Upgrade 01 to LED tail lights

[WoGGo]

I asked this question in the previous M3F, but I need some more information.

Aside from the Tail Light Adapter Cable Set, LCM, LED tail lights and trunk lights, are there any other required hardware?

Is it possible to use 03+ Bi-Xenon head lights with my 01; lets say I grabbed head lights, LCM and tail lights from an 03+ ?

Is there anything special about the trunk lights, can I use them now without any other hardware?

[Rhythim]

There's probably an old DIY around here somewhere, it's been done enough that the old backups likely made it over to this board. May not need the LSZ, I believe even on the early ones you can just code it for LED tails. I'd already upgraded mine to version 4.5, so it was just a simple update for me.

Yes, can update all the lighting to later model stuff. This is oversimplifying it, but additional wiring and coding is involved to fully utilize the bixenon functions, and to have the leveling function, you either have to install the harness and ride height sensors, or source a European spec LSZ with the manual height adjustment wheel, which is what I did, in addition to adding the European spec city lights.

Can't enable Brake Force Display on early cars without a cluster swap, and while doable, it's not something I'm comfortable doing.

Inner tails aren't LED, they are plug and play.

[WoGGo]

There's probably an old DIY around here somewhere, it's been done enough that the old backups likely made it over to this board. May not need the LSZ, I believe even on the early ones you can just code it for LED tails. I'd already upgraded mine to version 4.5, so it was just a simple update for me.

Yes, can update all the lighting to later model stuff. This is oversimplifying it, but additional wiring and coding is involved to fully utilize the bixenon functions, and to have the leveling function, you either have to install the harness and ride height sensors, or source a European spec LSZ with the manual height adjustment wheel, which is what I did, in addition to adding the European spec city lights.

I assume LSZ is another name for the LCM (Light Control Module)?

Our Australian spec cars are Euro spec I believe; my VIN give this code in RealOEM... BL92-EUR-04-2001-E46-BMW-M3
I take it then that if I sourced Bi-Xenons, they would come with the height adjustment wheel... do you have a picture of what this looks like?

Can't enable Brake Force Display on early cars without a cluster swap, and while doable, it's not something I'm comfortable doing.

What exactly is brake force display?

[ChipperM3]

I did LED tails and bi- xenon headlight swap on my 01. I think some just tap power from something else to power the shutter, but I wanted it to be as OE possible. I bought the correct gauge and colour wire for the shutters and pinned them to the correct location on the LSZ. For the connection at the headlight I bought a used headlight harness on eBay and harvested the plugs.
Also, because of the later model LSZ you’re using you can update to automatic headlights. I needed a new windshield anyway so I had the version that uses the rain and light sensor (01 is just rain), and bought a sensor. I’m not sure if the dealer can initiate the sensor on 01 cars thought; I did it with my laptop.

[ethan]

I did LED tails and bi- xenon headlight swap on my 01. I think some just tap power from something else to power the shutter, but I wanted it to be as OE possible. I bought the correct gauge and colour wire for the shutters and pinned them to the correct location on the LSZ. For the connection at the headlight I bought a used headlight harness on eBay and harvested the plugs.
Also, because of the later model LSZ you’re using you can update to automatic headlights. I needed a new windshield anyway so I had the version that uses the rain and light sensor (01 is just rain), and bought a sensor. I’m not sure if the dealer can initiate the sensor on 01 cars thought; I did it with my laptop.

Same story here.

I assume LSZ is another name for the LCM (Light Control Module)?

Yeah, LSZ is the module code for the LCM.

What exactly is brake force display?

When you press the brake pedal sufficiently firmly, the LSZ flashes the brake lights instead of just applying them solid.

Edit - here's my BFD: https://ethan-public-photos.s3.amazo...orsports/5.mp4

[old///MFanatic]

When you press the brake pedal sufficiently firmly, the LSZ flashes the brake lights instead of just applying them solid.

Edit - here's my BFD: https://ethan-public-photos.s3.amazo...orsports/5.mp4

I may be mistaken but from what I rememeber in the USA BFD (Brake Force Display) on LED E46s is when the outter most rings light up on a hard stop. Other times only the center rings will light on a stop.
Your blinking lights is not standard BFD. That is "Stage 3" activation, which may be a non-usa setting.

So yes that is BFD, but that's not the BFD that everyone has who gets it stock. The rings are stock brake force display (::::)

[ethan]

I may be mistaken but from what I rememeber in the USA BFD (Brake Force Display) on LED E46s is when the outter most rings light up on a hard stop. Other times only the center rings will light on a stop.
Your blinking lights is not standard BFD. That is "Stage 3" activation, which may be a non-usa setting.

So yes that is BFD, but that's not the BFD that everyone has who gets it stock. The rings are stock brake force display (::::)

Yup, that's right. I flashed my LSZ with the newest software and played around with the various BFD levels and ended up there. Thanks for the clarification.

[WoGGo]

Thanks for the info guys.

Not interested in messing about with soldering and what not, so the bi-xenons are off the table.

Now, I imagine I could use an LSZ and tail lights from any E46; 330ci etc, so long as it had xenons/bi-xenons?

[WoGGo]

Is the trunk bulb carrier the same for both pre and post facelift models, with the only difference being the lens, which is also interchangeable?

[Thoglan]

Yes, same bulb carrier. Different Housing.

[WoGGo]

Yes, same bulb carrier. Different Housing.

What do you mean by different housing exactly...

Basically, I am trying to ascertain if the pre-facelift bulb holder will fit the post facelift trunk light as pictured above?

[Thoglan]

What do you mean by different housing exactly...

Basically, I am trying to ascertain if the pre-facelift bulb holder will fit the post facelift trunk light as pictured above?

Correct. Only parts you need are the two housings (or 'lenses' as you called them) Left taillight inner p/n: 63216920705, right taillight inner: 63216920706
Everything else is the same, nothing else required to convert in regards to the inner lights. I only say housing instead of lens as if you look at your current ones you'll notice the part surrounds the bulbs and is more than the plastic cover that is visible.

[WoGGo]

Thanks Thoglan... and yes, housing seems to be the more appropriate term.

[WoGGo]

I'm finally going to make the switch to LED tails.

I picked up a set of the of Tail Light Adapter Cables, and about to grab a second hand set of LED tail lights, but to verify this second hand set works, can I plug them and test without a newer LCM?

[old///MFanatic]

I'm finally going to make the switch to LED tails.
I picked up a set of the of Tail Light Adapter Cables, and about to grab a second hand set of LED tail lights, but to verify this second hand set works, can I plug them and test without a newer LCM?

Yep they’ll light up. They’ll also just flicker from the “check pulse” for bulb out warning every 30’sec? Can’t remember.. (Trivia: Master Tech told me filament bulbs do it too but it’s imperceptible to human eye).