[tboooe]

As understand it, the B Pillar lights are not part of the M Sport package, too bad because I dig it. Does anyone know if its possible to retrofit?

Here are the parts needed (I think):
63319242154 LED module (#4 in the pic)
63319288984 or 63319288985 Wiring harness(#5 in the pic)

[timmahh]

I think someone tried this, but they didn't have the required connectors/wiring within the harness itself.

IIRC in the original promo material, sport line's should have had this as well, but it seems only the modern line got it.

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by timmahh

I think someone tried this, but they didn't have the required connectors/wiring within the harness itself.

IIRC in the original promo material, sport line's should have had this as well, but it seems only the modern line got it.

Thanks for the reply. I know someone did this retrofit on a M Sport 4 series in Japan but there is no detail on what was required other than the light and the wiring harness. Oh well, another mod idea bites the dust.

[timmahh]

Well damnit. Now I want to do this. Maybe I'll pull my pillar off at lunch and see if there are any connection points for this.

[vithy]

Do you a detailed instruction? I'm assuming you need to run the harness to the FEM? and Codeing?

Originally Posted by tboooe

As understand it, the B Pillar lights are not part of the M Sport package, too bad because I dig it. Does anyone know if its possible to retrofit?

Here are the parts needed (I think):
63319242154 LED module (#4 in the pic)
63319288984 or 63319288985 Wiring harness(#5 in the pic)

[timmahh]

Ok, I looked and nada there as far as an open connection that I could see. No wire even running that high up to where it goes.

My assumption is that the connecting wire is long enough to reach the harness in the floor, and if so then cars with B pillar lights have a different harness. The only option would be [which hey - might be what they actually do..?] is to tap into the wires that power the rear door ambient strip.


Edit: I just ordered one of #5 and #4 in the pic; will see how it goes.

[tboooe]

Oh let me know. I read of a person who did this retrofit but no directions were given.

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by tboooe

Oh let me know. I read of a person who did this retrofit but no directions were given.

It really depends on how long the harness is that comes.. At first I thought it was #7 in your diagram, but that's the armrest LED.. So we'll see. Again, there's no open/empty connector sitting at the bottom of the harness that runs the length of the car.

[Tim@codemybimmer]

I've posted it awhile back - http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1037655

Didn't quite have the time to look into it, however I have both parts #4 and #5. Unfortunately the wiring is NOT there and that I was contemplating on whether to order the B-Pillar repair harness (doesn't mean the wire to FEM Body exists) or go the route that guy in Japan did (the link is in my thread) and wire it to the rear door ambient lighting.

[timmahh]

Parts arrived; unfortunately they sent the beige airbag cover vs. black, but I can still fuss with the wiring itself in the interim.

[tboooe]

Thank you for the update. Looking forward to what you find out.

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by tboooe

Thank you for the update. Looking forward to what you find out.

TBH probably frustration and a cocktail, but I'll be sure to update when I investigate.

[DominicJE]

I would be interested in this as well. Let us know how it goes. How much were the parts for it?

[timmahh]

Ok. Super easy. The harness is long enough that it either looks like it would plug into a dedicated connector near the main loom at the bottom of the car, or it would interconnect into the rear door harness.

I went the easy route and just used wire taps after identifying the three wires; I had thought about removing the 3 wires, and reinserting them with the 3 b pillar wires, but in the end I figured they're just little LEDs, a wire splice is more than adequate in this scenario. I don't have the final effect yet, as the dealer sent a beige cover vs. anthracite, but they're sending the correct piece.

** Quick DIY ** NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE TO YOUR VEHICLE!!! **

On the B Pillar harness that you would order there are three brown wires, look closely at the connector and you'll see 1, 2, 3. Wire #1 is the ground, this would be spliced into the plain brown wire in the door harness. Wire #2 and #3 control the orange or white LEDs, although.. they're all brown so I forgot which one is which. Good news; wire splices are easy to flip around. Next up is the white with red stripe on the door harness; this controls the orange LED. Last is the white with a blue stripe, which controls the white LED. All 3 wires are on the same side, brown/white w. red stripe/white w. blue stripe.

Total cost shipped was about $57; this is only for one side. So about $120 "mod" if you will. The circled item in red is the harness for the B pillar LED, it has a path to follow down the left side of the upper trim cover and clips in all along the way securely [no rattles].






