Smoked my front turn signal housing and removed the orange headlight LED

eclipsisNA · 02-12-2009, 09:36 PM

I baked my headlight units open earlier today and smoked the clear turn signal housing. The result came out looking fantastic. We're going to reseal the entire headlight unit with silicone adhesive later this week to make sure no moisture ever gets in.

And here's the part a lot of people will like: I removed the orange LED and its circuitry from the headlight unit. The best news about removing all of this is that it causes NO error messages on iDrive. Pull the LED, wiring, and circuitry out, and you have a clean headlight unit.

ponch_ki · 02-12-2009, 10:10 PM

nice! looking forward to see some installed pics

Sticky · 02-12-2009, 10:13 PM

I'll pay you money to remove my orange headlight LED, or please tell us how step by step.

Kev · 02-12-2009, 10:28 PM

You can probably solder out the amber LED and solder in a new white LED.

Sticky · 02-12-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev

You can probably solder out the amber LED and solder in a new white LED.

Don't see why not, but I just want it gone period.

endofanera7 · 02-12-2009, 10:32 PM

please post installed pics soon!

eclipsisNA · 02-12-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sticky

I'll pay you money to remove my orange headlight LED, or please tell us how step by step.

I wouldn't recommend having most people do the steps needed, as it's very easy to screw up the many parts that make up the headlight. The headlight is also extremely expensive, so I'd hate to be responsible for people busting their headlight. But if there's anyone out there gutsy enough to give it a try, I'll make a DIY some time. You can PM me and we can arrange me taking it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev

You can probably solder out the amber LED and solder in a new white LED.

That's true, you definitely can judging by what I saw. I decided to just leave it empty. By removing the LED, it exposes a piece of silver metal that the LED sat on. I painted that metal black to match the turn signal housing. BTW, thanks for the deposit!

Sticky · 02-12-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eclipse Motors

I wouldn't recommend having most people do the steps needed, as it's very easy to screw up the many parts that make up the headlight. The headlight is also extremely expensive, so I'd hate to be responsible for people busting their headlight. You can PM me and we can arrange me taking it out.

That's true, you definitely can judging by what I saw. I decided to just leave it empty. By removing the LED, it exposes a piece of silver metal that the LED sat on. I painted that metal black to match the turn signal housing. BTW, thanks for the deposit!

I'll pm you but I think others in the area would be interested so you might be well served by posting what the cost would be.

doba_s · 02-12-2009, 11:08 PM

nice job !

SlammedR8 · 02-12-2009, 11:15 PM

cant wait to see this done, today i was looking at my buddys c63, and i think my favorite part is that the headlights are basically BLACK! looks awesome.

moog55 · 02-13-2009, 01:05 AM

can't wait to see the pics, eric! i need to do this.

swamp2 · 02-13-2009, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sticky

I'll pay you money to remove my orange headlight LED, or please tell us how step by step.

My initial thoughts were the same. This thing has to go. I put clear lenses and white bulbs front/back and side on my E36 M3, slightly illegal but I liked the look, both lights on and lights off. I have more of a love/hate with the yellow bulbs and yellow LED on the E9X M3. I'd like to see a E9X M3 done totally clear/white in person to make a final call.

What are your plans, just to ditch the one yellow/orange LED in each headlight?

Nice work Eric, you are really modding away.

Sticky · 02-13-2009, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swamp2

My initial thoughts were the same. This thing has to go. I put clear lenses and white bulbs front/back and side on my E36 M3, slightly illegal but I liked the look, both lights on and lights off. I have more of a love/hate with the yellow bulbs and yellow LED on the E9X M3. I'd like to see a E9X M3 done totally clear/white in person to make a final call.

What are your plans, just to ditch the one yellow/orange LED in each headlight?

Nice work Eric, you are really modding away.

Are you asking me or him? I just want the orange LED gone and turn signal bulbs changed to ones with no amber.

alpine335i · 02-13-2009, 09:39 AM

Waiting to see finished product.

eclipsisNA · 02-13-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swamp2

My initial thoughts were the same. This thing has to go. I put clear lenses and white bulbs front/back and side on my E36 M3, slightly illegal but I liked the look, both lights on and lights off. I have more of a love/hate with the yellow bulbs and yellow LED on the E9X M3. I'd like to see a E9X M3 done totally clear/white in person to make a final call.

What are your plans, just to ditch the one yellow/orange LED in each headlight?

Nice work Eric, you are really modding away.

Thanks M, I'm going mod crazy lately. Riss Racing is installing straight pipes on my car next week too.

I'm ditching the orange LED and waiting on JLeviSW to release LED front turn signal bulbs.

eclipsisNA · 02-15-2009, 06:24 PM

I'll have installed pics tomorrow.

MentholGuy · 02-18-2009, 06:02 PM

GregW / Oregon · 02-18-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sticky

Are you asking me or him? I just want the orange LED gone and turn signal bulbs changed to ones with no amber.

