ZPOST
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   ZPOST > BMW Z4 Technical Talk > Cosmetics Modification (Exterior/Interior) Discussions
  TireRack

SUPPORT ZPOST BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER, THANKS!
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-29-2008, 09:43 PM   #1
MMMazing07
More than you can afford pal....ferrari
MMMazing07's Avatar
180
Rep
1,471
Posts

Drives: Z4M
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MD

iTrader: (0)

brighter is better..

i got a pair of LED liscense plate lights. Easy install and they look great. Really bright. They even reflect off the ground. Deffinatly reccommend this mod. Makes the rear look more sophisticated compared to the stock dull bulbs. Heres a pic from my phone (doesnt do justice at all)


Appreciate 0
      01-29-2008, 10:29 PM   #2
Feyd
Major
Feyd's Avatar
344
Rep
1,288
Posts

Drives: a DEEZZULL
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Chicago, IL

iTrader: (2)

i had done this to my car, but ended up taking them off because they don't shut off when you turn off the car. i realize that LED's don't draw much current, but it still freaked me out...

don't wanna melt down my wiring harness or anything... haha

incidentally, where did you get your bulbs from? I ended up getting the ones that had some side firing bulbs.
Appreciate 0
      01-29-2008, 10:33 PM   #3
MMMazing07
More than you can afford pal....ferrari
MMMazing07's Avatar
180
Rep
1,471
Posts

Drives: Z4M
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MD

iTrader: (0)

i got them from jlevisw.com. Really good quality LEDs.
Appreciate 0
      01-29-2008, 10:56 PM   #4
Rick Hunter
Skull Squadron Leader
Rick Hunter's Avatar
304
Rep
2,031
Posts

Drives: '07 M Coupé & '16 435xi GCoupé
Join Date: May 2007
Location: The Emerald City

iTrader: (20)

Looks good.

Personally, I'd rather not have it light up at all. Looks better with just the tail lamps on IMHO.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      01-30-2008, 12:53 AM   #5
BimmerZealot
Major
61
Rep
1,210
Posts

Drives: 2019 BMW X3 xDrive30i
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Diego, California

iTrader: (2)

What kind of LED configuration are they? Side mounted LED? High Power LED? The sideways configuration of the wedge bulb for the Z4 license plate lights throw out the possibility of using forward facing LEDs as no light comes out the side.
Appreciate 0
      01-30-2008, 11:19 AM   #6
MMMazing07
More than you can afford pal....ferrari
MMMazing07's Avatar
180
Rep
1,471
Posts

Drives: Z4M
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MD

iTrader: (0)

umm im not sure. The Z4M has 2 housings right above the liscense plate. If the Z4s have there housings on the side im not sure if this LED will fit. Check with jlevisw.com they should tell you which LED wil fit. (They have one for every BMW) They have awesome customer service. PM Nick@JleviSW he will tell you which one to order. (Hes on E90 post) GL
Appreciate 0
      01-30-2008, 04:53 PM   #7
BimmerZealot
Major
61
Rep
1,210
Posts

Drives: 2019 BMW X3 xDrive30i
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Diego, California

iTrader: (2)

The Z4 has the same housing but if you look at how the wedge bulb sits it comes in from the side of the housing which means the LED used would need to have side facing projection in order for it to properly illuminate the license plate. Can you get a shot of the LEDs you got from them?
Appreciate 0
      01-30-2008, 05:27 PM   #8
MMMazing07
More than you can afford pal....ferrari
MMMazing07's Avatar
180
Rep
1,471
Posts

Drives: Z4M
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MD

iTrader: (0)

okkkkkiee i got what your saying. Yes although the LED will sit sideways in the housing the LED is plenty bright to produce more than enough light. When i say bright i mean eye popping. Its a 6 LED bulb. I dont have a shot but heres a link to where i got them. If we have the same housing/bulbs they will work fine dont worry about it.

