My LED Turn Signal Experiment

[544iAe39]

So, I have always loved the LED turn signals that I have seen on some e46 M3's and the '08 e60's and I was thinking to myself why can't I have that on my car? So thus began the research and experiments on my lights to achieve this on the Hella Celis lights. After much trial and error I came up with the conclusion that I needed to do something more drastic. I luckily managed to acquire an extra set of tail lights in which I was able to try this drastic attempt. And this is the result, let me know what you guys think.


http://youtu.be/M3qwzoALGqA

[sealbeach740]

Looks great! Gives the E39 an even more updated look in the back.

Care to give us the details on how you accomplished this?

Nice work.

[tmvE39E53Z32TT]

I like it. Good work. Need a write-up now.

[544iAe39]

This was accomplished by some very careful work with a dremel.
Starting with a completely stock light, you carefully cut the outer lens off with a dremel.

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm240/brokenbox360/Tail%20Light%20Project/IMG_0173.jpg (http://s297.photobucket.com/user/brokenbox360/media/Tail%20Light%20Project/IMG_0173.jpg.html)

You have to cut far enough back so you don't hit the lens but close enough so that you are not going to hit the Celis or the silver backing.

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm240/brokenbox360/Tail%20Light%20Project/IMG_0174.jpg (http://s297.photobucket.com/user/brokenbox360/media/Tail%20Light%20Project/IMG_0174.jpg.html)

Once it is all apart, you clean off the edges, depending on how you open it, I used the dremel with a cut off wheel, you'll have to remove the melted bits of plastic, which is quite simple.
Then next step would be to install the LED strips within the turn signal compartment. I got the strips from ddmtuning, and it requires about two of their strips (50cm per strip) per tail light.
I installed 3 rows in the turn signal compartment, there is room for 4, but it seemed a bit cluttered to me. When installing the strips, make sure to solder the wires to the back of the strips before gluing them in the tail light, also be sure to use two different colored wires, so you can keep track of which is + and which is -.

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm240/brokenbox360/Tail%20Light%20Project/IMG_0175.jpg (http://s297.photobucket.com/user/brokenbox360/media/Tail%20Light%20Project/IMG_0175.jpg.html)

Once you have all the strips installed and glued in place and its to your liking, you can now take the wires and solder them to the metal that is on the back of the tail light, be sure you know which is + and -, and sand the metal before soldering, it has some coating on it.
Once you have that done, its just a matter of testing to make sure it all works.
The next part is kinda tricky, you'll have to line up the lens with the housing, so that you can glue it back on straight. I would do them one at a time so that you can reference the non-opened one when gluing the new one back.
I used the walls and clear square of the reverse light to align the lens with the housing. Once aligned, I used hot glue and epoxy to put the lens back on and then covered it up with black sealer.
And this was the end product.

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm240/brokenbox360/Tail%20Light%20Project/IMG_0177.jpg (http://s297.photobucket.com/user/brokenbox360/media/Tail%20Light%20Project/IMG_0177.jpg.html)

[AK_5eries]

Very nice, but how are you driving the LEDs? Are you using a resistor?

[crdiscoverer]

Love it! Way better than just sticking an LED "bulb" in there.

[AK_5eries]

Love it! Way better than just sticking an LED "bulb" in there.

+1 but I wish I had the guts to hack up my tail light like that :(

[544iAe39]

The LED's are driven by a resistor, to keep the light from flashing fast.
And I have tried the LED bulb, but the light output was terrible, it was easily washed out by the sun.
The only reason I had the guts to cut them open, was because this was an extra set that I managed to get my hands on.

[Dking078]

Very interesting mod.

If the backing plate for the LED's was chrome/silver, it would be tip top!

Now...LED brake lights? :D

[Calicoastin]

And I have tried the LED bulb, but the light output was terrible, it was easily washed out by the sun.
.

Depends. I've installed 25w CREE error free brake bulbs off eBay and they're brighter than the originals, including in direct sunlight. They're expensive though, $39/pair but I liked them enough to replace the rear signals. Only downside is the cold/hot checks make these flash when you start the car for approx 2 seconds.

[Aryana]

That came out very nice!

[JimLev]

No error message? Guess all those LED's draw about the same current as one bulb.
A few years ago I replaced the backup lights with HID bulbs, couldn't see well enough out the back 25% tinted window at night when backing up.

[BMW540san]

I like it. You managed to achieve factory look. I applaud you for not doing some cheesy ricer modification that's seen on this forum way to often. Doing the TC guides on Mercedes?

[544iAe39]

I like it. You managed to achieve factory look. I applaud you for not doing some cheesy ricer modification that's seen on this forum way to often. Doing the TC guides on Mercedes?

Yeah, that was my main focus, trying to make it looks as factory as possible. Actually the Mercedes is getting head gaskets, and replacing the head bolts with studs so it can run more boost. ;)

[joba356]

The outcome looks very nice. Thanks for the diy i think i will be looking to do this in the future.

