[ewodzien]

**UPDATE 9/24/14**

I can no longer recommend these LED "bulbs". See my post on page 2 for the full explanation. I also want to state that the vendor refunded all my money and tried to solve the problem. They just didn't work for my application.

--Original post below--

Hi:

Love my 335d, but one of the things that always bothered me about my car was the lack of LED brake lights. I know, a trival detail, but with LED turn signals on the front and rear, it seemed out of place.

I did a lot of research online only to run into a bunch of problems other ran into which were:

1) Too Dim
2) Bulb Check error messages on the check system

But I finally found LED bulb replacements that work perfect and are just as bright (actually, I think a tad brighter) than stock...



But don't take my word for it.. See for yourself...



Can you tell which side is LED and which is original BMW bulb?

No check error messages as the bulb is designed for CANbus cars with built-in load resistors.

They fit perfectly in my E90 LCI housings.

More pictures:


Original 32cp BMW bulbs


LED "bulb" installed


Install tips

For my E90 LCI, I needed four LED "bulbs". I used the ones below in Red. They aren't cheap, but work for me.

26 SMD LED Canbus Bulb

Let me know if you have any questions. I'm glad to finally have LED brake lights!

-Ed

[ewodzien]

So.. which side is LED?

[JunkStory]

Whoa.. I've been waiting for something like this. I wonder if they fit pre-LCI E92. I already got LED turn signals on all side (front side rear), just need to complete it with some LED brake lights.

The left side seems a little brighter to me btw. Do you think you can reproduce these results in direct sunlight??

[Alvine90]

The left side seems a little brighter to me btw. Do you think you can reproduce these results in direct sunlight??

+1 led's are fine in the shade and at night but it's the daytime direct sunlight visibility that matters.

[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by Alvine90

+1 led's are fine in the shade and at night but it's the daytime direct sunlight visibility that matters.

should be fine as my turn signals are led and are really bright. In the daylight, they bounce off street signs.

also, why did you get red instead of cool white? the housing is red already.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

duh!! George which one is it? looks like the left one to me!

[Puerto Rican 335d]

correct me on this one amigos wouldnt you want BRIGHT white light to magnify the RED rear brake lights encasing , red bright lights just doesnt cut it for me to outshines the whites but i may be wrong.

[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

correct me on this one amigos wouldnt you want BRIGHT white light to magnify the RED rear brake lights encasing , red bright lights just doesnt cut it for me to outshines the whites but i may be wrong.

that was my question as well. the stock bulb is white. confused as to why replaced with red leds

[JunkStory]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

correct me on this one amigos wouldnt you want BRIGHT white light to magnify the RED rear brake lights encasing , red bright lights just doesnt cut it for me to outshines the whites but i may be wrong.

Some people tried white LED. The result was a pinkish color when seen through the brake housing. I think it's because white LEDs have a blue hue to it.

I would try either red or amber.

But seriously, OP needs to test these in direct sun light. My LED amber blinkers are as bright as stock bulbs in the garage, but almost invisible in the sun.

[Accelerometer]

These plug and play surface LED bulbs will never match stock halogen output during the day. I am also pretty sure these will flicker intermittently as the car does continuous bulb checks while you are driving.

If people are really serious about retrofitting a LED brake light you should look into these high powered OSRAM bulbs.

http://www.elef-usa.com/apps/webstor...s/show/1677807

They aren't plug and play but are used in non LED array tail light OEM applications (ex. Chevy Malibu and Ford Edge)

[ewodzien]

Everyone is correct... the left side is the one with LEDs- so it is a bit brighter.

I'll post pictures outside during the day, but I can tell you, they are the same brightness as the original bulbs.

Also, the reason I got red LEDs instead of white is because, as someone else mentioned here, you get a pinkish hue instead of a dark red color.

In my opinion, they are a perfect replacement.

-Ed

[rattmobbins]

Meh, have no problem with the stock bulbs in my LCI. Don't understand the need to switch the LED.

[ewodzien]

For me is it probably part OCD... All of the other lights on my vehicle are LED and wanted them to match.

