Differences in the LCI taillights with and without LED bar

[LilSmeagol]

Im confused about the LCI taillights on my 2013 E82... The swirly bar on the back does not light up on mine, the halogen bulbs behind it does but the bar that swooshes upwards does not. Does that mean that there are differences in rear lights like there are the halogen and xenon headlights?

Would i be able to install the blackline rear lights with the LED bars on my car? My car came standard with the halogen headlights and FMR3 footwell module (atleast it says so on the bimercode app).

VT96128 last 7 of VIN

[Houranimd49]

From what I understand, non-xenon cars will not have that LED bar light up on the tail lights.

I believe you can install taillights with the LED bar to light up but you may need to code. I’m sure someone else can chime in to confirm or correct me.

[djacinto]

Yes it is possible, there are a few threads on the matter.

I myself found out the hard way when trying to figure out why my (what I thought did) strips weren’t lighting up.

Turns out, halogen equipped cars do not get the led strips in the LCI taillights. That being said, ecs sells a blackline lci taillight kit for just under 400 dollars with the light up strips. The difference is an extra terminal that wraps around the outermost brake light.

I’m sure it’s possible to do this with your originals but that would require you take off the lenses and put the strips in yourself. I don’t believe they’re in there and just need an extra wire, it’s a whole different setup. But they are plug and play once you get them

[Donkeyshins]

Originally Posted by djacinto

Yes it is possible, there are a few threads on the matter.

I myself found out the hard way when trying to figure out why my (what I thought did) strips weren’t lighting up.

Turns out, halogen equipped cars do not get the led strips in the LCI taillights. That being said, ecs sells a blackline lci taillight kit for just under 400 dollars with the light up strips. The difference is an extra terminal that wraps around the outermost brake light.

I’m sure it’s possible to do this with your originals but that would require you take off the lenses and put the strips in yourself. I don’t believe they’re in there and just need an extra wire, it’s a whole different setup. But they are plug and play once you get them

There is also a circuit board + additional wiring for the LEDs. I would be surprised if it was there in the halogen taillights. It would be simpler to either pull a set of xenon LCI taillights out of a parts car or buy the blacklines.

[djacinto]

Originally Posted by Donkeyshins

There is also a circuit board + additional wiring for the LEDs. I would be surprised if it was there in the halogen taillights. It would be simpler to either pull a set of xenon LCI taillights out of a parts car or buy the blacklines.

I believe you’re right I don’t think any of that is in the halogen assembly. It’s too bad there aren’t too many lci xenon parts cars, though there are enough parts out there still

[Donkeyshins]

Originally Posted by djacinto

I believe you’re right I don’t think any of that is in the halogen assembly. It’s too bad there aren’t too many lci xenon parts cars, though there are enough parts out there still

Funny you should mention that. Just installed these the other day from an LCI xenon parts car. They're out there, but getting harder to find.