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      07-25-2019, 02:47 AM   #1
Ace320
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DIY: Ambient Light Retrofit (F30/31)

Hello, I have made a video about my recent mod, the Ambient Light retrofit.

In US Ambient Light is standard because it's part of the Light Package. (Also standard)
In EU Light Package is option, so a lot of EU BMW's doesn't have Ambient Light, so I decided to make a video about it.

Everything is OEM, except the Ambient door trim panels, because, 4 Ambient Lights in the BMW are around 240€ + taxes, which is a lot + they are really dim.
You can fix it if you buy 3D printed transparent panels, but that is 60€ on eBay sold by "InteriorModz".

After a little bit of research, I found on AliExpress all 4 trim panels for 75€ shipped + they are glossy black (to match the rest of the trim in my car) so I gave it a shot, and it turns out to work very well (with some minor modification)

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      07-25-2019, 04:24 AM   #2
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Finally lord heard my prays, thanks for the video, looking forward to install ambient light on my car too ))))
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      07-25-2019, 05:27 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by N8k View Post
Finally lord heard my prays, thanks for the video, looking forward to install ambient light on my car too ))))
hahaha I know the struggle man, I was searching for any kind of DIY's or anything to do this retrofit, but no luck, so I decide to do it on my own. Cheers.
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      07-26-2019, 07:47 AM   #4
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Why you put resistors? Because the light was to Bright?
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      07-28-2019, 11:18 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by adi_fox07 View Post
Why you put resistors? Because the light was to Bright?
Yes, they are too bright, at the night having all 4 connected like this, it's impossible to drive.
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      07-28-2019, 05:27 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ace320 View Post
Hello, I have made a video about my recent mod, the Ambient Light retrofit.

In US Ambient Light is standard because it's part of the Light Package. (Also standard)
In EU Light Package is option, so a lot of EU BMW's doesn't have Ambient Light, so I decided to make a video about it.

Everything is OEM, except the Ambient door trim panels, because, 4 Ambient Lights in the BMW are around 240€ + taxes, which is a lot + they are really dim.
You can fix it if you buy 3D printed transparent panels, but that is 60€ on eBay sold by "InteriorModz".

After a little bit of research, I found on AliExpress all 4 trim panels for 75€ shipped + they are glossy black (to match the rest of the trim in my car) so I gave it a shot, and it turns out to work very well (with some minor modification)

Awesome nice work very clear explanations sure will try this
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      07-29-2019, 04:36 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by yugen03 View Post
Awesome nice work very clear explanations sure will try this
Thanks mate.
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      08-06-2019, 08:24 AM   #8
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For this retrofit, what did you code on the car?
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      08-07-2019, 06:47 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adi_fox07 View Post
For this retrofit, what did you code on the car?
I already said in the video and in the video description.

Light package option.
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      08-10-2019, 05:14 PM   #10
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Really looks nice and you are right, the ambient light in the EU is far from standard.
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      02-10-2020, 07:51 AM   #11
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hi, i haven't light package, because my car is for EU, and i haven't plug A173*9B .
Is possible to follow this DIY?
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      02-10-2020, 01:54 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by sylver65 View Post
hi, i haven't light package, because my car is for EU, and i haven't plug A173*9B .
Is possible to follow this DIY?
It depends what FEM you have.

You have to look at your FEM and see do you have PINS where at A173*9B connector.

Also, you have to check when model is your FEM, on the provided photo you can see that I have ZB10_HIGH_E, your is probably ZB6_MID_BIX or even lower.

If it's ZB4, you probably wouldn't be able to retrofit Light Package option i.e Light Package.

View post on imgur.com
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      02-15-2020, 09:48 AM   #13
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I have zb4,
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      02-15-2020, 09:49 AM   #14
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But I have pin inside 9B
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      02-15-2020, 01:55 PM   #15
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I have retrofitting footwell light with LED DOME. I l take Pin7 and now when I open the doors the footwell lighting now. It’s possible to take the some positive and retrofitting trim panel?
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      02-16-2020, 05:12 AM   #16
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Last edited by sylver65; 02-17-2020 at 02:49 AM..
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      02-22-2020, 07:00 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sylver65 View Post
I have retrofitting footwell light with LED DOME. I l take Pin7 and now when I open the doors the footwell lighting now. It’s possible to take the some positive and retrofitting trim panel?
Hi, yes it is possible to retrofit trim panel. You need to add 3 wires.

Pin 50 and 51 in the FEM A173*9B and Ground wire.
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      02-22-2020, 09:05 AM   #18
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I will try
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      03-01-2020, 02:58 PM   #19
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This is a great video, very inormative and easy to follow. Well done Ace!

My F31 (MY2017) does not have ambient lighting, but I would be keen to light up around the central console housing the A/C and audio controls and also retrofit the the LED to light up the cupholders.

Would you have any recommendations for setting this up at all?
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      03-03-2020, 02:43 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JayZee72 View Post
This is a great video, very inormative and easy to follow. Well done Ace!

My F31 (MY2017) does not have ambient lighting, but I would be keen to light up around the central console housing the A/C and audio controls and also retrofit the the LED to light up the cupholders.

Would you have any recommendations for setting this up at all?
Hi, thank you for your kind words, appreciate it!

So you want to retrofit LCI radio trim and cup hold light.
It is possible, unfortunately I don't have a video about it, bcs my car already came with cup holder light, but I can give you some notes on how to do it.

You need to add 3 wires to the FEM, connector A173*9B

Pin 1: Ground (Connect it anywhere in the car to any brown wire)
Pin 2: Ambient Light (Red Light) - Connect to FEM: A173*9B = Pin 51
Pin 3: Ambient Light (White Light) - Connect to FEM: A173*9B = Pin 50

You will use this cable for the cup holder and for the radio trim you need to make "Y" cable, there's a lot of videos on YT on how to retrofit LCI radio trim and how to make Y cable.

After this installation, you need to code 563 and 7AC option
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      03-03-2020, 04:53 PM   #21
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Thanks for that Ace - much appreciated!

I shall try and give that a go over the weekend and will let you know how I get on.

Thanks again!
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      06-20-2020, 02:01 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ace320 View Post
Hi, thank you for your kind words, appreciate it!

So you want to retrofit LCI radio trim and cup hold light.
It is possible, unfortunately I don't have a video about it, bcs my car already came with cup holder light, but I can give you some notes on how to do it.

You need to add 3 wires to the FEM, connector A173*9B

Pin 1: Ground (Connect it anywhere in the car to any brown wire)
Pin 2: Ambient Light (Red Light) - Connect to FEM: A173*9B = Pin 51
Pin 3: Ambient Light (White Light) - Connect to FEM: A173*9B = Pin 50

You will use this cable for the cup holder and for the radio trim you need to make "Y" cable, there's a lot of videos on YT on how to retrofit LCI radio trim and how to make Y cable.

After this installation, you need to code 563 and 7AC option
Hi Ace320,
hello, I tried, but from the pins of the * 9b there seems to be no signal
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