DIY - LED licence plate lights and door entrance lights

rikuF10 · 10-15-2006, 05:18 AM

Since the ECU is monitoring the current of any exterior light, changing to a LED bulb will trigger the error message.

In order to avoid the error message, you will need to fool the ECU that you are using the correct power consumption.

This is what I used in my LED licence plate light mod...

1) an extra pair of Licence plate light housing (less than US$6 for a pair)
2) Three 25W 220 Ohm resistor w/ metal heat shink. (pls note the resister value will vary with different LED bulbs)
3) some Telfon coated cables and Telfon tubes
4) a few Nylon ties
5) a soldering iron and some solder
6) two 37mm 6LED bulbs

I bought a new pair of the licence plate light housing, so that I can easily reverse the process........when I bring my car into service, they won't even know I did anything to the lights.

For the telfon cables.....actually, you can use regular cables. I only use it for added protection.

Just one more reminder: DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK

rikuF10 · 10-15-2006, 05:20 AM

First, you have to take out the licence light housing. Just put a flat screwdriver into the hole to the left of the plastic lens.....push to the right & pull the housing down.

Then just pull off the plugs.

rikuF10 · 10-15-2006, 05:27 AM

Then you need to solder the 3 resistors to the housing. I am running them in parallel. Since the two lights are running in parallel, it doesn't matter where you install the 3 resisters. For the cable length, 30cm is good enough.

I put two to the left housing and one to the right housing.

In first photo, you can see a small resister at the right. It is actually good enough to just use this one. However, it will gets very hot. For safety, I divided the load to 3 extra large resisters.

rikuF10 · 10-15-2006, 05:33 AM

Now, install the modified light housing back to the trunk lid. and secure the 3 resister with nylon ties.

I found there are 3 good places to put this inside the trunk lid...

rikuF10 · 10-15-2006, 05:35 AM

Now put the trunk lid lining back.....and it is done! :rocks:

.....also noticed that my blacklines has no white lights leaking at the edges?

....just replace all four P21W bulbs with a red color bulbs. Not only will there be no white light leaking out, the blackline also looks cooler at night!

rikuF10 · 10-15-2006, 06:04 AM

For the door entrance lights, it is not being monitored by the ECU....so you don't need anything to fool it.

For this mod, I am using a 6 LED plate. On the passenger side door, I put the LED plate right behind the plastic diffusor, so doesn't really get to be diffused. The result is 6 bright LED squares projected to the ground (with three dimmer ones as bonus). Looks kind of

rikuF10 · 10-15-2006, 06:07 AM

On the Driver side, I put the 6 LED plate with a clearance of approx 1cm to the diffusor. I get one large bright lights. This illuminate the floor very well....make sure I don't step on any shXT when exiting the car...

cntlaw · 10-15-2006, 07:03 AM

WOW ! Thank you for your kind sharing with these wonderful E90 LEDs works with us.

HO · 10-15-2006, 08:32 AM

Danny, Excellent job

RD Sport · 10-15-2006, 08:48 AM

D, thanks and good job on the rear license, I am going to get mine installed shortly. Hopefully we will be able to sort out my int. LED project

sunnywuh · 10-15-2006, 09:46 AM

you are the man!!!

DILLIGAF · 10-15-2006, 10:04 AM

Nice DIY

SocalTy · 10-15-2006, 12:35 PM

Wow. Great DIY! Think I'll try this in the upcoming weeks.

Leonardo629 · 10-15-2006, 01:41 PM

nice.....

RichP · 10-15-2006, 01:44 PM

Excellent writeup. I especially like how you used the resistors with a heatsink, which is a necessity in these applications.

kelvinso · 10-15-2006, 09:08 PM

Great and nice job

Next Q: When should I mod mine??

EBMCS03 · 10-15-2006, 10:44 PM

Excellent! I hope the rear licence plate is the same for the E60 or very similar... I've been wanting to do that for like a year.

rikuF10 · 10-15-2006, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EBMCS03

Excellent! I hope the rear licence plate is the same for the E60 or very similar... I've been wanting to do that for like a year.

On the E60, it is very similar since the licence plate light bulb is the same 12V5W. The only thing is to buy the equavilent LED bulbs and test the difference in power consumption. Then use the corresponding resistor value.

rikuF10 · 10-15-2006, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelvinso

Great and nice job

Next Q: When should I mod mine??

Feel free to come & take a look before deciding to mod it....

