Euro Amber Turn Signals vs US Red

trahsub · 09-20-2016, 09:18 PM

Remembering the days of the E36 when everyone swapped over to the euro clears to rid their car of amber, I'm intrigued Europe gets amber (flashing) colored signals and we have red. I'm talking in reference to rear lights.

Wouldn't it much simpler and cheaper for BMW to just have a global rear light and call it a day? Maybe a country requirement is playing a role?

Flying Ace · 09-20-2016, 09:23 PM

Yes

DSilk · 09-21-2016, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

Remembering the days of the E36 when everyone swapped over to the euro clears to rid their car of amber, I'm intrigued Europe gets amber (flashing) colored signals and we have red. I'm talking in reference to rear lights.

Wouldn't it much simpler and cheaper for BMW to just have a global rear light and call it a day? Maybe a country requirement is playing a role?

To me it is a big step backwards. The reason (still valid) for using amber for rear turn signals rather than red was to make them immediately distinguishable from (red) brake lights. It also provided for seperate bulbs for turn signals and brake lights (unlike older European and then-current US cars which used the brake light on a flasher as the rear signal). The return to all red rear lights is like the unfortunate demise of the hand brake in many cars (replaced by a useless in emergencies foot-operated or electronic "parking" brake).

dparm · 09-21-2016, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

Wouldn't it much simpler and cheaper for BMW to just have a global rear light and call it a day? Maybe a country requirement is playing a role?

Yes, but there are a lot of weird legal differences in each country/region. It's not just headlights and brake lights.

The Germans got smart a long time ago and just started using the same ECU and turned various bits on/off (what we call "coding").

Rat3d ///M · 09-21-2016, 10:46 AM

FWIW, I didn't even know there was a difference until about 6 months ago when someone was following behind me and noticed I had Euro tails, and asked me where I got them

Apparently they were installed by a previous owner along with my Euro headlight switch. Never even knew either of them weren't factory.

91foxbody · 09-21-2016, 01:06 PM

Good luck finding euro tails. My car was taken on euro delivery and had them, and when one died a month ago I looked far and wide. Eventually tried to order from a Danish supplier, but it was a PITA and I just converted to the US red lights.

Rat3d ///M · 09-21-2016, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91foxbody

Good luck finding euro tails. My car was taken on euro delivery and had them, and when one died a month ago I looked far and wide. Eventually tried to order from a Danish supplier, but it was a PITA and I just converted to the US red lights.

I am still in germany so I shouldn't have any issue finding them. When I go back to the US that'll be a different story I'm sure. but I wonder if maybe my car came with the euro tails and headlight switch because it was sold over here? it's us spec but was intended for sale in europe and has never been out of Europe (bmw NA doesn't even know my car exists). I assumed a previous owner did the swap but now not so sure.

e1000 · 09-21-2016, 02:58 PM

I love my euro tails!

JJH · 09-21-2016, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rat3d ///M

When I go back to the US that'll be a different story I'm sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91foxbody

Good luck finding euro tails. My car was taken on euro delivery and had them, and when one died a month ago I looked far and wide. Eventually tried to order from a Danish supplier, but it was a PITA and I just converted to the US red lights.

US based retailers such as ECS Tuning and others stock the Euro tails so sourcing one or a full set should not be a problem for you ...

https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E92-M3...g/Tail_Lights/

kscarrol · 09-21-2016, 08:56 PM

^^ I first ordered a set from ECS and they were apparently drop shipped from Europe. What arrive was not OEM BMW (despite showing this on the website) and were in fact red US spec tail lights. They promptly refunded my money but informed me they could no longer get the euro spec tails. I see a late Nov ship date shown on their website so might be worth a call to speak with them before ordering to make sure they can actually source them...

M43S7RO · 09-21-2016, 11:20 PM

Not a fan of the euro lights. Yellow lights inside the red housing look more orange than anything.

Uniform red color on the tails is >

DSilk · 09-22-2016, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M43S7RO

Not a fan of the euro lights. Yellow lights inside the red housing look more orange than anything.

Uniform red color on the tails is >

No they don't. I have the Euro taillights (I got my car from the dealer that way), and all you can see is a thin strip at the bottom that looks almost white. It is only amber when the turn signals or hazard lights are on.

Rat3d ///M · 09-22-2016, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSilk

No they don't. I have the Euro taillights (I got my car from the dealer that way), and all you can see is a thin strip at the bottom that looks almost white. It is only amber when the turn signals or hazard lights are on.

This. mine definitely look yellow.

Edward · 09-22-2016, 11:48 AM

I got mine from ECS and it took about 2 months but they are oem with PN and stamping and all. They look far better and are much more noticeable as a hazard or blinker light than some stupid blinking red like the US version.

DSilk · 09-22-2016, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rat3d ///M

This. mine definitely look yellow.

You have the sedan. Mine is a coupe, and the turn indicators are on the bottomedge of the light cluster, to the side of and below the portion that extends onto the boot lid. It is a narrow, clear strip that glows amber when blinking.

