E90 - Why no LEDs?

Jez · 9 Jul 2008 at 11:49

They look different though, i am sure i am not alone in preferring the look of the direct view LED clusters

Wicksta · 9 Jul 2008 at 11:53

Jez said:
They look different though, i am sure i am not alone in preferring the look of the direct view LED clusters

It wasn't a "Do you prefer LED type A to LED type B" thread though, it was asking why the E90 doesn't have LEDs and if fox is right then they do!

I've not looked at the rear of any E90s long enough to notice.

[TW]Fox · 9 Jul 2008 at 11:56

Seems the rear lights on the E90 are actually not CELIS as I thought - they are conventional lights that look a bit like CELIS.

Jez · 9 Jul 2008 at 11:59

I read it as asking why they don't have the direct view facelift E46 LED lights, these are what most would refer to as the LED type. The CELIS lights are not noticeably LED lit, most people would never notice them. As Fox has pointed out it seems that the E9x doesn't even have LED lights, yet none of us have even noticed!

Bet that is what he meant

Gaijin · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:01

Those "sunbeam" rear lights on some of the new 3 series are really awful

jamoor · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:02

paradigm said:
They have to leave something out that they can add in the facelift

Exactly

E39 prefacelift - No LEDs, one would assume technology wasnt great.
E39 Facelife - LEDs, ah great, technology seems to have improved.
E60 Prefacelift - No LEDs, hmm strange, oh well!
E60 Facelift - LEDs - Wait a second.

rG-tom · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:05

jamoor said:
Exactly

E39 prefacelift - No LEDs, one would assume technology wasnt great.
E39 Facelife - LEDs, ah great, technology seems to have improved.
E60 Prefacelift - No LEDs, hmm strange, oh well!
E60 Facelift - LEDs - Wait a second.

eh? the e60 definitely has LEDs and always has? The se for example looks like it has eyelashes on the back because of the strips of leds?

jamoor · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:08

rG-tom said:
eh? the e60 definitely has LEDs and always has? The se for example looks like it has eyelashes on the back because of the strips of leds?

I am sure they put LEDs in the rear on the facelift

[TW]Fox · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:11

We can see from this that quite frankly the E39 is an amazing car containing amazing technology that BMW forgot about for the next 3-4 years before remembering how awesome it was and reintroducing it across the range.

rG-tom · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:13

when was the e60 facelifted? I thought it was only the 7 series that had been facelifted so far, and i was told the e60 is due a facelift at the end of this year by a bmw salesman the other day, and the 7 series a complete replacement?

[TW]Fox · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:15

E60 LCI introduced in mid 2007. Lighting changes, iDrive changes, auto gearbox changes and IIRC introduction of ED and power changes to some of the engines.

jamoor · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:22

Interior changed too.

OllyM · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:35

rG-tom said:
when was the e60 facelifted? I thought it was only the 7 series that had been facelifted so far, and i was told the e60 is due a facelift at the end of this year by a bmw salesman the other day, and the 7 series a complete replacement?

I don't know if they are going to facelft the E60 again - the LCI was only released late last year. The all new 5 is the F10 due out in 2010, apparently.

Clarkey · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:42

olv said:
yeah i hate being able to see when someone is breaking.

it's called braking, and normal lights do the job perfectly well but without blinding you.

Hxc · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:45

LEDs look stupid on virtually all cars, honestly.

Ex-RoNiN · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:47

Clarkey said:
it's called braking, and normal lights do the job perfectly well but without blinding you.

They don't do it perfectly well, as their life span is ridiculously low compared to LEDs, and ridiculously expensive to be replaced during MOTs/Servicing.

Jez · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:49

Clarkey said:
Good, I hate these stupid things with a passion. Sitting behind one of these at some lights or such at night when they are sitting on the brake usually results in burned retinas, so damn bright they are completely OTT.

I would perhaps be looking into getting your eyes checked rather than moaning about the brightness of the LED's. They really shouldn't be causing your eyes to hurt like that - they really arnt very bright.

Clarkey · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:51

they really do do it perectly well. As for life span, what is the issue with normal bulbs, at 12 years old my car has never had a bulb replaced according to the large book of history and receipts, nor do I even know anybody who has problems with bulb life span. Expensive to replace, what planet are you on? Bulbs cost next to nothing :/

Jez · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:53

Your history is unlikely to show bulb replacements, but yes i agree that the issue is not bulb life or cost. Its more down to the fact that LED technology is now cheap, it works just as well if not better, its more efficient, and happens to never need maintenance.

Why not use it?

Gaijin · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:53

Clarkey said:
they really do do it perectly well. As for life span, what is the issue with normal bulbs, at 12 years old my car has never had a bulb replaced according to the large book of history and receipts, nor do I even know anybody who has problems with bulb life span. Expensive to replace, what planet are you on? Bulbs cost next to nothing :/

Your car hasn't had a bulb replaced in 12 years? I've replaced 3 this year alone!