http://jlevistreetwerks.com/BMW-E85-...d472611e9c7ca6


I know it says turn signal but you have to click 194/168 6 LED in the drop down menu for Bulb type its -$15 also xenon white for the color and no resistors

youl will like them they will match your fog lights GL
Appreciate 0
      01-30-2008, 06:16 PM   #9
BimmerZealot
Major
61
Rep
1,210
Posts

Drives: 2019 BMW X3 xDrive30i
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Diego, California

iTrader: (2)

Oh okay, just forward facing 6-LED 194/168 bulbs, same ones my friend got for his interior lighting on his Accord from this eBay seller that sells a ton of LEDs. They are < 10$ shipped from him.
Appreciate 0
      01-30-2008, 08:04 PM   #10
MMMazing07
More than you can afford pal....ferrari
MMMazing07's Avatar
180
Rep
1,471
Posts

Drives: Z4M
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MD

iTrader: (0)

yea i saw ebay ones but these ones come with a lifetime guarentee to never burn out. i thought it was worth it an extra $5. let me know how it goes
Appreciate 0
      01-31-2008, 06:02 AM   #11
rc'Z
Captain
United_States
13
Rep
821
Posts

Drives: 2009 335i Convertible
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia

iTrader: (0)

I can't remember the type light bulb, but some of the folks on the MINI forum were replacing their lp bulbs with brighter aftermarket bulbs and ended up melting the plastic housing that held the bulbs because of the heat they gave off.
Appreciate 0
      01-31-2008, 09:08 AM   #12
Dammmittt
My favorite sign.
Dammmittt's Avatar
South Korea
167
Rep
4,333
Posts

Drives: 2007 M Coupe
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Der Autobahnen

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick Hunter View Post
Looks good.

Personally, I'd rather not have it light up at all. Looks better with just the tail lamps on IMHO.
Yeah...american license plates are friggin ugly.
__________________


07 ///M Coupe (Premium Package) Black Saphire Ext. Imola Red Int.

Best Website EVER!
Appreciate 0
      01-31-2008, 01:57 PM   #13
BimmerZealot
Major
61
Rep
1,210
Posts

Drives: 2019 BMW X3 xDrive30i
Join Date: May 2007
Location: San Diego, California

iTrader: (2)

It probably wasn't an LED if it was producing more heat then the OEM incandescent bulbs. LEDs have a cooler running temperature, albeit the resistors on high powered LEDs can get really hot but with plain 5mm LEDs it should run much cooler then the OEM bulbs. The only thing I can think of that would melt the housing would be a higher wattage halogen bulb of some sort that would put out a substantial amount of heat.
Appreciate 0
      01-31-2008, 03:00 PM   #14
Reach
gone baby gone
381
Rep
1,052
Posts

Drives: 2016 F80
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Location, Location.

iTrader: (0)

BimmerZealot, some of the newer high-output LEDs I've seen on the market do generate substantial heat, along with being much brighter than regular LEDs. If you guys are looking for some, make sure they come with a heatsink (as with the one pictures below) to disperse the heat and avoid some of these risks.

Appreciate 0
      01-31-2008, 05:36 PM   #15
MMMazing07
More than you can afford pal....ferrari
MMMazing07's Avatar
180
Rep
1,471
Posts

Drives: Z4M
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MD

iTrader: (0)

hmm well my LED on the liscense plate seem to be fine. but they stay on (a little dimmed down not as bright as lights on) after the car is off. I just noticed it today. I might pop them open and check it out.
Appreciate 0
      01-31-2008, 08:33 PM   #16
em2b96p
Private First Class
15
Rep
184
Posts

Drives: cbr600rr
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: philadelphia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Feyd View Post
i had done this to my car, but ended up taking them off because they don't shut off when you turn off the car. i realize that LED's don't draw much current, but it still freaked me out...

don't wanna melt down my wiring harness or anything... haha

incidentally, where did you get your bulbs from? I ended up getting the ones that had some side firing bulbs.


same thing happend to me.... i took mine out..
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:12 PM.




zpost
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST