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Thread: E31 bulb to LED conversion

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    San Jose
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    57
    My Cars
    1991 BMW 850i

    E31 bulb to LED conversion

    I was wondering if any other e31 owners already switched to LED lights instead of using old bulbs.
    What are some brands that you have bought from?
    Does it effect the car in any way?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Hampshire UK
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    My Cars
    99 840ci Sport Indv
    I've done FTP's:

    https://www.meeknet.co.uk/e31/timms_...Main_Beams.htm

    Side Lights:

    https://www.meeknet.co.uk/e31/BMW_E3...in_the_FTP.htm

    Licence Plate lights:

    https://www.meeknet.co.uk/E31/Timms_...ate_Lights.htm

    Also, main beams (the dipped beam pattern is awful with LED's so I skipped that), reversing lights and rear indicators - all error-free.
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


    My BMW Repair YouTube Channel
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    647
    My Cars
    1994 840Ci - M60, 6MT
    Quote Originally Posted by Timm View Post
    I've done FTP's:

    https://www.meeknet.co.uk/e31/timms_...Main_Beams.htm

    Side Lights:

    https://www.meeknet.co.uk/e31/BMW_E3...in_the_FTP.htm

    Licence Plate lights:

    https://www.meeknet.co.uk/E31/Timms_...ate_Lights.htm

    Also, main beams (the dipped beam pattern is awful with LED's so I skipped that), reversing lights and rear indicators - all error-free.
    ^ this.
    I have gone with Xenon HIDs for the main beams and foglights in the buckets, and will go LED in the FTP when I order the lights (I ordered the wrong bulb type).

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Cave Creek, AZ
    Posts
    1,117
    My Cars
    1993 850ci 2001 M5 / Z3M
    Are the reverse lights part of the bulb warning system? I would like to upgrade them to LED for better light output and visibility when backing up.
    Regards,

    Brian
    Cave Creek, AZ

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
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    647
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    1994 840Ci - M60, 6MT
    Quote Originally Posted by bdiefAZ View Post
    Are the reverse lights part of the bulb warning system? I would like to upgrade them to LED for better light output and visibility when backing up.
    Reverse aren't.
    I found out that the high mount third brake light is though.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Hampshire UK
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    8,871
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    99 840ci Sport Indv
    ....and if you replace the brake lights with LED's the cruise control stops working on the V8's!
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


    My BMW Repair YouTube Channel
    My Current 840ci Sport Individual
    My Current 650ci Sport Individual
    My E31 Repair and Information Website
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    My E63/E64 Repair and Information Website

    Chase - Heroes to a generation

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Tyler, TX
    Posts
    248
    My Cars
    1992 E31 850i
    My experience with aftermarket LED bulbs has been negative. Admittedly, this is unrelated to my E31 -- I've tinkered around with a few in one or two of the daily drivers. Lifespan has been mediocre, and at least one vehicle has a lot of flickering that I understand is related to the CANBUS. There are anti-flicker boxes out there, but the ones provided by whatever brand I had were too big for practical installation -- I wasn't going to modify my headlight buckets for some bulbs. The light was definitely whiter than halogen, but (without a meter to actually measure) there was no practical improvement on ability to see further down the road. I would call it "whiter, not brighter."

    Coincidental timing -- just this morning I had a second LED headlight bulb fail in my truck, and I just finished ordering a set of good standard halogen bulbs. I'm done fooling with it!

    Cheers, John

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
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    Cave Creek, AZ
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    1993 850ci 2001 M5 / Z3M
    Update - Installed LED's into the reverse light fixtures with good results. The lights are brighter than a traditional bulbs, and create better visibility when backing up for other drivers as well as you. Safety first!
    Last edited by bdiefAZ; 02-03-2019 at 09:12 AM.
    Regards,

    Brian
    Cave Creek, AZ

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Nap Town
    Posts
    117
    My Cars
    01’ x5 3.0
    Which ones did you purchase? Do you get any errors?
    thnx
    01’ x5 3.0
    04’ x5 4.4
    03’ 530iM
    95’ 840ci

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
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    647
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    1994 840Ci - M60, 6MT
    Quote Originally Posted by lilcallaway View Post
    Which ones did you purchase? Do you get any errors?
    thnx
    No errors with the reverse lights.

    Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
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    1993 850ci 2001 M5 / Z3M
    No errors, these are the reverse lighting bulbs that I bought, they are CANBUS, but probably not needed.

    1141 1003 BA15S 7506 1156 Led Bulb White 6500K, 24pcs 3030 SMD Chip, Canbus Error Free for Car Reverse Light, Back up Light, Backup Light, Brake Light
    Last edited by bdiefAZ; 02-10-2019 at 12:27 AM.
    Regards,

    Brian
    Cave Creek, AZ

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Cleveland Wi
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    169
    My Cars
    2011 BMW 135i coupe

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