E34 525iT THIRD STOPLAMP

[rellik]

I have a 1995 525iT and a few of the bulbs in the third stop light are no longer working. I see the PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (part#63258355031) is $200.00+ dollars!? Does it come with bulbs (63218362363) or is that another 24x$3.50? The board looks good to me and I think I'd like to try soldering new ones on there, but don't know where to get the bulbs. Does anyone have a better idea? I'm not against spending the money to buy it all from an OEM shop if I have to, but thought I'd get educated first.

[rellik]

bump..

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Buy them at the dealer and buy plently, more will fail once you start touching them.



http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/maintenance/E34Touring/Back_light.htm

[Ross]

Yes, I've tried in vain to locate another source for the bulbs.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

But I am waiting for a spare light assembly to make a prototype and be able to test the CCM's reaction to it.

Don't want to destroy my light, and get stuck with it tripping a brake light warning.

[Ross]

I think it just looks at impedance. I wonder if a relay might have a similar value? If one could be found that the LKM liked then you could use any damn bulb or LED you like.

[Russell]

What is special about the bulbs? I bet one of the on-line electronic parts stores could find a lower cost replacement if you knew the specs.

MCM electronics is one source. http://www.mcmelectronics.com/ (http://www.mcmelectronics.com/) There are many others. Good luck

[rellik]

thanks for the feedback guys. bummer that there isn't a better way. I guess I'll start digging around to find bulbs.

THANKS for the link Bob! I was looking all over for that. I knew it was out there somewhere

[///Meisterbrau]

These are the ones I used --> http://www.mouser.com/search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=2182virtualkey60600000virtual key606-CM2182

It's been a good year or so but IIRC these actually burned slightly brighter or slightly dimmer than the stock bulbs so I replaced them all.

I've also done an LED high stop light but never finished it before it went on the back burner and then forgotten about. I still needed to source out the PCB spades for the existing harness to plug in to. Now that I remembered that I had forgotten about it maybe I'll go digging for the box I tossed it in. ;) I should have a schematic in there as well that I used. I used 3700mcd red LEDs with clear bodies. My intention was to machine out a lens out of some clear plastic but I had some problems sourcing out the plastic at a reasonable price which is the other reason it got dropped from my project list.

[Ross]

I remember looking at that manuf. (Chi. Min.) and thinking the pysical size was wrong. These fit?

[///Meisterbrau]

I remember looking at that manuf. (Chi. Min.) and thinking the pysical size was wrong. These fit?
Yup, they fit. They are the same size as a T1-3/4 LED. I think I may have saved a few of the old bulbs in a bag with some extra of the new bulbs. If I can find them I'll take some pics and post them up later.

[///Meisterbrau]

Sorry it took so long to post up the pics. Been busy this week. Bulb on the left is stock, bulb on the right is the one I mentioned previously.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/Scapegoat04/BMW/bulbs.jpg