10-19-2021, 10:50 PM | #45 |
Apprentice
87
Rep 492
Posts |
For better or worse, I made a frustrating discovery today.
I installed a set of the new LEDs in one of the rear doors, but it left me unimpressed. Yes, the intensity was slightly better than the (essentially invisible) stock, but it was underwhelming. But hey, at least now I can SEE them. Oh well. Tonight I was stuck in traffic, playing with the controls, and I found out that: DESPITE having designated iDrive controls for the Ambient Lighting, AND having iDrive controls for the Display Brightness, AND having iDrive controls for the HUD Brightness, ALL of the above are controlled by the Instrument Cluster Brightness Control dial anyway!!! I always turn down the illumination of the gauges in every car as I don't like it shining in my face at night while driving, but I had no clue that this also dims down the ambient lighting. When I turn it to High, the brightness of the stock ambient LEDs is actually acceptable. So now I have a dilemma. I got 12 of the Benzinfabrik white/orange 605 LEDs and one door done. Should I replace the remaining 3 doors? Or go back to stock and sell the LEDs? Im sorry for being obvious if all of you knew this already, but it was certainly "news" to me tonight. |
Appreciate
0
|
10-20-2021, 10:11 AM | #46 | |
Captain
292
Rep 634
Posts |
Quote:
So if you set your ambient lights to 50% in the iDrive, the dial will adjust between 0-50% Set them to 100% in iDrive and the dial will adjust 0-100%. So if you have your dial at 50% and the ambient light iDrive at 100%, you will have brighter ambient lights than when both are i.e. at 50%. Looks like you have a -15, meaning you have the bright OEM ones. So unless you find the new ones better at 100%, maybe selling them is the way to go. I guess you will need to look at the one door you have done and compare with the stock ones and decide what you like better.
__________________
_____________________________
-14 Imola Red M5 Competition Pack (sold) -90 BMW 850i Supercharged -20 i3s -20 Ducati Diavel 1260s |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-20-2021, 01:22 PM | #47 |
Private First Class
92
Rep 174
Posts |
Anyone seen this video recently on Youtube on this? Not sure if this is from anyone on the forums. This is a question i was trying to answer, if it was possible to code in the options to have as OEM as possible. Honestly might give this a shot.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-20-2021, 04:21 PM | #48 | |
Apprentice
87
Rep 492
Posts |
Quote:
The new ones are brighter, but not all that significantly. You can see in the picture below (front:stock, rear:upgrade) that the door handle and pocket are significantly brighter, but the light strip is only slightly more noticeable. Thanks for the explanation! |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-22-2021, 12:22 PM | #49 | |
King of NYC
119
Rep 177
Posts |
Quote:
The new LEDs that members are now installing aren't LED strips. They are upgraded LEDs that fit right into the OEM LED holders. They are "plug and play". Because BMW has the F10 coded to 2 ambient LED colors, you can't switch to more colors than that through the NBT menu. Not just that, the way the OEM wiring is designed, it handles just 2 colors. However if you want the ultimate option which you can choose a multitude colors, you have to go for aftermarket full LED strip replacements that are the RGB type as shown in that video. It has a module that actually plugs into the NBT. This module is the actual LED controller and it interfaces with the car so it expands the color options. You have to code the car to get it to work but it allows you color control through the menu as shown in that video. It is the most intensive install of all, but it may be worth it to you. I just find it interesting that BMW actually has those ambient coding parameters even available! Why are they there and what did they plan on using them for? Apparently it never came to use on any pre-2016 BMW I know of. Perhaps it was there to tinker with for future development of the G30/F90? Props to whoever figured it out and designed a module to work with it.
__________________
2014 BMW M5 Competition
MCB on Silverstone |
|
10-26-2021, 07:30 AM | #50 | |
Private First Class
92
Rep 174
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-31-2021, 09:07 PM | #51 | |
Captain
207
Rep 605
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2023, 12:44 PM | #52 |
Registered
2
Rep 2
Posts |
Bump on an older post to update all using the link in this post for the German shop selling replacement LEDs (Benzinfabrik) they have upgraded their LEDs since this original posting.
"UPDATE: We have updated the PCB boards and adjusted the configuration of the PCB board. The board is no longer black; we now use an aluminum PCB board." I ordered a set of 12 today to answer the question on what the difference is in orange vs orange-605 is "Orange version with a wavelength of 605nm, which corresponds to the original BMW. The red content of the 605 version is higher than the classic orange ones." Nice to have a plug-and-play version specifically designed to be indistinguishable between OEM and aftermarket, the exception only being the brightness. |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2023, 01:17 PM | #53 |
Second Lieutenant
248
Rep 268
Posts |
On my current f10 m5, and the previous, whenever I set the ambient lights using idrive to the white version, the next time I drive it has reverted back to amber! Not that bothered as I prefer the amber over the white, but weird how neither car “saves” the setting. Any ideas?!
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2023, 01:41 PM | #54 | |
Registered
2
Rep 2
Posts |
Quote:
There may be a driver profile setting that saves it however not 100% |
|
Appreciate
1
m5rosco247.50 |
05-21-2024, 09:47 PM | #55 |
Registered
2
Rep 1
Posts |
I was able to find the new LED boards on AliExpress.
Just got my F10 wanted to update the ambient lighting and ended up here. Seems like no one found an easier way place to get the LED modules so wanted to share that I found them on aliexpress for $30, no double tax or issues getting them in the country. Hope this helps someone!
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...Cquery_from%3A |
Appreciate
1
M5Rick66632.00 |
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|