[N0OS3]

I made this a poll to see what you guys think. I have 5% tint on my rear windows and rear windshield and 10% tint over my tail lights... though they don't restrict light all that much. In the mornings, it's hard to see when backing up and in some rare cases i have to lower my windows to see out. If i leave my car out of the garage at night, i also have to deal with fog. So... i was thinking i could put some HID projectors back there and have some intense lighting to solve all my problems...

[edirtaynine]

lol

[milly]

Haha I saw this on YouTube before.

[335 oClock]

HID reverse lights??!?!??!

[E92M3Guy]

They do exist so it is possible to do.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

They exist. I've tried to test them but if I recall correctly they didnt fit in the housing.

The only way you can get a truly bright reverse light in this car is to modify the housing and you will likely need to code the car as well.

The stock housing has a flaw in its design form the start, combined with minimal room the housing and reflectors point upwards.

This leaves any upgrade with the tendency to point into the sky, which is the last place we need light.

http://www.highperformancebulbs.com/hpx921hidrel.html

If you search for hid reverse lights you can get one for nearly every type of bulb. However, they are not guaranteed to fit in every car as housings differ.

[N0OS3]

i don't mind the modifying part... i could see likely baking my tail lights apart, cutting a hole for a FX-R or some type of nice projector and probably having to modify the housing as well to fit the extra protrusion behind the light...

This isn't something i'm settled on doing... just seeing what the possibilities are.

For those of you who voted "LED bulbs" ... do any of you have a setup like mine (tinted lights and tinted windows) and can see with LED bulbs?
What's the BRIGHTEST possible bulbs i can get? -link?

[milly]

Lync I know exactly what you mean though I have 5% all the way around and at night I have to roll down the windows lol.

[fdriller9]

You're not going to be able to fit a projector in the oem housings, modified or not.

Heat will also be an issue.

Youre better off making your own high powered led setup.

And the reflectors are on the side, not the bottom. If you position LEDs corretly, they reflect light to the back.

[rollinstone157]

Originally Posted by lync9763

..For those of you who voted "LED bulbs" ... do any of you have a setup like mine (tinted lights and tinted windows) and can see with LED bulbs?
What's the BRIGHTEST possible bulbs i can get? -link?

I would try these: http://autolumination.com/1156_1157.htm
I'm looking at the Eagle Eye SMT Tower bulbs (first ones on the page), you'll need to code (or run resistors), but it's certainly the brightest Ba15s base bulb on the market.

What about an off-road LED floodlight? The trick is going to be getting it to fit in the housing (or even just a little bit out) Something like this might be perfect for you http://www.amazon.com/Vision-XIL-41V...sim_sbs_auto_2
And you'll put less strain on wiring with these over a HID kit, simply because you won't have that massive current draw on startup with LEDs that you get with HIDs.

If you're set on HIDs, I would check out theretrofitsource.com's blazer projectors http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=249 Simply because they're smaller.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by rollinstone157

I would try these: http://autolumination.com/1156_1157.htm
I'm looking at the Eagle Eye SMT Tower bulbs (first ones on the page), you'll need to code (or run resistors), but it's certainly the brightest Ba15s base bulb on the market.

What about an off-road LED floodlight? The trick is going to be getting it to fit in the housing (or even just a little bit out) Something like this might be perfect for you http://www.amazon.com/Vision-XIL-41V...sim_sbs_auto_2
And you'll put less strain on wiring with these over a HID kit, simply because you won't have that massive current draw on startup with LEDs that you get with HIDs.

You won't be able to buy anything that is as bright as the op wants. Lux is the brightest solution but it is not made for pre-lci e90s.

Op, you have to go custom. I'm working on a set for pre-lci e9xs. Were starting on the e92s though.

In your case, I think you want an extreme output led solution and it seems like mofifying the housing doesn't bother you.

PM me. I'll design something for you. Depending on how much modification you want to do, the setup can be as bright or bright per than an hid kit.

[Vesar]

Nah just kiddin, just DONT do it man. Think about it HID your reverse lights seriously?? I have seen some but looks crap

[cole92]

I am willing to bet that the 2700 hour bulb life will be less than half. They aren't designed to be turned on and off like that. I'd just go with some nice LEDs.

[N0OS3]

Originally Posted by rollinstone157

I would try these: http://autolumination.com/1156_1157.htm
I'm looking at the Eagle Eye SMT Tower bulbs (first ones on the page), you'll need to code (or run resistors), but it's certainly the brightest Ba15s base bulb on the market.

What about an off-road LED floodlight? The trick is going to be getting it to fit in the housing (or even just a little bit out) Something like this might be perfect for you http://www.amazon.com/Vision-XIL-41V...sim_sbs_auto_2
And you'll put less strain on wiring with these over a HID kit, simply because you won't have that massive current draw on startup with LEDs that you get with HIDs.

