DIY Lemon Yellow DRL Boards for ICON Headlights

[kwikshift]

Eeek. IMO, the juice is not worth the squeeze

[HotRodM4]

Evolve just posted a video with their version being just plug and play.

https://youtu.be/2NUhdRvYsBM

[aa2033]

Originally Posted by HotRodM4

Evolve just posted a video with their version being just plug and play.

https://youtu.be/2NUhdRvYsBM

That video isn't a f80 and you don't have to take the bumper off or remove the headlights in the f80 with icons.

Those boards are also made by the same manufacturer. If you click the description of the video and click the f80 link it's the same boards I have posted. Same ones from AliExpress just marked up.

[aa2033]

Originally Posted by jmciver

So my peaked interest had me dig a bit deeper and I took a closer look at my lights to try to better identify the DRL module. Good news is that I am very confident now that I found them. Bad news is that it looks to be a noteworthy PITA to get to them. If you look close at the top of the halo rings you can see a small tube coming off each halo ring which is the LED light source for the rings.

For one thing, there appear to be at least two of them per headlight, one for each halo ring. One module is accessible from inside the headlight (the inner halo ring). The other looks to be accessible from outside the headlight and is located above the turn signal LED module. See attached pics below, first pic is the inner halo ring. The heat sinks are what I think are the DRL LED modules.

Removal of the headlights does not seem to be absolutely necessary, but would make removal/installation of the DRL LED modules much easier. I actually would not mind attempting such a DIY, but I have absolutely zero skills good enough when it comes to soldering new LEDs to a circuit board, let alone properly identifying the correct LEDs to use…

So I've been doing some research. I assume you have the Pre-LCI LED adaptive headlights?

I'm fairly confident for the people with Pre-LCI headlights with xenon low beams that have this DRL module, can use the same ones from the F32, F33, F36 boards.




The DRL boards listed on icedrivers store are the same style, and boards look the same, so in theory it should work. Someone can give it a whirl if you want. Again i THINK it would work for Pre-LCI Xenon HID headlights. The DRL module is on the bottom of the headlight so you'll need to move the fender liner out of the way to access it.

As far as those with Pre-LCI LED housings, I don't believe there's an option. You can reach out to the IceDriver store by messenger on aliexpress and check. They may be able to make them, if they dont offer them yet. They custom made some boards for me.

[aa2033]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Yeah, this mod peaked my interest, too. But I was disappointed after some more research that it does not seem possible on the pre-Icon adaptive LEDs that came on my '17 F80. Yet if you have the older F8x Xenon's, there is an upgrade option so go figure . I couldn't even find the DRL module on these lights, at least not based on the descriptions in the BMW parts catalog.

However, I did find what might be the DRL module for these headlight variants. But if it is, BMW does not apparently sell the part separately (at least I could not find it), which would partly explain why there is not an aftermarket solution for these headlight variants..

Well somehow i missed your post above your other post. So my post above this is correct.

[SYT_Shadow]

my bumper is currently off... and I have prelci LED adaptive headlights. I need those yellow DRLs!!

[aa2033]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

my bumper is currently off... and I have prelci LED adaptive headlights. I need those yellow DRLs!!

Can you take a picture of the bottom of your headlight so I can see if the DRL module is there? PM me a photo of it if you wouldn't mind. If it is and you can remove it, I can try to see if i can get a board that works with it. I have a feeling it's built into the light though. Could possibly be on the side too. Lets see if we can come up with something for pre-lci LED guys.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by aa2033

Can you take a picture of the bottom of your headlight so I can see if the DRL module is there? PM me a photo of it if you wouldn't mind. If it is and you can remove it, I can try to see if i can get a board that works with it. I have a feeling it's built into the light though. Could possibly be on the side too. Lets see if we can come up with something for pre-lci LED guys.

I had the lights in my hands a few days ago, I'll try to dismount them again for the pics.

I don't like the yellow DRLs when the headlights are on, but I mostly drive my cars with the lights on 'position' mode so the taillights and angel eyes are illuminated

[aa2033]

You can use bimmercode to enable the tail lights on all the time with your drl so your low beams don't need to be on for your tail lights to be on

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by aa2033

Well somehow i missed your post above your other post. So my post above this is correct.

Unfortunately, I don’t think so…. After looking at parts diagrams, actual pictures of headlights that are the same model/version as mine, and looking at the modules that come on my version of the headlights, I don’t believe the module you posted will work. I believe that module will fit the Xenon lights, not the pre-LCI/non-Icons LED headlights like what I have…..

