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      03-11-2015, 03:34 PM   #1
Hernandiaz11
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F32 LED Upgrade

I installed LED on the front and rear blinkers. I also ordered the reverse bulbs and the brake light bulbs but I have not installed those yet.

Video link below:

https://d1wst0behutosd.cloudfront.ne...6WELAPEP47UKWQ

The front and rear bulbs look GREAT. They're very bright and I'm very happy with them. I did not order the expensive ones from that popular company that starts with a "W".

Just an FYI, F30 and F32 do NOT use the same bulbs.

The manual specifies wrong bulb number for the front blinker, reverse bulbs. I'm not the first to realize this, but I figured I would post this to help others out.

The correct bulb number/types are

Front turn signal - PY24W
Rear turn signal - P21W
Reverse - PW24W
Inner brakes - H21W
outer brakes - H21WLL (LL=long life, I think H21W can be used as well)



Here are the ebay links to everything I bought:

Front Turn Signal:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111584341512...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Rear Turn Signal:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331404249699...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Reverse Light:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/371271291551...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Brake light bulbs (these work for both inner and outer brake lights):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381153754245...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Last edited by Hernandiaz11; 03-18-2015 at 10:31 AM..
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      03-11-2015, 04:12 PM   #2
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Super stoked these worked for you! Where did you get your reverse bulbs? I have not been able to source them. As I understand the reverse bulbs are like the front turn signals in that they require the plastic base?
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      03-11-2015, 05:31 PM   #3
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Item number 130968808051 on eBay says PW16W?
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      03-11-2015, 05:40 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JonD View Post
Item number 130968808051 on eBay says PW16W?
I dont think that will work on our cars. If you go to REALOEM you will see that the reverse bulbs looks like the front turn signal and requires a plastic bulb base:

Refer to this link and look at item #7:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...54&hg=63&fg=20
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      03-11-2015, 05:52 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tboooe View Post
I dont think that will work on our cars. If you go to REALOEM you will see that the reverse bulbs looks like the front turn signal and requires a plastic bulb base:

Refer to this link and look at item #7:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...54&hg=63&fg=20
Yeah, base is different.
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      03-11-2015, 09:55 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tboooe View Post
Super stoked these worked for you! Where did you get your reverse bulbs? I have not been able to source them. As I understand the reverse bulbs are like the front turn signals in that they require the plastic base?
The reverse bulb is supposed to be a PW16W where the "16W" means it's a 16 watt bulb. All of these LED bulbs being made are different wattage than stock. Some are higher, some are lower.
I went with a PW24W. I edited my original post and added all of the links

PS: Installed the reverse and brake bulbs today and all is good. I'll make another video and post it tomorrow.

Last edited by Hernandiaz11; 03-11-2015 at 10:08 PM..
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      03-11-2015, 09:58 PM   #7
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Here are the ebay links to everything I bought:

Front Turn Signal:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111584341512...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Rear Turn Signal:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331404249699...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Reverse Light:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/371271291551...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Brake light bulbs (these work for both inner and outer brake lights):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381153754245...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
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      03-11-2015, 10:02 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JonD View Post
Item number 130968808051 on eBay says PW16W?
PW16W won't show any results on eBay. I went with PW24W. The base on the bulb is the same as PW16W
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      03-11-2015, 10:24 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hernandiaz11 View Post
Here are the ebay links to everything I bought:

Front Turn Signal:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111584341512...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Rear Turn Signal:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331404249699...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Reverse Light:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/371271291551...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Brake light bulbs (these work for both inner and outer brake lights):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381153754245...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Thank you. Is the reverse lights brighter than stock?
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      03-12-2015, 02:05 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hernandiaz11 View Post
Here are the ebay links to everything I bought:

Front Turn Signal:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111584341512...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Rear Turn Signal:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331404249699...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Reverse Light:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/371271291551...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Brake light bulbs (these work for both inner and outer brake lights):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/381153754245...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Nice work look forward to the video.
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      03-12-2015, 08:53 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hernandiaz11 View Post
PW16W won't show any results on eBay. I went with PW24W. The base on the bulb is the same as PW16W
Would you mind taking a pic of the stock reverse bulb? The base of the LED you referenced on ebay looks different than what I have see on REALOEM. Since you said you installed it already I know it works but I am just curious.
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      03-12-2015, 09:35 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hernandiaz11 View Post
PW16W won't show any results on eBay. I went with PW24W. The base on the bulb is the same as PW16W
Quote:
Originally Posted by tboooe View Post
Would you mind taking a pic of the stock reverse bulb? The base of the LED you referenced on ebay looks different than what I have see on REALOEM. Since you said you installed it already I know it works but I am just curious.
I'll post a picture in a bit. The bulbs in link I provided will work for the F32.

