E39-esque ambient lighting results

[5mall5nail5]

Just took these for people to see before I start mailing out the bits I told them I would.

http://jonkensy.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_0053.jpg

That's the most important shot - you can see how they are not intrusive at all. The exposure was super long (hence the OBC being yellowish vs amber) - I just wanted to assure that they aren't that visible directly.

Here's the shots of them on the console:

http://jonkensy.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_0051.jpg

Thats about the brightness. But there's slightly more spread in person, more like:

http://jonkensy.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/IMG_0049.jpg

Only not so bright (you can tell its overexposed by the OBC being yellow again)

[cmgreensr]

I like it. Good job

[samteezy]

Definitely want to do this mod now. Still open to PMs for the tubes and nuts?

[e34Croak]

Looks Great. Nice work Jon! Are they in the panel where the sunroof switch is? Let me know how I can get my hands on a set.

[ShapeShifter]

Not something I'm interested in, but great shots!

[5mall5nail5]

Thanks all,

Yeah I have plenty of parts - you just need the LEDs, resistor, and some wire and time. I haven't mailed anything out yet - had a hellish week of work last week.

Shoot me a PM if interested.

[Winchm60]

Looks really nice; good job!

[keith2]

Pm sent. Very interested. For wiring just follow Garretts DIY?

[MacR]

Everyone should do this mod. I did mine about a month back and love it!

[Russellc]

very nice, I might be interested.

[eightynine535]

how much for a completely finished panel?

[5mall5nail5]

Pm sent. Very interested. For wiring just follow Garretts DIY?

I threw up a guide too - not sure where it got to. Search for threads created by my user name in the E34 section you'll find it.


how much for a completely finished panel?

More than you can afford, pal ;) No time, sorry.

[moroza]

I dig. They provide subtly useful lighting at night, but the main purpose as I see it is to show off parts of the interior. With that in mind, what do you think about having a few more sets, to illuminate nice doorpanels for instance? I'd at least put some in the door latch cavities, like E38's have.

[T444E]

TBH, that looks too focused on the back of the center console, maybe it's just the pics. I'll have to get some pics of mine up,.

[RED89E34]

I want I want!!! :)

[5mall5nail5]

TBH, that looks too focused on the back of the center console, maybe it's just the pics. I'll have to get some pics of mine up,.


It's because of the exposure - its hard to catch faint light, especially amber. You'll notice all these photos are like 20+ second exposures. If I turn the camera around it'll make night look like daytime but we all know it's not.

[eightynine535]

...More than you can afford, pal ;) No time, sorry.

:(

[attack eagle]

Not something I'm interested in, but great shots!
ditto. See no reason for it, as the switches are already backlit. all it can possibly do is hinder night vision.

of course if you need a little light to find your way around your date's anatomy while parked somewhere... yeah i could see the utility.

[5mall5nail5]

Its not going to hinder night driving, its no brighter than the E46 in my driveway, and its not directly viewable. It makes holding a paper over the shifter easy to read without turning the full cabin light on, which would be distracting.

[attack eagle]

yeah i didn't like that in the e46. You can see it. the interior glows. and that interferes... especially as you get older and the old eyes don't adjust as as quickly to lighting changes. the darker the interior the better you can see outside the car.

I must have run 300+ miles on my eastbound leg with everything in the interior completely off, no instrument lighting or anything.

[Russellc]

I am also having second thoughts like Attack Eagle stated, Getting older and all.

I would like soft light in the footwells. My daugter's audi A4 has front and rear footwell lighting and it is nice. In fact the entre Audi interior is nice.

Gee even old Chevys had footwell lights and a dome light

[5mall5nail5]

Guys - just drove the car tonight to a local meet. I honestly didn't even notice the ambient lights. I had to say "oh yeah, check out the ambient lights now that you're driving" - its really mild. Seriously.

[JW767]

Cool..

[shragon]

nice job!

one of the things i've always liked in the e39.

regarding the ambient lights interfering, i never felt this was an issue when driving my parents' e39.

i have them in the e90 as well, but they're not as bright as the e39's.

[5mall5nail5]

Damn Shragon - super old school wut up broski

Guys i got your PMs/addresses and didn't forget. Just been busy with things at work and haven't had the energy to come home and make little packages yet. I will try and do it this week!

[shragon]

Damn Shragon - super old school wut up broski

Guys i got your PMs/addresses and didn't forget. Just been busy with things at work and haven't had the energy to come home and make little packages yet. I will try and do it this week!

nothing much! hope all is good with you and your super fast e34! :thumbup:

[loustylez]

had that type of lighting in my 2001 Audi A4. loved it. just enough to make your hand red on the shifter but you can't "see" the light at all.

[5mall5nail5]

Been meaning to update this thread - if anyone wants the parts just pay me for shipping and I will get them out to you. It's just two plastic flanged pieces and two push nuts - paint them black, beige, whatever you want to do to match your sunroof panel. Super glue your LEDs from the back, tap into power, done and done. Takes like 10-15 mins to do up. Most importantly (to me, at least) is that you can't see the actual LEDs.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/8021574974_0e34a09050_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67031861@N08/8021574974/)
DIY Ambient Lights (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67031861@N08/8021574974/) by Jon Kensy (http://www.flickr.com/people/67031861@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8457/8021571423_63dac4c7a8_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67031861@N08/8021571423/)
DIY Ambient Lights (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67031861@N08/8021571423/) by Jon Kensy (http://www.flickr.com/people/67031861@N08/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8175/8021571703_5176a2d8a7_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67031861@N08/8021571703/)
DIY Ambient Lights (http://www.flickr.com/photos/67031861@N08/8021571703/) by Jon Kensy (http://www.flickr.com/people/67031861@N08/), on Flickr

Again, pay shipping (cheap, USPS envelope style) and I can send the pieces out so you guys don't need to buy a box full of this stuff lol.

[sse34]

Huge internet ego you have dude. Grow the F up kid.

But wait in you first picture i can SEE THE LED's OMG!!!!! they must be showing because you can see the light at the end of the tube right?!?!?!?!?!?

[E34M60]

Huge internet ego you have dude. Grow the F up kid.

But wait in you first picture i can SEE THE LED's OMG!!!!! they must be showing because you can see the light at the end of the tube right?!?!?!?!?!?

:confused

[5mall5nail5]

:confused

He's mad because I noted that his LEDs setup he sells were visible from a seated position.

[sse34]

im not going post my FS thread into this but he started s**t on my thread about how he can see the leds and he doesnt like that when you cant see them IRL, and that he offers to anyone who doesnt want to buy my product to talk to him because he will send it to you for the cost of shipping in my FS thread he offered this.

How do you know this you havnt bought my product d**k head

[K Fox]

Huge internet ego you have dude. Grow the F up kid.

But wait in you first picture i can SEE THE LED's OMG!!!!! they must be showing because you can see the light at the end of the tube right?!?!?!?!?!?


He's mad because I noted that his LEDs setup he sells were visible from a seated position.

Just wanted to point out to you sse34, you did notice the original posts date, didn't you?? :dunno

Fox *sadheadshake* (I knew as soon as this was bumped there'd be drama...I was right)

[5mall5nail5]

Fox *sadheadshake* (I knew as soon as this was bumped there'd be drama...I was right)

I ain't worried bro - I originally just added some advice from what I have heard people preferring and he didn't like that, and that's fine. He told me to post my own DIY and I stated that I had already done so a year+ prior. Either way, anyone can buy whatever they like. If they like this, I am giving the pieces you can't get easily in small quantities away for free and just ask for postage fees. That's all - not trying to get rich, just trying to provide the parts if people want them. I did it a while ago and life got busy and I wasn't able to fulfill all the people who asked for them.

[DUDMD]

Ill retrofit some in the 540i eventually cause I love the ability to see things when needed. Yet they're completely unnoticeable when you're staring out the windshield driving at night. My 01 740il has these up front like the e39, but also a bulb in every door handle, interior and exterior. Makes it easy for passengers to find the door handle to get out. One thing I want to add to my E38 is the rear overhead x5 console or just some of these LEDs into the headliner when i reupholster it. (e38 headliners are POS and always sag)

[Bwaterman]

Keen, do you still have my details Jon?

[Bwaterman]

Keen, do you still have my details Jon?

[sse34]

I'm not mad he bumped his post I'm mad that he offered his product in my FS thread and gave incorrect feed back... I could care less about his thread its just the way he handled bumping his thread in spite of me ... Anyone of the 60 people who have bought my product can tell you he's wrong and yet he is still going on about his wrong "positive" feedback

[5mall5nail5]

Keen, do you still have my details Jon?

Hey Brendan - no I do not. Send them via PM and I will get a pack out to you this week.


I'm not mad he bumped his post I'm mad that he offered his product in my FS thread and gave incorrect feed back... I could care less about his thread its just the way he handled bumping his thread in spite of me ... Anyone of the 60 people who have bought my product can tell you he's wrong and yet he is still going on about his wrong "positive" feedback

Bro I just alluded to my solution having better recessed LEDs, I didn't offer a product in your thread. Further, I don't offer a product. I give these parts away for free so long as people interested pay for shipping (in an envelope, not expensive). Seeing your idea (and I commented that I admire the effort) reminded me that I fell off on this effort and I bumped it.

[T444E]

:lol Weiner swinging ITT

[BruinBimmer]

http://i42.tinypic.com/5oea6q.jpg

Love how he first posted 'Grow the F up kid,' yet he is constantly raging and throwing names out while Jon is doing charity work for the forum. And still no pic to defend his 'product.'

'For just a nickel a day, you can save Jon from internet trolls.'

[CO535i]

For those that haven't found Jon's "how-to" thread:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1477591

[antil33t]

Would you ship them internationally, or should I just not be lazy and go out and buy identical parts? :p

[5mall5nail5]

Would you ship them internationally, or should I just not be lazy and go out and buy identical parts? :p

Hmm - its prob a PITA to ship to NZ honestly. And, it might not be worth it in the end. See what it might cost and I'll consider!

Just to bump everyone - I was stuck with a couple car projects/work projects and haven't mailed out but I have a spreadsheet with everyones info ready to go. It'll go out this week assuming the hurricane doesn't wipe us all away!

[SpecRaceM5]

I've always liked the faint interior lighting on the E39. Did I miss the info somewhere on how much money to send and what the paypal is? I'd like to get a set for the M5 and a set for the 525i.

[ChaosHawk]

Had this in my A4 for over a year before I even noticed it, one night I reached for the climate controls and thought to myself "Why is my hand red? Where the hell is that light coming from?" So if properly done, it is not distracting in the least. And it is helpful in the dark, making it easier to find loose stuff on the console without turning on the map lights. This is something I have been wanting to do, but the need to actually FIX the car always came first. So, could be a while.