DIY-Blinking Side Markers

[bmwstephen]

You got it. (well I want him to disconnect the ground first)

How it works is the 194 bulb used in the sidemarkers doesn't need massive amounts of current to light. So much so, that two large filaments, say like those found in the turn signal bulbs make a more than adequate ground. Heck one would do since not enough current will flow through the 194 to light even one filament the size of the turn signals. And on the other side of things, there's enough parking light bulbs that the single 194 can ground out through. Make any sense?

Ok, now the ground issue is taken care of, what about when the parking lights are on and you turn? +12v is applied to both sides of the bulb, and the net voltage difference is 0v, therefore no current flow, and no light. The sidemarker will alternate with the blinker.

H'mm definitely want to give this mod a try right now. So it has been confirmed that there aren't any grounding issues or shorting of the smaller bulb?

IF I understand this correctly, the turn signals lights will still lose their parking light function as a result from this cross over and remain only with the side markers?

[Van Westervelt]

I had planned on euro trim in the future so i thought I would make them blink in the mean time. It seems this was the easiet way but would be simple to go back in and change it for them to stay on.

You wanna fight about it you little fuck stick?! ;-)

Takes the same amount of time to do it either way, and then they are on, and blink. :up:

/being an ass

I had planned on euro trim in the future so i thought I would make them blink in the mean time. It seems this was the easiet way but would be simple to go back in and change it for them to stay on.

[Van Westervelt]

I have wired this up on three cars so that the sidemarkers are on with the parking lights, and blink off alternating with the turn signals.

Didnt wire it this way obviously. Why wouldnt you want them on constantly with the blink option? Makey no sense.

[emi325i]

Dave's suggestion will cause the side marker to blink on and off, not just dim in and out, and stay a side marker.

ok.. my bad.. i spoke to soon

[kommissar]

I've got an even better idea...

leave the wiring the way it is, but use a normally-closed relay to interrupt the side marker circuit when the blinker comes on. It's is actually more complex because there's a bit of wiring involved with the relay... the 2 will alternate, but unlike other setups, the side-marker will stay a side-marker, and will be able to blink rather than simply dim in-and-out; that's useless.

Dave's suggestion will cause the side marker to blink on and off, not just dim in and out, and stay a side marker.

[emi325i]

I've got an even better idea...

leave the wiring the way it is, but use a normally-closed relay to interrupt the side marker circuit when the blinker comes on. It's is actually more complex because there's a bit of wiring involved with the relay... the 2 will alternate, but unlike other setups, the side-marker will stay a side-marker, and will be able to blink rather than simply dim in-and-out; that's useless.

I did this because I love how there are blinkers on mirrors on new cars. caught my eye

[DaveSmed]

GM, General Motors? No, I don't, why?

Thats correct. GM has been wiring their front sidemarkers like that for a while. I want to say 80s on?

[kommissar]

Want to see it in action? Have access to a GM product?

GM, General Motors? No, I don't, why?

[DaveSmed]

Want to see it in action? Have access to a GM product?

[kommissar]

not enough current will flow through the 194 to light even one filament the size of the turn signals.

I've edited my post before your reply, probably while you were typing that explanation up, but this answers the question I had about the turn signal being lit while the side markers were on. I haven't tried it, but I believe you when you say that there's not enough current flow to the turn signals to light them noticeably while the side markers are lit.

[DaveSmed]

Wait, hold on. You want him to splice into the (+) from the blinker, and attach it to the ground at the side marker? Won't that just short the blinker? I don't think I understand the circuitry of this, because that doesn't seem like a good idea to me. What actually goes on when you do this?

You got it. (well I want him to disconnect the ground first)

How it works is the 194 bulb used in the sidemarkers doesn't need massive amounts of current to light. So much so, that two large filaments, say like those found in the turn signal bulbs make a more than adequate ground. Heck one would do since not enough current will flow through the 194 to light even one filament the size of the turn signals. And on the other side of things, there's enough parking light bulbs that the single 194 can ground out through. Make any sense?

Ok, now the ground issue is taken care of, what about when the parking lights are on and you turn? +12v is applied to both sides of the bulb, and the net voltage difference is 0v, therefore no current flow, and no light. The sidemarker will alternate with the blinker.

[kommissar]

If you move the wire to the ground like I suggested and per the link chuck posted up, you will have the blinking side marker and have it on with the parking lights.

Oh, I see what you're saying, you're suggesting that he do this:



Cool, but because, "When the parking lights are on and the turn signal off, it grounds through the turn signal filament and illuminates the marker lamp" the turn signal lamp will also light up, which wouldn't be what I want on an e30 since the running light and turn signal light are actually separate bulbs. In the example they are one bulb, so you wouldn't notice this effect.

[DaveSmed]

If I understand what you just said, when the side markers are on, the turn signals remain on. What I suggested earlier is adding a diode to the connection that you made between the turn signal and the side marker. This will let your side makers blink when the turn signals blink, but won't keep your turn signals lit when only the side markers are on, which I imagine would look funny. This way you have both the flashing side markers, and you don't lose the functionality of the parking lights.

If you move the wire to the ground like I suggested and per the link chuck posted up, you will have the blinking side marker and have it on with the parking lights.