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      09-07-2008, 01:16 PM   #1
Bustanut
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DIY: Brake Light Pulser

Hi all,
New to the forum, been lurking for a while, picked up a 135i last week, thought this would be a good time to intro myslef and offer a quick DIY...

Brake light pulsers automatically pulse, or flash your 3rd brake light when you step on the brakes...



This makes your vehicle more noticeable to drivers behind you when you hit the brakes (every little bit counts!). I started putting these on my motorcycles years ago, and now also have them on my cars.

I installed the WebElectric BLP-1 pulser. This unit flashes the third brake light 3 times then stays on as long as your foot is on the brake. It has a 15 second delay, so that the brake light doesn't keep pulsing in stop and go traffic. Installation took about 15 minutes and it's an easy 3-wire hookup.

Now the DIY...

Here's what the unit looks like:



Start by removing the 8 push pins that hold the trunk liner in place...




Once the pins were out the liner literally dropped out. Once the liner is removed you can move it to the side and leave it hanging from the kiddie release handle.

Next locate the wire loom that plugs into the third brake light. It has two wires (The POSITIVE is Black/Yellow, and the NEGATIVE is Brown).

Cut both wires. Then splice the BLP-1's RED wire to the vehicle side of the Black/Yellow wire. Splice the BLP-1's WHITE wire to the brake light side of the Black/Yellow wire.

Next splice the BLP-1's BLUE wire to the vehicle's Brown wire. The BLP1's BLUE wire goes to ground, but I couldn't get a sufficient ground from the existing screws in the trunk, so I just spliced the BLUE wire directly to the brown wire.

I used heat shrinkable crimp connectors available at auto parts stores.



Test operation, then zip tie everything in place...



Re-install the inner trunk liner.

:headbang:
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      09-07-2008, 02:10 PM   #2
hansenc
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NICE DIY! Thanks

I just ordered one for myself to put into my 128i. Seems like a pretty cool little mod.
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      09-07-2008, 05:42 PM   #3
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Might want to check local laws regarding flashing lights on moving vehicles before you install this. I believe here in Maine only emergency vehicles are allowed to have flashing lights or strobe lights on a moving vehicle. If this is not the case where you live, have fun and good job OP!
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      09-07-2008, 06:04 PM   #4
EINSER M
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woah this is cool!!!! but totally illegal from CA vehicle code:

Permitted Flashing Lights

25251. (a) Flashing lights are permitted on vehicles as follows:
(1) To indicate an intention to turn or move to the right or left upon a roadway, turn signal lamps and turn signal exterior pilot indicator lamps and side lamps permitted under Section 25106 may be flashed on the side of a vehicle toward which the turn or movement is to be made.

(2) When disabled or parked off the roadway but within 10 feet of the roadway, or when approaching, stopped at, or departing from, a railroad grade crossing, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

(3) To warn other motorists of accidents or hazards on a roadway, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights while the vehicle is approaching, overtaking, or passing the accident or hazard on the roadway if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

(4) For use on authorized emergency vehicles.

(5) To warn other motorists of a funeral procession, turn signal lamps may be flashed as warning lights on all vehicles actually engaged in a funeral procession, if the front turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side are being flashed simultaneously.

(b) Turn signal lamps shall be flashed as warning lights whenever a vehicle is disabled upon the roadway and the vehicle is equipped with a device to automatically activate the front turn signal lamps at each side to flash simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side to flash simultaneously, if the device and the turn signal lamps were not rendered inoperative by the event which caused the vehicle to be disabled.

(c) Side lamps permitted under Section 25106 and used in conjunction with turn signal lamps may be flashed with the turn signal lamps as part of the warning light system, as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a).

(d) Required or permitted lamps on a trailer or semitrailer may flash when the trailer or semitrailer has broken away from the towing vehicle and the connection between the vehicles is broken.

(e) Hazard warning lights, as permitted by paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) may be flashed in a repeating series of short and long flashes when the driver is in need of help.
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      09-07-2008, 06:10 PM   #5
EINSER M
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oh wait no! it is legal in CA!

