Reverse light alternative - 50w halogen bulb replacement?

[storminmike]

Given that our reverse lights are side on the LED options appear not to cut it for true useable (see where you're going) output

what about these for limited use?

[url=http://"http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WAGNER-QUALITY-795-HALOGEN-H1156-BULBS-50w-REVERSE-BACKUP-LIGHTS-50-WATT-/150500493220?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item230a8747a4"]50w 1156 P21 replacement[/url]

15W HIDS are an option but a more fussy install and not instant

I've got a few spare 55w bulbs but not the right fitment hanging about....might be hard work hacking them

[X5-D-Sport]

Private mail me a mail address for a VERY easy option & pictures...
that does not include Melting the reversing light cluster lenses with High Temperature HIDS...

My additional reversing lamps are miniature 5mm items, but they illuminate the whole street, and highlight kerbs well to reverse in the dark too..

I will return some pics of the rear of my X5 if you can load it to this site.

Regards
Grant B

[TimX5]

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
Private mail me a mail address for a VERY easy option & pictures...
that does not include Melting the reversing light cluster lenses with High Temperature HIDS...

My additional reversing lamps are miniature 5mm items, but they illuminate the whole street, and highlight kerbs well to reverse in the dark too..

I will return some pics of the rear of my X5 if you can load it to this site.

Regards
Grant B
[/quote]

Pm sent

[storminmike]

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
Private mail me a mail address for a VERY easy option & pictures...
that does not include Melting the reversing light cluster lenses with High Temperature HIDS...

My additional reversing lamps are miniature 5mm items, but they illuminate the whole street, and highlight kerbs well to reverse in the dark too..

I will return some pics of the rear of my X5 if you can load it to this site.

Regards
Grant B
[/quote]

PM sent

[X5-D-Sport]

I pinged a couple of you guys some pics...
Maybe you are able to load them  here, as I have no luck doing this.
I will take another pic of the modded reversing lights illuminated.. as they are fierce as hell on the eyes even in daylight, so you will get a good idea of the result...
Its cheaply done, easy to install, and Very effective & low power drain.
Regards
Grant B

[TimX5]

Here you go Grant , good idea mate.

[storminmike]

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
I pinged a couple of you guys some pics...
Maybe you are able to load them  here, as I have no luck doing this.
I will take another pic of the modded reversing lights illuminated.. as they are fierce as hell on the eyes even in daylight, so you will get a good idea of the result...
Its cheaply done, easy to install, and Very effective & low power drain.
Regards
Grant B
[/quote]

[quote="TimX5"]


Here you go Grant , good idea mate.
[/quote]

Never thought of that, quite discreet.

Any links to a sample type on say Ebay?

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi Mike... re e-bay LED's

I used a search of.....  LED cree Reversing Lights..

it will lead to a whole load of goodies.

To get mine as a nice snug OEM looking fit I fitted each one into a good sized ring grommet so each has a rubberised surround, each of the LED's shown are a 7watt item giving the equivalent light output of approx. a 30 watt bulb x4.

I have a really good Permanent marker/Black paint pen, that I will touch in the silver Aluminium bezel to make even more descreet.
I will ping a picky to StorminMike with some other LED items suitable, to load up here - if he could oblige in loading the pics plz.
These LED's are approx. £2:50 / £3:30 each...
NOTE - they do want sealing with a blob of silicone at the rear to keep the road grunge out... 

[storminmike]

[quote="X5-D-Sport Salisbury"]
Hi Mike... re e-bay LED's

I used a search of.....  LED cree Reversing Lights..

it will lead to a whole load of goodies.

To get mine as a nice snug OEM looking fit I fitted each one into a good sized ring grommet so each has a rubberised surround, each of the LED's shown are a 7watt item giving the equivalent light output of approx. a 30 watt bulb x4.

I have a really good Permanent marker/Black paint pen, that I will touch in the silver Aluminium bezel to make even more descreet.
I will ping a picky to StorminMike with some other LED items suitable, to load up here - if he could oblige in loading the pics plz.
These LED's are approx. £2:50 / £3:30 each...
NOTE - they do want sealing with a blob of silicone at the rear to keep the road grunge out...
[/quote]

Grant....I haven't got a photo account to host....anyone else oblige?

Plus....the only ones I can see on ebay are just "bulbs" without tails? 

[TimX5]

eBay item number:
271477702775
Search words used... "LED Reversing lights" will pull up lots of variants to look at.

I Bought some of these picture/listed too, £1:90 a pair and seriously bright​, and a lot more expensive if bought in the UK... the cost difference equated to a few gallons of diesel, so I waited the two weeks for the bits from China, and had the fuel instead of getting them Next-Day lol.
I bought 3 pairs to use just 4 items incase 2 didn't work, but all six items work well, and are crazily bright.
I forced a smear of silicone around the join of the lens to the Ally body of each LED and wiped flush, and a blob in the cable input tube at the rear to be sure they were sealed - they claim to be sealed/waterproof, but not done well as I could see the rear of the LED along the wire.

