DIY 9 color ambient light kit using idrive control

[BillNguyen]

So after I posted on the “What did you do to your car” post some people had private messages regarding more info about it. So I decided to make this post dedicated to the info and installation of this so-called “9 color ambient light” kit.

As a disclaimer this is a tricky kit to install and I’m not responsible if something goes wrong.

Something to know about this kit

Q: is it brighter this oem
A: yes it is way brighter than the OEM pre-lci ambient

Q:is it as bright as the g series BMW
A:no and yes it depends on how you are tucking in the LED strips

Q: is it an easy install
A: no it is not easy but if you can retrofit the ikon headlight or have the knowledge of how to pin wire in the door wiring harness you can do this there are no instructions in the kit so you’ll have to use intuition.

Q: is it idrive control
A: yes with 2 coding changes can be done with bimmercode and you can also do app control you only have 8 colours idrive screen but in the app you have unlimited colour options, 2 zone controls, rhyme modes, gradient mode, and flashing mode.

Here some pictures

[BillNguyen]

The tools you’ll need.
Screwdriver/flathead
Plastic pry tool
Zip ties
Masking tape
Electrical tape or heat shrink tubing
ratchet set
A needle
Small flathead
A lighter
The ambient kit
Hot glue gun
A small Bungie cord

Here are something to keep in mind before starting this this project. When selecting which kit to buy on Aliexpress: don’t go for the cheapest one. I learned that the hard way the control box would smoke and melt internally. So don’t go for the cheapest option go for one that has decent sale number and decent price around 125 usd and up should be good and while installing if you want to check to see if it workings it ok to check but any exposed pin should be taped off individually than reconnect the battery or else it can short circuit and blow a fuse found that out the hard way and this is not a 1 day install if it your first time installing it so set a down time of about 3 days. As for where to run the wire just run it inside you centre console and under the glove box and steering wheel make sure the wire don’t cover the knee airbag for the rear door card run it under the carpet.

Before you disconnect anything, disconnect the battery and put something over the trunk latch so you don’t lock yourself out of your trunk. Then disassemble every trim that on the centre console except for the arm rest. Than disconnect the ac control and radio control and remove the head unit than both foot well trim below the knee air bags than in the kit you’ll find a really short Y wire that will connect to the idrive controller and the ambient light control box which will split into 4 end each end will have it own wire harness one of them will go to the ac, dashboard, left side of the car and right side of the car. You'll have to play with the witch harness to connect to which of the 4 end to find which zone you want to be the 1 and 2 zone. So for the door lighting is where it gets tricky you have to find the door harness both the interior and exterior harness plug and disconnect it and for the harness that comes with the kit you’ll find the male pin which will be inserted in the interior door harness plug and than same process for the exterior door plug harness you want to run it through the rubber grommet. For rear door card you’ll need to repeat the process same as the front door. Remember that there are 4 different colour wires to make sure they match the one you slotted into the one you did on the interior harness plug. If you have two doors just connect the pin ends together for the rear door card because there is no OEM door harness plug and just put electrical tape or heat shrink to insulate each wire it important that you do or else you’ll short and blow a fuse do ask me how I found that out also the left and right harness there 2 connectors each side for the foot lighting. For the door card you have to remove the oem led and tube filament to make room to feed the led light strips into the oem light location it really tight be gentle or the the light strips will snap important NOTE if you buy the same kit as me you’ll feel that the light strips have one side that bumpy that’s the back of the led and it will shine through the plastic white tube and just an fyi each door card harness split into 3 end so you can do door light, door handle light, and door pocket light it can also have speaker light but you have to buy that kit as it sold separately. That’s all for the install than just put everything back to the way it was and code in bimmercode under headunit>expert mode>colour_switch_enable>10_eintraege and helligkeit ambient>active.

Also if you need any coding help you can ask TheNine90 . He helped me fix my headlight problem, short circuit reset and idrive 6 coding he does great work.

Also thank you to fortythirtyfive for helping me with some questions that I had.

This is the kit I bought

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003823252435.html


This video is to help you find the door plug harness

This video should help you with the pinning process even though it is for the f10 bmw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naBFcPbX_mI

[Donnymar]

I installed a similar kit in my car, didn’t like it has it was too bright and every time I changed the brightness it would reset upon getting into the car. In terms of how it switches on. Does it use the OEM ambient lighting control? Like when the headlights come on when it is dark enough the lighting also turns on?

The photo attached it how I installed it in my friends car, only difference is the door panel lights are actually wireless so less wires overall, but instead of a strip that replaced the oem fibre optic like yours. It is more of a very thin led strip.

[BillNguyen]

Originally Posted by Donnymar

I installed a similar kit in my car, didn’t like it has it was too bright and every time I changed the brightness it would reset upon getting into the car. In terms of how it switches on. Does it use the OEM ambient lighting control? Like when the headlights come on when it is dark enough the lighting also turns on?

The photo attached it how I installed it in my friends car, only difference is the door panel lights are actually wireless so less wires overall, but instead of a strip that replaced the oem fibre optic like yours. It is more of a very thin led strip.

Mine uses the oem idrive controller to switch colors it stays at the same brightness as you last left it just like oem. The ambient light is always on even with the headlights on or off

[9M71]

Thanks for taking the time to write this up.

How visible are the strips when they are off? Or they are tucked away.

[Donnymar]

Originally Posted by BillNguyen

Mine uses the oem idrive controller to switch colors it stays at the same brightness as you last left it just like oem. The ambient light is always on even with the headlights on or off

Ok thanks, might consider it again, just concerned how it stay on regardless of headlights on or off, and the one strip along the dash, I like the glowing effect not so much the exposed strips.

[BillNguyen]

Originally Posted by 9M71

Thanks for taking the time to write this up.

How visible are the strips when they are off? Or they are tucked away.

Invisible

[Ayaan Sambhi]

Hey guys - i bought this kit and am just about to start installing it. I've heard that there are dip switches on the control box but im not sure where they are. I've got no physical swutches on the box so im guessing it would be through the app? I'm not quite sure how to use the app though

[BillNguyen]

Originally Posted by Ayaan Sambhi

Hey guys - i bought this kit and am just about to start installing it. I've heard that there are dip switches on the control box but im not sure where they are. I've got no physical swutches on the box so im guessing it would be through the app? I'm not quite sure how to use the app though

It supposed to have switches on the back of the control box there is no switches settings in the apps

[daily80]

Are the colors accurate, if not, can you change the names?

[BillNguyen]

Originally Posted by daily80

Are the colors accurate, if not, can you change the names?

From what I heard on the f10 if you retrofitted the 9 color ambient light you can change the name to match but it really hard but it possible so I think it can be done with the F8x just need to find someone that’s able to do it also you add more color to the 9 color but then again you need to find a coder that can do it

[Cramer]

any pics of the install process?

[BillNguyen]

Originally Posted by Cramer

any pics of the install process?

No but it easier then it looks it like install Comfort access

[f10_aje]

Originally Posted by BillNguyen

The tools you’ll need.
Screwdriver/flathead
Plastic pry tool
Zip ties
Masking tape
Electrical tape or heat shrink tubing
ratchet set
A needle
Small flathead
A lighter
The ambient kit
Hot glue gun
A small Bungie cord

Here are something to keep in mind before starting this this project. When selecting which kit to buy on Aliexpress: don’t go for the cheapest one. I learned that the hard way the control box would smoke and melt internally. So don’t go for the cheapest option go for one that has decent sale number and decent price around 125 usd and up should be good and while installing if you want to check to see if it workings it ok to check but any exposed pin should be taped off individually than reconnect the battery or else it can short circuit and blow a fuse found that out the hard way and this is not a 1 day install if it your first time installing it so set a down time of about 3 days. As for where to run the wire just run it inside you centre console and under the glove box and steering wheel make sure the wire don’t cover the knee airbag for the rear door card run it under the carpet.

Before you disconnect anything, disconnect the battery and put something over the trunk latch so you don’t lock yourself out of your trunk. Then disassemble every trim that on the centre console except for the arm rest. Than disconnect the ac control and radio control and remove the head unit than both foot well trim below the knee air bags than in the kit you’ll find a really short Y wire that will connect to the idrive controller and the ambient light control box which will split into 4 end each end will have it own wire harness one of them will go to the ac, dashboard, left side of the car and right side of the car. You'll have to play with the witch harness to connect to which of the 4 end to find which zone you want to be the 1 and 2 zone. So for the door lighting is where it gets tricky you have to find the door harness both the interior and exterior harness plug and disconnect it and for the harness that comes with the kit you’ll find the male pin which will be inserted in the interior door harness plug and than same process for the exterior door plug harness you want to run it through the rubber grommet. For rear door card you’ll need to repeat the process same as the front door. Remember that there are 4 different colour wires to make sure they match the one you slotted into the one you did on the interior harness plug. If you have two doors just connect the pin ends together for the rear door card because there is no OEM door harness plug and just put electrical tape or heat shrink to insulate each wire it important that you do or else you’ll short and blow a fuse do ask me how I found that out also the left and right harness there 2 connectors each side for the foot lighting. For the door card you have to remove the oem led and tube filament to make room to feed the led light strips into the oem light location it really tight be gentle or the the light strips will snap important NOTE if you buy the same kit as me you’ll feel that the light strips have one side that bumpy that’s the back of the led and it will shine through the plastic white tube and just an fyi each door card harness split into 3 end so you can do door light, door handle light, and door pocket light it can also have speaker light but you have to buy that kit as it sold separately. That’s all for the install than just put everything back to the way it was and code in bimmercode under headunit>expert mode>colour_switch_enable>10_eintraege and helligkeit ambient>active.

Also if you need any coding help you can ask TheNine90 . He helped me fix my headlight problem, short circuit reset and idrive 6 coding he does great work.

Also thank you to fortythirtyfive for helping me with some questions that I had.

