OEM+ mood lighting done a different way

[Greenmachine1]

I was searching around to see how people were modifying the e36 dome lights to incorporate LEDs to light up the center console area (OE mood lighting). I went my own route to make it look more OEM:

[Frank@AchillesMotorsports]

Nice little touch. what did you source the LED's from?

[Greenmachine1]

Nice little touch. what did you source the LED's from?

Thanks! Forgot to mention that: e39.

[TriniSpeC]

Nice but I would put some brighter leds. vLEDS

[Doraiba]

Clean install, but why not just retrofit LED bulbs into the preexisting lights. Now it just looks like you have way too many lights in one area.

[hide1]

Nice. You just need lovesac seating and a lava lamp to set the mood..

[Greenmachine1]

Nice. You just need lovesac seating and a lava lamp to set the mood..

^lol^

[rajicase]

How did you wire it? What did you use for power and ground?

[Greenmachine1]

How did you wire it? What did you use for power and ground?

Dome light power: Violet/ white stripe +, Brown -. LEDs are on when ignition is on.

[EricP]

I thought those looked familiar! Love the glow the E39 has at night from those little LED's.

[e30jrosso]

Clean install, but why not just retrofit LED bulbs into the preexisting lights. Now it just looks like you have way too many lights in one area.

Those lights are totally different than switch or overhead/map lights. I'm guessing they are what newer models have that run at night and illuminate whats beneath without actually being visible, if that makes any sense. Like if you stick your hand under them you get orange light, but you can't see where the light is actually coming from. In my e60 there are front lights that illuminate the shifter, and back lights that illuminate the rear console.

[CMG]

Now that i think about it the amber is kinda night stealth mode. Where are those lights found on the e39?

[Greenmachine1]

Now that i think about it the amber is kinda night stealth mode. Where are those lights found on the e39?

Yes. e39. I love them. OEM+ too.

[EricP]

Now that i think about it the amber is kinda night stealth mode. Where are those lights found on the e39?

On the e39 5-series:

[Greenmachine1]

^Yup, that's what I used^

[CMG]

On the e39 5-series:

Great thanks, now i have a new thing to fill my pockets with at the yard. Happen to know if it's all years and models?

[CMG]

Great thanks, now i have a new thing to fill my pockets with at the yard. Happen to know if it's all years and models? The yards are around 2000 and under for the cheap section.

.

[Greenmachine1]

I think all the e39 dome lights are the same. I got mine on eBay for $12 shipped.

[mpower5266]

E38's had them too, I kinda miss having that ambient light like I did in my old 7.

[Jrrrrrrr]

The LEDs look very well integrated, but just like your thread on M3F, you're still missing a good photo of the mood lighting in action. As in, how does it actually illuminate the cabin and/or center console. I know LED lighting is tough to capture in photo, but at least try.

I prefer what the OP did over the e38/e39 panel, for some reason.

[Greenmachine1]

The LEDs look very well integrated, but just like your thread on M3F, you're still missing a good photo of the mood lighting in action. As in, how does it actually illuminate the cabin and/or center console. I know LED lighting is tough to capture in photo, but at least try.

I prefer what the OP did over the e38/e39 panel, for some reason.

Thank you Sir. I'll try to capture the illumination with an iPhone. Like you said that's pretty hard to do. The lighting is very faint at best. If you were to sit in a newer car with them from the factory, that's what it looks like.