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DISCUSSION => Electrical => Topic started by: AcSchnitzer318is on July 23, 2008, 01:14:46 PM

Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: AcSchnitzer318is on July 23, 2008, 01:14:46 PM: I know this isn't everyone's cup o tea, but I really dig LED lights... obviously. I've converted the fronts, rears, and e39 sidemarkers all to LED. I can post pics of the wiring/trunk views if anyone is interested. Thoughts, or suggestions welcome.

Daytime LED Video (http://videos.streetfire.net/video/E30-LED-Tail-Lights-Rev-2_164188.htm)

Nightime LED Video (http://videos.streetfire.net/video/E30-LED-Tails-Rev-2-Night_164399.htm)

PS... lol before anyone asks. I'm 6'8" and make my little e30 look like a clown car, I know ;)
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: Wizard on July 24, 2008, 09:18:54 AM: I like the concept, but do have to agree that it is not for everyone. Is there a reason you made your own light panels (I read your posting on R3V), and not just bought pre-made ones like these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2x-blue-22-LED-Flashing-Light-Panel-Strobe-Grill-Car_W0QQitemZ150273842068QQihZ005QQcategoryZ33713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

BTW...Are your knees in the steering wheel?...lol
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: AcSchnitzer318is on July 24, 2008, 12:15:03 PM: Quote from: Wizard;53753
I like the concept, but do have to agree that it is not for everyone. Is there a reason you made your own light panels (I read your posting on R3V), and not just bought pre-made ones like these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2x-blue-22-LED-Flashing-Light-Panel-Strobe-Grill-Car_W0QQitemZ150273842068QQihZ005QQcategoryZ33713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

BTW...Are your knees in the steering wheel?...lol

Yes my knees hit the steering on turning fairly frequently. I want to switch to a smaller momo wheel instead of the ridiculously huge airbag wheel to solve this problem.

I didn't do panels like that because I wanted them to be a certain size for the tail light housings. Plus I think it would have been a bit more expensive to try and buy panels for all the lights.
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: Cobra Jet on July 25, 2008, 12:11:45 PM: What's the purpose of having the "wig-wag" affect? Also, why so many different "combos" for the brake lights when depressing the brake pedal?

If you have pics of the wiring, please do post it up. Looks like a cool mod/upgrade, although I think I would just go w/ the standard "light em up" rather than having multiple combos (especially the wig-wag effect - the last thing you would need is to hit it by accident, or forget to change it to normal and have a Cop pull you over for having such a system - in some states it's illegal to have the lights wired as such on public roads and you could get a fine).
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: AcSchnitzer318is on July 26, 2008, 12:58:44 PM: ^There is no "real" purpose for the wig wags. It was a function of the LED controller I am running... to control intensities of the LED. So that when I am running parking they are dim and then brake they are bright. But the controller I used was an ambulance accessory and it was just a matter of running one extra wire for that function. Sooooo I ran that wire to a switch in my rear ashtray with an LED. That way it is impossible for me to leave it on by accident.

I only really use it for tail gaters or car shows. Other than that it remains unused. I'll post pics of the trunk wiring, and tails all chopped up in a bit.
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: curly_and_burly on October 01, 2009, 01:03:39 PM: they look unreal at nite
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: s_ribs on October 24, 2009, 04:46:58 PM: That's awesome! I'd love to learn how to make those.
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: AcSchnitzer318is on October 24, 2009, 11:32:58 PM: They look good during the day and night. Video of LEDs during the day is VERY difficult with a point and shoot camera. I am thinking of working on a revision 2 with a set of ebay tails soon just to see if I like it.

I'll post some pics of the boards tomorrow...
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: s_ribs on October 25, 2009, 07:34:59 PM: Excellent, thanks!
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: monty23psk on October 25, 2009, 10:01:25 PM: Yes are so awesome. Would love to know how to make them or if there is a bood to read up for this. I want to start with the license plate lights and go all around the car.
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: mkodama on October 26, 2009, 01:25:37 AM: Looks very clean and nice. I personally find it a tasteful update to an E30 that makes it seem modern without looking all weird like an E90.
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: AcSchnitzer318is on October 26, 2009, 01:36:04 AM: Sorry it's not up yet guys... been working on redoing my interior and well we all know how time gets sucked away. I WILL get pics up as well as a generic, and I mean generic, how to.
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: markus24q on November 03, 2009, 11:07:31 PM: You made your car look like a freakin disco!
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: AcSchnitzer318is on November 04, 2009, 12:52:23 AM: Quote from: markus24q;80893
You made your car look like a freakin disco!

LOL... ya it can have that effect with the strobes on. I'm uploading the long awaited in progress pics now guys. Sorry it took so long...

EDIT: You asked for it...

