Buyers remorse.. LED tail lamps need advice.

my car is an 2001, let me check.... It says 07/01 on the inside of the door. ****.. so much for OEM I can't spend $530 (LED lamps) + $145 for LCM = $675. **** that is a lot of money. And i'd have to pay for install of LCM too.

Originally Posted by JSilver

my car is an 2001, let me check.... It says 07/01 on the inside of the door. ****.. so much for OEM I can't spend $530 (LED lamps) + $145 for LCM = $675. **** that is a lot of money. And i'd have to pay for install of LCM too.

$530.... no

get the conversion kit from either Pacific or Circle BMW

last time I checked it was like $375




But yes, OEM is $$$

OEM is worth it, and a bunch of resistors is ghetto
do it right, you'll be happy you did

Sell those and get OEM. I have been telling people for the last two years that for a Coupe..OEM is the ONLY way to go.
Just so you know..the Brake Force Display(outter rings)will not work if your car didn't come with LEDs from the factory. Even if you get the LCM flashed for LEDs.

Thats a tuff decision

maybe the EAGLE EYES leds from BIMMIAN are better.... someone should make an ''OFFICAIL LED TAIL LIGHT'' thread with a direct comparison between OEM, DEPO and EAGLE EYE leds....I would but i really dont want to

Rule of modding: If you want it done right, go for the original. Personally I think any of these knock-off LED tails dont look that great. You can't beat the OEM ones.

I'd go OEm too. More upfront but better satisfaction for the long. Plus if they are dimmer and not as bright as OEM then they are not as safe either - you want them to light up as bright as possible so as to scream at the dude behind you to stop and not rear end ya.

Originally Posted by Alex323Ci

Sell those and get OEM. I have been telling people for the last two years that for a Coupe..OEM is the ONLY way to go.
Just so you know..the Brake Force Display(outter rings)will not work if your car didn't come with LEDs from the factory. Even if you get the LCM flashed for LEDs.

Those outside LEDs don't light up at all? Or do they work just without the BFD feature?

what about this? http://home.earthlink.net/~mmihld/smartswap.pdf

I found it searching around the forum

I am also interested in this LED conversion, but my LCM is 00'

^^^Interesting link. I've never seen that before. I'm going to try that route because after this and other threads, I'll probably be going OEM.

Originally Posted by Dan01E46

Those outside LEDs don't light up at all? Or do they work just without the BFD feature?

They are not wired up by the harness. You can wire/splice them in with two wires and taps. You can even use BMW wires that plug into the connector for like $1.39 a wire. I wired mine up so they go on with the brakes all the time.

You would however need to wire up an inertia sensor "ABLAS" (name of the kit that sold to the link above(Cadent Tech) to get them to work in conjuntion with how hard the car stops(forward motion). But it's an inertia sensor, not the same as the stock BMW was that's hooked up with the braking system. That kit is good as you don't need to buy the connecting cable set. But a DIY way can be wired up/made to work with some resistors. I've had mine for over 2 years.

Thanks for the insight, Alex!

Originally Posted by Alex323Ci

They are not wired up by the harness. You can wire/splice them in with two wires and taps. You can even use BMW wires that plug into the connector for like $1.39 a wire. I wired mine up so they go on with the brakes all the time.

You would however need to wire up an inertia sensor "ABLAS" (name of the kit that sold to the link above(Cadent Tech) to get them to work in conjuntion with how hard the car stops(forward motion). But it's an inertia sensor, not the same as the stock BMW was that's hooked up with the braking system. That kit is good as you don't need to buy the connecting cable set. But a DIY way can be wired up/made to work with some resistors. I've had mine for over 2 years.

Alex

Did you buy a new LCM with you OEM LEDs? Or did you buy a resistor of some sort like the one in the link above?

-Jared

oh i didn't even know about the outer ring not being able to light up even if it's OEM... even after searching every thread on this forum blah... i just bought my OEM ones from one of our sponsors. oh well... i hope they still look good/ safe.

I'd like to clear up some misconceptions and possibly you got a set that we need to look at again. You are close enough that a drive over and let us see is worth it.

Here are some pictures of a unit we just last weekend installed:





Soon as the video gets posted on youtube, you'll see the output is exactly as good as it should be.

As mentioned, maybe we need to look at your set.

Dang, the inside of the taillights looks horrible. If you open up your trunk and say you have a nice system, the backing on the DEPO taillights are NASTY!

I would go with OEM also if I were you.

When it's ready, this should be the link:

Originally Posted by JSilver

Alex

Did you buy a new LCM with you OEM LEDs? Or did you buy a resistor of some sort like the one in the link above?

-Jared

I wired up three resistors inline and still have my '00 LCM. Works like a charm.

Originally Posted by chenja 330CI

oh i didn't even know about the outer ring not being able to light up even if it's OEM... even after searching every thread on this forum blah... i just bought my OEM ones from one of our sponsors. oh well... i hope they still look good/ safe.

I would not say the outter rings are not able to be activated. They can be hotwired/spliced to work when the center brake lights work(there is even a thread in the DIY Forum. They just can't be made to work with the ABS from the car. The car has to be designed for it. But as shown, you can easily get the inertia switch from Cadent that will trip the outter ring wires to make it show bright only when forward motion is quickly stopped. There are so many reasons to get OEM LEDs when buying for a Coupe. You are cheating yourself going aftermarket with what they charge. Only someone trying to make a buck off you would say otherwise.

$675 for OEM tails w/LCM is worth it? It probably cost $25 to make, someone is getting incomprehensibly rich. I think I'll stick with non-LEDs for now...