Reverse light bulb check?

ferocity02 · 02-09-2015, 03:29 PM

I read somewhere that the E90 pre-lci does not have a bulb check for the reverse lights? Is this true?

I'm looking to get some brighter LED bulbs to add visibility at night when reversing since my rear window is tinted.

Anyone have have suggestions? I'm eyeing these because they claim pretty high brightness and they have a protector end which should help with visibility. But they do not say they are error free or for canbus.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-6000K-Whi...debb5a&vxp=mtr

VTECaddict · 02-09-2015, 04:59 PM

There is an error check, but no those don't really improve visibility at all. I have them.

I think the problem is the blacklines don't have a mirrored reflector for the reverse, so a lot of light gets lost.

ferocity02 · 02-09-2015, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

There is an error check, but no those don't really improve visibility at all. I have them.

I think the problem is the blacklines don't have a mirrored reflector for the reverse, so a lot of light gets lost.

Which bulbs did you get? I didn't realize the backlines don't have a reflective surface for the reverse lights.

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 02-09-2015, 06:28 PM

The HPB reverse lights we have are 1600 lumen for the pair and error free. I can't post links in non classified sections.

The bulb check flicker is unavoidable though.

VTECaddict · 02-09-2015, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferocity02

Which bulbs did you get? I didn't realize the backlines don't have a reflective surface for the reverse lights.

Not exactly the ones you linked but the same type of ebay generic chinese 80w high power LED bulbs.

Yeah, I was wondering why the reverse seemed dimmer than my LED turn signals (also 80W LED from ebay) so i was trying to look inside the housing. It's just black plastic with a clear fluted lens in front of it instead of a mirrored reflector. Not sure if the stock lights or LCI/E92 are different.

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 02-11-2015, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

Not exactly the ones you linked but the same type of ebay generic chinese 80w high power LED bulbs.

Yeah, I was wondering why the reverse seemed dimmer than my LED turn signals (also 80W LED from ebay) so i was trying to look inside the housing. It's just black plastic with a clear fluted lens in front of it instead of a mirrored reflector. Not sure if the stock lights or LCI/E92 are different.

Biggest problem with the reverse light housing is the fact that they weren't designed for maximum output. It's more designed to just let other drivers know you are backing up.

They likely do this so you don't blind people when backing up at night haha.

Lotus99 · 02-11-2015, 05:24 PM

I was thinking of buying these suckers for my backup lights, but they don't say they're Canbus compliant, and I don't know how to code yet...

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2x-50...776804507.html

VTECaddict · 02-12-2015, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

Biggest problem with the reverse light housing is the fact that they weren't designed for maximum output. It's more designed to just let other drivers know you are backing up.

They likely do this so you don't blind people when backing up at night haha.

Yeah, they're more a warning for other people than to actually help you see. But I'm sure they could have put more effort in designing the optics to at least throw more light at the ground to both help the driver see and still not blind people lol

Lotus99 · 02-12-2015, 12:57 PM

These Philips ones should be pretty good in terms of optics I'm guessing, given their name brand, but I'm afraid they'll throw codes without an extra resistor...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P2D41OQ

VTECaddict · 02-13-2015, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lotus99

These Philips ones should be pretty good in terms of optics I'm guessing, given their name brand, but I'm afraid they'll throw codes without an extra resistor...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P2D41OQ

pre-LCI uses a 1156 bulb for reverse.

Lotus99 · 02-13-2015, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

pre-LCI uses a 1156 bulb for reverse.

Hmm... Thanks for correcting that. I've been looking at reverse bulbs for my 2010 5 wagon, which uses the 921's, and thought my 3 also uses the same.

You sure though it's an 1156 though? Osram's bulb finder says my car uses a bayonet H21W reverse bulb. (I put in a 2008 335 coupe).

VTECaddict · 02-13-2015, 05:02 PM

Sorry, pre-LCI E90/E91 uses 1156. All E92/E93 and LCI E90/E91 use 921

glachhman · 02-13-2015, 05:31 PM

flicker can be avoided if you remove the bulb check for it.

Lotus99 · 02-13-2015, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

Sorry, pre-LCI E90/E91 uses 1156. All E92/E93 and LCI E90/E91 use 921

Cool. Funny though that Osram's bulb chart is wrong...

02-09-2015, 03:29 PM	#1
ferocity02 Colonel 530 Rep 2,083 Posts Drives: 2013 135is Join Date: May 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (8)	Reverse light bulb check? I read somewhere that the E90 pre-lci does not have a bulb check for the reverse lights? Is this true? I'm looking to get some brighter LED bulbs to add visibility at night when reversing since my rear window is tinted. Anyone have have suggestions? I'm eyeing these because they claim pretty high brightness and they have a protector end which should help with visibility. But they do not say they are error free or for canbus. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-6000K-Whi...debb5a&vxp=mtr __________________ 2013 135is DCT Carbon Black Metallic
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02-09-2015, 04:59 PM	#2
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	There is an error check, but no those don't really improve visibility at all. I have them. I think the problem is the blacklines don't have a mirrored reflector for the reverse, so a lot of light gets lost. __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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02-09-2015, 06:28 PM	#4
Jeff@TopGearSolutions 3441 Rep 79,211 Posts Drives: C6 Z06, 09 335i, 10 335xi Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: www.TopGearSolutions.com iTrader: (37)	The HPB reverse lights we have are 1600 lumen for the pair and error free. I can't post links in non classified sections. The bulb check flicker is unavoidable though.
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02-11-2015, 05:24 PM	#7
Lotus99 Colonel 628 Rep 2,808 Posts Drives: 19 M2C & 18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada iTrader: (1)	I was thinking of buying these suckers for my backup lights, but they don't say they're Canbus compliant, and I don't know how to code yet... http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2x-50...776804507.html
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02-12-2015, 12:57 PM	#9
Lotus99 Colonel 628 Rep 2,808 Posts Drives: 19 M2C & 18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Canada iTrader: (1)	These Philips ones should be pretty good in terms of optics I'm guessing, given their name brand, but I'm afraid they'll throw codes without an extra resistor... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P2D41OQ
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02-13-2015, 05:02 PM	#12
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Sorry, pre-LCI E90/E91 uses 1156. All E92/E93 and LCI E90/E91 use 921 __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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02-13-2015, 05:31 PM	#13
glachhman Banned 41 Rep 692 Posts Drives: '07 335i e90 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Queens, NY iTrader: (0)	flicker can be avoided if you remove the bulb check for it.
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