The ones on My car are a Silver un-anodised version, but I had already fitted them by the time the Black ones arrived from China a week or so later, so I will attack them with a Black paint pen when it stops raining soon hopefully.

Apologies for my filthy car, done 2,000 miles in the last 4 weeks and not had a chance to wash it   

Regards to all, hope this idea helps a little.
Grant B

[TimX5]

[TimX5]

Posted pics on behalf of Grant

Tim

[storminmike]

Thanks Tim/Grant

Going to buy 6 sets....because in our house I always have 2 buy 2 of everything having two E53s :'(


Any install tips apart from waterproofing....like where to tap the wires into?

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi Mike,

To connect 4 of these on the rear valence you will need:
4 metres of 5 amp black/red cable
8 ferrule crimps = red or blue
a crimp tool
10 scotch connectors
2 feet of male/female self adhesive backed Velcro
multi-meter
8mm drill bit
masking tape
measuring tape
biro pen
BLACK silicone sealant
Can of brake cleaner spray
some common sense

1 
each of the LED's need waterproofing properly - blob of silicone in the rear tube of each LED where the wire comes out - see picture, and rub some in around the edge of the clear lens to seal that too. wipe off with finger.
(allow to dry over night)
2 
open the drop tail flap of the tail gate, and reveal the back of one or other reversing/fog lamp clusters & with the multi meter check the polarity of the wires feeding the Reversing bulb & scotch crimp the Red wire to +/Posative feed,  etc
3   
feed the other end of red/black wire toward the wiring exit rubber sheath that goes between tail gate & car body.
Make a small cut/hole in the sheath about 1cm from the car body AT THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE SHEATH.
4
pull sheath from tail gate & car & shove a piece of wire coat-hanger or electrical wire into sheath tube to come out toward tail gate to pull cable back thru.
5
Tape join the reversing light wire connection cable to the sheath wire you just poked thru & pull thru sheath.
Feed this wire straight down outside of the vehicle body and behind plastic bumper.
6
refit sheath into body & tailgate, then slap a blob of black silicone on the hole in the sheath thus waterproofing it.
7
pull off the 2 exhaust pipe plastic covers/blankers and the centre cover from the valence/bumper.
8
choice of fitting the LED's to the blanking covers.... or drill into the valence as I did ??? 
your choice
9
CHECK THOROUGHLY
where ever you want to drill holes, ensure there is room behind your drill point, as the body shell & seams are close in some places that will prevent the LED being fitted...
10
once happy with location/angle tilt of LED and lay masking tape, measure thoroughly, mark & CHECK several times before drilling the holes !!!
Drill your holes.... carefully...
11
lay the red/black cable and route it, easily done as there is plenty of hand room thru the blanker holes.
DON'T cut to length yet !!!!
12
clean areas of the under body work thru the blanker holes with brake cleaner & a rag to stick 3" lengths of Velcro to support the wiring (I made about 6 or 7 Velcro mounting areas, ensuring the exhaust silencers will not touch the wire and melt/short circuit it.
ensure there is enough wire to pull a small loop for each LED connection with the scotch lock connectors.
Support the wire in the Velcro where it needs supporting. the Velcro can easily be undone, wire adjusted & refitted.
13
Trim the wire of the LED's to about 10 inches, trim/strip the red/black LED wires & crimp a ferrule to each wire, then cut off and crimp a 6" length of the red/black 5 amp wire that is surplus & dangling from the vehicle rear and crimp into the other ferrule end - noting wire colour to match.
14
Fit and screw up the LED's in each hole you drilled.
15
starting at the wire end that is NOT the end dangling from the vehicle, connect each LED with the Scotch connectors... and pull adjust wire in the Velcro supports.
16
chop off the excess wire at last LED fitting and use scotch connecter to shield loose ends.
17
refit blanker covers & admire your handy work after checking the LED's all illuminate.
.
Note, the LED's shown above have a very fine electrical connection wire, hence the need to crimp these wires into ferrules, then adapt into a thicker wire, prior to scotch locking the our cross-vehicle loom wire feed from the reversing light. The scotch connectors will NOT make a good/reliable connection to the LED's own wire as fitted.

The LED's draw very little power & do not affect fuse ratings, or make the reversing bulb that power was tapped from any dimmer at all.

Enjoy.

[storminmike]

Cheers fro that Grant/Tim....very thorough indeed. If it stops raining tommorow I shall have a look around the rear valance/bumper. The bits may take some tim to arrive so all is good

As for where to fit them I might do a dummy run in the dark before drilling any holes. I even thought that extra PDC covers might look the part....but maybe not as its justmore faffing


anyway.....thaks for the instructions

Mike