Maybe I'm too anal, but the LED is the DOT-mandated side marker light that lets others see you from the side. Not sure I want to decrease safety for a minor/questionable aesthetic. But, whatever pushes your buttons. That being said, I did paint my front reflectors, so I guess I'm not too consistent in my reasoning!

gthirtyfizle · 02-18-2009, 06:11 PM

Where r the pics?

E92-Lighting · 02-18-2009, 06:50 PM

still waiting on pics

VanM3Lover · 02-20-2009, 05:52 AM

bump for pics!

recentrisk · 02-20-2009, 09:19 AM

Could we just cut the wire to the LED? There is no amber plastic on the LED correct? That would be an easy fix that we could do without opening the headlight...

02-12-2009, 09:36 PM	#1
eclipsisNA Colonel 350 Rep 2,937 Posts Drives: 2013 Estoril 328i M Sport Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Beverly Hills, CA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2014 BMW 428i [7.76]	Smoked my front turn signal housing and removed the orange headlight LED I baked my headlight units open earlier today and smoked the clear turn signal housing. The result came out looking fantastic. We're going to reseal the entire headlight unit with silicone adhesive later this week to make sure no moisture ever gets in. And here's the part a lot of people will like: I removed the orange LED and its circuitry from the headlight unit. The best news about removing all of this is that it causes NO error messages on iDrive. Pull the LED, wiring, and circuitry out, and you have a clean headlight unit.
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02-12-2009, 10:10 PM	#2
ponch_ki Second Lieutenant 53 Rep 297 Posts Drives: cars Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Manila, Philippines iTrader: (0)	nice! looking forward to see some installed pics __________________ 2008 AW E92 M3 (sold ) Amuse Ericsson Exhaust, Amuse Trunk, Vorsteiner Lip, BMW Performance Seats, AA SSK, AA Pulley, Gruppe-M Intake, BBS 19" LMs, AP Racing BBK 1994 BMW E36 M3 Euro (Track Car)
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02-12-2009, 10:13 PM	#3
Sticky Banned 78 Rep 2,244 Posts Drives: E92 Jerez DCT M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Anaheim Hills / Malibu iTrader: (0)	I'll pay you money to remove my orange headlight LED, or please tell us how step by step.
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02-12-2009, 10:28 PM	#4
Kev Critical Care Anesthesiologist 481 Rep 8,828 Posts Drives: SMB F83 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (24) Garage List 2009 Porsche 911 Ca ... [9.50]	You can probably solder out the amber LED and solder in a new white LED. __________________ kev { divinum est sedate dolorem } "your friendly neighborhood critical care anesthesiologist"
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02-12-2009, 10:32 PM	#6
endofanera7 Major General 514 Rep 5,392 Posts Drives: 08 JB E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (16) Garage List 2018 Porsche GT3 [9.50]	please post installed pics soon!
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02-12-2009, 11:08 PM	#9
doba_s Major General 405 Rep 6,107 Posts Drives: X7 l Cayenne l 997.2RS Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Danville iTrader: (26)	nice job !
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02-12-2009, 11:15 PM	#10
SlammedR8 Major General 521 Rep 5,483 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 40i/2020 R8 V10 Spyder Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2)	cant wait to see this done, today i was looking at my buddys c63, and i think my favorite part is that the headlights are basically BLACK! looks awesome. __________________ Current: 2019 BMW X5 40i - Carbon Black/Tartufo Individual Leather 2020 Range Rover HSE - Black/Black 2020 Audi R8 V10 Performance Spyder 6MT - Ascari Blue/Black
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02-13-2009, 01:05 AM	#11
moog55 Major 55 Rep 1,113 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	can't wait to see the pics, eric! i need to do this.
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02-13-2009, 09:39 AM	#14
alpine335i Captain 44 Rep 687 Posts Drives: 08 e92 M3 6MT, 08 e90 328xi Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY iTrader: (2)	Waiting to see finished product. __________________ 2008 Alpine White E92 ///M3
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02-15-2009, 06:24 PM	#16
eclipsisNA Colonel 350 Rep 2,937 Posts Drives: 2013 Estoril 328i M Sport Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Beverly Hills, CA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2014 BMW 428i [7.76]	I'll have installed pics tomorrow.
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02-18-2009, 06:02 PM	#17
MentholGuy 190 Rep 1,497 Posts Drives: 11 E90 M3 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: S. Cal iTrader: (12)
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02-18-2009, 06:11 PM	#19
gthirtyfizle Colonel 191 Rep 2,867 Posts Drives: E92 M3 AW Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (4)	Where r the pics?
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02-18-2009, 06:50 PM	#20
E92-Lighting 860 Rep 35,253 Posts Drives: Next Generation LED Lighting Join Date: May 2008 Location: Walnut iTrader: (324)	still waiting on pics
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02-20-2009, 05:52 AM	#21
VanM3Lover First Lieutenant 20 Rep 394 Posts Drives: 4.0 V8 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Van iTrader: (0)	bump for pics!
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02-20-2009, 09:19 AM	#22
recentrisk New Member 5 Rep 22 Posts Drives: M5 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: DC/MD/VA iTrader: (0)	Could we just cut the wire to the LED? There is no amber plastic on the LED correct? That would be an easy fix that we could do without opening the headlight...
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