▀▄ eas - 2011 LCI Taillight Retrofit Overview - Q&A

[aajami]

Originally Posted by SECRET M

what are blacklines?

Darker tinted lights from BMW that aren't out yet. BMW released Black Lines for the pre-LCI E90 that were very popular before the LCI happened in MY09.

As for the LCI E92 Black Lines, go here and type "lights" into the search field:

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/acc...er/finder.html

I'm not sure if the pictured taillights are actually the Black Lines or not, but I should have more information regarding their availability this week.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by RandyB

Tom,

Could you please post some images of the wiring harness piece that you have made? Great product!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by montreal red

+1
i would like to see the how the wiring harness looks like and where you placed it.

It's simply an adapter harness.

The harnesses simply adapt the old style plug to the new style in a Plug and Play fashion - with no cutting/splicing or resistors (dangerous) needed.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by aajami

Darker tinted lights from BMW that aren't out yet. BMW released Black Lines for the pre-LCI E90 that were very popular before the LCI happened in MY09.

As for the LCI E92 Black Lines, go here and type "lights" into the search field:

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/acc...er/finder.html

I'm not sure if the pictured taillights are actually the Black Lines or not, but I should have more information regarding their availability this week.

Here's an image of what BMW is calling "dark lines"



Dark line rear lights*

Slightly darkened and framed in fine grey. They make the rear end of the BMW 3 Series particularly striking. Available for certain models only. For 3 Series Coupé and Convertible models from 03/10 onwards.
Installation duration 30 min

Available for 3 Series Coupé from 09/06, 3 Series Convertible from 03/07

* Your local BMW Service Partner will be pleased to inform you about the price and availability of this product.

This is good news for those not local, meaning that BMW will likely have access to retrofit coding soon.

[Kev]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Here's an image of what BMW is calling "dark lines"



Dark line rear lights*

Slightly darkened and framed in fine grey. They make the rear end of the BMW 3 Series particularly striking. Available for certain models only. For 3 Series Coupé and Convertible models from 03/10 onwards.
Installation duration 30 min

Available for 3 Series Coupé from 09/06, 3 Series Convertible from 03/07

* Your local BMW Service Partner will be pleased to inform you about the price and availability of this product.

This is good news for those not local, meaning that BMW will likely have access to retrofit coding soon.

From what I understand, that's not a picture of the "dark line" tail lights. There's no official pictures of the tail lights yet.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Kev

From what I understand, that's not a picture of the "dark line" tail lights. There's no official pictures of the tail lights yet.

Good. I didn't want to be the first in saying I couldn't see any little difference.

[eclipsisNA]

Tom, are you guys open today? I'm going to be in the OC until this evening.

[aajami]

This is good news for those not local, meaning that BMW will likely have access to retrofit coding soon.

The site specifically says that these lights are for E92s built after 3/10, aka MY11. That said, I've asked BMW Performance if a retrofit kit is forthcoming -- we'll see what they say.

[C17MooseDriver]

Error lights? I don't remember you guys mentioning that either. I've seen plenty of references and the video about the bulb check, but it does seem that the error lights should have been the biggest issue.

It seems to me you guys tried to bury that info and weren't straightforward about it. It wasn't lying, but definitely not the whole truth.

Btw. Here's the thread you guys started in the M3 forum

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=382162

Nowhere does it mention error lights.

[aajami]

I'm sure no one is trying to mislead anybody here. There have been a number of threads about retrofitting lights on pre-LCI E90 and E92 M3s during the past year on this forum, and error codes are always an issue that people prominently mention. For my part, this knowledge is assumed, and I'm pretty sure Tom thought the same for everyone else when posting the original thread.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by C17MooseDriver

Error lights? I don't remember you guys mentioning that either. I've seen plenty of references and the video about the bulb check, but it does seem that the error lights should have been the biggest issue.

It seems to me you guys tried to bury that info and weren't straightforward about it. It wasn't lying, but definitely not the whole truth.

Btw. Here's the thread you guys started in the M3 forum

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=382162

Nowhere does it mention error lights.

If BulbCheck detects what it thinks is a malfunctioning bulb, it will trigger an error (BulbCheck doing its expected job) with the later builds seeming to be a bit more sensitive than earlier models from experience. I go more into detail about this in the post #1 of this thread.

ALL vehicles that have retrofitted lamps installed need coding to expect a 100% perfectly working system - I cannot be any clearer on this, this is a route most BMW electronics will be going.

As per the error messages, we reported this on e90Post back on 5/5:

Overview:
At this time, we have performed logging sessions on the following models:

2008 M3, iDrive equipped (eas project M3)
Notes: No errors, slight 1-2 second flickering upon ignition.
Build Date: 2/2008

2009 M3, iDrive equipped (reviewed above)
Build Date: 8/2009
Notes: Left brake lamp malfunction message, rapid turn signal operation, slight flickering upon ignition.