Couple of other notes.. I tried looking for where the pillar lights would plug in if they followed the wiring harness all the way to the FEM. Yeah. That's not going to happen. Really your options are to wire splice or just forget doing it all together. I am *hoping* since this is a simple LED that tapping into the system and adding two more LEDs isn't going to create some crazy German LED wrath of hell to fall upon me. Obviously there are 3 wires; what I assume to be the ground, and then one wire each for control of the orange LED and one for the white LED. The vehicle should just be sending voltage to either orange or white, and adjusting voltage as necessary for the dimming effect. I am again hoping that this is a very basic system; it obviously hasn't been over engineered to the point where each LED is addressed, since there is a wire for each color. Hopefully they kept this simple, and adding two more factory LEDs isn't going to alter electrical requirements of any impact.


tl;dr - LIGHTS!!

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by timmahh

I am *hoping* since this is a simple LED that tapping into the system and adding two more LEDs isn't going to create some crazy German LED wrath of hell to fall upon me.

tl;dr - LIGHTS!!

LOL!!

If I was able to retrofit CIC iDrive in a car that didn't have it then I think your 3 wire taps will be ok



Thanks for attempting this! Kinda cool, I might do it, adds a little something on the interior. Amazing how me and tboooe seem to have such similar taste in mods.

[tboooe]

Nice. You are my hero! So have you tested the dimming feature and switching from white to orange?

[timmahh]

Yup, dimming works fine and switching from sport/classic changes white/orange as it should.

[timmahh]

Originally Posted by smithf32

LOL!!

If I was able to retrofit CIC iDrive in a car that didn't have it then I think your 3 wire taps will be ok

Hey sometimes it's the small stuff! But yeah, me thinks this is no biggy.

[tboooe]

Originally Posted by smithf32

Amazing how me and tboooe seem to have such similar taste in mods.

My brotha from anotha brotha! Exhaust mod on Tuesday. My tips better come out straight and aligned or there will be hell to pay!

[tron1043]

Originally Posted by timmahh

Ok. Super easy. The harness is long enough that it either looks like it would plug into a dedicated connector near the main loom at the bottom of the car, or it would interconnect into the rear door harness.

I went the easy route and just used wire taps after identifying the three wires; I had thought about removing the 3 wires, and reinserting them with the 3 b pillar wires, but in the end I figured they're just little LEDs, a wire splice is more than adequate in this scenario. I don't have the final effect yet, as the dealer sent a beige cover vs. anthracite, but they're sending the correct piece.

** Quick DIY ** NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE TO YOUR VEHICLE!!! **

On the B Pillar harness that you would order there are three brown wires, look closely at the connector and you'll see 1, 2, 3. Wire #1 is the ground, this would be spliced into the plain brown wire in the door harness. Wire #2 and #3 control the orange or white LEDs, although.. they're all brown so I forgot which one is which. Good news; wire splices are easy to flip around. Next up is the white with red stripe on the door harness; this controls the orange LED. Last is the white with a blue stripe, which controls the white LED. All 3 wires are on the same side, brown/white w. red stripe/white w. blue stripe.

Total cost shipped was about $57; this is only for one side. So about $120 "mod" if you will. The circled item in red is the harness for the B pillar LED, it has a path to follow down the left side of the upper trim cover and clips in all along the way securely [no rattles].






Couple of other notes.. I tried looking for where the pillar lights would plug in if they followed the wiring harness all the way to the FEM. Yeah. That's not going to happen. Really your options are to wire splice or just forget doing it all together. I am *hoping* since this is a simple LED that tapping into the system and adding two more LEDs isn't going to create some crazy German LED wrath of hell to fall upon me. Obviously there are 3 wires; what I assume to be the ground, and then one wire each for control of the orange LED and one for the white LED. The vehicle should just be sending voltage to either orange or white, and adjusting voltage as necessary for the dimming effect. I am again hoping that this is a very basic system; it obviously hasn't been over engineered to the point where each LED is addressed, since there is a wire for each color. Hopefully they kept this simple, and adding two more factory LEDs isn't going to alter electrical requirements of any impact.


tl;dr - LIGHTS!!

I just got my M Sport and was surprised it didn't have the B pillar lighting. It's been a few plus months since you did the retrofit. Is the retrofit still working properly?

[timmahh]

Still working properly, but I haven't done the driver side yet. At first I was super excited to do it, now I'm sort of meh.. The coolness wears off I guess. I either have to revert to not having it, or do the other side.

[MSportTune2]

Originally Posted by smithf32

LOL!!

If I was able to retrofit CIC iDrive in a car that didn't have it then I think your 3 wire taps will be ok



Thanks for attempting this! Kinda cool, I might do it, adds a little something on the interior. Amazing how me and tboooe seem to have such similar taste in mods.

I thought I was the only crazy guy to remove my dashboard but for my case was to add center channel!


We all get poison in similar manner!