replacing bulbs in the "lower eyelid"?

[ZStig]

I believe the bulbs in the lower eyelid on the 06 m roadster, and other updated lights that are all clear, have orange bulbs in the lower "eyelid" thing. Can they be replaced with clear LED ones? or will it still glow orange?

[ZZZZ]

depends on if the clear LED ones light up in orange or white.

[ZStig]

I'd get white of course. anyone know the bulb sizes? H21W?

[MZHammer]

Interested to see the responses. Clear/white would be a nice option.

[inTgr8r]

There are some posts buried in here somewhere, but it won't work.

The bulbs in there are actually clear.
The amber color comes from a globe that sits over the bulb.
The globes can't be removed w/o taking the headlight apart.

I looked into this a long time ago with my M roadster.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

There are some posts buried in here somewhere, but it won't work.

The bulbs in there are actually clear.
The amber color comes from a globe that sits over the bulb.
The globes can't be removed w/o taking the headlight apart.

I looked into this a long time ago with my M roadster.

What's been done is people have used the bulb access to remove the clear bulbs, then poke a screwdriver thru and smash the orange globes to bits, then vacuum out the pieces and put the bulbs back in. Luminor, another Chicago Z4MC owner, did this to his - looked pretty good.

[gatorfast]

Its really a shame that there is no simple way around this. I would even be fine with keeping the amber but having it light up only as the turn signal and not while the headlights are on.

[ZStig]

Originally Posted by epbrown

What's been done is people have used the bulb access to remove the clear bulbs, then poke a screwdriver thru and smash the orange globes to bits, then vacuum out the pieces and put the bulbs back in. Luminor, another Chicago Z4MC owner, did this to his - looked pretty good.

as violent of a mod as it sounds, it still sounds like an easy mod hahhaha

[ZStig]

ah, here's the thread

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333204

it doesn't look dramatically different. Guess I'd have to find hyper white LEDs that fit in there to make it work

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

ah, here's the thread

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333204

it doesn't look dramatically different. Guess I'd have to find hyper white LEDs that fit in there to make it work

It looks better in person but I thought at the time that different bulbs with a whiter color temperature would give it more pop.

[ZStig]

so is it 4 h21 bulbs?

[M-Power M3]

Originally Posted by epbrown

It looks better in person but I thought at the time that different bulbs with a whiter color temperature would give it more pop.

yeah that after pic is an oem halogen bulb, a good white LED bulb will make a dramatic difference. I had to do something like that on my Audi TT. Had to bake the headlights open, swap lenses then change to LED bulbs.

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by M-Power M3

yeah that after pic is an oem halogen bulb, a good white LED bulb will make a dramatic difference. I had to do something like that on my Audi TT. Had to bake the headlights open, swap lenses then change to LED bulbs.

Yeah, in the post I linked Scott (Luminor) mentions that LEDs wouldn't work.

[M-Power M3]

Why is that exactly? Like the bulb itself will not work? There's gotta be a way lol

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by M-Power M3

Why is that exactly? Like the bulb itself will not work? There's gotta be a way lol

What's behind your steadfast refusal to click the link and read the thread?

[M-Power M3]

Originally Posted by epbrown

What's behind your steadfast refusal to click the link and read the thread?

I did click and read and this is all I got...

Originally Posted by Luminor

Rick is right the only way to get rid of the orange is to shatter the orange glass casing that surrounds the bulb...this is what it looks like after...

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...deClose-up.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...treflector.jpg

We looked into LEDs and couldn't find a way to make them work...thats not to say someone else couldn't but we did spend some time looking into it.

No specific reason as to why LED's wouldn't work and even gives the possibility that they might. Were the LED's flashing (needed a resistor), were they too big, were there no replacements of that bulb type?

Unless I completely missed something why can't you just bake the headlights open (or shatter the orange aka easy way) to get rid of the orange then throw in a LED bulb?

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by M-Power M3

.......
No specific reason as to why LED's wouldn't work and even gives the possibility that they might. Were the LED's flashing (needed a resistor), were they too big, were there no replacements of that bulb type?

Unless I completely missed something why can't you just bake the headlights open (or shatter the orange aka easy way) to get rid of the orange then throw in a LED bulb?

I'm sure LEDs will work, it's just a matter of playing with the correct resistance etc.
Part of the issue is preventing the lamp fail cct from tripping.

The other issue is getting the right LED with an H21 base.
I know I've seen a thread where a guy took the H21 base off the bulb & soldered the LED to the H21 base.

IMO LEDs are doable, it's just a question of R&Ding the correct setup.

As far as baking the lights to open them, forget it.
They are far too hard to do for a DIYer.
The melting point for bonding between the 2 halves is very close to the melting point of the plastic.
I takes a very precise temperature setting & a specific time to make it work.

The other way is to find set of donor headlights & use the chop method.

[ZStig]

h21 you say?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2pcs-...Q5fAccessories

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

h21 you say?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2pcs-...Q5fAccessories

also; http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2pcs-...item2c59f75d2d

I'd be more interested in just getting rid of the egg yoke look when off.
I'd also modify to only flash with the turn signal, not on with the headlights.

These LEDs would likely still require some work on the cct with resistors etc.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

I'd also modify to only flash with the turn signal, not on with the headlights.

I WISH that was possible! I hate having that ugly amber strip light up while the headlights are on.

[ZStig]

they might even be plug and play. you try it first =)

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

I WISH that was possible! I hate having that ugly amber strip light up while the headlights are on.

It's doable it just depends on the cct as to how simple.....

Simplfied scenario:
use a normal closed relay contact in the signal lamp cct.
The relay coil controlled by "headlights ON" cct.
When the headlights come on, the relay contact opens & disables the signal lamps.

(there's a little more to it so that turn signal works with lights ON)