M4 and 4 Series LCI Standard LED Tail Lights Revealed

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Law

This thread echos almost every "LCI release" thread out there.

Pre-LCI owners justifying their own tail lights and downplaying the new ones.

Oh it's not much different; I like my [pre-LCI] better; who cares, you can't see them while driving.


We've seen this trend enough here on Bimmerpost to know that eventually these comments downplaying LCI upgrades will become irrelevant.
While looks are subjective, it is absolutely clear that BMW has the capability to release nicer tail lights at launch, but purposely hold-off until the mid-cycle facelift LCI as a marketing strategy; pre-LCI lights are intentionally compromised.

At the end of the day, there's a reason people will/have swap(ped) out pre-LCI lights for LCI lights, not the other way around.

I actually prefer the look of the pre-LCI tails on both the F82 and E92. So I guess that it is indeed very subjective .

Now, those (optional) OLEDs on the other hand...

[Law]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I actually prefer the look of the pre-LCI tails on both the F82 and E92. So I guess that it is indeed very subjective .

Now, those (optional) OLEDs on the other hand...

At least we now know that, with 5AN being an option, BMW plans to bring these into mass production, meaning greater accessibility (theoretically)

[bimmer4life24]

Originally Posted by ynguldyn

Because they will.

But only as an option.

/Goes away all frustrated at people not paying attention./

Any word on OLED's being an option on the M2 LCI, ynguldyn ?

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I actually prefer the look of the pre-LCI tails on both the F82 and E92. So I guess that it is indeed very subjective .

+2

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I actually Googled it yesterday but didn't get the terms right (or something) because I didn't get any good hits. Then I got busy and forgot to go back to it. But I just tried again, and you are correct, of course. Here's some M4 GTS literature (from BMW Canada) that confirms that 5AN is the code for "BMW Organic LED Taillights":

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/att...6&d=1451929933

Now, assuming ynguldyn's info is good (it almost always is spot on), the next question is, how much do they charge for these? I'm guessing at least $1500.

Someone has to educate me on justifying the cost of the OLEDS for $1500 (reported cost unknown)....

Is it better for safety?
Lasts longer than the car will be around?
Uses less W so more HP?

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

Someone has to educate me on justifying the cost of the OLEDS for $1500 (reported cost unknown)....

Is it better for safety?
Lasts longer than the car will be around?
Uses less W so more HP?

Aesthetics. Everything else is hyperbole.

[ynguldyn]

Originally Posted by bimmer4life24

Any word on OLED's being an option on the M2 LCI, ynguldyn ?

Unlikely.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

Someone has to educate me on justifying the cost of the OLEDS for $1500 (reported cost unknown)....

Is it better for safety?
Lasts longer than the car will be around?
Uses less W so more HP?

Same family of logic that gets people to tick the box for the ~$1900 Lighting Package (which covers headlights - no optional taillights exist) for today's M3/M4/4-Series - better technology, better aesthetics. Typically there are some actual real-life benefits and then there is also a perceived value component and vanity component.

By the way, that $1500 figure is just a SWAG, but IIRC the parts cost for the GTS tails is an into-the-thousands-of-dollars figure. I think a set of LED headlights is $1000-ish at the parts counter vs. the $1900 option price, so at $1500 for the OLED option vs. the parts cost to buy them ex-post facto, it might even be a deal. Or I could be off in my guess; it's possible since there are so many variables at play here that it's tough to call. But I suspect I'm in the ballpark. It may also be that there is a new lighting package that covers both headlights and taillights. I could see that being a thing, and while you could still perhaps order just the LED headlights stand alone (or maybe they become standard on the M4, or even higher level 440i, like an MSport), you can then perhaps only get the OLED taillights in the package. Just thinking out loud.

[Tyrolean]

1500 dollars would be a bargain as the GTS OLEDs are available for roughly 6000 eur, so I don't think they will much lower them for the lci option, if there really is one.
I admit to be a fanboy of the OLEDs, this pic of the LCI has not really hit me...
OLEDs currently for sale on eBay from a Lithuanian seller or so... not sure however if that's a trusted source or just stolen...

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Tyrolean

1500 dollars would be a bargain as the GTS OLEDs are available for roughly 6000 eur, so I don't think they will much lower them for the lci option, if there really is one.

Right, but I think that price is rather inflated right now. Just one of the many variables I refer to in the statement in my post.

Another variable: The non-GTS OLED may be different part from the GTS OLED, even though they look similar in blurry spy pics. I'm not sure what could be done to bring costs down, but then I'm not automotive lighting expert either.

[3M TAPE]

I need OLED tailights on my 428i

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by humbertin0

I'm pretty sure Mo was just kidding. "Civic M4" is a common humerous name used to reference Non-ZCP M4 cars.