[MartinV]

Those came out very good, looks like the Euro Celis with the LED yellow turn signals.

[AK_5eries]

No error message? Guess all those LED's draw about the same current as one bulb.
A few years ago I replaced the backup lights with HID bulbs, couldn't see well enough out the back 25% tinted window at night when backing up.

Jim, he is using a resistor and thus why there is no error message.

[JimLev]

Jim, he is using a resistor and thus why there is no error message.

Yes I saw that, the LED's typically run on ~1.2 volts so a current limiting resistor is required to limit the current flow which also lowers the voltage to the LED's. This also lowers the current, so I'm wondering how this setup doesn't give him an error message.
If his LED current flow is lower than the incandescent bulb he should get an error message.

[544iAe39]

Yes I saw that, the LED's typically run on ~1.2 volts so a current limiting resistor is required to limit the current flow which also lowers the voltage to the LED's. This also lowers the current, so I'm wondering how this setup doesn't give him an error message.
If his LED current flow is lower than the incandescent bulb he should get an error message.

I am not really using a resister, I am using a bulb that is wired within the system to fool the LCM into thinking that there is an incandescent bulb in the turn signal to keep it flashing at the normal speed.
Also these LED strips are 12 volts, purchased from http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/StripLED.LED-Strips

[JimLev]

OK, so the LED's are wired in parallel with the bulb.
The LED's draw so little current that the LCM doesn't think there as issue with the additional current draw.
Thanks for the update.

[AK_5eries]

Yes I saw that, the LED's typically run on ~1.2 volts so a current limiting resistor is required to limit the current flow which also lowers the voltage to the LED's. This also lowers the current, so I'm wondering how this setup doesn't give him an error message.
If his LED current flow is lower than the incandescent bulb he should get an error message.

I believe the difference in voltage would be dissipated as heat by the resistor making the LCM think that 12 volts is still being drawn.

- - - Updated - - -

I am curious, the strip comes as a 50cm strip. How do you cut the strip and still get it to work?

[sparklee39]

Looks great ! Good work.

[544iAe39]

I am curious, the strip comes as a 50cm strip. How do you cut the strip and still get it to work?

You are able to cut the strip every three LEDs. On the back of the strip there are copper pads built into the strip allowing for wire connections.
Using these pads, I was able to solder the wires directly to the back of each strip, roughly near the center, so that I would have a clean line of LEDs and that the wiring wouldn't be as visible.
If you'd like I can take a picture of the back of the tail light to show how it is wired.

[Aryana]

Where does the dummy bulb go to trick the LCM? Is it tucked away in the trunk somewhere?

[544iAe39]

Where does the dummy bulb go to trick the LCM? Is it tucked away in the trunk somewhere?

Yes, the dummy bulb is tucked away, but the connection points are covered so not to cause any sparking if it were to get loose. Don't want to accidentally weld a light bulb to the quarter panel. :P

[AK_5eries]

If you'd like I can take a picture of the back of the tail light to show how it is wired.

That would be much appreciated. I think it would help others as well.

[544iAe39]

Here is what the back of the tail light looks like. You can see the the wires coming from the LEDs and then soldered to metal.
Let me know if I left something out.

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm240/brokenbox360/Tail%20Light%20Project/photo.jpg (http://s297.photobucket.com/user/brokenbox360/media/Tail%20Light%20Project/photo.jpg.html)

[540iEP]

Here is what the back of the tail light looks like. You can see the the wires coming from the LEDs and then soldered to metal.
Let me know if I left something out.



Ok, so this explains the wiring of the strips to the metal plate, but I don't see the incandescent bulb that's used to trick the LCM. You said it's tucked away, but can you explain how that is wired a little more in conjunction with these wires that are soldered to the metal plate?

[JimLev]

The bulb is most likely wired to the same point it was always connected to, just not mounted in the tail light assy. This explains why there is no "tail light out" message.
The LED strips are wired in parallel with the light.

[544iAe39]

The LED strips are wired in parallel with the light.

Exactly. The bulb is wired into the wire harness in parallel with the LEDs, this junction is located before the plug that goes to the light. This is done on both sides, considering the car has separate wire harnesses for the right and left side.
The metal plate is the easiest point of access to for power and ground for the LEDs and can follow the tail light when removed.

[mapleridge]

I really like this idea. Do you have more pics of the bulbs in the daylight. Can't the bulb out errors being coded away?

[JB2mnytys]

Coding away the errors is done by disabling the cold and hot bulb checks, which takes the function out of the LCM in telling you when you have a bulb out. If you're okay with that it's easy but some prefer to keep them functional, and spending a few extra dollars on the proper bulbs makes life easier.

[mapleridge]

Coding away the errors is done by disabling the cold and hot bulb checks, which takes the function out of the LCM in telling you when you have a bulb out. If you're okay with that it's easy but some prefer to keep them functional, and spending a few extra dollars on the proper bulbs makes life easier.

just sounds like the other solution seems a little complex. I coded them out on my E90. I was sure to get a bunch of honks when I would brake on right turns.