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      08-18-2018, 04:41 AM   #1
kssxs
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Need LED rear turn signal recommendations

Hey guys,

I tried searching here and on Google, but couldn't find anything...

Can anyone recommend which LED bulb to get (and from where) to replace the halogen turn signal bulb in the taillight for a 2015 F32 (435i Coupe)? I've always liked the instant on/off effect of LED's over halogens, but am unsure as to where to find them. BMW put LED's in the headlight and mirrors, but for whatever reason, they left the taillight as halogen. I don't think it fits visually.

Thanks in advance!
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      08-18-2018, 08:48 AM   #2
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Assuming your halogen bulb is an H21W these will fit.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But you need to be sure what bulbs you have. The above fit my brake lights, but not my turn signals, which use these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You will need to code out the warm and cold checks and code to 'is LED'.
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      08-18-2018, 12:23 PM   #3
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Thanks for that! Gotta find some brilliant reds!

Thanks again!

Last edited by kssxs; 08-18-2018 at 01:23 PM.. Reason: Spoke too soon...
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      08-18-2018, 01:23 PM   #4
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They have amber, red and white options.
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      08-18-2018, 01:27 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz View Post
You will need to code out the warm and cold checks and code to 'is LED'.
Will the coding out remove the requirement to get bulbs with a load resistor?

Thanks again!
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      08-18-2018, 01:34 PM   #6
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The load resistor is a red herring. You can use one to eliminate a bulb out warning message, but most LEDs will still blink every five seconds in response to the warm and cold checks, and with a turn signal you might still get hyper flashing. Coding is the way to go. Besides, once you learn how to code with E-Sys or get a coding app you'll find lots of other useful things to code. The list is a long one.
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      08-20-2018, 02:39 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz View Post
The load resistor is a red herring. You can use one to eliminate a bulb out warning message, but most LEDs will still blink every five seconds in response to the warm and cold checks, and with a turn signal you might still get hyper flashing. Coding is the way to go. Besides, once you learn how to code with E-Sys or get a coding app you'll find lots of other useful things to code. The list is a long one.
Any chance this can be coded out using Bimmercode?

Also looking to code out the auto-turn on fan... hope I can do both with that myself.

Thanks again for the info!
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      08-20-2018, 06:42 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kssxs View Post
Any chance this can be coded out using Bimmercode?

Also looking to code out the auto-turn on fan... hope I can do both with that myself.

Thanks again for the info!
Probably. download the app / trial or contact the developer and ask.
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      08-20-2018, 09:07 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kssxs View Post
Any chance this can be coded out using Bimmercode?

Also looking to code out the auto-turn on fan... hope I can do both with that myself.

Thanks again for the info!
Bimmercode can turn off all checks and designate the bulb as LED.
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      08-22-2018, 01:25 PM   #10
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Thanks guys!
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      08-23-2018, 12:29 AM   #11
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Stupid question time 😀 what difference will changing the bulbs to LED actually have? Behind the reflector won’t they look the same or is it that they will just be brighter?
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      08-23-2018, 02:02 AM   #12
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I'm assuming you've already ordered, but I hope you haven't. I've made the mistake of ordering iJDMToy LED bulbs before. They are all way too dim. I gave up on using LED turn signals for a while because I thought they were all too dim before I happened upon some generic sounding brand called JDM ASTAR. I swear I have no connection with the company. I installed their LEDs on my Chevy SS and my F30 and they are definitely a bit brighter than stock. They make all the sizes necessary for the front turns, rear turns, brake lights, and reverse lights. They are a bit more expensive, though, at about $20-$35 for a pair. Well worth the price, IMO, as they're cheaper than the "name brand" ones but obviously higher quality and more expensive than the cheap ones on eBay and Amazon. They do have an Amazon store but also sell direct from their own website.

https://www.jdmastar.com/

Let me know if you want to know which ones I got if you haven't ordered them yet.

As far as coding goes, you definitely want to code. Using a load resistor will use more power, require wiring a load resistor, and not even fix the random flashing. Coding is relatively easy if you're good with computers.
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      08-23-2018, 02:38 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel View Post
I'm assuming you've already ordered, but I hope you haven't. I've made the mistake of ordering iJDMToy LED bulbs before. They are all way too dim. I gave up on using LED turn signals for a while because I thought they were all too dim before I happened upon some generic sounding brand called JDM ASTAR. I swear I have no connection with the company. I installed their LEDs on my Chevy SS and my F30 and they are definitely a bit brighter than stock. They make all the sizes necessary for the front turns, rear turns, brake lights, and reverse lights. They are a bit more expensive, though, at about $20-$35 for a pair. Well worth the price, IMO, as they're cheaper than the "name brand" ones but obviously higher quality and more expensive than the cheap ones on eBay and Amazon. They do have an Amazon store but also sell direct from their own website.

https://www.jdmastar.com/

Let me know if you want to know which ones I got if you haven't ordered them yet.

