LEDs in sidemarkers - BEST THING

This has probably been mentioned before already, but putting LED wedge bulbs (168/194) in your sidemarkers offer these additional 'features'

- Lights up when your door is opened
- Stays on as long as your lights on
- Blinks when using turn signals
- Stays on for about 2-3 minutes after door is closed/locked.

And since these are LEDs, they consume little power and are very bright. Much better than regular halogen bulbs (i.e. Silver Visions).

How do they stay on when your door is opened?

They'll automatically light up when your doors are opened (i.e. when getting into your car), even when the car's engine's off. They'll remain lit when the doors are opened and will stay on for about 2-3 minutes after your door's closed.

If you have changed your interior lights, you can match them with your sidemarker so when your door opens all lights will light up the same color...Looks great!

have any pics?...

please pics and more info... where can we buy these? where can we buy LED's for interior bulb replacement?

what brand LEDs are you using? where'd you get it from?

Here's a pic I just took for you guys. Note that I haven't changed my interior bulb to match my sidemarker yet.



The LED bulbs I have in my sidemarkers are PIAA Blue/White 194 LED bulbs (there are two LEDs on the bulb, one blue, one white). You can find tons of 194 LED bulbs on ebay (just do a search for "194 led"). The PIAA ones are definitely more expensive, but are made of better quality. Light output is the same. On ebay they have these LED bulbs with 4 LEDs on the bulb, producing a very bright light (I have these also and they're great)

The 194 LEDs can replace the 3 bulbs on your dome light, and the 4 bulbs in the rear passenger lights (two on each side).

You can also get LED 'tube' style lights for your passenger well lights, trunk, vanity mirror lights, etc.

Note that when installing LED wedge bulbs, if it doesn't light up at first, it means you put them in wrong and the polarity is wrong (kinda like putting in a AA battery, with + and -). Just take the bulb out and turn it around, then plug it back in.

I got mine from autolumination.com. Came in a few days and are much cheaper than silvervisions but I haven't installed them yet because my clears are on backorder

LED sidemarker lights are so cool. I've had mine installed for a while now and it looks awesome while i'm driving. It stays lit as long as you have your lights on. And it will remain on for a few mintes after you turn off your lights. If you get PIAA white LED lights, it will closely match the stock Xenon lamps.

do they stay on when u are driving? or when your headlights are on? and can i get them in yellow

Originally posted by Ward
do they stay on when u are driving? or when your headlights are on? and can i get them in yellow

Compared to the stock sidemarker lights, these stay on while you're driving. Specifically whenever you're lights are on. Obviously, it is more noticible at night. Depending the ones you get, they are very bright and blink when you have your turn signals on. Then remains lit when you turn your turn signal off.

you might be able to get them in Yellow. I've seen a few people with red ones. Doesn't look good though.

pretty cool, but what causes them to stay on as opposed to when running regular bulbs?
not that I mind, I think it looks sweet when side markers are always on.

are there clear LEDs that light up ornage or yellow?

I'm interested in knowing why they stay on while regular bulbs don't (as truwon indicated).

And obviously, is this available in orange ?

here is the amber LED bulb

The fact that they come on when your door opens/stay on when your lights are on etc is news to me. Sounds cool...

how bout a diy?

Did this a couple of weeks ago...love it.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthr...ght=sidemarker

Nothing but from people who has seen it.

The best ten dollar mod you could do!

Takes all of 1 minute per sidemarker to change them out, no tools required at all. Just pull the sidemarker out and change the bulb!

They have LEDs in just about every color. This guy on ebay, for example, sells them in a variety of colors - LINK

At only $1.99 a bulb, you can't go wrong!

I'm also uncertain why the LEDs behave so strangely. My guess on why it stays lit is that since it consumes signifcantly less power than halogens, when the halogens go out, there is still some current left to 'power' the LEDs.

As for DIY, this is REEEEAL easy. Just pop off the sidemarker, twist the old bulb out, put in the LED ones, then pop the sidemarker back in. I think there's even a video DIY on bimmian's site. You can also check www.bmwm3.org which has a detailed DIY section on changing the sidemarker (which should apply to all E46s as well).

hmmmm, maybe i'll do it