If you're set on HIDs, I would check out theretrofitsource.com's blazer projectors http://www.theretrofitsource.com/pro...roducts_id=249 Simply because they're smaller.

The eagle eye bulbs actually look pretty good and efficient for this situation... kind of like they're mini projectors in a bulb fitting... pretty neat. $25 ea isn't bad either.

Not digging the flood light...

Originally Posted by *********

You won't be able to buy anything that is as bright as the op wants. Lux is the brightest solution but it is not made for pre-lci e90s.

Op, you have to go custom. I'm working on a set for pre-lci e9xs. Were starting on the e92s though.

In your case, I think you want an extreme output led solution and it seems like mofifying the housing doesn't bother you.

PM me. I'll design something for you. Depending on how much modification you want to do, the setup can be as bright or bright per than an hid kit.

I'll PM soon...

Was this design a complete head-to-toe makeover or would it just be sending in my tail lights and you retrofit what you need to?

just curious... you starting up a business soon or something? I know you made your own angel eyes but i'm not sure what you're all about...

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by lync9763

The eagle eye bulbs actually look pretty good and efficient for this situation... kind of like they're mini projectors in a bulb fitting... pretty neat. $25 ea isn't bad either.

Not digging the flood light...



I'll PM soon...

Was this design a complete head-to-toe makeover or would it just be sending in my tail lights and you retrofit what you need to?

just curious... you starting up a business soon or something? I know you made your own angel eyes but i'm not sure what you're all about...

Well whatever you want lol. That's the point of custom! I'll try to make it as plug and play as possible but there will definitely need to be some trimming. Especially if you want a unit that will produce light similar to a headlight.

On the dl, yes I'm trying to develop multiple high powered plug and play units. Nothing is set in stone yet. Still in the beginning stages.

[rollinstone157]

Well I just checked back on AutoLumination, and the 12-watt version of these eagle eyes came out (oh my.) So while you may not be able to use these as back up lights (they might not be bright enough, but 12 watts does seem like a lot to me...), why not upgrade your brake and turn signal bulbs to LED?

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

12 Watt is one thing but the placement of the filament and the refraction of light will ultimately lead to how it illuminates the road behind you. I install many LED not just on BMW but other cars and I'm constantly fighting the battle of universal LED refracting the light correctly. Majority of the problem is where the "business end" is putting out the most light. Many times the LED produce its most light too deep in a housing where a majority of the light just isnt being reflected correctly.

At any rate all I'm trying to say is you need to look at where the current LED produces its light at the end of the filament and realize you need your new light to produce its highest output there as well, unless you modify the housing and just put the sun inside of course

We also need to realize as I mentioned previously that the BMW reverse light housing is done wrong from the factory. So you need some way of projecting the light down and back onto the road.

I tried doing the brake lights with a bright high output LED but the white washed it out to a pink color. So you need a high output red LED and it will throw errors more or cause hyperflash without coding.

The turn signal looked good but then again it caused the hyperflash.

I'd code my car but then I woudnt be a good test car

[ZJP]

I use these as my reverse lights and they're bright enough, very satisfied with them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/168-921-194-...item230f36928c

[Josh1a1h]

Originally Posted by ZJP

I use these as my reverse lights and they're bright enough, very satisfied with them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/168-921-194-...item230f36928c

Have you got any pics you can post up of your car with the reverse engaged against a wall?

I am getting my lights tinted soon and didnt think about this... i struggle already!

Best,

Josh

[rollinstone157]

Originally Posted by Josh1a1h

Have you got any pics you can post up of your car with the reverse engaged against a wall?

I am getting my lights tinted soon and didnt think about this... i struggle already!

Best,

Josh

Those won't work on your vehicle (wrong base type), and the 12-Watt Eagle Eye SMT towers will be massively brighter than those ebay bulbs. Just order one of those bulbs @ 30, and try it for yourself. If you really don't like it, you can return it.

[Josh1a1h]

Originally Posted by rollinstone157

Those won't work on your vehicle (wrong base type), and the 12-Watt Eagle Eye SMT towers will be massively brighter than those ebay bulbs. Just order one of those bulbs @ 30, and try it for yourself. If you really don't like it, you can return it.

Are you sure? The guy above uses them on his e92 335i too...?

Are you saying the bulb required is the one below

[FastBimmerN54]

HPB's reverse light upgrade is brighter then stock. But I'm sure it could be brighter if you are willing to modify your car and code.

All their products are designed to work error free with no coding or modification though.



http://www.highperformancebulbs.com/bmw2020e92an.html

Mine are actually white in real life not blue like in this picture.