Let's have a mini HK LED meet!

txusa03 · 10-16-2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RikuE90

I bought a new pair of the licence plate light housing, so that I can easily reverse the process........when I bring my car into service, they won't even know I did anything to the lights.

Just one more reminder: DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK

nice writeup, always thinking ahead...

the door light is cool bro with the 6 small led shooting down the ground...

joebaggg · 10-17-2006, 01:02 AM

hey i set off the ECU when installing led's in the headlights, i believe its the parking light (the peanut bulb) any idea how i can fool the ECU for that?

EBMCS03 · 10-17-2006, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RikuE90

On the E60, it is very similar since the licence plate light bulb is the same 12V5W. The only thing is to buy the equavilent LED bulbs and test the difference in power consumption. Then use the corresponding resistor value.

Sounds like a plan.

10-15-2006, 05:18 AM	#1
rikuF10 Major 83 Rep 1,391 Posts Drives: F10 G29 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW Z4 [0.00] 2012 BMW 528i [8.50]	DIY - LED licence plate lights and door entrance lights Since the ECU is monitoring the current of any exterior light, changing to a LED bulb will trigger the error message. In order to avoid the error message, you will need to fool the ECU that you are using the correct power consumption. This is what I used in my LED licence plate light mod... 1) an extra pair of Licence plate light housing (less than US$6 for a pair) 2) Three 25W 220 Ohm resistor w/ metal heat shink. (pls note the resister value will vary with different LED bulbs) 3) some Telfon coated cables and Telfon tubes 4) a few Nylon ties 5) a soldering iron and some solder 6) two 37mm 6LED bulbs I bought a new pair of the licence plate light housing, so that I can easily reverse the process........when I bring my car into service, they won't even know I did anything to the lights. For the telfon cables.....actually, you can use regular cables. I only use it for added protection. Just one more reminder: DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK Last edited by rikuF10; 10-15-2006 at 10:48 PM..
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10-15-2006, 05:20 AM	#2
rikuF10 Major 83 Rep 1,391 Posts Drives: F10 G29 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW Z4 [0.00] 2012 BMW 528i [8.50]	First, you have to take out the licence light housing. Just put a flat screwdriver into the hole to the left of the plastic lens.....push to the right & pull the housing down. Then just pull off the plugs. Attached Images
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10-15-2006, 05:27 AM	#3
rikuF10 Major 83 Rep 1,391 Posts Drives: F10 G29 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW Z4 [0.00] 2012 BMW 528i [8.50]	Then you need to solder the 3 resistors to the housing. I am running them in parallel. Since the two lights are running in parallel, it doesn't matter where you install the 3 resisters. For the cable length, 30cm is good enough. I put two to the left housing and one to the right housing. In first photo, you can see a small resister at the right. It is actually good enough to just use this one. However, it will gets very hot. For safety, I divided the load to 3 extra large resisters. Attached Images Last edited by rikuF10; 10-15-2006 at 06:15 AM..
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10-15-2006, 05:33 AM	#4
rikuF10 Major 83 Rep 1,391 Posts Drives: F10 G29 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW Z4 [0.00] 2012 BMW 528i [8.50]	Now, install the modified light housing back to the trunk lid. and secure the 3 resister with nylon ties. I found there are 3 good places to put this inside the trunk lid... Attached Images
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10-15-2006, 05:35 AM	#5
rikuF10 Major 83 Rep 1,391 Posts Drives: F10 G29 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW Z4 [0.00] 2012 BMW 528i [8.50]	Now put the trunk lid lining back.....and it is done! :rocks: .....also noticed that my blacklines has no white lights leaking at the edges? ....just replace all four P21W bulbs with a red color bulbs. Not only will there be no white light leaking out, the blackline also looks cooler at night! Attached Images Last edited by rikuF10; 10-15-2006 at 12:41 PM..
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10-15-2006, 06:04 AM	#6
rikuF10 Major 83 Rep 1,391 Posts Drives: F10 G29 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW Z4 [0.00] 2012 BMW 528i [8.50]	For the door entrance lights, it is not being monitored by the ECU....so you don't need anything to fool it. For this mod, I am using a 6 LED plate. On the passenger side door, I put the LED plate right behind the plastic diffusor, so doesn't really get to be diffused. The result is 6 bright LED squares projected to the ground (with three dimmer ones as bonus). Looks kind of Attached Images