Deceleration Warning Lights

25251.5. (a) Any motor vehicle may also be equipped with a system in which an amber light is center mounted on the rear of a vehicle to communicate a component of deceleration of the vehicle, and which light pulses in a controlled fashion at a rate which varies exponentially with a component of deceleration.
(b) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with two amber lamps on the rear of the vehicle which operate simultaneously with not more than four flashes within four seconds after the accelerator pedal is in the deceleration position and which are not lighted at any other time. The lamps shall be mounted at the same height, with one lamp located on each side of the vertical centerline of the vehicle, not higher than the bottom of the rear window, or if the vehicle has no rear window, not higher than 60 inches. The light output from each of the lamps shall not exceed 200 candlepower at any angle horizontal or above. The amber lamps may be used either separately or in combination with another lamp.

(c) Any stoplamp or supplemental stoplamp required or permitted by Section 24603 may be equipped so as to flash not more than four times within the first four seconds after actuation by application of the brakes.
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      09-07-2008, 09:11 PM   #6
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BMW already has brake force display, which turns on extra brake lights when you really slam on the brakes.
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      09-11-2008, 11:21 AM   #7
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I like that!
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      09-11-2008, 02:43 PM   #8
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Had one of these on my MINI... great mod.
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      09-11-2008, 03:34 PM   #9
Bustanut
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Dragon View Post
BMW already has brake force display, which turns on extra brake lights when you really slam on the brakes.
Yup... The purpose of this mod is to make you a bit more conspicuous during normal non-emergency braking, to wake up that tailgating soccer mom talking on her cell phone. Then when you slam on your brakes you get even more lighting with the brake force display.
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      09-11-2008, 06:19 PM   #10
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Bustanut.... If I stare at your avatar for a while a waterfall magically appears....
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      09-15-2008, 11:58 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bozola View Post
Bustanut.... If I stare at your avatar for a while a waterfall magically appears....
I never was good at those staring poster things...no matter how much I look, I just can't see a waterfall
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      09-15-2008, 12:27 PM   #12
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I really like that, very cool mod great idea to get people's attention!!!
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      09-15-2008, 06:02 PM   #13
hansenc
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Did my install today, very strait forward. hardest part was finding the tool in our install department to get the things out.
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      09-20-2008, 03:40 PM   #14
juiced135
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Installed mine today, woo hoo!
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      12-09-2008, 09:16 AM   #15
driftmotion
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any ideal how this affects the brake force display function already installed by BMW???
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      12-09-2008, 09:35 AM   #16
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it shouldn't affect it at all, the only wires tapped into were the 3rd light. I like that mod too, may just try it!
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      12-09-2008, 11:00 AM   #17
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Please tell me you are not doing this. It's the most annoying thing I have ever encountered on the road.

Seems you guys continously want to emulate the ricers....why is that....
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      12-09-2008, 08:29 PM   #18
hansenc
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hmmm drawing a little more attention to the rear end of my vehicle is a good thing in my book. i want the people behind me to know i'm slowing down. its not like it does it every time you hit the break, the device does have a delay in it.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions though. nothing says you have to buy one and slap it into your 135i
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      06-10-2009, 02:25 PM   #19
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i ordered this for my 135 today.. ive had it on my bikes for years. didnt know they had one that would work for the car.

thanks!
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      06-10-2009, 04:13 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad Dragon View Post
BMW already has brake force display, which turns on extra brake lights when you really slam on the brakes.
If you install the Euro headlight switch it disables the adaptive brake lights and makes them rear fog lights.
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      06-10-2009, 04:28 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m_thompson View Post
If you install the Euro headlight switch it disables the adaptive brake lights and makes them rear fog lights.
I thought the adaptive brake lights still worked either way.
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      06-21-2009, 08:54 PM   #22
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vid = gone
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some italian, german, and japanese ones; and on order more of the same
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