I guess I'm not enough of an M4 elitist to see the humor in this ... and if I were a sales manager that had an employee making such comments while using the dealer name ...

[Azathoth]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Don't confuse things. LED don't need to be dot matrix. LED can also light bar strips just as they do on the current M4 (pre-LCI) tail lights. The advantage of LED is that they consume less electricity, are more uniform in terms of lightning and are "instant" on/off for a sharper transition.

I replaced the halogen turn signals on my M4 for LED bulbs. I disliked how the halogen mismatched the front and mirror turn signal when blinking.

I realise there are LEDs that don't have the dot matrix effects. The ones in the pictures don't look like they have it. Most do, I even noticed many cars last night with incandescent tail lights where the internal reflectors were shaped to imitate it. The lights in the picture look good, most LEDS don't

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

I guess I'm not enough of an M4 elitist to see the humor in this ... and if I were a sales manager that had an employee making such comments while using the dealer name ...

Really? You sound uptight. The "Civic M3" reference has been around forever, and it didn't begin with the F8X. It began with the E46.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Really? You sound uptight. The "Civic M3" reference has been around forever, and it didn't begin with the F8X. It began with the E46.

I must be...

[xlover]

I think $1500 is way too much to expect for OLED at production scale, the GTS was only 800 ish units so no scale for the molds etc... if a 55inch OLED TV is only $2k and i would argue much more complex than taillights for an automobile, my guess is these will be rolled into an option package, lighting, track, etc at a minimal price increase of a few hundred bucks of what the package was pre LCI

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by xlover

I think $1500 is way too much to expect for OLED at production scale, the GTS was only 800 ish units so no scale for the molds etc... if a 55inch OLED TV is only $2k and i would argue much more complex than taillights for an automobile, my guess is these will be rolled into an option package, lighting, track, etc at a minimal price increase of a few hundred bucks of what the package was pre LCI

holy apples and oranges batman! I think we would all love for them to be cheaper.... but..

does the 55" TV drive down the road ?
Does it need to repel water and dirt and deal with condensation ?
Does it need to be able to perform the same 4 years later after sitting in direct sun many days a year?
Does the television need to survive being driven over rough roads, railroad tracks, and other
impacts for years?
Does the TV need to survive a 5mph impact test?

let's use your TV analogy though....

How much is a 55" NON OLED tv ? $500
and a 55" OLED Tv is $2000 using your figure.. ..

interesting... so it's $1500 more for a 55" OLED TV... and apparently that makes sense... but $1500 for OLED taillights. that are smaller.. and " less complex"... but have to deal with much harsher conditions and (as an OEM option) have a warranty that is as much as 4-20 times as long as a television warranty.. " NO WAY... that's a total ripoff! " ....

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Not a letdown at all. Only snowflake M4 owners are up in arms about it.

Snowflake is one of my favorite words lately.

[reprod]

Nice to know that OLEDs will be an option. I expect this to surpass the 2000 mark if the LED headlights cost of 1900 tells any story. The manufacturing costs of OLED technology versus the current reflector headlight mechanism of the LED headlights is greater. BMW is not known for "eating the costs" of production so we should expect the costs to trickle down to us the consumer.

I'm thinking a minimum cost of entry of 2500 in addition to the existing 1900 in order to get OLEDs. Time will tell.

[xlover]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

holy apples and oranges batman! I think we would all love for them to be cheaper.... but..

does the 55" TV drive down the road ?
Does it need to repel water and dirt and deal with condensation ?
Does it need to be able to perform the same 4 years later after sitting in direct sun many days a year?
Does the television need to survive being driven over rough roads, railroad tracks, and other
impacts for years?
Does the TV need to survive a 5mph impact test?

let's use your TV analogy though....

How much is a 55" NON OLED tv ? $500
and a 55" OLED Tv is $2000 using your figure.. ..

interesting... so it's $1500 more for a 55" OLED TV... and apparently that makes sense... but $1500 for OLED taillights. that are smaller.. and " less complex"... but have to deal with much harsher conditions and (as an OEM option) have a warranty that is as much as 4-20 times as long as a television warranty.. " NO WAY... that's a total ripoff! " ....

Most of what you cite are existing tech, the plastic housing, weather proofing. All it that is really different is the light source behind all that. If you want to believe it's going to be a $1500 standalone option that's fine. I disagree, when the order guide comes we will know what's up.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by xlover

Most of what you cite are existing tech, the plastic housing, weather proofing. All it that is really different is the light source behind all that. If you want to believe it's going to be a $1500 standalone option that's fine. I disagree, when the order guide comes we will know what's up.

I'm 99% sure the new OLED tails will be $499 ... I just got some LED holiday lights for $5 so I think I'm on pretty firm ground.

[SO17]

Are you retrofitting these from your pre LCI holiday lights ?