Rob-Antipodean wrote:Thanks Andy - nope, mine is a bog-standard US model M6 and I used the "MisterCheapBastard" mod and found a couple of lamp bases at my local parts store that just press fitted into the empty spaces in the plastic tail light module. That, and some $15 rattle can chrome paint and I was good to go. Makes quite a difference to the illumination.MisterFixit wrote: Rob,
Bulbs are P3497, high output bulbs - 45cp, 27W.
One customer said a fuse blew, same one I think; he went to 10A and solved it.
Another had occasional check panel false negatives, so I sent him a relay with separate power tap for lighting the added bulbs directly off of the battery (relocated in the trunk, easy to get to).
Did your M6 have sockets and wiring in the empty fog light spaces, or did you install your own? Sounds like a US car...
Also, I assume 22W means they are secondary brake lights. Did you know secondary tail lights are possible as well?
Happy to help,
Andy
But given your experience I think I need to do it properly and add a relay for the additional load on the brake light circuit for the new bulbs. I am sure BMW over-engineered the wiring just as they did everything else on the car, but stil, I am a little reluctant to just up the fuse rating and hope for the best. Also I too have had some false negatives on the "check" panel. I already have a fused aux line off the battery for the after market remote locking system installed earlier, so adding a circuit for the addional break lights to this is no biggie. Thanks again for the advice.
Rob.
Thinking of making the relay setup standard for these dual brake light conversions, since there seems to be a pattern developing.
I can do it two ways-- one, do the entire conversion, install the wiring, and let you find or buy a relay on your own, a very common one found in parts yards or auto parts stores (4 pin, 30/85/86/87), or I can do the conversion with all wiring and install the relay for you, so that all you need to do is provide fused power to relay terminal 30.
Happy new year, everyone!