[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by NeoItaly1

Grow up. I am 40 and a successful business owner. I can say what I want. Just is crazy to RIG something that will eventually fail or come apart.

if this is not your thing then move on, your 40 and a business owner so you should have other things to do

fyi, its been 5 yrs and the switch havent fall apart

[Surly73]

Originally Posted by NeoItaly1

Grow up. I am 40 and a successful business owner. I can say what I want. Just is crazy to RIG something that will eventually fail or come apart.

If you take a look at the actual switch in the car, it's not a rigged as you might think. Later cars come with the proper plastic piece in place and all you need to do is cut the tabs which keep the button from being pushed. "More money than brains" is a phrase that could be used for someone who would rather pay $100 than cut four little tabs of plastic and result in identical functionality. Even if you do "rig" the piece to connect the button to the rubber domes, the pieces of the switch are all secure and won't "come apart".

Seriously, when I did it a couple of weeks ago I used a marrette (wire nut) and a stick on rubber bumper and the rear button feels and works and feels just like the factory front button. The only thing special about the factory "white piece" is that it conducts light to the translucent icon on the button.

Yes, the real unit would be a little sexier with the proper graphic on the button, but it's not worth $100 to me. (probably more to get the proper switch unit to Canada). I know I've got better things to do with that $100, like put my kids in an after-school program, or buy a K+DCAN cable, or *gasp* just not spend it.

[lonewolf]

Originally Posted by cjmoy

I don't think you can just order the button. I just ordered this entire switch from ECS to pull the silkscreened button to use on my switch. It was on clearance for super cheap!

Good catch. I have to look around for one.

[lonewolf]

Originally Posted by Surly73

If you take a look at the actual switch in the car, it's not a rigged as you might think. Later cars come with the proper plastic piece in place and all you need to do is cut the tabs which keep the button from being pushed. "More money than brains" is a phrase that could be used for someone who would rather pay $100 than cut four little tabs of plastic and result in identical functionality. Even if you do "rig" the piece to connect the button to the rubber domes, the pieces of the switch are all secure and won't "come apart".

Seriously, when I did it a couple of weeks ago I used a marrette (wire nut) and a stick on rubber bumper and the rear button feels and works and feels just like the factory front button. The only thing special about the factory "white piece" is that it conducts light to the translucent icon on the button.

Yes, the real unit would be a little sexier with the proper graphic on the button, but it's not worth $100 to me. (probably more to get the proper switch unit to Canada). I know I've got better things to do with that $100, like put my kids in an after-school program, or buy a K+DCAN cable, or *gasp* just not spend it.

Well said. Ive been rebuilding cars for 30 yrs. I still have my high school car which is a 1976 Pontiac Formula Firebird. If I paid everyone or for everything that I did on that car, I would be into it for 40K plus. Instead I enjoyed doing it myself, learned how to rebuild cars, have a great hobby, saved the money, able to buy a few homes along the way and hell I even have a BMW that I will be passing on to my daughter very soon. All....for not always buying the SWITCH.

[conrad325i]

Just did the mod. Took me about an hour but really only 15 min bc I'm trying to sign up for my fall classes at the University of Tennessee. The only thing that took very long was looking thru all my old Legos to find what I needed.
Ps: the 2x2 flat square lego pieces are within half a millimeter of the same size as the top flat part of "the white piece"
Anyways, works like a total charm. Why would you ever buy the switch when it works just the same and you receive the satisfaction from DIY. Some people are just wasteful with their money.
It's great to see that this post is still useful after all these years! Haha

[Pete Schweaty]

Awesome! I just did it. It took me a few minutes to figure out how all of the friggin clips came off the piece. Then I used a paint stir stick from Home Depot, a pencil, and some super glue. Best part is that i guarantee you I will never use these lights. But just knowing that my car came with an option that was disabled was enough to make me "fix" it!

[jwzimm]

You gotta love these free mods. I can confirm my LCI e92 had the "lego" already installed. I would note that in order to pop the button off you need to open up the rear of the switch assy first. Once I had the button off all I had to do was trim off the little standoffs and I was good to go. It would neat if we could get the Euro button though as it would have the right symbol and would be backlit. Oh well, this works and was free.

One thing this will be useful for is the annoying folks who run with their highbeams on in your rearview.

[JB135MDCT]

Works on 2011 135, April 2010 build. White pices were in place. Rear Fogs work. In Auto Headlite mode, when selecting front fog light the lights turn on during the day?

Any one find fog light pre-wiring in the engine bay?

[conrad325i]

Originally Posted by Pete Schweaty

Awesome! I just did it. It took me a few minutes to figure out how all of the friggin clips came off the piece. Then I used a paint stir stick from Home Depot, a pencil, and some super glue. Best part is that i guarantee you I will never use these lights. But just knowing that my car came with an option that was disabled was enough to make me "fix" it!

Oh yeah, I never use them! Haha. I just know that someone is like "why is this dumbass riding his brakes right now?"

[irishfiend]

this was an awesome find! nice to have. my previous car was a Saab 9-3 that had the single euro rear fog light.

was hoping my 06 had the extra piece already in it, as somebody who posted earlier had theirs included in their 06 328. wasn't in my 06 330.

if i can donate anything for clarification to anyone trying this, the hardest part for me was figuring out how the button came off the switch to then cut the tabs. i couldn't figure out where the clips were that everyone was talking about. you need to remove the rear of the assembly and the circuit board in order to see the backside of the buttons and where you will find the infamous white piece. once you have the back off, the button needs to be released from the assembly on a connected white backing. you should see the clips on top and bottom of the white back to the button at that point.

and to donate my mod, i used an orange wire twist and two nickels. perfect size, and you don't REALLY need to glue it, though i did to prevent wiggling and possible noise.

[BennyJones]

Done and thanks!
Took no more than 10 minutes and my 2011 E90 Lci was fully equipped...just had to remove the switch and cut the tabs....on a side note, the rear fogs can operate without the fronts on...I believe another user mentioned they couldn't.

[KA328]

Just finished mine! Pretty easy to do. Thanks!

[AirborneFF]

Just did this, freaking awesome! Big thanks OP!!!

[mrjoe]

ecs tuning...$159.00. two plastic prices I found in my garage...FREE. the only difference is there is no label.

[Snyperx]

Am I missing something? Why on earth would I want/need rear fog lights? Just wondering.

[kayza]

Originally Posted by Snyperx

Am I missing something? Why on earth would I want/need rear fog lights? Just wondering.

When visibility is so low that you would only be able to see the car in front of you when they have their brake lights on. When their regular tail lights brightness do not pierce through the fog/rain/snow, but the brake lights do.

I know fogs aren't brake lights, but my understanding is that they are same in brightness.

Basically, it is to save your own arse from people that fly down the road in low visibility.

Also, I assume some just want more flashy flashy!!

[radconsta]

my 325i e90 is missing also the switch that needs to be activated by the button.

[m@rco]

Cutting up a plastic cork works very well. The overall length of the cork needs to be longer than the plastic piece. I screwed up the first cork when I tried to measure it and fabricate it exactly. Cutting a longer one and trimming it (trial and error) works best...

[blackbeast06]

I have a stock switch (because I bought the euro one) available if anyone wants it. Make an offer.

[SFChoslap]

blackbeast06 ill take it i live like 2 hours from you

[SFChoslap]

i cant pm you since i am a new member though sorry

[Otruba_843]

Just did mine last night! Super easy!