The LED Upgrade Saga... and if it's worth it.

**Kevlar** · 08-13-2003, 10:37 PM

Ok... here is what I think will work.

E46 M3 Coupe

LED Tail Left - 63 21 6 920 695
LED Tail Right - 63 21 6 920 696

Left Seal/Cover - 63 21 6 933 017
Right Seal/Cover - 63 21 6 933 018

Adapter Cable/Plug Set - 61 12 0 153 650

If your car is produced before 10/10/2001 you will need extra parts.

If your car is produced after 10/10/2001, you should be able to get away with your current LCM but you will need a software update. I believe as of 8/13/03... you will need version .v34 of the LCM software.

I think these are the bare essentialls of what you should need.

Thanks to Greg for the info. Cost of the parts is still yet to be determined at my local dealership (plus the 1hr labor to upgrade the software). I'll update this as I find out more.

Now the question is ... is it worth the $500-700.

**Kevlar** · 08-13-2003, 10:54 PM

Come to think of it... not worth it at the moment, definitely later tho.

**///MDriver** · 08-13-2003, 11:40 PM

I don't know if it is worth it. I think that this LED setup looks funny. I don't like the fact that it is is a round setup. However, seeing the light instantly come on when the brake pedal is hit is pretty cool.

Kev, could you come up with the part number for convertibles? Before the LED tailights, our cars were built with a neon third brake light. Now they are LED.

I will probably wait to see a successful upgrade or two before I tackle it.

**Icecream ///Man** · 08-13-2003, 11:49 PM

LED makes no difference to the masses and HID is a fad that is soon to be illegal.

**jvit27** · 08-13-2003, 11:49 PM

Kaisake over on DTM might know, hes an e46 god

**///MDriver** · 08-14-2003, 12:06 AM

HID is not soon to be illegal, HID aftermarket kits are soon to be illegal.

**truth** · 08-14-2003, 01:56 AM

Originally posted by ///MDriver
HID is not soon to be illegal, HID aftermarket kits are soon to be illegal.

Winnar!

:

**euro4life** · 08-14-2003, 02:04 AM

Originally posted by ///MDriver
HID is not soon to be illegal, HID aftermarket kits are soon to be illegal.

I was under the inpression (after reading numerous posts) that it was all hogwarsh.

LED's worth it? It depends on how far you want to go. I guess if you really want them go for it but make sure you get the essentials before playing around with tiny cosmetic changes. ie suspension, power adders, wheels, etc. I guess it's all subjective though.

**Icecream ///Man** · 08-14-2003, 08:35 AM

I was just playing devil's advocate, I actually like them. What about all the complaints from lame-o drivers about the glare?

**Kevlar** · 08-14-2003, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by ///MDriver

Kev, could you come up with the part number for convertibles? Before the LED tailights, our cars were built with a neon third brake light. Now they are LED.

Convertible

LED Taillight Left - 63 21 6 920 733
LED Taillight Right - 63 21 6 920 734

Taillight Seal Left - 63 21 6 933 019
Taillight Seal Right - 63 21 6 933 020

**///MDriver** · 08-14-2003, 11:32 AM

Thanks for the numbers Kev. But there is one more, the third brakelight. On my car, an '02, it is neon. But on the new cars it is LED. I would probably have to change that too.

**e46driver** · 08-14-2003, 11:39 AM

my 3rd brake light is all led and this is '00 car

**TransHuman** · 08-14-2003, 11:55 AM

Originally posted by Icecream ///Man
I was just playing devil's advocate, I actually like them. What about all the complaints from lame-o drivers about the glare?

Amazing the things our gov't spends time with! But they'll let car makers produce the MINI and the H2...I wonder what's more dangerous..a little glare or a monster truck challenge on the highway?

While they're at it..maybe they can go open season on all the damn deer...I say if I see one in my back yard..it's SHOCK AND AWE time..

They present more danger to me than anything else..which is why I just installed the HIDs.

**///MDriver** · 08-14-2003, 11:57 AM

Originally posted by e46driver
my 3rd brake light is all led and this is '00 car

The coupes and convertibles are different. My '01 coupe had a LED third light too. For some reason on the convertible they decided to use neon, which I think looks pretty cool.