Adaptive Braking Will Never Work On An Led Retrofit ...& Led Wiring Diagram

[PB_M3]

After about 3 hours of disassembly and testing, I have determined that the Adaptive Braking function will NEVER work (without modification to the OEM parts) on an LED retrofit, even with new software!!!!!

As far as I can determine, the Adapter Cable Set does not have the ability or necessary hardware, to activate the "Bright" setting of the outer ring.

Upon close inspection of the Adapter Cable Set, I noticed that the CAR side connector of the adapter has 6 positions with 6 male contact pins, while the LED connector side of the adapter has 8 positions with only 6 female contact pins. That's right, two unused positions in the LED end of the adapter cableset .

Additionally, there are 8 contact pins on the LED's themselves.

I have determined what one of the additional contacts on the LED's is for...the "Bright" setting of the outer ring.

In the car end of the adapter there are 6 contacts:
1. One for the: + for the interior trunk light
2. One for the: - for the interior trunk light
3. One for the: + for the turn signal
4. One for the: + for the running light (towards the center of the car)
5. One for the: + Brake light (towards the corner of the car)
6. One for the: - All Ground

In the LED end of the adapter there are also 6 contacts:
1. One for the: + for the interior trunk light
2. One for the: - for the interior trunk light
3. One for the: + for the turn signal
4. One for the: + for the "all red led's dim"
5. One for the: + for the "all red center led's bright"
6. One for the: - All Ground

The adapter is missing the facility to supply a signal to the LED'S "Bright' outer ring contact. :complain

[iCeDmAn]

Supposedly they say nothing is impossible, but if this is you just saved a lot of peoples time...props for trying though.:clap:

[MMNJTWA]

it can b done, but don't know if it would be worth the time effort and thought process to accomplish it! i have a general idea of how to make it work, but would not be of any help without great detail and i don't feel like it now... maybe later

[daihard]

Originally posted by M_azn_3
it can b done, but don't know if it would be worth the time effort and thought process to accomplish it! i have a general idea of how to make it work, but would not be of any help without great detail and i don't feel like it now... maybe later
What are the advantages of the Adaptive LED tail lights? I've read a few posts where people want to retrofit it on their pre-2004 models, but I personally don't see what makes the conversion worth the time and effort... or maybe I'm missing something. :chix

[iCeDmAn]

They are 2 Stage so the harder you brake the brighter they get, plus they look schweet, I lovem

[daihard]

Originally posted by iCeDmAn
They are 2 Stage so the harder you brake the brighter they get, plus they look schweet, I lovem
Just two stages? I thought there were more, finer levels! :astromile

[95MMM]

MAN

this was MY IDEA!!

i have always wondered why car manufactures didn't great some sort of brake lights that got brighter the harder you braked

possibly they can create a tail light that has a bar level that visibly increases as you brake harder :dunno

[daihard]

Originally posted by 95MMM
MAN

this was MY IDEA!!
Hehe.


i have always wondered why car manufactures didn't great some sort of brake lights that got brighter the harder you braked
yeah, the brake lights that change the intensity in a linear fashion would be nice.

[hakjai]

its not a big deal...ive had friends tell me they cant even tell the difference when i brake hard and soft

[PB_M3]

Originally posted by iCeDmAn
Supposedly they say nothing is impossible... :clap:

I don't believe I ever said that it was impossible...


M_azn_3
it can b done, but don't know if it would be worth the time effort and thought process to accomplish it! i have a general idea of how to make it work, but would not be of any help without great detail and i don't feel like it now... maybe later

Beat you to it:
I have developed a product that enables the "Adaptive" function of retrofitted LED's. I am considering making them available for a nominal fee. Would there be any interest?

[MMNJTWA]

Originally posted by PB_M3
Beat you to it:
I have developed a product that enables the "Adaptive" function of retrofitted LED's. I am considering making them available for a nominal fee. Would there be any interest?

probably the same concept was thinking, but in a usable material form:buttrock :D nice job though. if i had the time i would produce it too, but i don't. PEACE!

[SI///M3]

Man, those things are so annoying. I remember earlier this year there was a 330PP at the track and every time he slowed down for a turn the stupid lights would flash and crap. Good thing I wasn't behind him for long. ;)

[daihard]

Originally posted by SI///M3
Man, those things are so annoying. I remember earlier this year there was a 330PP at the track and every time he slowed down for a turn the stupid lights would flash and crap. Good thing I wasn't behind him for long. ;)
You need to step on the brake pedel to activate the Adaptive brake lights, though, IIRC. Just slowing down using engine braking won't do a thing to them.

[PB_M3]

Daihard is correct. You must really get on the stoppers to get the "Adaptive Outer Ring" to light up. Also with my product, the sensativity is very easily adjustable.

[SI///M3]

Originally posted by daihard
You need to step on the brake pedel to activate the Adaptive brake lights, though, IIRC. Just slowing down using engine braking won't do a thing to them.

I know. :) Thats what I'm sayin, on the track that shit is annoying as hell!

[hakjai]

darn it u guys are complaining about it being annoying and im still trying to see the difference on mine...

[daihard]

Originally posted by hakjai
darn it u guys are complaining about it being annoying and im still trying to see the difference on mine...
And I haven't even gotten mine yet... :evil2

[PB_M3]

There obviously is a difference... Why would an auto maker develop this technology If they felt it did not make a difference?

