LED taillights

[M42Technik]

Chris, i just think that there will be a bar across the tails, segmenting the arrays, kinda like how the later style tails are separated...

I would say a month or so to get something together. i may be easier than we think.

If you can get the same results as the car posted, I'll give you my smoked tails to do it on. That would be hot.

[Inspar8r]

Don't get your hopes up to see these soon. The early tails are so much harder than I anticipated. If someone wants to send me a spare set of later-style e30 tail lights, we can start working on those too. I believe their design is a bit easier to work with and would likely look like the silver e30 pictured earlier.

By the way, Nick doesn't make half-assed hack jobs, this is hardcore professional stuff. So if you're looking to do something for uber cheap, then keep looking at those crappy bulbs.

Chris, i just think that there will be a bar across the tails, segmenting the arrays, kinda like how the later style tails are separated...

I would say a month or so to get something together. i may be easier than we think.

[Garageaholic]

you guys trying to talk LED jargon, keep your day jobs

hahaha it's true, fortunately, my day job is an engineer. hhahahaI would kill to become a bmw mechanic though

[C ///M]

Don't get your hopes up to see these soon. The early tails are so much harder than I anticipated. If someone wants to send me a spare set of later-style e30 tail lights, we can start working on those too. I believe their design is a bit easier to work with and would likely look like the silver e30 pictured earlier.

By the way, Nick doesn't make half-assed hack jobs, this is hardcore professional stuff. So if you're looking to do something for uber cheap, then keep looking at those crappy bulbs.

[Inspar8r]

Guys, it's been forever since I've posted on these forums, but I've been around since the e30sport days and even before that, and Chris (C///M) are currently working on a set for the e30. It's quite a bit more difficult, but not impossible.

I've already done the first LED conversion in the US on the Lexus IS300, and here are some pics of my car:







Obviously they wouldnt look like this on the e30, but you get the idea. The boards are custom burned and built on a single sided PCB. They could either be dual staged (dim, then get bright when the brakes are applied), or they can have separate sections for the brake portion.

I'll keep everyone who is interested posted on the progress. Just so that you are aware, if I did market and sell a kit for the e30, it would most likely be north of $250. So it would depend on how bad you'd want a set.

[xLibelle]

since each LED takes about 2volts, make like 5 on a strand, no need for resistors at all, make it a little cheaper for fabrication and design. Just my 2 cents

you guys trying to talk LED jargon, keep your day jobs

[blueapplesoda]

Ok the video is up...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6707800227762771897

I don't like the dots either...

My camera is having a hard time focusing...but i was showing the speed difference between on and off. If you look at the turns, they flash on and off and fade when they flash off, compared to the center brake light, which is on/off with no fade.

In terms of brightness they are not as bright unless you are directly behind the car, and its brighter there due to narrow projection of the led's bulb.

Unless you like dots like that...they aren't worth it.

[BMWguy]

I love the LED tails and fronts on that German car but they need to be RED... AMBER IS FUGLY!!!

[MR 325]

Not diggin the dots, that's for sure

How much brighter would you say these are over standard bulbs?

Were they worth it?

[S14sx2nr]

interesting, keep us posted!

-Dan

[blueapplesoda]

Thread is old. I know, but i got around to picking up those bulbs to try them.
meh...


w/o touching the brakes.


After depressing the brakes


The light is constantly on, leaving two little dots and brightening as I depress the brakes. I don't like that. However, It is an instant on and instant off which I do like. I was thinking of maybe making a small reflector that fits over the bulb so instead of projecting straight out, it would reflect back into the light housing (to make a brighter reflection with a dark spot in the middle?).

I'll have a video up soon showing the difference between standard and led light bulbs.

[fretburnr]

theres a place that does super custom stuff (not just led bulb replacements but full conversions) www.clearcorners.com ... nothing listed for e30 except for a note:

NOTE: We are currently looking to expand our BMW product line. Please contact us if you are interested in assisting us with developing some new products for the above vehicles.

just an example, an s13 240sx with dual layer led tail conversion - the outer ring as parking lights, inner spot for brake lights

[mr.happy]

A little off topic dose any one know where the write up of changing the lighted key to a led.

thanks

[StereoInstaller1]

Somebody hurry up and try those. Take before and after pics. I wanna see, but I don't wanna pay for it!

Luke

[CleanAzzE30z]

Damn that shit doesnt look half bad, surprisingly.