2010 M3, iDrive equipped (installed, not photo-documented)
Build Date: 10/2009
Notes: Numerous lamp malfunction messages only upon brake pedal/reverse gear combo application - messages autoclear when reverse is disengaged.
We go over the error messages discovered in this post:

link: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...&postcount=151

I'm sorry it wasn't in M3post, there is a very gray area on what sponsors are permitted to post outside the vendor's sections - a reason why this needs to remain a technical-only thread.

[doba_s]

Not defending EAS, but it was mentioned a dozen of times that coding will be required even before the retrofit was done.

[Powerbeast]

EAS all the way Tom and team are awesome,a pleasure to deal with and I will be coming back very very soon.

[C17MooseDriver]

Originally Posted by doba_s

Not defending EAS, but it was mentioned a dozen of times that coding will be required even before the retrofit was done.

But where do they mention coding is required to clear fault lights on the dash. If you look at their original thread I linked above, they never mention it. The coding is required to prevent the flashing lights from the bulb check.

The first time I've seen it mentioned on the M3forum was this thread.

Don't get me wrong. Overall, I think EAS is the best vendor, and I still look at them first when buying anything, but I was thinking of buying these tail lights. I would have been pissed if I had fault lights on the dash. I could have lived with the flashing lights on startup.

[A1 RDL]

Originally Posted by C17MooseDriver

But where do they mention coding is required to clear fault lights on the dash. If you look at their original thread I linked above, they never mention it. The coding is required to prevent the flashing lights from the bulb check.

The first time I've seen it mentioned on the M3forum was this thread.

Don't get me wrong. Overall, I think EAS is the best vendor, and I still look at them first when buying anything, but I was thinking of buying these tail lights. I would have been pissed if I had fault lights on the dash. I could have lived with the flashing lights on startup.

I am glad someone agrees with me........ I bought the harness but after reading this thread dont want to get the lights and cant find a tech in my area. Also the harness is non refundable.

[Fupa92]

What would happen if a customer gets this done and the lights go out? BMW won't honor the warranty when they find out its not the proper lighting for that particular year.

[Alekshop]

Originally Posted by C17MooseDriver

But where do they mention coding is required to clear fault lights on the dash. If you look at their original thread I linked above, they never mention it. The coding is required to prevent the flashing lights from the bulb check.

The first time I've seen it mentioned on the M3forum was this thread.

Don't get me wrong. Overall, I think EAS is the best vendor, and I still look at them first when buying anything, but I was thinking of buying these tail lights. I would have been pissed if I had fault lights on the dash. I could have lived with the flashing lights on startup.

Here is the thread that EAS joined and started putting some data on how it should be done. If you read post#1 you can see that OP had malfunction lights on the dash.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...hlight=LCI+E92

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Fupa92

What would happen if a customer gets this done and the lights go out? BMW won't honor the warranty when they find out its not the proper lighting for that particular year.

The taillamps have their own manufacturer warranty from BMW, but BMW likely would not be covering labor costs on retrofitted items.

[wuzupfoo]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

The taillamps have their own manufacturer warranty from BMW, but BMW likely would not be covering labor costs on retrofitted items.

This is I assume a 1 year limited??

Also great job with these, once the autologic coding and/or bmw has their own, I will be definitely be looking to get these!

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by wuzupfoo

This is I assume a 1 year limited??

Also great job with these, once the autologic coding and/or bmw has their own, I will be definitely be looking to get these!

Correct.

[eclipsisNA]

Originally Posted by aajami

I'm sure no one is trying to mislead anybody here. There have been a number of threads about retrofitting lights on pre-LCI E90 and E92 M3s during the past year on this forum, and error codes are always an issue that people prominently mention. For my part, this knowledge is assumed, and I'm pretty sure Tom thought the same for everyone else when posting the original thread.

+1. EAS posted what amounts to a journal in the E92 LCI thread on E90Post that was linked to above. EAS has been very vocal about the dash errors, actually the farthest thing from concealing any info. I too would figure that these errors were common knowledge given the amount of coverage the taillight update has received as of late, but being it's not apparently common knowledge, EAS updated their for sale thread to reflect the info.

[gthirtyfizle]

beleive it or not, I think this mod is what improves the rear of the car the most. i absolutely love mine. thank u very much EAS...

[Tio///M]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Correct.

Do the new LCI lights retain the rear fog light option, like the originals did?
I am asking just so that we can have the knowledge and for those who have done the rear fog light switch mod.

Please let us know.

Thanks Tom!!