[PB_M3]

Originally posted by SI///M3
Man, those things are so annoying. I remember earlier this year there was a 330PP at the track and every time he slowed down for a turn the stupid lights would flash and crap. Good thing I wasn't behind him for long. ;)

If they bothered you that much... you certanly did notice them didn't you. :evil2 Is that not the point of "Adaptive Braking"?

Getting noticed? :wave:

[PB_M3]

See here:

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=147803

[daihard]

Originally posted by PB_M3
See here:

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=147803
Wow, did you develop the system all by yourself?

[PB_M3]

Yup, sure did.

[PB_M3]

:bump:

[bmwe30is]

Originally posted by daihard
Hehe.


yeah, the brake lights that change the intensity in a linear fashion would be nice.

If lights increased their brightness with a linear fashion, people would not notice you braking.

That's why brakes are either on or off, not progressive.

The human eye does not respont to progressive lights that well. When planes were built, they were having problems with pilots crashing their planes into the runway because they had a progressive altimeter light, that slowly got brighter as they descended. To the pilot, the light looked the same until it was too late.

But adaptive braking is a very good feature since it makes a significant difference as you press onto the brake pedal.

- Jonathan

[Aren G]

so its only two stages?
it should be more, and reallly really bright lights.

maybe it will keep people from tailgating?

maybe not, let's not forget target fixation

[daihard]

Originally posted by Jonathan Chan
If lights increased their brightness with a linear fashion, people would not notice you braking.

That's why brakes are either on or off, not progressive.
That's a good point. I didn't really think much about that. So I suppose it's a well thought out idea that they have two distinctive stages instead of linear "progressive" stages. :D

[bmwe30is]

Originally posted by CrotchMonster
so its only two stages?
it should be more, and reallly really bright lights.

maybe it will keep people from tailgating?

maybe not, let's not forget target fixation

Aren, it's what we saw at the BMW event, during hard braking the 2nd stage would "engage".

I don't think target fixation would occur with brake lights...unless people are zoning out.

[PB_M3]

I drove behind my friend earlier tonight with the adaptive kit on his car and I could not help but stare at the outer ring turn on and off, on and off, it was kind of hypnotic. The sensitivity on his kit was set a bit too high which made the adaptive 2nd stage kick in a little too often. We readjusted the sensitivity and now all is well. The 2nd stage ring of LEDS really demands attention.

[PB_M3]

I have been getting requests for images of the product.
Well here it is. And if any of you are still interested let me know.

[Sack]

Time to resurrect an old thread...

For Left hand taillight.... Best I can tell its the missing signal to get the outer ring to illuminate is from pin 20 (Left Hand) of the Light Control Module. This signal is sent to pin 4 of X319 connector, a pin left empty with the retrofit kit. Retrofit kits connector is number X338, which is just X319 on the 03/03 diagram. The ring you can get to illuminate if you jumper to pin4, per some other posters. The other empty pin, pin 8, appears to have no function? I cant find it on any diagram. I guess maybe the supplier doesnt make odd number connector pinouts.

I guess the steady red and inner brake illumination is controlled via the same pin. 6 for LH?

Also I was looking at the rear fog light wiring and thinking about using this unused wire and repining the LCM connector at the dash and running this to the pin 4 of the X319. This would get a wire that was routed back to the trunk area and its large enough gage for the lights.

Anyone looked at this recently?

[Sack]

I found this rewire instructions to get the outer ring to illuminate while braking. This then confirms pin 4 powers the outer ring. hxxp://xxx.tigerdave.com/Guides/led_mod/

I did verify pin 20 and 38 are free on my 01 LCM, and the new part number that has superceeded the 01 LCM, the reflashable one. The pins were empty till 2003, when LEDs came.

Note: What Im looking into is for coupes and not verts or sedans.

[robmpulse]

Sounds to me like this was more of a "look what you can't do and look what i have to sell that makes it work" thread......lol

[Sack]

I dunno man, the guy who made the unit seems alright. I emailed him and he was responsive. Hes not been into the community or his car much for years, said he sold his BMW back as a lemon. =(

As of 09/01' wires from the LCM to rear fogs are on pins 29 and 30. Early 01' cars have the rear fogs on pin 49, both of them. 1 wire, no splices, going to 2 different lights. Pretty amazing. The WD looks to be not showing the splice or additional wiring. Either way its defined incorrectly in the version I'm looking at.

Also, I found this WDS Wiring Diagram thing, pretty handy and would have saved me lots of time sorting out what goes where. Buy it, its worth it, but get the V11. You can also 'find' it online.

I guess I can turn on the rear fogs, but they are pretty annoying to look at, and I really dont need them where I live. I am going to use these wires to get the adaptive braking to work correctly with retrofit LEDs.

Edit:
Rear fog light wiring isnt there on my early 01. Pretty lame, it is on early 01 diagram. I was thinking of using this wire and repining at the LCM.

If your car has the rear fog light wiring, and you dont want your rear fogs, you can reroute this to the outter ring on the retrofit kit to get it to work as the production cars do.

BMW should just have 1 harness for all coupes. Having mutiple part numers to save a nickle in wiring is wasteful, and ruins my idea. =}