(http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/3113/img0716vl.jpg)

(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/5637/img0717.jpg)

(http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1154/img0719s.jpg)

(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/1702/img0725o.jpg)

(http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/4717/img0726h.jpg)

(http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6672/img0727h.jpg)

(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/1234/img0728c.jpg)

(http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/5777/img0729g.jpg)

(http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/4305/img0730v.jpg)

(http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/8404/img0731og.jpg)

(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/1681/img0732p.jpg)

(http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/3817/img0734e.jpg)

(http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/2344/img0735.jpg)

(http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/823/img0736qn.jpg)

(http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/7056/img0737f.jpg)

(http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/7705/img0738p.jpg)

(http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/5007/img0739s.jpg)
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: monty23psk on November 04, 2009, 09:17:21 AM: Wow....I really want to learn to do this. I can do soldering and and the fabrication. I just need to learn the electronics to know what parts I need and things like that. This would be a project once I finish the exterior of my car. Around how much do you think per side with all the parts involved?
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: Selfish on November 04, 2009, 10:59:30 AM: (http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/2344/img0735.jpg)

Dude...your GF/wife helps you working with the car? otherwise please clip those nails! :eek:Looord have mercy !! LOL !

Anyway, if I´m not wrong you can get a bunch (like 50 of them) of LED's off eBay for $10 shipped. You can probably get the "breadboard" there too, if not, there´s always radioshack. I´ll stand corrected if I´m wrong but I think all there is to it is, you have to do the math and add the individual voltages of the LED´s you will be soldering in series, up to 12V, and if more sets of LED´s are needed (which of course you will) all "sets of 12V" are soldered in parallel. If the added voltage of your sets exceeds 12V, they will be dim. If it´s lower than 12V, you need to use a resistor to lower the voltage to the same "amount" to prevent overheating and/or premature failure of your LED´s
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: Selfish on November 04, 2009, 11:05:43 AM: I thought this thread was dead. Glad it´s not, your tails look great!
did you use white or red LED´s?
how did you secure the breadbords to the housing? crazy glue?
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: AcSchnitzer318is on November 06, 2009, 10:50:52 AM: Quote from: monty23psk;80911
Wow....I really want to learn to do this. I can do soldering and and the fabrication. I just need to learn the electronics to know what parts I need and things like that. This would be a project once I finish the exterior of my car. Around how much do you think per side with all the parts involved?

It cost me around $90 per side. There are over 150 35000 mcd LEDs per side.

Quote from: Selfish;80915
(http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/2344/img0735.jpg)

Dude...your GF/wife helps you working with the car? otherwise please clip those nails! :eek:Looord have mercy !! LOL !

Anyway, if I´m not wrong you can get a bunch (like 50 of them) of LED's off eBay for $10 shipped. You can probably get the "breadboard" there too, if not, there´s always radioshack. I´ll stand corrected if I´m wrong but I think all there is to it is, you have to do the math and add the individual voltages of the LED´s you will be soldering in series, up to 12V, and if more sets of LED´s are needed (which of course you will) all "sets of 12V" are soldered in parallel. If the added voltage of your sets exceeds 12V, they will be dim. If it´s lower than 12V, you need to use a resistor to lower the voltage to the same "amount" to prevent overheating and/or premature failure of your LED´s

LOL she does help me alot, but those claws are mine. I cut all my nails but my thumb nails. I do alot of mobile electronics work and long thumb nails really help out. Your description of how to is correct, though you can go slightly higher than 12v if you want. I used strings of 6 LEDs with a small resistor on each string.

Quote from: Selfish;80916
I thought this thread was dead. Glad it´s not, your tails look great!
did you use white or red LED´s?
how did you secure the breadbords to the housing? crazy glue?

I used red and yellow LEDs. Clear did not give me the color I wanted. I used hot glue to mount the boards and to seal the housings again. Has held up well even in 110 degree heat, but if I do another set I am going to use epoxy to mount and seal everything.

PS: For anyone who wants to give this or other LED projects a go... here is a VERY handy tool. It will even design your array for you.

LED Calculator/Array Designer (http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz)
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: monty23psk on November 06, 2009, 12:20:36 PM: Thanks. Will eventually take up on this project. Will start with the license plate lights. Have an idea to save me time. Will see.
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: AcSchnitzer318is on November 06, 2009, 06:08:29 PM: ^Save yourself a ton of time on the plate lights by using a strip of trimmable LEDs from ebay. You can get 2 12" strips now for like $15. A strip of 3 LEDs cut off of it first perfectly in the housings and you won't have to solder resistors on it. That's what I'm running. Super bright and took longer to take the housings out than to solder the strips in there.

EDIT: Then you can take the extra portion of the strips and do LED interiors. I did that and the interior is bathed in nice white light now. I only used 9 LEDs per side and it is about perfect. 12 LEDs might work if you like it a bit brighter.
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: monty23psk on November 06, 2009, 07:10:40 PM: Awesome idea and thanks. Might have to ask you questiions through the process. Do you have any pics or links for these lights on ebay. I will search later.
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: s_ribs on November 07, 2009, 12:02:42 PM: I wish this forum would send me e-mail updates...

Thanks for the additional info and the link!
Title: E30 318is Custom LED Tails (Videos)
Post by: bmwman91 on November 24, 2009, 12:19:01 PM: Nice work! I have a spare set of tails from my first car that I have wanted to do this with. They look really good!