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Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

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hopz121
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Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by hopz121 » Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:48 am

Hi all,

replaced my rear number plate lights with some high powered LED ones from ebay, but one of them has failed.

I dont fancy wasting another £25 on another set that don't work correctly so have decided to try a different route.

On later BMW's 1 series etc they fit rear LED number plate bults as standard, does anyone know if the holders from a !series will fit into the Z4 bumper cut outs?

Are they plug and play?

Thanks

Ash
2004 BMW E46 M3 Coupe - Manual - Silver Grey
2017 BMW F31 318d M-Sport - Auto - Glacier Silver
2007 Porsche Cayman 2.7 - Manual - Arctic Silver
2003 Renault Clio 172 Cup - Blue
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Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by JINGLE » Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:56 am

i was following a couple of threads about this before but never really had an outcome... i would like to buy some new bright LED number plate lights but from what I've read on here the eBay jobs stick out a lot more than the originals and u see the "black part" more... which wouldn't be so bad but my car is white so would stick out like a sore thumb :(

a few people suggested diff variants off eBay and I'm sure somebody suggested what u said about 1 series but nobody could give a definitive answer.

out of interest don't suppose u have any pictures of yours and how they "sit" in the cut outs?

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Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by nfarmer » Tue Mar 03, 2015 11:24 am

Why not just used canbus free led bulbs in original holder such as http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-CANBUS-ERR ... 1741360475- works fine for me

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Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by JINGLE » Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:07 pm

nfarmer wrote:Why not just used canbus free led bulbs in original holder such as http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-CANBUS-ERR ... 1741360475- works fine for me

are these just a case of plug and play with the old existing bulbs?

again... dont suppose u have a pic of them working?

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Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by Wyldie85 » Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:12 pm

I might give these Canbus ones a try. For £2.99 you can't go wrong.
Mine are flickering like a Christmas tree at the moment from using the eBay LED white ones and it looks so naff.
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Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by hopz121 » Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:45 pm

Yea thats what one of mine is doing, pretty poor quality tbh considering they cost over £25 only a few months ago, looked great for the short time they did work though!

The BMW LED OEM ones are around £12 each and if they fit in the holes and someone has found them to fit and work ill get them and be done with it. They won't be as bright as aftermarket LED's but will work as the should for more than a few months.
2004 BMW E46 M3 Coupe - Manual - Silver Grey
2017 BMW F31 318d M-Sport - Auto - Glacier Silver
2007 Porsche Cayman 2.7 - Manual - Arctic Silver
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Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by mike46 » Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:57 pm

Yes the later LED lights from a 1 series (and many other models) will fit :thumbsup:

However the plug needs slightly modifying to make it fit. Or some people have brought the correct connector from BMW aswell.
All in 15 months!...... :lol:
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Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by hopz121 » Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:59 pm

oh ok thanks for that, if you buy the connector from BMw as well then are they plug and play?
2004 BMW E46 M3 Coupe - Manual - Silver Grey
2017 BMW F31 318d M-Sport - Auto - Glacier Silver
2007 Porsche Cayman 2.7 - Manual - Arctic Silver
2003 Renault Clio 172 Cup - Blue
2003 BMW E85 Z4 3.0i - Gone
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Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by mike46 » Tue Mar 03, 2015 1:01 pm

hopz121 wrote:oh ok thanks for that, if you buy the connector from BMw as well then are they plug and play?
Correct! :thumbsup:
All in 15 months!...... :lol:
'03 Audi TT 225
'13 BMW 125d
'06 Nissan 350Z
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Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by JAD » Tue Mar 03, 2015 1:26 pm

hopz121 wrote:Hi all,

replaced my rear number plate lights with some high powered LED ones from ebay, but one of them has failed.

I dont fancy wasting another £25 on another set that don't work correctly so have decided to try a different route.

On later BMW's 1 series etc they fit rear LED number plate bults as standard, does anyone know if the holders from a !series will fit into the Z4 bumper cut outs?

Are they plug and play?

Thanks

Ash
Literally just done this "mod" at the weekend. I have the part numbers below and fitted very easily. When this site is more mobile friendly and I can upload photos a la Tapatalk, I'll walk you through the connector change, as it takes know how (or you'll spend 20 mins scratching your head as I did on Sunday!!);

Connectors - 61138365340 - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111259014688? ... EBIDX%3AIT
Lights - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301318456767? ... EBIDX%3AIT

JAD

Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by JAD » Tue Mar 03, 2015 1:26 pm

Wow, so that post didn't send when I asked it too! Weird.

OP, I can upload a photo momentarily. Should help you.

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Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by Scooba_Steve » Tue Mar 03, 2015 1:50 pm

Go for the OE ones and change the connectors. Less than £25 for the lot from Sopers.
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Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by hopz121 » Tue Mar 03, 2015 2:02 pm

Thanks for the help guys,

So how do i use the connectors JAD? i dont fancy trying to work it out for 20 mins haha

I have ordered the number plate lights from the stealers and will order the connectors shortly. :)
2004 BMW E46 M3 Coupe - Manual - Silver Grey
2017 BMW F31 318d M-Sport - Auto - Glacier Silver
2007 Porsche Cayman 2.7 - Manual - Arctic Silver
2003 Renault Clio 172 Cup - Blue
2003 BMW E85 Z4 3.0i - Gone
2008 BMW E90 330i SE - Gone

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Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by Scooba_Steve » Tue Mar 03, 2015 2:13 pm

You essentially have to remove the wire from the connector. The wire (from the car) will have a crimped small pin on the end of it which will clip into the connector. You just have split the connector and unclip it. I'm sure someone will have pictures to help, it just needs a little thought rather than a ham-fisted approach - not hard to figure out though :)
3.0si Sport: F10 Illuminated ZHP, Retrofit Cruise, OE Stubby, Gaptech RCH+, Kenwood BT73DAB + Handsfree, HIDs, LED Sidelights, OE LED Number Plate Lights, Custom LED strip bootlight.

JAD

Re: Rear number plate lights, do later BMW's ones fit?

Post by JAD » Tue Mar 03, 2015 3:36 pm

OK, chap, this should help now I'm back at my desk;

First of all, take the old units out - they pivot from the left, so take your flat head screw driver (protected with a cloth) to the right side and remove.

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Once hanging down by the wire, disconnect the connectors and you'll see how they are different;

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You need to look at the back of the original connector for a tab. Lift this up with a small screw driver and pull the sleeve of the connector back up the wire like so;

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Next remove the white locking collar which just unclips using your nails;

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Then, from the above photo, you can see that the pins at the end of the wires have a slightly raised barb. Push this gently and pull back the wires together (again, gently) and the pins will release from the plastic connector;

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Reverse the process with the new connectors and should end up with;

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And lights on;

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(iPhone makes it look yellow, also thanks to the crap Photobucket quality).

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