As far as coding goes, you definitely want to code. Using a load resistor will use more power, require wiring a load resistor, and not even fix the random flashing. Coding is relatively easy if you're good with computers.
Great info!

No, I haven't ordered yet. The ones I'm seriously looking at, though, are these:

https://www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-ZEVO...dp/B01A77RJFY/

SYLVANIA ZEVO 7506 Red LED Bulb

Can't beat lifetime warranty! The videos I've seen of these in action on YouTube show them to be pretty bright as well. These would be going in the red turn-signal housing, so not having a reflective coating in there would make no difference.

Coding is no issue for me... I work in IT, and have already coded multiple things to my car .

Thanks!

UPDATE: Based on your info and the bulbs on the JDM website, I may have to reconsider which bulbs I'm going to get!
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Last edited by kssxs; 08-23-2018 at 03:15 AM..
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      08-23-2018, 02:45 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IAmATeaf View Post
Stupid question time �� what difference will changing the bulbs to LED actually have? Behind the reflector won’t they look the same or is it that they will just be brighter?
From my first post:

"I've always liked the instant on/off effect of LED's over halogens, but am unsure as to where to find them. BMW put LED's in the headlight and mirrors, but for whatever reason, they left the taillight as halogen. I don't think it fits visually."

I had meant the turn signal there...

If you consider the overall lighting theme of the car, the slow on/off of halogen bulbs makes them seem out of place, at least to me. It's almost like the overall sophistication of the car got cut at the turn signals. I'd much rather have it be consistent all the way across.

Now, having said that, I just like the instant on/off of LED's over old-school halogens any day.
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      08-23-2018, 07:34 AM   #15
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There are three reasons to go LED. The most obvious one is that they're brighter. Less obvious is that they come on faster than incandescent, which have a delay between when they get power and when they light up. The least obvious is that LED use a lot less current. There are threads about rear lamp connectors that are burning out, which can only happen when they lack adequate current handling capacity. It's common enough that most dealers keep replacement connectors in stock. It's that last factor that convinced me to go all LED.
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      08-23-2018, 01:25 PM   #16
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Also, getting real red LEDs makes the brake light and turn signal color much nicer. Using a white halogen bulb through a red lens outputs a pinkish color. If you get a real red (and bright) LED, it looks really red without any pinkish hue.
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      08-24-2018, 08:35 AM   #17
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Well, why not get an orange LED instead of the red one. It will still shine orange through red lens and give it a more Euro look.
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      08-24-2018, 11:12 AM   #18
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Orange LED with a red lens doesn't shine orange, or red, but something in between. White LED is out, because the much higher color temperature of the LED bulb compared to incandescent gives a cheesy looking pink.
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      08-24-2018, 02:08 PM   #19
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Second what most people have been saying. Don't put white bulbs behind red lenses, the resulting light will look pinkish - I found that out the hard way.

Red bulb behind red lens looks good. Never tried yellow/amber behind red lens - probably looks okay too.

Also wanted to throw out a recommendation for superbrightleds.com, where i got my bulbs. Very inexpensive (~$6/bulb), bright, no problems so far after a few months. Their website is pretty good too and matches bulbs based on what vehicle you enter. In comparison, IJDMToy is a dumpster fire of a website where I couldn't find anything.
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      08-25-2018, 03:18 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vgore View Post
Well, why not get an orange LED instead of the red one. It will still shine orange through red lens and give it a more Euro look.
I've actually tried amber bulbs through red lenses. While the color itself is OK, the brightness suffers a LOT. LED bulbs that were once brighter than stock, output less light than stock halogens.

So it's always recommended to use red LEDs behind a red lens. Only use amber bulbs behind a clear or amber lens.
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      09-15-2018, 04:57 AM   #21
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Alright... so back with another question:

Do I have to buy CANBUS LED bulbs, or will just the ones that are sized correctly for the socket do the trick?

I was thinking of these ones here:

http://www.jdmastar.com/product/90/3030-SMD-High-Power-1156-7506-LED-Bulbs-Set-of-2.html


They're not CANBUS bulbs though, so not sure if I can use them, or if they just won't work.

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks in advance...
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      09-15-2018, 08:12 AM   #22
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Canbus is another red herring, just like resistors. If you use LED you must code out the warm and cold checks and code them to 'is LED'. If you do you won't have any problems, whether they're canbus or not. If you don't you will have problems, whether they're canbus or not.
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