I'm sure some of you guys are aware of this but much like many BMWs, there are two slightly different versions of the G42 taillights.
A US version; where the brake light and turn signal are shared as one (red) light output.
Steady burning for braking and
flashing for each side respective turn signal indicator.
This is due to an archaic U.S. automotive lighting rule where the brake lights and turn signal has to meet a photometric size requirement of at least 50 square centimeters of surface area. This rule pre-dates modern day LEDs but was never revised to take into account intensity of a newer light output or the way we respond to them with our human eyeballs, rending larger brake/turn signals unnecessary.
The rest of the world doesn't have this photometric size requirement for the brake light or turn signal and
does take LED light intensity into account, thus, with the advent of bright LEDs, the brake light (red) and turn signal (amber) can be made smaller and more compact, yet achieve the same result but cannot be shared together, as the US version does.
As a result, BMW engineered two slightly different taillights to meet each regulations; one, with the shared but larger brake light and turn signal indicator for the US market and other version for the rest of the world, with a slightly smaller brake light but a smaller amber turn signal, which I really like for aesthetic reasons.
Some folks such as myself often purchase the ROW version and install them in their US vehicle. Depended on the model of BMW and how it was implemented, this used to be a simple plug and play process but with the newer BMWs, there seems to be some re-pinning and intricate coding involve to get the ROW taillights to work properly on a US-spec vehicles.
Any of you new owners plan to take the plunge and guinea pig this swap of a ROW taillights on a U.S.-spec vehicle? If so, please share the result, it would greatly appreciated 👏🏻
https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=24680672
https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=26300193
https://isearch.nhtsa.gov/files/06-003601as.htm