I looked at item #7 in the link you provided in the previous post and the image definitely does not match what the actual bulb looked like.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...54&hg=63&fg=20





The actual bulb looks like this:

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      03-12-2015, 09:38 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hernandiaz11 View Post
I'll post a picture in a bit. The bulbs in link I provided will work for the F32.

I looked at item #7 in the link you provided in the previous post and the image definitely does not match what the actual bulb looked like.
OK thank you very much! No need to take a pic then.

I noticed there are a lot of PW24W bulbs available. Any reason why you went with the shorter one? Was it required to fit in the housing?
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      03-16-2015, 03:25 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tboooe View Post
OK thank you very much! No need to take a pic then.

I noticed there are a lot of PW24W bulbs available. Any reason why you went with the shorter one? Was it required to fit in the housing?
+1 to that question.
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      03-16-2015, 08:26 PM   #15
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Also, are you getting the famous "flicker" of the LEDs? Other people have reported that the LED bulbs will flicker at constant intervals, due to BMW's automatic check for burnt bulbs. Even the $160 LED bulbs would flicker every 30 seconds or so...
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      03-16-2015, 09:00 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moisted View Post
Also, are you getting the famous "flicker" of the LEDs? Other people have reported that the LED bulbs will flicker at constant intervals, due to BMW's automatic check for burnt bulbs. Even the $160 LED bulbs would flicker every 30 seconds or so...
Yup they will flicker unless you code out the warm and cold checks which I have done.
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      03-17-2015, 07:57 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hernandiaz11 View Post
I'll post a picture in a bit. The bulbs in link I provided will work for the F32.

I looked at item #7 in the link you provided in the previous post and the image definitely does not match what the actual bulb looked like.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...54&hg=63&fg=20





The actual bulb looks like this:

Quote:
Originally Posted by tboooe View Post
OK thank you very much! No need to take a pic then.

I noticed there are a lot of PW24W bulbs available. Any reason why you went with the shorter one? Was it required to fit in the housing?
Quote:
Originally Posted by nickhelou View Post
+1 to that question.

I'm not sure what you mean by shorter!?!
I didn't know there was a longer pw24w bulb available. I just chose the PW24W bulb that was made with CREE LEDs. I'm not sure how room is in the housing.
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      03-17-2015, 07:57 AM   #18
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I just realized that the links are dead because sellers relisted the items under a different part number. I'll fix the links now
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      03-17-2015, 08:40 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hernandiaz11 View Post
I'm not sure what you mean by shorter!?!
I didn't know there was a longer pw24w bulb available. I just chose the PW24W bulb that was made with CREE LEDs. I'm not sure how room is in the housing.
Yeah if you do a search on ebay you will notice that most of them are longer than the ones we bought. Not sure why there is a difference. That being said, after I installed mine I noticed there is plenty of room even for the longer ones.
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      03-17-2015, 09:14 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hernandiaz11 View Post
I'm not sure what you mean by shorter!?!
I didn't know there was a longer pw24w bulb available. I just chose the PW24W bulb that was made with CREE LEDs. I'm not sure how room is in the housing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tboooe View Post
Yeah if you do a search on ebay you will notice that most of them are longer than the ones we bought. Not sure why there is a difference. That being said, after I installed mine I noticed there is plenty of room even for the longer ones.

Ahh I see. That's good info for others in the future who are looking to upgrade to LED bulbs for their reverse lights.
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      03-17-2015, 05:08 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tboooe View Post
Yup they will flicker unless you code out the warm and cold checks which I have done.
Sorry for dwelling on this point, but if you code-out the checks what happens if your lights are busted, you will not know?

I know LEDs don't usually bust, but the housing and adapters built into the assembly are susceptible to damage. Especially the ones made in China.
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      03-17-2015, 05:10 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moisted View Post
Sorry for dwelling on this point, but if you code-out the checks what happens if your lights are busted, you will not know?

I know LEDs don't usually bust, but the housing and adapters built into the assembly are susceptible to damage. Especially the ones made in China.
you are not dwelling..those are valid concerns. You are right, without the checks I wont know if the light stopped working. I guess I will have to rely on the old fashioned way of having someone or a policeman tell me.
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