02-04-2022, 08:43 AM | #89 | |
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My girlfriend had the same reaction. She knew I was getting I was doing it as she couldn't miss the boxes, but she very rarely gives any of my "mods" any love, mostly out of stubbornness IMO because she doesn't get it, but she definitely was all in on the new lights looking SO much better than the pre-LCI's. Personally, the impact was huge for me. #1 mod out of the $12,000 I have spent since April lol!. I wish we were closer, I really want to see the aftermarkets in person. I will take a few nice close up pics of my OEM's this weekend and post them. Should be easy enough to compare, at least for the dots.
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02-04-2022, 10:03 AM | #90 | |
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The PnP knockoffs sounds great but why go that route when you can get the genuine set for close to the price of the knockoffs. |
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02-04-2022, 10:15 AM | #91 | |
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I can see both sides, but I would not do it any differently even if the knock-offs were available when I did it and even if they were half price. I don't mess with non OEM lights. Learned my lesson years ago. Yes, I had a BMW shop do my install, which included repinning the inner connector and running a 5th wire from the BDC. You can also run a jump wire from the inner to the outer to not have to run from the BDC. This jump wire is pretty much what this harness on the knock off is doing. I did all my homework and documented everything. I could have done the install myself using the jump method and pinning as I am very comfortable with wiring, but I didn't feel like ripping apart the trunk. Shop charged me $300 and it was well worth it. They ran the wire from the BDC because "they only do things right". I can respect that. I hired a coder and arranged for him to code my car at the shop that did the install. It went very smooth. The whole thing cost me $1,400. I paid $950 for the lights, $150 coding, $300 labor.
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Prior BMW's: 1987 325e|1993 740i|1998 740il|2001 530i|2002 745li|2007 750li|2006 750li|2001 530i|2012 535xi| Last edited by Joe-BMW33; 02-04-2022 at 10:28 AM.. |
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02-04-2022, 11:23 AM | #92 |
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That is not true, amber turn signals are perfectly legal by DOT standards. My wife's car is a MY17 and had amber signals (I swapped them to red at her request) and my coworker just purchased a Mazda MY21 that has that weird stobe like amber turn signal. I mean during a regular commute you can see plenty of late model cars with ambers. Its definitely a choice by the manufacturer, what motivates that choice whether it be practicality, durability, cost or what have you but its surely not an outright law forbidding the color.
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02-04-2022, 11:57 AM | #93 | |
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02-04-2022, 12:22 PM | #94 | |
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02-04-2022, 12:27 PM | #95 | ||
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02-04-2022, 12:30 PM | #96 | |
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02-04-2022, 12:32 PM | #97 | ||
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G30 LCI tails and they are apparently too small per DOT regulations here in the US. Instead of designing an entirely new taillight, they just double the brake light as a rear turn signal. US DOT not only has height regulations for turn signals but width as well (newer MB sedans fall short in width) AND the US does not allow animated rear signals, only on the front (Audi has to use the animated signal in congunction with the brake light to be legal here). Even some Lexus models have animated front and rear signals (RX350/450) that are reprogrammed to just blink solid for the US...learned this off my wife's car. |
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02-04-2022, 12:43 PM | #98 | |
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Your reasoning about BMW "choosing" to only do one has completely reversed logic. The US is infatuated with red signals, nearly the entirety of the rest of the world uses yellow exclusively for their rear signals (and in many countries it is indeed a law). What is better has been a topic of debate for US drivers as far back as I can remember. My wife choosing to have red vs amber is indeed her choice, fully allowed by the law. |
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02-04-2022, 12:50 PM | #99 | |
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02-04-2022, 01:07 PM | #100 | |
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Edit: Re signal color, this appears to be the law in CA: (a) Any turn signal system used to give a signal of intention to turn right or left shall project a flashing white or amber light visible to the front and a flashing red or amber light visible to the rear.
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02-04-2022, 01:19 PM | #101 | |
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02-04-2022, 02:42 PM | #102 | |
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Fwiw, either I made my wife think this retrofit was her idea, or she made me think it was mine. Either way, it was a pleasant victory.
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02-04-2022, 02:52 PM | #103 | |
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The irony is I am looking at a 2020 M5C this weekend. Most of my $12,000 is transferable or easily sell-able. The Dinan Exhaust and Springs have not shipped, so they are cancel-able off the $12,000. BUT, the LCI's are moving over day of delivery if it works out. 50/50 in reality of it working out, but I know myself, casual looking turns into deposit quickly. I know the Euro LCI's are not kosher in the US, that's my point. Thin blinker, amber blinker....they are not approved.
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02-04-2022, 03:35 PM | #104 | ||
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Best friend has one and it's always a joy to drive when he lets me! |
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02-04-2022, 04:31 PM | #105 | |||
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Worth a look. They will have to give me close to $60k for mine for me to consider. Probably wishful thinking. I can order a new one for $124k. This is what I do. If I had half the money I spent on BMWs I'd be retired. https://www.bmwusa.com/certified-preowned-search.html
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02-04-2022, 07:37 PM | #106 |
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Ooh that M5C is a mean machine. I always felt the ride was just too stiff for a daily but this may not be your daily. I believe someone was saying they changed the springs or something on the LCI M5Cs to soften the ride a bit.
Btw, dinan springs? Didn't you say you wouldn't be lowering your car ever? |
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02-04-2022, 07:57 PM | #107 | |
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02-04-2022, 09:25 PM | #108 | |
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02-05-2022, 03:36 AM | #109 | |
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I've wanted the Dinan springs for a while. I may have said that a long time ago, but the thought of a conservative "0.75 drop would really perfect the stance with the spacers. I've procrastinated for a while because it's a pretty invasive install with a lot of labor $$. The other thing is if I have one complaint about the car, I wish it had just a bit less body roll.
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02-05-2022, 03:45 AM | #110 | ||
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It doesn't have to be exactly $60k, but the numbers have to work. Could be a combo of negotiating trade and price. I have to think there is some wiggle room in price. $97k asking is only $25k off MSRP for a two year old car, but it is an M5C. I'm gonna get an education!
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