91foxbody · 09-22-2016, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJH

US based retailers such as ECS Tuning and others stock the Euro tails so sourcing one or a full set should not be a problem for you ...

https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E92-M3...g/Tail_Lights/

No one in the US sells the E90 euro lights (that I can find). E92 is still available.

DSilk · 09-22-2016, 01:25 PM

Name: m3-coupe_19134708038.jpg
Views: 2022
Size: 186.2 KB

Look for the clear section (barely visible). My indicators are amber.

dparm · 09-22-2016, 01:39 PM

Maybe you can just trade with someone? It always seems like the US guys want the Euro lights, and the Euro guys want the US lights. This was even the case a decade ago when I had my Acura Integra....everyone wanted what they didn't have.

09-20-2016, 09:18 PM	#1
trahsub Private First Class 23 Rep 125 Posts Drives: 95' ///M3 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	Euro Amber Turn Signals vs US Red - Why?? Remembering the days of the E36 when everyone swapped over to the euro clears to rid their car of amber, I'm intrigued Europe gets amber (flashing) colored signals and we have red. I'm talking in reference to rear lights. Wouldn't it much simpler and cheaper for BMW to just have a global rear light and call it a day? Maybe a country requirement is playing a role?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

09-20-2016, 09:23 PM	#2
Flying Ace Lieutenant General 4985 Rep 11,891 Posts Drives: G05 45e, 997.1 & 991.1 GT3s Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (5)	Yes __________________ 22 Phytonic/Coffee X5 45e (CoVID-free) 08 Speed Yellow 911 GT3 Sharkwerks 12 AW/Cinnamon X5d Sports Pkg (retired) 14 AW/Beige M6GC ZCP, MPE, V2 steering wheel, vorsteiner (retired) 08 SSII/Black E90 M3 (retired)
	Appreciate 1 Edward376.50 Quote

09-21-2016, 10:46 AM	#5
Rat3d ///M 997.1TT 1001 Rep 1,672 Posts Drives: 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Germany iTrader: (1)	FWIW, I didn't even know there was a difference until about 6 months ago when someone was following behind me and noticed I had Euro tails, and asked me where I got them Apparently they were installed by a previous owner along with my Euro headlight switch. Never even knew either of them weren't factory. __________________ Current: 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo Former: ESS Supercharged ///M3 Interlagos Blue ZCP Subscribe to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Rat3dM Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rat3d_m/
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-21-2016, 01:06 PM	#6
91foxbody Private First Class 47 Rep 126 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: PNW iTrader: (1)	Good luck finding euro tails. My car was taken on euro delivery and had them, and when one died a month ago I looked far and wide. Eventually tried to order from a Danish supplier, but it was a PITA and I just converted to the US red lights.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-21-2016, 02:58 PM	#8
e1000 that's what SHE said! 75 Rep 1,163 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 ZCP Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: OC iTrader: (1)	I love my euro tails! __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-21-2016, 08:56 PM	#10
kscarrol Brigadier General 8890 Rep 4,107 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i, 1974 2002 Tii Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (0)	^^ I first ordered a set from ECS and they were apparently drop shipped from Europe. What arrive was not OEM BMW (despite showing this on the website) and were in fact red US spec tail lights. They promptly refunded my money but informed me they could no longer get the euro spec tails. I see a late Nov ship date shown on their website so might be worth a call to speak with them before ordering to make sure they can actually source them... __________________ 2021 X3 M40i 1974 2002tii, Inka, 5 sp manual BMWCCA # 327475
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-21-2016, 11:20 PM	#11
M43S7RO Major 502 Rep 1,055 Posts Drives: Jerez Black E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Peoria, AZ iTrader: (13)	Not a fan of the euro lights. Yellow lights inside the red housing look more orange than anything. Uniform red color on the tails is > __________________ aFe Stage 2 Intake \| BW Race X-Pipe \| UUC Corsa Exhaust \| Alpine MS Tune \| Brembo GT
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-22-2016, 11:48 AM	#14
Edward Colonel 377 Rep 2,982 Posts Drives: 2013.9999 E92 Jerez ZCP Join Date: May 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	I got mine from ECS and it took about 2 months but they are oem with PN and stamping and all. They look far better and are much more noticeable as a hazard or blinker light than some stupid blinking red like the US version.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-22-2016, 01:25 PM	#17
DSilk Major 550 Rep 1,148 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW M3 Coupe Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Jaguar XJ [0.00] 2015 Jaguar XF [0.00] 2014 VW GTI [0.00] 2008 BMW M3 Coupe [0.00] 2007 VW Passat 2.0T [0.00]	Look for the clear section (barely visible). My indicators are amber.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-22-2016, 01:39 PM	#18
dparm Stop the hate, get a V8 3850 Rep 8,625 Posts Drives: C7 Corvette GS, AMG C63 S Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Frisco, TX iTrader: (1)	Maybe you can just trade with someone? It always seems like the US guys want the Euro lights, and the Euro guys want the US lights. This was even the case a decade ago when I had my Acura Integra....everyone wanted what they didn't have. __________________ Now: 2017 Corvette Grand Sport, 2021 AMG C63 S sedan Past: 2011.5 M3 sedan ZCP
	Appreciate 0 Quote

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search