Rear Light Facelift Update Cheap How to

[Gremlin500]

Welcome onto the forum.

Great write up photos and explanations behind the work. I read it with great interest (even though I have no intention of ever fitting facelift (just prefer 4 white spot).

I'm sure the Ebay price of facelift lights is about to take a quick hike

x2.

I prefer the "clean design" look of the 4 clear spots, IMIO the facelift rears are literally putting square pegs in a round hole, change for changes sake.

[nahodo]

Welcome onto the forum.

Great write up photos and explanations behind the work. I read it with great interest (even though I have no intention of ever fitting facelift (just prefer 4 white spot).

I'm sure the Ebay price of facelift lights is about to take a quick hike

x2.

I prefer the "clean design" look of the 4 clear spots, IMIO the facelift rears are literally putting square pegs in a round hole, change for changes sake.

well, i fully disagree - the facelift tail lights fit perfect to the character of the z4 - clean and sharp. well, still happy that I did it

[komec]

Hi nahodo.
Cant you tell me what KALTUEBERWACHUNG/WARMUEBERWACHUNG lines i have to disable to prevent the bulb error message from dashboard?

[nahodo]

It's
WARMUEBERWACHUNG_RL_LI
WARMUEBERWACHUNG_RL_RE

KALTUEBERWACHUNG_RL_RE
KALTUEBERWACHUNG_RL_LI

CC_RUECKLICHT_LINKS
CC_RUECKLICHT_RECHTS


to deactive the checkcontrol.

cheers
nam

[komec]

Thanks!

That was the last thing i needed to know. now i just need to start ordering parts

[nahodo]

cool, keep us posted
i just bought an M-Bumper and looking forward to give my z another nice upgrade

[ThreeOZ]

hi all,
may i just introduce myself briefly - I'm Nam and I'm a happy Z4 owner coming from Germany. I was very impressed when I found this article because I was very keen to upgrade my prefacelift z4 with the new tail lights.
without your post i haven't tacled this project because on the german z4 pages i just read several times that you need the light control module from facelift which is very expensive.

just to contribute. i found elegant solutions for your issues:

1. the tail lights and break light is on
well, to prevent the "t" effect, you just have to code your light control module - in german the code is:
BREMSLICHT_ALS_STANDLICHT
nicht_aktiv

this means the breaklight should not longer work as your side markers and then they are off. everything works as intended (break, tail light..)

2. flickering of taillight / 6V issue
well, you took the power of the light of your plate sign - you can also program your light control module as follows:

PWM_ANSTEUERUNG_SL_RE_HI
wert_01

PWM_ANSTEUERUNG_SL_LI_HI
wert_01

this gives 12v to the tail lights without further modications.

this works out perfectly with my 2003 Z4 - hence no really need to buy the new light control module.

3. bulbs in the cockpit / dashboard
just deactive the checkcontrols and everything is fine.

this week, i bring my new bumper to the body shop and then i can finalize my project

thanks for your great post!
cheers Nam

Hi Nam,

I just wanted to clarify. On point #2, does changing the value from the default of 02 to a new value of 01 send a 12v signal to the taillight pin? Hence no need to tap the license plate lamp for 12v. No wire cutting, splicing, soldering involved? just swap the pins?

Thanx!

[nahodo]

hi threeoz,

yes, confirmed, needless to use the plate lamp wiring.
very clean and quick solution!
cheers
nam

[ThreeOZ]

hi threeoz,

yes, confirmed, needless to use the plate lamp wiring.
very clean and quick solution!
cheers
nam

You are absolutely brilliant. Thank you for discovering this elegant solution in the LSZ coding. I'll be using Autologic for coding.

I am 4 to 6 weeks away from completeting the facelift and buttlift of my 2003.

Aerokit front bumper cover.
Inexpensive, highly criticized Taiwanese headlamp replacements (OEM and Tekcarbon units are ridiculously expensive)
Hamann rear spoiler (subsidized by headlamp savings)
+2006 rear lights and bumper cover.

I'll try to document this and hopefully create the definitve upgrade guide. The fact that we can eliminate the need for wire splicing, resistors, and LSZ module replacement negates all previously believed upgrade paths.

Well done!

[nahodo]

hi threeoz,

yes, confirmed, needless to use the plate lamp wiring.
very clean and quick solution!
cheers
nam

You are absolutely brilliant. Thank you for discovering this elegant solution in the LSZ coding. I'll be using Autologic for coding.

I am 4 to 6 weeks away from completeting the facelift and buttlift of my 2003.

Aerokit front bumper cover.
Inexpensive, highly criticized Taiwanese headlamp replacements (OEM and Tekcarbon units are ridiculously expensive)
Hamann rear spoiler (subsidized by headlamp savings)
+2006 rear lights and bumper cover.

I'll try to document this and hopefully create the definitve upgrade guide. The fact that we can eliminate the need for wire splicing, resistors, and LSZ module replacement negates all previously believed upgrade paths.

Well done!

hey, I'm happy to foster your upgrade
curious to see pictures from you retrofit project(s).

well, now I have the front and butt upgraded to facelift

[ThreeOZ]

The "M" bumper looks great !!!

I will post pics when completed.

The Hamann spoiler is beautiful.

[ThreeOZ]

Thanks!

That was the last thing i needed to know. now i just need to start ordering parts

That has been the hardest part for me. Parts are on backorder here in the US. Got some deals on ebay, but most parts have to come from the factory.

[komec]

I ordered bumper and lights from ebay, no problems there. Now i need to get frame surrounds and plastic boot panel from stealer and im good to go

[ThreeOZ]

I ordered bumper and lights from ebay, no problems there. Now i need to get frame surrounds and plastic boot panel from stealer and im good to go

I was able to get a bumper cover on ebay for $65 USD with $60 USD shipping. List price was $520 USD with $175 USD shipping so I saved a huge amount of money. I also found a perfect right taillight for $145 USD. Could not find a left taillight so I spent $226 USD for a new one.

[komec]

Can someone tell me what is the correct partnumber for tail light frame surrounds and that plastic boot panel? i tried to check realoem but cant be entirely sure what parts they are.