What have you done to your car today?

[TIMMOS29]

I fitted the dashcam, positioned it next to the mirror, and wired it down to the fusebox.

I was surprised to discover that the cigar lighter is always live, not a switched item, so I tapped into that for the constant. I got the ACC from fuse 27 or 28, which is the rain sensor (I have parking mode enabled).

If anyone wants a good recommendation for a webcam, this is the fifth one I’ve bought now.

 

[hollie040]

I was surprised to discover that the cigar lighter is always live, not a switched item,

I've noticed that too, got a USB adaptor for a little bluetooth thing and have noticed it never turns off.

Edit: forgot to say the important news, the Poverty Edition went straight through it's MOT today.

 

[hollie040]

Yesterday it went to the body shop where I removed and stripped the front bumper, rear bumper, headlights, rear lights, mirror caps, mirrors and side indicators and aerial ready for some bodywork attention.

Looks drastic, what's it getting? Already looks better than some Z4s I've seen running around...

 

[Dubbedown]

I tested out some different color DRL bulbs. What I had was quite blue so thought I’d try to even it out going more yellow. Issue is thought it’d be nice to land somewhere in the middle, unless doing a true angel eye halo upgrade, white would likely wash out and be difficult to see. You can see that even with the blue.

 

[RAYK47]

I tested out some different color DRL bulbs. What I had was quite blue so thought I’d try to even it out going more yellow. Issue is thought it’d be nice to land somewhere in the middle, unless doing a true angel eye halo upgrade, white would likely wash out and be difficult to see. You can see how even with the blue.

How does that work when you have full beam on? does it change the colour much?

Being from the UK i don't think we are legally allowed to change the colour of our front DRLs.

 

[Dubbedown]

How does that work when you have full beam on? does it change the colour much?

Being from the UK i don't think we are legally allowed to change the colour of our front DRLs.

I don’t see how anyone would know if the factory DRL was more yellow vs blue, so I’d imagine you’d be fine.

Assuming by full beam you mean low beam since there is no projector behind the factory DRL. If so, you can still see it fine…

 

[lucasxdiniz]

How does that work when you have full beam on? does it change the colour much?

Being from the UK i don't think we are legally allowed to change the colour of our front DRLs.

I don’t see how anyone would know if the factory DRL was more yellow vs blue, so I’d imagine you’d be fine.

Assuming by full beam you mean low beam since there is no projector behind the factory DRL. If so, you can still see it fine…

The bi-xenon sidelights have a blue filter, so any brighter LED bulbs will make it look blue rather than white. Your best bet is a 20w bulb which perfectly matches a 5000k D2s and is noticeably brighter than the OE bulbs.

 

[Dubbedown]

How does that work when you have full beam on? does it change the colour much?

Being from the UK i don't think we are legally allowed to change the colour of our front DRLs.

I don’t see how anyone would know if the factory DRL was more yellow vs blue, so I’d imagine you’d be fine.

Assuming by full beam you mean low beam since there is no projector behind the factory DRL. If so, you can still see it fine…

The bi-xenon sidelights have a blue filter, so any brighter LED bulbs will make it look blue rather than white. Your best bet is a 20w bulb which perfectly matches a 5000k D2s and is noticeably brighter than the OE bulbs.

Correct on the blue filter which is why I went with the amber hoping it would even out to somewhere more white ish. But 20w is too high imo. The oe wiring insulation has already dried out and started crumbling. Last thing I want to do is generate more heat.

 

[Micke]

Picked up some polybushes for the rear diff that I got for a good price. For now they’ll be marinating for a while as I have to get all the other bushes and replace them all at the same time. But no rush with that, will be part of a suspension refresh I have planned.

 

[lucasxdiniz]

[
Correct on the blue filter which is why I went with the amber hoping it would even out to somewhere more white ish. But 20w is too high imo. The oe wiring insulation has already dried out and started crumbling. Last thing I want to do is generate more heat.

6yrs running 20w bulbs and the only drawback is that they burn out every 18 months or so. The current draw through the wire goes from ~0.9A to ~1.7A and I believe it's large enough to safely take that.

Can't say I've ever seen the wire insulation showing signs of age in any of my 3 Z4s, though.

 

[Dubbedown]

[
Correct on the blue filter which is why I went with the amber hoping it would even out to somewhere more white ish. But 20w is too high imo. The oe wiring insulation has already dried out and started crumbling. Last thing I want to do is generate more heat.

6yrs running 20w bulbs and the only drawback is that they burn out every 18 months or so. The current draw through the wire goes from ~0.9A to ~1.7A and I believe it's large enough to safely take that.

Can't say I've ever seen the wire insulation showing signs of age in any of my 3 Z4s, though.

Guess it’s a YMMV thing… I’ve had 3 Z4’s in last 15 years and all of them had same fate where the insulation started crumbling. Here’s my current set; red arrows where I had to add electric tape.

 

[BumpyZ4]

I’ve had 3 Z4’s in last 15 years and all of them had same fate where the insulation started crumbling. Here’s my current set; red arrows where I had to add electric tape.
ATTACHMENTS

My 2003 has the same problem and so did a used headlight I bought. I'm going to try to fix the wiring when the weather cools off!

 

[caius]

Fitted 1 series LED numberplate lights as one of mine was loose/occasionally hanging down at one side. Bought a pair secondhand off fleabay from a breaker, had to trim a little tab out the connector but then they just fit perfectly. Ideal.

Just been out and checked them in the darkness, they light up well enough but not too bright. Now tempted by LEDs for more of the other lights 8)

 

[Mr Tidy]

Fitted 1 series LED numberplate lights as one of mine was loose/occasionally hanging down at one side. Bought a pair secondhand off fleabay from a breaker, had to trim a little tab out the connector but then they just fit perfectly. Ideal.

Just been out and checked them in the darkness, they light up well enough but not too bright. Now tempted by LEDs for more of the other lights

I'm not sure I'd bother!

I bought a pre-registered 1 Series in 2008 and kept it for 6 and a half years/80K miles. The only two bulbs that ever needed changing were the long-lasting LED number plate ones.

 

[caius]

I'm not sure I'd bother!

My original units were pretty woeful in terms of light output, as well as one of them trying to fall out constantly :roll:

 

[Mr Tidy]

Mr Tidy wrote: Fri Jun 06, 2025 10:59 pm
I'm not sure I'd bother!
My original units were pretty woeful in terms of light output, as well as one of them trying to fall out constantly

That might be a bonus passing speed cameras!

 

[caius]

That might be a bonus passing speed cameras!

Makes no difference, they light you up regardless to make sure they get the reg

 

[Doddsy]

MOT Day! Another clean bill of health of both MOT and the VHC by Vertu BMW

 

[ryushe]

I forgot to take 'before' pics, but had my wheels redone. I'm obviously biased, but I think they came out great.
Gone is the curb rash and peeling paint!

 

[caius]

Fitted LED bulbs to the rear brake lights (the main bulbs), and coded out the bulb checks. They bright