Phillip Chang
DIY’ers,
Had the pleasure of working on an BMW 3 Series E93 Convertible today and converted most of the lights to LED using the Premium LED Lighting Package from PrecisionLED. Install took about an hour and thirty minutes including time to take photos and should in reality take 30-45 minutes if doing this on your own. Of course we used the PresicionLED professional trim tool kit to make the install go by faster so make sure you have tools to protect your trim panel peices.
The overhead console on the convertible is a compressed version of the overhead console on the sedan versions. it seems quite similar to the 6 series convertible so the guide might be compatible. Use the fork shaped tool to pull down the overhead console. You will see the metal compression clips that are holding it in place and all it needs is a bit of force to get it over the hump.
Once you relese both the front and the back, you will find that it still will not come out. Worry not, there are two more clips holding the console in place that will need to be removed.
These plastic clips are on the side facing the passenger side door and need to be pushed in to get the console out. You will need to use the butt end of the fork shaped tool to really press down hard to release them. Dont worry, give it slow steady pressure until they come out and dont be afraid to really push it.
The bulbs are held in just like every other modern BMW and are twist to lock connectors that hold wedge shaped halogen bulbs. Just twist to unlock the connector, and use your fingers to remove the bulb.
In this installation, we are using the premium led interior kit and have replaced the map and dome light bulbs with our 5730 Premium LED bulbs. Very intense bright lights that work wonderfully well with the BMW console. In some BMW models, like the BMW 5 Series E60, these bulbs will not fit from the top because the diameter of the opening is too small. In the 3 Series E92 that is not the case and they pop in quite nicely.
The Vanity Mirrors use smaller T5 type bulbs and require two on each side. Again, use the fork shaped tool to wedge open the vanity mirror housing from the side closest to the seats. The opposite end has the wire connector attached and will have problems if removed from that end, so dont.
As you can see there is a metal casing that helps to reflect light down; this needs to be removed in order to remove the halogen bulbs and replace with the new LEDs. There are two bendable inserts that are holding the casing in place and they need to be slightly bent out to remove. Just be careful when bending them inward so as not to break them. You will need to do the reverse to put them back in and keep the casing shut.
The LEDs are a tight squeeze and just barely fit in. they will look uncomfortable but they hold up nicely without issue.
We did get a chance to remove the rear footwell lights attached to the center console but it wasnt all that great. Once removed, we found that the LED bulbs did not reflect light in the correct direction and thus did not provide good enough light output to be suitable for replacement. We ended up leaving them as is with the halogen bulbs in place.
The glove light box was a bit of a squeeze but comes out easily enough. The Premium LEDs are quite bright and look really nice in place of the halogen bulb.
The same can be said for the courtesy door lights and are opened in similar fashion. Just make sure that when you are removing the housing, you wedge from the side closer to the end of the door, not the hinge. If you go from the wrong direction, you will risk breaking the connectors wire harness.
The convertible has a trunk light that I failed to take a photo of. Its basically the same as the door light and does not require much explaining.
If you have questions about the installation, just let us know and we will be happy to help. Of course its much easier to provide support if the LEDs are purchased from PrecisionLED but we will do what we can within reason.
Cheers,
-Phil @ PLED
