M4 and 4 Series LCI Standard LED Tail Lights Revealed

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

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.

But still, that's a more reasonable figure IMO. I figure the "lightning package" will go up by $400~$600 and include OLED tails.

Replacement parts for the GTS rear light clusters are probably priced so high just to keep the exclusivity of the GTS by discouraging people to upgrade for the time being. Even at ~$500 for the option, I am sure BMW will be making a healthy profit on them.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

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.

[M3 Adjuster]

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.

Does not the same " existing tech" with respect to an LED television housing, television mounting , television backlighting , pixel array, and "all that's really different is the light source " apply for televisions with respect to an OLED vs Non OLED TV?

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Does not the same " existing tech" with respect to an LED television housing, television mounting , television backlighting , pixel array, and "all that's really different is the light source " apply for televisions with respect to an OLED vs Non OLED TV?

The manufacturing cost is pretty much a moot point IMO here. The OLED cannot be that expensive to produce. The art of marketing is all about finding the sweet spot between price and take rate to maximize profits.

[///Mikey F80]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Are we somehow entitled to something better than F80 owners? BMW is doing what is fair.

Yeah it boggles my mind how so many people think that they do. I personally think it's a bit unfair to have a two door version of the 4 door car that costs basically the same as the 4 door, have nicer equipment standard or even as an option. People will say "Well that happened to M4 owners when the M3 updated to the LCI..." Well not quite.

It will be interesting to see what the "option" price is.

It would sure be nice if BMW gave people who want/own an M3 something substantive. There's been an M4 GTS, the M4 LCI will get an option of OLED tails... Meanwhile, all M3 owners get is a 30 Jahre Edition that is of questionable value/worth.

///Mike

[Rschin2]

so much talk in here about some damn taillights. What I really want is for BMW to give the M4 some more aggressive rear fender flares like the M3. Amazes me how much beefier the M3 is compared to the 3 series; the M4, not so much.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by Rschin2

so much talk in here about some damn taillights. What I really want is for BMW to give the M4 some more aggressive rear fender flares like the M3. Amazes me how much beefier the M3 is compared to the 3 series; the M4, not so much.

Have you ever looked at an M4 next to a 435i? Big difference in rear fenders.

[dba1t]

Dating back to the E39 Hella LED CELIS taillights in 2001, BMW has been very selective about which vehicles and models receive LED lighting. This carried on through the E46, E60, E90, and F10 chassis generations. In the early days it was easy to understand due to the relative newness and expense of automotive LEDs. However, we are way past the supply/demand threshold and cost per unit concerns. BMW needs to leave incandescent lighting in the past. Make LEDs standard across the entire product line and reserve OLEDs for premium models, including everything bearing an M or M-Sport designation. This should also happen at initial vehicle launch, not at LCI intervals.

[Tyrolean]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

The manufacturing cost is pretty much a moot point IMO here. The OLED cannot be that expensive to produce. The art of marketing is all about finding the sweet spot between price and take rate to maximize profits.

Of course the manufacturing costs are a major point here, actually more the cost because of the numbers.
Osram (who produce the OLEDs) did some 830 for the GTS and some for parts and retrofit. So that's the number of lights the Munich plant (and others) need per day.
So obviously the costs go down with numbers go up, bit with the OLEDs we will have to take the costs per piece as far higher into account.

[xlover]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Does not the same " existing tech" with respect to an LED television housing, television mounting , television backlighting , pixel array, and "all that's really different is the light source " apply for televisions with respect to an OLED vs Non OLED TV?

Ok so, instead of just spilling hatorade everywhere why it's wrong. Put your cards on the table. Expected msrp? standalone option or part of a package?

[classyfast]

One thing I will never understand is the argument/debate and discussions of led/oled/laser (or whatever bullshit BMW tosses out there). Who cares? 99.9999% of the world won't notice or be able to tell the difference. There maybe is a little more safety there with the LED lights with brightness and all of that but come on really'

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

Have you ever looked at an M4 next to a 435i? Big difference in rear fenders.

I don't think he has. It's obvious that he hasn't paid much attention to the details of his car at all. The M4 is wide! There's about a 7mm difference in favor of the M3; it's imperceptible to the eye.

[Schuey]

There someone in the UK who on eBay is selling a pair of OLED GTS tail lights for £6000. So if that's anything to do by, $1500 sounds cheap!

But I agree with most of the above here, it's just another money making technique from BMW who like to start off will old tech on purpose so they can introduce something on the LCI.

Mercedes or Audi don't do this as much, so it's kinda annoying.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by classyfast

One thing I will never understand is the argument/debate and discussions of led/oled/laser (or whatever bullshit BMW tosses out there). Who cares? 99.9999% of the world won't notice or be able to tell the difference. There maybe is a little more safety there with the LED lights with brightness and all of that but come on really'

Well, in my case, I am a tech geek and I find the OLED look cool. Period. I could not really care less if "the world notices or can tell the difference".

[gvan1998]

Can we upgrade the outer taillights only and use the the existing inner taillights for people with pre lci M4? Im wondering if the lights will match up

[classyfast]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Well, in my case, I am a tech geek and I find the OLED look cool. Period. I could not really care less if "the world notices or can tell the difference".

Understand and that's fine, but nobody I. The history of mankind has made an automobile choice based on headlights or taillights, no real car guy anyhow let's be real here.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by classyfast

Understand and that's fine, but nobody I. The history of mankind has made an automobile choice based on headlights or taillights, no real car guy anyhow let's be real here.

Fully agree. I will be getting a new M4 next summer to replace my current one regardless of what lights are on it. It's just fun to speculate/anticipate about what they will look like though .

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

I was skeptical of the fact that BMW would use OLED on the 4 series taillights LCI simply due to the cost.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by Rschin2

so much talk in here about some damn taillights. What I really want is for BMW to give the M4 some more aggressive rear fender flares like the M3. Amazes me how much beefier the M3 is compared to the 3 series; the M4, not so much.

There is a difference. It may not be as noticeable because the M4 is already wider and lower than the M3.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by gvan1998

Can we upgrade the outer taillights only and use the the existing inner taillights for people with pre lci M4? Im wondering if the lights will match up

I doubt this would be feasible. Based on the M3 LCI tails, the turn signal will likely extend to the inner trunk mounted unit. It also seems the two taillight bars are mounted slightly higher and the reverse lights have also seem to changed location in that inner LCI unit.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Mo@BMWofFairfax

There is a difference. It may not be as noticeable because the M4 is already wider and lower than the M3.

Nope. M4 is lower but M3 is wider, albeit only by a smidgen.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by Mo@BMWofFairfax

There is a difference. It may not be as noticeable because the M4 is already wider and lower than the M3.

I think you mean 4 vs. 3 hence the M3 looks much meatier than the civic 3, the M4 less so against the civic 4.



(Ha! "civic" I just realised as a civic M3 owner I can look down on a civic 3 series driver! )