[chx437]

If you select the new LED head light option for the LCI X3 so you get also head blinkers as LEDs. How is it then with the tail lights: do you get the same LED stripes for your tail lights as with the Xenon head lights? What about then the tail blinkers or break lights: are they also LEDs (when you have LED headlights) or do they use the old glow bulbs as they have been with the pre-LCI model?

Perhaps owners of the new LCI model with LED headlights could clarify "LED status" of their taillights.

[mhayden]

I picked up the LED headlight option on my F25 LCI X3 that I bought in September but the tail lights aren't LED's. The brake light as well as the turn signals are plain old bulbs (which doesn't make much sense). My 2011 335d with the upgraded lights had LED turn signals in the back with plain bulb brake lights.

[chx437]

Originally Posted by mhayden

I picked up the LED headlight option on my F25 LCI X3 that I bought in September but the tail lights aren't LED's. The brake light as well as the turn signals are plain old bulbs (which doesn't make much sense). My 2011 335d with the upgraded lights had LED turn signals in the back with plain bulb brake lights.

Yes I found the same also: even with LED head light option you get the old (pre-LCI type) tail lights with blinkers, break lights, reverse lights and fog lights using old traditional glow bulbs. Fortunately the actual parking lights with LED stripes are still there.

So as a LED fan I let my friend to code the car so that tail lights are changed to LED -type instead of bulbs. After this coding the car is monitoring the tail bulbs only for short circuit and you can replace the bulbs with LEDs without error messages (and you don't need e.g. external parallel resistors). Currently there are quite bright LED bulbs available e.g. in the format BA15S (P21W) both in amber and in red fitting quite nicely for the X3 LCI (and also for pre-LCI) tail lights

[Bimar]

Full LED in BMW=Series 5 and above...shame!!!

[mk3]

Originally Posted by chx437

............ Currently there are quite bright LED bulbs available e.g. in the format BA15S (P21W) both in amber and in red fitting quite nicely for the X3 LCI (and also for pre-LCI) tail lights

So how do these BA15S led bulbs look? Do they look like the wimpy weak "spot" led aftermarket bulbs I've seen on other cars or do they have the same brightness and appearance as the regular type bulbs? I want it to look like a BMW, not a car with crappy aftermarket junk.

[Bimar]

Car pics with LED retrofit will be helpful

[jonsc]

I took a quick video after I installed the LEDs last month. I replaced the front turn signals, rear turn signals, and brake lights with LEDs and then coded the car to not throw an error message.

MK3, they will not look wimpy if you buy high power LEDs. The first ones I bought were cheap and small and definitely did look wimpy but the newer (and more expensive) ones I bought are extremely bright and look much better than OEM halogen bulbs.

https://vid.me/6ds2

[Bimar]

Originally Posted by jonsc

I took a quick video after I installed the LEDs last month. I replaced the front turn signals, rear turn signals, and brake lights with LEDs and then coded the car to not throw an error message.

MK3, they will not look wimpy if you buy high power LEDs. The first ones I bought were cheap and small and definitely did look wimpy but the newer (and more expensive) ones I bought are extremely bright and look much better than OEM halogen bulbs.

https://vid.me/6ds2

That looks cool, can't understand why BMW cheap skating on this. can you share the site you bought the LEDs?

[jonsc]

Yeah, I couldn't believe they still use halogen bulbs....

Rear brake and turn signals: http://www.ebay.com/itm/231347086940...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Front turn signals: http://www.ebay.com/itm/191365298660...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

For some reason, even though they are CANBUS LED's (error free), they still throw errors so I just coded it out.

[mk3]

Looks great! Man I want those side mirrors on mine.

[Bimar]

Originally Posted by mk3

Looks great! Man I want those side mirrors on mine.

Wait aren't the side mirrors already LEDs?

[mk3]

Originally Posted by inamik75

Wait aren't the side mirrors already LEDs?

I have a 2014, no lights on the mirrors.

[Bimar]

Originally Posted by mk3

I have a 2014, no lights on the mirrors.

Gotcha!

[droftrah]

I changed my brake lights and signals front and rear out to led's a while ago on my 13, so glad I did, looks great! especially on the front theres no orange glow coming from the housing with the light off. I also got the black reflector overlays for the amber reflectors so theres no orange visible on the front of my car other than when the bulbs are on/flashing.

I do have an issue with my rear led turn signals though..... when locking/unlocking the car or when using the flashers (when both signals blink simultaneously) the passenger side bulb has a delay about 2/3 of the time (the driver side blinks on and off slightly before the passenger side) making them off time.

When I un-code the error checks they work fine, but then I get bulb out errors and hyper flash.. with the errors coded away, I get the off time blinking in the rear. Any ideas?