Also, I find it odd that all other vehicle manufacturers have LED brake lights and incandescent bulbs for turn signals.

Originally Posted by rattmobbins

Meh, have no problem with the stock bulbs in my LCI. Don't understand the need to switch the LED.

[mg4734]

Do these fit the e92 brake lights?

[JunkStory]

Originally Posted by ewodzien

Everyone is correct... the left side is the one with LEDs- so it is a bit brighter.

I'll post pictures outside during the day, but I can tell you, they are the same brightness as the original bulbs.

Take pictures with sun directly shining on the brake lights. It's not so much the intensity of the bulb, but rather the uneven direction of LED and the difference in color temperature compared to a round halogen bulb.

[ewodzien]

Originally Posted by mg4734

Do these fit the e92 brake lights?

I assume you have a non-LCI e92? If so, I don't see why not. I believe the LCI e92s already have LED brake lights.

-Ed

[mg4734]

Originally Posted by ewodzien

I assume you have a non-LCI e92? If so, I don't see why not. I believe the LCI e92s already have LED brake lights.

-Ed

Yep, pre-lci. Alright, next time they go out I'll give these a shot

[6MT_Addict]

Originally Posted by Puerto Rican 335d

correct me on this one amigos wouldnt you want BRIGHT white light to magnify the RED rear brake lights encasing , red bright lights just doesnt cut it for me to outshines the whites but i may be wrong.

Nope. Little lighting education for today...

White light contains the entire spectrum of colors; red blue yellow etc. just like a rainbow. When you use a filter on this white light (ie amber or red transparent coating or plastic) it is EXTREMELY inefficient. Think about it, you have the entire spectrum but you are wasting all the light output except one color. And if the bulbs color temperature is very far off the color of the filter it's even worse. (6500K -bluish white- using a red filter will yield less light output in lumens after the filter than 3000K -orangish white- for example)

What are the results? Tons of wasted energy. By using a bulb that outputs only red light, the red filter may block a small portion of the light but not nearly as much and this is much more efficient. 80-100% of the light output is visible vs maybe 10-30% with white.

This doesn't necessarily mean a red light source will be brighter but comparing a red bulb vs white bulb (light source color not a white bulb painted red) with equal output in lumens, the red light source will be brighter after a red filter is placed over top. You could have a 10W red bulb for example and a 100W white one, the white one will be brighter even with a filter.

Physics, tis interesting stuff

Also cool find OP, do you know the specs on those bulbs?

[JunkStory]

Originally Posted by mg4734

Yep, pre-lci. Alright, next time they go out I'll give these a shot

these will not replace pre-LCI E92 brake bulbs, but will replace the turn signal bulbs.

pre-LCI E92 brake bulbs are 921 like this:


There are available as LEDs, but make sure they are not oversized or they will not fit into the housing:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/m...,921T5,21,202:
http://autolumination.com/906.htm

[mg4734]

Originally Posted by JunkStory

these will not replace pre-LCI E92 brake bulbs, but will replace the turn signal bulbs.

pre-LCI E92 brake bulbs are 921 like this:


There are available as LEDs, but make sure they are not oversized or they will not fit into the housing:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/m...,921T5,21,202:
http://autolumination.com/906.htm

Ok, thanks!

[ewodzien]

Originally Posted by Spinz

Also cool find OP, do you know the specs on those bulbs?

Here is what I found from the product listing:

26 LEDs
LED Type: 5050 SMD
Lumens: 490 Lumen

15mm 1156 Single Intensity and Single Contact Bayonet Base CAN Bus bulb. Tower type with 26 High Power 5050SMD LEDs. 360 degree Viewing Angle. 12 VDC operation. Error free LED bulbs are specifically designed with built-in load resistors to allow them to be used with CAN(Controller Area Network) Bus equipped vehicles without triggering the OBC (on-board computer), commonly found in European vehicles such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Volkswagen,

-Ed

[koolit]

Would be nice if it will work longer than expected as advertised. I got tired of this darn 5050 SMD LED's and switched back to stock. In no time, one or two rows will just flicker or die and lose intensity
Lemme know how long it lasts before the next replacement.