[Professor///M]

If you're anything like me, you are annoyed by the ugly yellow reverse lights.

You've searched for the brightest and whitest options, and all directions point to a dual LED that many people have on these forums. It's a 194/168 bulb and many vendors have them.

Not only does that bulb throw error codes, but it's complete rubbish. The color is great, but you just can't see the light! It barely lights up the reverse chamber, and is definitely not a replacement to the stock halogen. $20 in the toilet. Lesson learned.

I remembered way back when, back when I didn't have an e90 - almost 5 years ago. Where did I get my bright white bulbs for my inferior domestic SUVs?

Insert http://autolumination.com/

Sure their website looks ancient, but everything's there, and they're always adding new bulbs.

Let's start from the beginning:

Our reverse lamps are not 194/168s. Those are cheap 5W bulbs. Our reverse bulbs are actually a GE 16W bulb that Sylvania lists as a 921.
Searching varies for 921s, there are some Sylvania Silverstars 921ST, but in my experience those bulbs last 6mos max. So we need a 15/16W replacement if we're going halogen.

Going to autolumination.com, the replacement halogen is actually a 906. I got the 906 silver chrome super white bulb to start. Let me just say it's a perfect replacement if you want a white light to directly replace your halogens. You can't see the blue of the bulb in the chamber as the bulb is chrome, yet it lights up a bright white. Again, if you're cheap and you want a direct, no headache replacement, this is the bulb for you.


For those that want LED - I got their 5 LED CANBUS 194 bulb. They are $9.99 each, and a direct replacement to the competitors. Sure it's still a 194, but at least one that makes sense for our application.

Installed in minutes, these bulbs are above and beyond the junk we're used to seeing here. There is an LED that faces all four reflectors and outwards so that you have all 5 directions of light dispersal covered. It actually puts out light, unlike the competitors that just light up the small triangle in the housing.

For $1 more each, they also have a 9 LED version. I can't even imagine how bright those would be.





I have been using both the halogen and the LED for about 1 week without any issues nor error codes - something that was a problem with my old LED bulbs - days without bulb errors, then a string of days with them.


The products shipped within hours of me placing the order (even on a sunday), and made it from AZ to New England in 3 business days.

Fantastic products and fantastic service. I highly recommend these guys if you want to replace your back up lights!

Below are the 3 worst pictures you can get with these LEDs. They look fantastic in real life, and even better in the dark.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Nice write up man! I was debating about replacements. I did the LCI talis conversion and I have an E92, so not sure how that works. I'm not backing up all that much so I never really bothered with it, but now you're making me think about it...
I don't think I'll order from autolumination again, the bastards never returned my emails and I did order the 9 LED bulbs from them off an ebay store, they were absolute shit with a pale white glow. Maybe it was a fluke with me. I still have them matter of fact, since they didn't want to hear a thing about *GASP* a return or a complaint! Not impressed by them at all. I hope your experience was better than mine.

[Professor///M]

Much better. But from what I'm learning each vendor has their own issues, and some people have fantastic service, and others just complete nightmares. Hard to believe.

[Dark_Knight_335]

I'm still gonna try it though- I have 3 different types of LEDs to try thanks to my neverending search for perfect LED interiors! Thanks again man, looks fantastic

[Professor///M]

I ordered right from their site, so don't know if their ebay purchases have a different issue

Good luck!

[Dark_Knight_335]

Thank you for the ideas! Stay dry, lotsa storms and wind comin!

[rollinstone157]

@PAMidge
Can you do me a favor and measure the size of the OEM bulb? I might consider replacing it with the 25 LED bulb. The 9 LED bulb is 11mm x 32mm, and the 25 is 11mm x 38mm, I'd be willing to bet the 25 is significantly brighter than the 9 LED, so it's worth a shot I suppose.

[rollinstone157]

Hey guys, I'm going to take the jump on the 9 LED bulbs, and see how it goes. I'll be sure to post if it fits or not, take pics, etc.

[1QuikWS6]

I tried a set of the LED's in my reverse that were the same as the one's pictured as 'junk LED's'

I got them from F1 Autohaus with the rest of my interior kit.

The F1 interior kit is awesome - the reverse LED's SUCKED. My factory halogens were brighter, and didn't flicker on startup (obviously).

I put the factory back in. Was definitely disappointed that F1 would sell those when the rest of their products were top notch...

[Professor///M]

Yeah the bottom line is that we need to expose the fact that these are not adequate reverse bulb replacements. I'm sure as a true 194 they function well.

[chrisE92]

nice. waiting to see if the 9 LED one fits.. I'm interested!

[gaifaun]

thanks for your review! very bright indeed. does it necessarily have to be canbus bulbs?

[Craig@SupremePower]

very nice... how did u get the bulbs out?

[rollinstone157]

Originally Posted by gaifaun

thanks for your review! very bright indeed. does it necessarily have to be canbus bulbs?

Hello, my bulbs haven't shipped yet, but I imagine they need to be CANBUS bulbs, simply due to the fact that the BMW checks all the bulbs in the car for function, and LEDs respond differently to voltage fluctuations than incandescent bulbs.

Originally Posted by Craig@SupremePower

very nice... how did u get the bulbs out?

According to a PM I received, it's pretty easy and quick, you remove the trunk liner (apparently by removing the 4 or 5 black pushpin-esque screws. Then, the bulbs can be accessed. I'll take pics of install/function once the bulbs arrive.

[Shazmonkee]

Those LEDs look like it'll be nice in color but not very functional. Output isn't as bright as OEM right?

[Professor///M]

That's the point I was trying to make. These are more functional than the others currently available as it has the 5th LED that faces outward.

In my opinion the output appears equivalent to the standard halogens.

[Shazmonkee]

Interesting. So the most important factors for these LED bulbs is that they face outward? Whereas Marc when you need him to construct an LED reverse bulb

[Professor///M]

In my opinion yes. Just think about the design of all of the current LED turn signals and tail lamps. They are not reflecting onto the housing, they're facing outward and the design of the housing makes that reflect more.

Again, if you only are illuminating the sides of the housing, it's only going to light up the housing and not emit very much light. The LED facing outward corrects that issue.


Ideally, I'd say a reflective outward facing LED, and 4 side facing LEDs would be the perfect solution.

[Shazmonkee]

Hmm... too bad our reverse lights aren't 1156

[gaifaun]

Originally Posted by rollinstone157

Hello, my bulbs haven't shipped yet, but I imagine they need to be CANBUS bulbs, simply due to the fact that the BMW checks all the bulbs in the car for function, and LEDs respond differently to voltage fluctuations than incandescent bulbs.

CANBUS bulbs are so much more expensive, thanks for your help!

Originally Posted by PAMidge

That's the point I was trying to make. These are more functional than the others currently available as it has the 5th LED that faces outward.

In my opinion the output appears equivalent to the standard halogens.

i bought a 5 LED one, i should have gotten a 9 LED one instead... we'll see when it gets here.

[rollinstone157]

Originally Posted by gaifaun

CANBUS bulbs are so much more expensive, thanks for your help!

If you purchase the 9 LED CANBUS bulb from link in the OP's post, it's only $1-2 more expensive per bulb than the non-canbus version I believe. Now mind you this may be the only bulb where that is the case but...I dunno .

[Craig@SupremePower]

i tried yankin those bulbs on my lci tails when i installed em and they didnt wanna come out...