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10-15-2006, 06:07 AM	#7
rikuF10 Major 83 Rep 1,391 Posts Drives: F10 G29 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW Z4 [0.00] 2012 BMW 528i [8.50]	On the Driver side, I put the 6 LED plate with a clearance of approx 1cm to the diffusor. I get one large bright lights. This illuminate the floor very well....make sure I don't step on any shXT when exiting the car... Attached Images
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10-15-2006, 07:03 AM	#8
cntlaw Major General 246 Rep 6,874 Posts Drives: 330i E90 C55 AMG Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i E90 [0.00] 2006 BMW 330i E90 [0.00] 2005 Mercedes Benz ... [0.00] 2002 Z3 2.2 USA Spo ... [0.00] 2002 Toyota MR-S Co ... [0.00]	WOW ! Thank you for your kind sharing with these wonderful E90 LEDs works with us. __________________ BMW 2006 330i E90 Jet Black/Black Leathers/Aluminium, Steptronic Active Steering; MTech Aero Kit Carbon Fibre Splitters/Diffuser. Bilstein PSS9 Coilover, Rays VOLK Racing RE30 Formula Limited Edition 18" Pirelli Rosso; Project Mu 355mm Forged 4pot Caliper. HID:Osram D1S 6000K, PIAA 6500K White Ring, Philips Diamond Vision HB4 5000K, PIAA H490/H491 Super Bright 6500K LED Interior Lights. Chrome S.Wheel Cover, Rear Windows Sunshades.
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10-15-2006, 08:32 AM	#9
HO Private First Class 7 Rep 107 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: hk iTrader: (0)	Danny, Excellent job
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10-15-2006, 08:48 AM	#10
RD Sport Freude am Fahren 117 Rep 2,175 Posts Drives: from Deutchland Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: RASKH iTrader: (0)	D, thanks and good job on the rear license, I am going to get mine installed shortly. Hopefully we will be able to sort out my int. LED project
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10-15-2006, 09:46 AM	#11
sunnywuh Lieutenant 19 Rep 508 Posts Drives: E90 330 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0)	you are the man!!!
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10-15-2006, 10:04 AM	#12
DILLIGAF Lieutenant 7 Rep 433 Posts Drives: 2006 SG 330i ZSP MT CA Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Whitby, Ontario iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Nice DIY __________________ 2006 330i Sparkling Graphite/Sport pkg/Comfort Access/Aluminum Pedals/35% LLumar tint/Blacklines/OEM Shortshift knob
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10-15-2006, 12:35 PM	#13
SocalTy Flushing, Queens stand up!! 36 Rep 830 Posts Drives: AW E90 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NYC iTrader: (3) Garage List 06 e90 [0.00]	Wow. Great DIY! Think I'll try this in the upcoming weeks. __________________ l 20% Tints l Osram 6000k Xenons l Brex l Blacklines l White Led Sidemarkers l PIAA Superwhite Turn Signals l 19" Breyton Spirits l H&R Sport Springs l Koni Yellow Adjustable Dampers l ACS Roof Spoiler l Painted Carbon Spoiler l Luminics Fogs l Oem Chrome Grill l
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10-15-2006, 01:41 PM	#14
Leonardo629 Lieutenant Colonel 171 Rep 1,788 Posts Drives: 2013 M3 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Taiwan iTrader: (10)	nice.....
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10-15-2006, 01:44 PM	#15
RichP Major 167 Rep 1,189 Posts Drives: F80 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CT iTrader: (4)	Excellent writeup. I especially like how you used the resistors with a heatsink, which is a necessity in these applications.
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10-15-2006, 09:08 PM	#16
kelvinso Captain 22 Rep 669 Posts Drives: BMW 320i E90 TiAg/Lemon Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0)	Great and nice job Next Q: When should I mod mine??
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10-15-2006, 10:44 PM	#17
EBMCS03 M5 Extraordinare! 1 Rep 78 Posts Drives: GC shopping Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: So Cal. iTrader: (0)	Excellent! I hope the rear licence plate is the same for the E60 or very similar... I've been wanting to do that for like a year. __________________ 2008 ///M5 SMG \| Alpine White \| Black Full Merino Leather w/Aluminum Trim \| Logic 7 \| iPod Adapter \| HUD \| Heated / Ventilated & Adaptive Comfort Seats \| Comfort Access \| Rear Side Airbags \| Rear Side Sunshades \| Folding Rear Seats \| 35% Sides 15% Rear Windshield Tint
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10-17-2006, 01:02 AM	#21
joebaggg E60 48 Rep 587 Posts Drives: Black Attack Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Middletown, NJ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 E90 [0.00]	hey i set off the ECU when installing led's in the headlights, i believe its the parking light (the peanut bulb) any idea how i can fool the ECU for that?
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