Courtesy lights - Where should I tap for +

[Aerton]

Ok another project, I just bought this from ebay, they are the courtesy lights from an e36. I was thinking of using the smaller lights at the bottom edge of the door so when you open the door you have some light. And the triangular lights in the rear for my passengers as reading etc. I have a convertible so if I put them in the speaker panel I will not be damaging my interior and it's reversible. I say that for you true purist who will get your panties in a wad.

Where should I tap for power and can the system support another four lights? Perhaps converting these to led prior to installation as they will draw less? Positive opinions are welcomed and flamers are always amusing but technological opinions with pics are priceless.

[Aptyp]

lol, i hate those

but should be a fun little project.

[Aerton]

I admit not my favorite looking but I tried to stay BMW, its black so it will blend in and got the whole set for cheap.

[Kerrath]

Did you ever finish this? I'd like to see your results.

[Aerton]

Sadly not yet. I bought an e30 for my son so sorting out two project e30's is a bit difficult. I will sort it out in early spring.

[Danny]

Hmm, tap into speaker wires?

I'm curious to see how this turns out.

[gearheadE30]

I did the dome light thing with an E34 piece. It tool a lot of work, but I am very pleased with the results:

[Aerton]

Nice work gearhead, I like what you did. I don't want to give up my check panel it gives me the Jet Pilot feel.

[george graves]

Fuse box----------lights----------------relay----door pin switch-------ground
..................|..........................|
..................|___new lights_____|
..................|___new lights_____|
..................|___new lights_____|
..................|___new lights_____|

EDIT: Ignore the "....." I had to use them as spacers.

[kronus]

Hmm, tap into speaker wires?

This will definitely not work.

---------

Aerton - the system will have no problem supporting those lights. You can pull +12v from pretty much any wire that has it. You have a choice - pull from constant or switched power. Constant means that you can turn them on with the car off. This can draw your battery down if you leave them on for like a week, but is otherwise convenient. Or, you can put them on switched power and have them work only with the key on the ON position.

I don't fully understand where you plan on putting them, so can't suggest a good wire to draw from.

Since you have a vert, you don't have the dome lights, correct?

[Danny]

Would the speaker wires be too big of a gauge?

I'm curious, I was kind of thinking after I posted that it wouldn't work.

[kronus]

Would the speaker wires be too big of a gauge?

I'm curious, I was kind of thinking after I posted that it wouldn't work.

speaker wires do not have constant +12v. Plus, the current draw would mess with the audio output produced.

EDIT + and probably fuxxor your head unit.

[Danny]

Oh I see.

Thats interesting, I never knew that.

[george graves]

Yea, you can tap anywhere for power - but I would use a constant 12v, not a ACC 12v. That way the light will turn on when the key is not in.

[gearheadE30]

cabs have the one dome light next to the check panel if I remember right. My car is a 318is, so it didn't have a check panel anyway. I pulled power from the existing dome lights so that the lights come on when opening the door as well as having constant power if I want to flip the lights on.