2009 Ambient Lighting - S563

[gileso]

Hi

This may be barking up a wrong tree, but should my 2009 35d with S563 'Light Package' have the ambient lighting for the interior door handles and the door pockets? If so, they have never worked on any of the doors since I've owned it (2 years + now).

I would be grateful if owners with similar age cars with the same package can confirm/deny they have such lighting?

I haven't removed the door panel to check, but there is a clear plastic strip running above the door pockets (which I think is the 'optical channel'). I've taken off the handle inner cover, but can't see a light source.

Presumably, if it take off the door panel, I'll be able to see if the LED units are there (according to RealOEM there are 2 for each door). How hard is it to take the panel off?

Thanks

[jason909]

Hi,i have same option and yes they should light up,they can be hard to put back on which would suggest the door panels have been off,be careful with the ones on the door bin as they like to break off as you pull the panel,the cable is very short an extra pair of hands is recomended if you plan to have a look,hope this has helped.

[gileso]

Thanks Jason

I'll do some more investigating. Interesting that all 4 doors have no lights.

Any guides on how to remove the door cards?

Cheers

[X5Sport]

Hopefully a silly question, but is it turned off on the iDrive?  I know on my 40d I can set the brightness right down to off.

[BSJ_Denmark]

Hi

First of all - as far as I know, there is no illumination at the door handles - only in the door bins (please correct me if anybody know diffrent)

Regarding the light in the door bins :

Are you SURE that they are not working ?

I have them in mine, and the the light was only visible in total darkness, when looking directly at the strips

I pulled of the door panels and did an "upgrade" - replaced the diodes with some brighter ones (including resistor)

If interested, I can find the exect values


Best regards
Brian S Jensen, Denmark
2012 xDrive 40d M-Sport Individual

[gileso]

Hi

Thanks for the info. Interesting to note no light for the handles - BMW penny pinching again?

Almost certainly no light from door pockets - driving late the other night in complete pitch black didn't show anything.

Any help in raising the brightness level (replacement LEDs and resistor values) would be welcome.

Thanks

[jason909]

Hi,the light package has small square holes in the door pull surround,which light up at night,as for removal you have two screws along the bottom and one behind the handle on door,get your fingers underneath the leather cover and pull it,then its a matter of pulling the card towards you,hope you get to the bottom of this.

[gileso]

Thanks All

So BSJ doesn't have internal door handle illumination, but Jason thinks the light package has small holes in the door pull surround. Hmm - different country / year specs?

So, decided to pull the panel and have a look...

1. Definitely an LED light to the lower light strip but very very low power
2. Definitely no wiring to the interior door handle...BUT
3. There is a cutout behind the door pull and a marked area on the inner cover that looks like where an LED might go.

Plan is to buy some brighter 5mm orange LEDs and replace a) the door strip and then b) parallel wire an additional LED to the door handle panel. I've spotted some pre-wired 12v 5mm LEDs on Ebay that may do the trick.

Got some photos but tinypic isn't uploading them properly...