighting in that space.