E60 LCI tails retrofit or original variation

bmstuff

Hello,

I have done a few retrofits of these and yesterday I discovered something by accident.

One thing you might have noticed, is the original LCI tailights, when the driver brake, become all blurry and you have this big red ball hiding those beautiful red tubes. I was surprised the first time I saw these, I thought it looked great in normal operation, but awful when braking.

Here is how a pair of LCI tails look like when you brake. You can not make out those red tubes



So here is what I did last night.
The brake bulbs have been disabled and the light module recoded in such way that the red tubes become brighter when the brake pedal is pressed.
I have not invented anything. This is actually a factory coding, but it is not enabled per default.

This is possible for pre and post LCI cars with the LCI tails.

Can be reverted back to original within 2mn if you do not like it.

The video is not great, but it should give you a good idea.

The result? A much sharper and tighter taillight when braking. Looks very nice and definitely not affecting your security as the car behind you can not miss it. Unless the guy is not looking at the road of course.
NCT safe too. Many newish cars do have this enabled feature from factory, led tubes become brighter, such as Audi.

Gumbo

Have always been aware of this, and thought it ruined the look of the LCI lights. Great find. How much would you charge to code this? And I assume the coding includes the error coded out for the actual brake bulbs? Thanks.

mickdw

Is it sufficiently bright / different from tail light to act as a brake light?

Mycroft H

You'd have to try spot the difference on a bright morning just to be sure.

bmstuff

mickdw wrote: »

Is it sufficiently bright / different from tail light to act as a brake light?

Yes absolutely they are as bright as the 3rd brake light. You really can't miss it. This is a factory option as I said, not a hack.
Many options are available but not enabled.

Such as the brake force display, 3rd brake light blinking under heavy braking to raise awareness for the drivers driving behind.

bmstuff

Mycroft H wrote: »

You'd have to try spot the difference on a bright morning just to be sure.

It is perfectly fine actually. These are very bright.

Voodoomelon

Same for E65/E66?

Mycroft H

bmstuff wrote: »

Yes absolutely they are as bright as the 3rd brake light. You really can't miss it. This is a factory option as I said, not a hack.
Many options are available but not enabled.

Such as the brake force display, 3rd brake light blinking under heavy braking to raise awareness for the drivers driving behind.

Good stuff then. Nice find.

My C5 knocks on the hazards under heavy breaking, must be something similar

bmstuff

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Same for E65/E66?

On yours you need the LM2 module
The function is not on the LM1 one module

If I am not mistaken LM2 module is available from 10/2006 builds.
Can be retrofitted easily otherwise.

rovoagho

Is the cost of a retrofit still mad money?

Great find btw, I've always thought the incandescents ruined the look too.

mickdw

Mycroft H wrote: »

Good stuff then. Nice find.

My C5 knocks on the hazards under heavy breaking, must be something similar

My car too. Hazards come on. Pain in the ass really.