This is the kit I bought

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003823252435.html


This video is to help you find the door plug harness

This video should help you with the pinning process even though it is for the f10 bmw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naBFcPbX_mI

I'm installing a kit on my F10 M5 and having short circuit issues. Do you mind explaining what you did to fix it? It is currently blowing a fuse and after replacing the fuse, the lights will flicker on for a moment and then die again. I was cautious with the metal tips of the wires but they may have touched one another at some point - do you think the module is fried?

[BillNguyen]

Originally Posted by f10_aje

I'm installing a kit on my F10 M5 and having short circuit issues. Do you mind explaining what you did to fix it? It is currently blowing a fuse and after replacing the fuse, the lights will flicker on for a moment and then die again. I was cautious with the metal tips of the wires but they may have touched one another at some point - do you think the module is fried?

You’ll need to reach out to a coder to reset the short circuit that what I did

[WhiteFox]

Originally Posted by BillNguyen

From what I heard on the f10 if you retrofitted the 9 color ambient light you can change the name to match but it really hard but it possible so I think it can be done with the F8x just need to find someone that’s able to do it also you add more color to the 9 color but then again you need to find a coder that can do it

If anyone knows how to change the names let me know as looking for this as well.

[lovnblack]

Originally Posted by BillNguyen

You’ll need to reach out to a coder to reset the short circuit that what I did

Hi Bill, I really appreciate for all this effort, infos, pics and links. Looks great! I also want to make the same retrofit for my F33 I just sent a message to this seller about their kit.

Before your this post I found fortythirtyfive's retrofit post, he also bought and used the same kit from the same seller. So Im sure about this kit, but as I understood I mustn't order tweeter lights cause they will not fit? İ guess you did not ordered also?

Before i order, İ just wanted to be sure if this coding will activate that 9 colors on idrive menu and went to a coding guy in my area, showed him this coding lines and he tried to code my car, but nothing showed up on my screen. My car M sport so it comes with sport and classic lights options on idrive. (NBT evo ID6) but don't know why this codes did not worked for me. Do you think I must firstly find a way to activate colors by coding first and then order this kit? Or, my coding guy just couldnt do it properly? Have you ever had some difficulty to activate them on your car?

Btw, most probably I will also have the same short circuit issue with my car, if you can let me know which coding needed for fixing that issue in advance? 🙂

[lovnblack]

Originally Posted by WhiteFox

If anyone knows how to change the names let me know as looking for this as well.

Do you think this post will be useful for your changing color names issue?

https://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1205119

[BillNguyen]

Originally Posted by lovnblack

Hi Bill, I really appreciate for all this effort, infos, pics and links. Looks great! I also want to make the same retrofit for my F33 I just sent a message to this seller about their kit.

Before your this post I found fortythirtyfive's retrofit post, he also bought and used the same kit from the same seller. So Im sure about this kit, but as I understood I mustn't order tweeter lights cause they will not fit? İ guess you did not ordered also?

Before i order, İ just wanted to be sure if this coding will activate that 9 colors on idrive menu and went to a coding guy in my area, showed him this coding lines and he tried to code my car, but nothing showed up on my screen. My car M sport so it comes with sport and classic lights options on idrive. (NBT evo ID6) but don't know why this codes did not worked for me. Do you think I must firstly find a way to activate colors by coding first and then order this kit? Or, my coding guy just couldnt do it properly? Have you ever had some difficulty to activate them on your car?

Btw, most probably I will also have the same short circuit issue with my car, if you can let me know which coding needed for fixing that issue in advance? 🙂

Did your car come with idrive 6 from factory or did you do id4-id6 software update. Because if it just the software that you did you need to reach out to a special coder to code the codes in then flash the idrive.

[lovnblack]

Originally Posted by BillNguyen

Did your car come with idrive 6 from factory or did you do id4-id6 software update. Because if it just the software that you did you need to reach out to a special coder to code the codes in then flash the idrive.

Hmm…yeah car equipped with ID4 and then we just flashed it yo ID6 but after that I exchanged my kit with an ID6 because of touchscreen feature. Do you think it’s the reason I couldn’t get 9 colors option on my idrive ? Is it possible if you can let me know what should I ask him to do (to my coding guy in here) if…he is not capable, can you suggest me someone on here who can code it with remote coding service?

[BillNguyen]

Originally Posted by lovnblack

Hmm…yeah car equipped with ID4 and then we just flashed it yo ID6 but after that I exchanged my kit with an ID6 because of touchscreen feature. Do you think it’s the reason I couldn’t get 9 colors option on my idrive ? Is it possible if you can let me know what should I ask him to do (to my coding guy in here) if…he is not capable, can you suggest me someone on here who can code it with remote coding service?

Did he use the expert mode in bimmercode in the FEM

[lovnblack]

Originally Posted by BillNguyen

Did he use the expert mode in bimmercode in the FEM

I'm not sure what program he use for this coding. Wait a second, let me ask; only bimmercode can add this 9 color option to idrive? What about other coding programs? They will not work? Maybe we made mistake by trying with others? 🙂