This eBay link below shows some good picture angles of the pre-LCI non-Icon headlights:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/14489376272...mis&media=COPY

[aa2033]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Unfortunately, I don’t think so…. After looking at parts diagrams, actual pictures of headlights that are the same model/version as mine, and looking at the modules that come on my version of the headlights, I don’t believe the module you posted will work. I believe that module will fit the Xenon lights, not the pre-LCI/non-Icons LED headlights like what I have…..

This eBay link below shows some good picture angles of the pre-LCI non-Icon headlights:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/14489376272...mis&media=COPY

Yeah the modules I posted only work on the xenon version. Sucks the short period they did your style there isn't anything available. Could always upgrade to icons

[RKP]

Great write-up OP! I did mine a few weeks ago and it was quite easy to swap them. I made a mistake and realized that I ordered “thermal paste” instead of “thermal glue” so had to wait another 2-3 days before installing them 🙄

[david51]

[aa2033]

Looks sick guys! I'd love to see some others with the amber boards instead of just me :P

[HotRodM4]

Originally Posted by RKP

Great write-up OP! I did mine a few weeks ago and it was quite easy to swap them. I made a mistake and realized that I ordered “thermal paste” instead of “thermal glue” so had to wait another 2-3 days before installing them 🙄

Looks perfect on blue

[kerkiraios00]

Originally Posted by Rokoz

Seen these going around! Thanks for sharing - I think it looks good on dark color cars. I'm not so sure it'd look good on white haha

Yup my thought exactly my car in MW and I don’t think it looks as good as a darker colored car.

[kerkiraios00]

Originally Posted by Nyc911

Just completed this as well

I ended up buying an extra set of DRLs in case I need to wanted to go back to stock.

Pretty straight forward following this guide was very helpful!!

I found a razor blade some light taping worked the best to remove the boards.

Adding some pics for the AW crowd

Where did you get the drl from? How much?

[NSX2M4]

[QUOTE=aa2033;29519869]Wasn't feeling the yellow on sakhir orange. Changed to Amber boards. Looks pretty good.

Where did you get the amber ones? I was thinking of trying this with my MGM.
Any other close up shots?

[F80Mcfly]

Originally Posted by aa2033

Can you take a picture of the bottom of your headlight so I can see if the DRL module is there? PM me a photo of it if you wouldn't mind. If it is and you can remove it, I can try to see if i can get a board that works with it. I have a feeling it's built into the light though. Could possibly be on the side too. Lets see if we can come up with something for pre-lci LED guys.

Originally Posted by aa2033

Well somehow i missed your post above your other post. So my post above this is correct.

Originally Posted by jmciver

Unfortunately, I don’t think so…. After looking at parts diagrams, actual pictures of headlights that are the same model/version as mine, and looking at the modules that come on my version of the headlights, I don’t believe the module you posted will work. I believe that module will fit the Xenon lights, not the pre-LCI/non-Icons LED headlights like what I have…..

This eBay link below shows some good picture angles of the pre-LCI non-Icon headlights:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144893762722?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=60_Py3TrRAq&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=ZKQkb7Tf T2-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Originally Posted by aa2033

Yeah the modules I posted only work on the xenon version. Sucks the short period they did your style there isn't anything available. Could always upgrade to icons

I came across the yellow drl for the pre-Lci headlight upgrade. My question do I need to remove the headlights completely to do the upgrade?



https://bayoptiks.com/products/f8x-f...40107279450198

[jmciver]

That link on the Bayoptiks site is a bit confusing to me based on how they described the applicability (their pics look like the Xenon headlights, but difficult to verify). I would contact them directly to be sure they will work on the pre-Icon LED headlights (which are also adaptive BTW, hence the somewhat confusing terminology) and how to install the upgrade. If they provided some install instructions, that would clear things up easily since each variant of these lights are very different when it comes to how the DRL module is integrated.

That said, based on what I could gather when looking at my headlights, it looks like it would be really challenging to do this mod with the headlights installed in the car. The halo LED modules, and it looks like there may be two of them per headlight, appear to be mounted inside the headlight assembly. One looks fairly easy to get to as it is right under the main access plate, on the top center of the headlight. The other looks harder to get to as it is towards the outer part of the headlight, under the fender. See the pics I posted a few posts up…

[NSX2M4]

Originally Posted by F80Mcfly

I came across the yellow drl for the pre-Lci headlight upgrade. My question do I need to remove the headlights completely to do the upgrade?



https://bayoptiks.com/products/f8x-f...40107279450198

They're installed exactly the same as the adaptive. The module heat sink is identical to the adaptive. Only difference is the board inside.

[joft6]

Great write up, thanks!