» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | looove 04-16-2024 01:18 PM 04-16-2024 01:18 PM 0 Replies, 1,652 Views | | | | | | 10-07-2009, 10:12 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: maryland Posts: 127 | e39 dome light in e36 do you guys think the e39 dome light with ambient lighting will plug striaght in and if it doesnt is it as simple as soldering power to power and ground to ground | | | 10-07-2009, 10:22 PM | #2 | NOBODY F's with the Jesus Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ventura California Posts: 7,824 | Only one way to find out. Might plug straight in, might need some rewiring. Either way, shouldn't be difficult to make it work. Lights are easy to rig up. Do it and report back with pics/instructions | | | 10-07-2009, 11:04 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Walnut Creek, CA Posts: 642 | No, I don't think it is a straight plug and play with the e39 light. This has been on my to do list for years now. I have a few e39 dome lights I have been playing with. The E39 M5 light was hard to get. Anyway, I had discussions with John Firestone about this. He says it's not plug and play. John is a EE guru. He built me a and adapter circuit to interface the e39 light to the e36 harness. Sadly, the adapter is still in the box, as I have yet to find the time to do this. I would contact John and see what he has to say. __________________ '95 330ti CS w/sr delete, S50USB30, cams, 24# inj, Conforti SW, Euro HFM, Samco Silicone Intake Boot, BBTB, Euro Oil Cooler, JTD CAI Duct, RE DMS exhaust, RE Tranny mounts, CF Valve Cover, LTW flywheel/Kevlar sprung hub clutch, RE SSK, 3.46 Finned LSD (M6) , M3 tranny, Brembos, RE Wheel Studs, SS brake/clutch lines, CF interior, Rear Headrest retrofit, Tilt Steering retrofit, 13.5 lb DynaBatt in rear, LED interior/footwell lights, ZKW HID, Headlight Aim Control, Rear fog light w/cluster indicator, CF 3 Aux gauge pod, BMW Traffic Pro/Alpine MP3-CD Changer, Staggered LTW wheels, '95 M3 steering rack, VIS CF Hood, M3 LTW Strut Bar, TCK SA coilovers, Red LTW Motorsport Seatbelts, OEM Fire Extinguisher, Z8 Starter button, Auto dim rear view mirror w/ Homelink/Compass, PDC, Rear Sun Shade, Euro Gauge Cluster w/oil temp/shift light , Headlight Washers, "Motorsport" Door Handles, CF Grills, French ZKW Fogs, Euro dash bins, Power Lumbar Support is next, Coming e39 M5 interior light, Bimmer Magazine 8/2007 | | | 10-08-2009, 12:31 AM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: maryland Posts: 127 | do you have to cut the dome area to fit the e39 or are they the same size if you want to sell the adapter id be interested. is e39 m5 dome different than the others? | | | 10-08-2009, 03:25 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Walnut Creek, CA Posts: 642 | Quote: Originally Posted by persianbmw do you have to cut the dome area to fit the e39 or are they the same size if you want to sell the adapter id be interested. is e39 m5 dome different than the others? | The e39 light fits, but very tightly. I may still use the adapter. If you want one, PM John. __________________ '95 330ti CS w/sr delete, S50USB30, cams, 24# inj, Conforti SW, Euro HFM, Samco Silicone Intake Boot, BBTB, Euro Oil Cooler, JTD CAI Duct, RE DMS exhaust, RE Tranny mounts, CF Valve Cover, LTW flywheel/Kevlar sprung hub clutch, RE SSK, 3.46 Finned LSD (M6) , M3 tranny, Brembos, RE Wheel Studs, SS brake/clutch lines, CF interior, Rear Headrest retrofit, Tilt Steering retrofit, 13.5 lb DynaBatt in rear, LED interior/footwell lights, ZKW HID, Headlight Aim Control, Rear fog light w/cluster indicator, CF 3 Aux gauge pod, BMW Traffic Pro/Alpine MP3-CD Changer, Staggered LTW wheels, '95 M3 steering rack, VIS CF Hood, M3 LTW Strut Bar, TCK SA coilovers, Red LTW Motorsport Seatbelts, OEM Fire Extinguisher, Z8 Starter button, Auto dim rear view mirror w/ Homelink/Compass, PDC, Rear Sun Shade, Euro Gauge Cluster w/oil temp/shift light , Headlight Washers, "Motorsport" Door Handles, CF Grills, French ZKW Fogs, Euro dash bins, Power Lumbar Support is next, Coming e39 M5 interior light, Bimmer Magazine 8/2007 Last edited by clex2; 10-08-2009 at 03:42 AM. | | | 10-08-2009, 03:30 AM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Saint Paul, MN Posts: 3,244 | whats so special about this e39 light y'all talkin bout? __________________ My Former Rides 1999 318ti Alpine White, Cali Roof, Dinan goodies 1996 318ti Hellrot California Edition | | | 10-26-2009, 11:36 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 | Quote: Originally Posted by 96cali whats so special about this e39 light y'all talkin bout? | A couple things. First, the E39 dome light has two LEDs that bathe the center console area in soft orange. (I substituted white.) Second, it has pushbuttons instead of toggle switches. Getting the middle button to switch the interior lights on and off is the big challenge. The E39 switch is a low current momentary that needs some electronics and programming that's missing from the older, E36 ZKE (central module). Hence, the controller I came up with (near the rusted metal). Last edited by John Firestone; 10-27-2009 at 03:25 PM. | | | 10-27-2009, 01:22 AM | #8 | Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Austin Tx. Posts: 92 | im still confused as to why its worth the trouble? the unit doesn't seem worth the hassle. | | | 10-27-2009, 04:05 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: maryland Posts: 127 | jump in any bmw post 2000 and ull know ambient lighting makes the interior come alive at night its awsome | | | 10-27-2009, 06:24 AM | #10 | Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Austin Tx. Posts: 92 | i know lighting is hard to capture with cameras but lets admire your work here and lets see some nighttime pics | | | 10-30-2009, 01:22 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 | Indeed, it was hard to capture, but here you go. First the interior fully lit: Then with the ambient LEDs at full brightness to light a map or some driving instructions (when a reading light is too bright): Finally, the ambient LEDs and footwell lights supplying ambient lighting: Last edited by John Firestone; 10-30-2009 at 01:36 PM. | | | 10-30-2009, 02:04 PM | #12 | Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Austin Tx. Posts: 92 | A noticeable differance even in a picture, nicely done. | | | 11-01-2009, 06:12 AM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | I just drove a e46 and the light looks the same, anyone tried that one for fit? Dave __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 11-01-2009, 06:18 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bremerhaven, Germany Posts: 977 | Like the E39 unit, the E46 dome light is also slightly too large but it (or the car's sheetmetal) can be trimmed to fit. It's the same challenge electrically, with a different connector. Here's a guy who installed one in his E36 M3. He claims "Everything works perfect" which usually means something isn't quite done -- in this case, the middle on/off button. Argh. All his nice photos seemed to have vanished. Last edited by John Firestone; 11-01-2009 at 07:22 PM. | | | 10-17-2014, 05:41 AM | #15 | Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Perth Australia Posts: 1 | Hi John can you assist me with interior lighting module for my e36 1995 sedan. l want to install an e39 interior light with mood lighting leds. cheers john anthony | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |