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Old fiver - E12 rear lights tweaked (large pics)

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MisterFixit
Posts: 989
Joined: Jul 21, 2006 5:01 PM
Location: Golden, Colorado

Old fiver - E12 rear lights tweaked (large pics)

Post by MisterFixit »

OK, I know it's an e28 forum, but I can do lots with other lights too, and I know some of you are E12 lovers...

Here are some shots of the 'First Five' late style made 'Mo Brighta.' The lights are not in a car, they are sitting on the bench side by side to show both together.

Here is the lens from behind.
Image


Here are the different lights active, to show 'was' and 'is now' with the changes:

Tail lights - stock
Image

Double Tail lights
Image

Brake lights - stock
Image

Double Brake lights
Image

As usual, have at it with questions, orders, special requests!
Last edited by MisterFixit on Mar 10, 2015 2:07 PM, edited 1 time in total.
darksideracer69
Posts: 135
Joined: Aug 10, 2012 9:11 PM

Post by darksideracer69 »

Nice, so ummm how did you do it. lol
MisterFixit
Posts: 989
Joined: Jul 21, 2006 5:01 PM
Location: Golden, Colorado

How did I do it?

Post by MisterFixit »

darksideracer69 wrote:Nice, so ummm how did you do it. lol
Thanks for asking, lol!

Well, I redesigned the way the light sockets and wiring are used, doing what many other cars makers do - which is use a dual filament lamp instead of only single filament. A tail light becomes a brake light by getting LOTS brighter when you step on the 'slow pedal' in these bulbs. I also add another brake light bulb so that the lights appear to 'grow larger' when the second bulb comes on, very effective at catching your attention. Uses the open reflectors that are not used in US lights. Usually they were a rear fog light in Europe and other countries, not installed in the US or Canada.

BMW used the same 2 bulbs in most of their lights up to the 90's I think, a dim one for tail (running) lights, and bright ones for brakes, turns, and revese lights. Left lots of room for improvement, so I improved them. Started with my 1972 2002, then did my 1986 535i, now doing similar improvements for lots of makes and models. Have a look at my sig, search my posts.

Murphys Law says lights fail at the most inconvenient time, and that is about the ONLY thing you can guarantee with light bulbs -- they fail. Two bulbs, however, are very unlikely to both fail at the same time, so adding a seccond tail light bulb and a second brake light bulb in each light means you will just about never be without tail lights and brake lights on both sides of your car. Safety feature!

Older technology used brake light bulbs making 32 candlepower per bulb, newer technology makes 45, about one third more. Tail lights, an even bigger increase, from 4 in old bulbs to 10 in new. I favor the newer technology.

Doubling the lighted area in a rear light does more than double the chance of avoiding rear end collisions. Lights that are old, dim, and ineffective before, and are now bigger, brighter, and more reliable, help to prevent that Sickening Crunch, Fire Trucks, Ambulances, Police Cars, weeks at the body shop, and the sheer frustration of dealing with Insurance Adjusters. Makes sense, proven in my case with both cars. I believe it is worth it. At least with higher output rear lights, you have a far better chance of getting down the road 'unmolested' than with the stock lights.

Besides, do you really think everyone pays as much attention to their driving as good drivers? Really? These give you a fighting chance.

Anyway, that's more 'why' than 'how,' but you understand... I am trying to make a living by helping keep older BMWs on the road, and their passengers out of the hospital. Restoring and upgrading rear lights is how I do that.

Hope this helps.
darksideracer69
Posts: 135
Joined: Aug 10, 2012 9:11 PM

Post by darksideracer69 »

Awesome, i was thinking of doing the same thing with my e28 taillights.
MisterFixit
Posts: 989
Joined: Jul 21, 2006 5:01 PM
Location: Golden, Colorado

Thinking versus Doing ...

Post by MisterFixit »

darksideracer69 wrote:Awesome, i was thinking of doing the same thing with my e28 taillights.
I am doing it, be glad to help if you want. E28 lights are the second car I developed this upgrade for, since my friend got a 533i some years ago. First car was my 1972 2002.

The 'easy' upgrades are to add a tail light, or a brake light, in the unused socket by the license plate.

The 'trick' upgrade is to add a tail light in with the brake light, for maximum visual width of the car, and then to add a brake light next to the license plate, for two of each - on each side.
Using High output bulbs helps, too. That's what I sell the most of, I call it the 'Plus Four' upgrade cause it adds four lights- two tail, two brake. I'm shipping another one today.

When you're ready to pull the trigger, just holler and I'll build you a set too!

Happy Motoring!
MisterFixit
Posts: 989
Joined: Jul 21, 2006 5:01 PM
Location: Golden, Colorado

Re: E28 rear lights - done anything good yet?

Post by MisterFixit »

darksideracer69 wrote:Awesome, i was thinking of doing the same thing with my e28 taillights.
Darksideracer -
It's been over a year, anything to report?

I just got a contact from the 'First Fives' forum, says this link is dead.
Don't know how to take care of a dead link, but I DO know how to revive deal lights...
give me a shout if you're ready.
darksideracer69
Posts: 135
Joined: Aug 10, 2012 9:11 PM

Re: Old fiver - E12 rear lights tweaked (large pics)

Post by darksideracer69 »

I made some progress. Went to the yard and got a whole bunch of dual filament sockets from different cars. I got it working but never finalized the wiring. Then i dropped the idea and moved to installing bags and other stuff on my e28.
MisterFixit
Posts: 989
Joined: Jul 21, 2006 5:01 PM
Location: Golden, Colorado

Re: Old fiver - E12 rear lights tweaked (large pics)

Post by MisterFixit »

darksideracer69 wrote:I made some progress. Went to the yard and got a whole bunch of dual filament sockets from different cars. I got it working but never finalized the wiring. Then i dropped the idea and moved to installing bags and other stuff on my e28.
OK, I see. Well, if you have five - ten minutes to finish this, want a well designed upgrade, get back in touch with me. I'll build you a kit.
Andy
MisterFixit
Posts: 989
Joined: Jul 21, 2006 5:01 PM
Location: Golden, Colorado

Re: Old fiver - E12

Post by MisterFixit »

Bump - I added a pic of the lens in 'daylight' - unlighted - to the first post, so you can see what it is.
In some ways it's like an early seven, E23.

I am going to work on getting one of my neighbors with an E12 to let me model them in his car... yes, I will post pics.
Adam W in MN
Posts: 5054
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Don't waste my motherf***in' time!
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Re: Old fiver - E12 rear lights tweaked (large pics)

Post by Adam W in MN »

Hi, I'm very interested in these for my E12. After the restoration is done, I want to have bright brake lights! Maybe even adding a center brake light.

I think the majority of the tail light assembly on my car is euro-specific so I'm wondering if it's best to send them to you to be modified. Mine have the rear fog light(s) in them for instance so I would want to preserve that.
MisterFixit
Posts: 989
Joined: Jul 21, 2006 5:01 PM
Location: Golden, Colorado

Re: Old fiver - E12 rear lights tweaked (large pics)

Post by MisterFixit »

Adam,
This is my specialty, adding without removing lights. I have done exactly hwhat you descrivbe - more tail and brake lights, WITH rear fog lights - in 5 and 6 series cars. The same technique works with any lights that have the rear fogs, there's no reason to delete them!

I have also built kits to add rear fog lights in US version cars - 3 and 5 series recently, can do it in a 6 or 7 too.

Since you already have a rear fog light working, let's keep them - and make them more useful.

When you get in touch, threre are a few things I would need to know.
One or both sides light for rear fogs? Year, model, VIN?

Send me a PM or email, we'll work this out.

Andy
MisterFixit
Posts: 989
Joined: Jul 21, 2006 5:01 PM
Location: Golden, Colorado

Re: Old fiver - E12 rear lights tweaked (large pics)

Post by MisterFixit »

Adam,
I have done exactly what you describe - more tail and brake lights, WITH rear fog lights - in 5 and 6 series cars. The same technique works with any lights that have the rear fogs, there's no reason to delete them!

I have also built kits to add rear fog lights in US version cars - 3 and 5 series recently, can do it in a 6 or 7 too.

Since you already have a rear fog light working, let's keep them - and make them more useful. I believe the European version lights have the same basic structure as US lights, but they have wiring and sockets that we do not. It is necessary to send them here for the upgrades, but only certain parts. I'll let you know when you get in touch. Send me a PM or email, we'll work this out.

Andy
Last edited by MisterFixit on May 21, 2025 10:31 AM, edited 1 time in total.
MisterFixit
Posts: 989
Joined: Jul 21, 2006 5:01 PM
Location: Golden, Colorado

Re: E28 rear lights - done anything good yet?

Post by MisterFixit »

MisterFixit wrote: Mar 07, 2015 11:34 PM
darksideracer69 wrote: Awesome, i was thinking of doing the same thing with my e28 taillights.
Darksideracer -
It's been over a year, anything to report?

I just got a contact from the 'First Fives' forum, says this link is dead.
Don't know how to take care of a dead link, but I DO know how to revive dead lights...
give me a shout if you're ready.
 
 
MisterFixit
Posts: 989
Joined: Jul 21, 2006 5:01 PM
Location: Golden, Colorado

Re: Old fiver - E12 rear lights tweaked (large pics)

Post by MisterFixit »

UPDATE-
This post is also on the E12 forum, but I just got antsy... I have another pair of E12 lights on the way here for my 'upgrade magic'  They look very nice,  lenses look perfect! I will do the upgrades to double the tail lights, double the brake lights, and put a bunch of nice bright bulbs in it... 

Anyone interested, or know someone who might be ???
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