DIY: Third Brake Light LED Flasher Mod

whatheheck · 05-25-2015, 11:15 PM

Here you go for sharing in case anyone is interested.

Brake light flasher is not only cool looking but it alerts driver behind you whenever you step on the brakes.

Very simple mod, takes 5 minutes to do.

1) Remove panel. Panels are held by plastic clips. See photo below.

2) There's only two wires. Brown wire is negative / brown (this is common for BMW wiring.) Positive is Yellow wire with black stripe.

3) Follow the instructions provided in the 3rd LED brake light flasher on how to hook up the wires.

4) I dont recommend using the provided crimp clips. Those are terrible. I've used them before and instead of crimping the wires most of the time it actually severs the wires and will not provide a good electrical connection. I recommend using a good butt splice.

Photos below.

Here is the 3rd LED brake light flasher that I used. There are so many different types of flash modes. I recommend not messing with it and just use the default mode (Flash 6 times, then LED light stays on steady.

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I was not able to take a video on my M4 but here it is when I used the same flasher on my 2003 Ferrari 360 Spider. You can fast forward to time 2:25 to see the effect. The light flashes 6 or 7 times then goes steady lit.

Hope that helps some of you.

Dan

whatheheck · 05-25-2015, 11:18 PM

Oops, here's the video when I installed the same 3rd LED brake light flasher on my 2003 Ferrari 360 Spider. You can fast forward to time 2:25 to see the effect.

It flashes quickly 6 or 7 times, then the LED light stays on steady.

Dan

whatheheck · 05-25-2015, 11:19 PM

In case you break some clips, they are cheap. Here are some from eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261466350462...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Dan

rubber_ducky · 05-26-2015, 05:17 AM

Great post dan. Some Hyundais have this behavior as standard. I tried to install this module on my Cayman and the dash kit up like an xmas tree. I'll give this a go on my f80. Thanks for the diy

whatheheck · 05-26-2015, 06:36 AM

You're welcome.

Very easy to do. Takes only 5 minutes from start to finish.

Let me know if I can help.

Dan

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

Great post dan. Some Hyundais have this behavior as standard. I tried to install this module on my Cayman and the dash kit up like an xmas tree. I'll give this a go on my f80. Thanks for the diy

DocWeatherington · 05-26-2015, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatheheck

You're welcome.

Very easy to do. Takes only 5 minutes from start to finish.

Let me know if I can help.

Dan

I like the smooth jazz.. who's the artist on the 2nd song? Earl Klugh

Wah · 05-26-2015, 08:39 AM

Pretty cool. I saw a car with this the other day.... was wondering how they did it.

Sassicaia · 05-26-2015, 10:00 AM

I thought this could be done with coding? IMO they should flash all the time, but rather only when you press hard on the brakes.

gtrsam · 05-26-2015, 02:23 PM

I got a ticket for this over 10 years ago when I did this to my civic. emergency vehicle light or something like that.

whatheheck · 05-26-2015, 09:50 PM

Hi Doc,

Sorry I dont know who the artist is. As you know YouTube will flag recording artist songs for copyright infringement so I just google search some jazz tunes from unknown artists and use it on my short videos.

Dan

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocWeatherington

I like the smooth jazz.. who's the artist on the 2nd song? Earl Klugh

whatheheck · 05-26-2015, 09:51 PM

My understanding is yes - you can code your 3rd brakelight to flash.

I opted for this simple mod as I dont know how to code yet.

Dan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sassicaia

I thought this could be done with coding? IMO they should flash all the time, but rather only when you press hard on the brakes.

whatheheck · 05-26-2015, 09:52 PM

It is not illegal here in Washington State for 3rd brakelights to flash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtrsam

I got a ticket for this over 10 years ago when I did this to my civic. emergency vehicle light or something like that.

whatheheck · 05-26-2015, 09:54 PM

Here it is when I did the same mod on my M6:

By the way, folks, dont forget, to each his own. Your car, do whatever makes you happy.

I am posting for sharing.

Dan

JNoSol · 05-27-2015, 10:53 PM

Wish this could be coded.

X2Board · 05-30-2015, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JNoSol

Wish this could be coded.

You can code flashing brake lights, but it would be all three, not just the 3rd brake light.

FEM_BODY
3060
ESS_AKTIVIERBARER_AUSGANG
bremslicht_blinkend
flachenvergroesserun

Change Emergency brake light from Inner Brake Lights to Flashing Lights.
FEM_BODY
3060
ESS_AKTIVIERUNG_GESCHW
User Value
g
werte=02 (5 km/h)
Threshold Speed for Activating Emergency brake light

JNoSol · 05-30-2015, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M Drei Fahrer

Quote:

Originally Posted by JNoSol

Wish this could be coded.

You can code flashing brake lights, but it would be all three, not just the 3rd brake light.

FEM_BODY
3060
ESS_AKTIVIERBARER_AUSGANG
bremslicht_blinkend
flachenvergroesserun

Change Emergency brake light from Inner Brake Lights to Flashing Lights.
FEM_BODY
3060
ESS_AKTIVIERUNG_GESCHW
User Value
g
werte=02 (5 km/h)
Threshold Speed for Activating Emergency brake light

Yep. I got this coded.

YAZBIMM4 · 04-14-2018, 01:10 AM

Sorry to bump an old post but I'm trying to do this.. I'm dumb when it comes to electric. Exactly what wires do I connect where, from the device to the car? Or is there a video somewhere explaining how to install on m3/m4? I couldn't find one.

FriedPiston · 04-14-2018, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YAZBIMM4

Sorry to bump an old post but I'm trying to do this.. I'm dumb when it comes to electric. Exactly what wires do I connect where, from the device to the car? Or is there a video somewhere explaining how to install on m3/m4? I couldn't find one.

There's no need to go this route. Just get Brake Force Display coded to get the same effect.

See: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1225913

I got coding done by Alex@AlpineMSS, but you can also use the Bimmercode app if you prefer to DIY.

6SPD GOD · 04-17-2018, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nars3000

There's no need to go this route. Just get Brake Force Display coded to get the same effect.

See: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1225913

I got coding done by Alex@AlpineMSS, but you can also use the Bimmercode app if you prefer to DIY.

Would this only work under heavy brake load or any tap to the brakes would do?

YAZBIMM4 · 04-19-2018, 09:47 AM

^wondering the same thing

LOW4LYF · 04-19-2018, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNMWMWMN

Would this only work under heavy brake load or any tap to the brakes would do?

Heavy brake "emergency brake" only

FriedPiston · 04-19-2018, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNMWMWMN

Would this only work under heavy brake load or any tap to the brakes would do?

Watch the video in http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1225913

There's an option to set minimum speed to 5km, which will essentially trigger BFD almost every time you step on the brakes.

05-25-2015, 11:15 PM	#1
whatheheck Private First Class 94 Rep 140 Posts Drives: Ferrari 360, 2015 SO M4 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Everett, WA iTrader: (0)	DIY: Third Brake Light LED Flasher Mod Here you go for sharing in case anyone is interested. Brake light flasher is not only cool looking but it alerts driver behind you whenever you step on the brakes. Very simple mod, takes 5 minutes to do. 1) Remove panel. Panels are held by plastic clips. See photo below. 2) There's only two wires. Brown wire is negative / brown (this is common for BMW wiring.) Positive is Yellow wire with black stripe. 3) Follow the instructions provided in the 3rd LED brake light flasher on how to hook up the wires. 4) I dont recommend using the provided crimp clips. Those are terrible. I've used them before and instead of crimping the wires most of the time it actually severs the wires and will not provide a good electrical connection. I recommend using a good butt splice. Photos below. Here is the 3rd LED brake light flasher that I used. There are so many different types of flash modes. I recommend not messing with it and just use the default mode (Flash 6 times, then LED light stays on steady. http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I was not able to take a video on my M4 but here it is when I used the same flasher on my 2003 Ferrari 360 Spider. You can fast forward to time 2:25 to see the effect. The light flashes 6 or 7 times then goes steady lit. Hope that helps some of you. Dan Attached Images
	Appreciate 4 Xtabi1701.50 bertocolon85.00 Tweet Quote

05-25-2015, 11:18 PM	#2
whatheheck Private First Class 94 Rep 140 Posts Drives: Ferrari 360, 2015 SO M4 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Everett, WA iTrader: (0)	Oops, here's the video when I installed the same 3rd LED brake light flasher on my 2003 Ferrari 360 Spider. You can fast forward to time 2:25 to see the effect. It flashes quickly 6 or 7 times, then the LED light stays on steady. Dan
	Appreciate 2 Xtabi1701.50 Quote

05-25-2015, 11:19 PM	#3
whatheheck Private First Class 94 Rep 140 Posts Drives: Ferrari 360, 2015 SO M4 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Everett, WA iTrader: (0)	In case you break some clips, they are cheap. Here are some from eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/261466350462...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Dan
	Appreciate 1 Xtabi1701.50 Quote

05-26-2015, 05:17 AM	#4
rubber_ducky Colonel 386 Rep 2,989 Posts Drives: roach coach Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: boston-ish iTrader: (21)	Great post dan. Some Hyundais have this behavior as standard. I tried to install this module on my Cayman and the dash kit up like an xmas tree. I'll give this a go on my f80. Thanks for the diy
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-26-2015, 08:39 AM	#7
Wah IG@i.am.wah 2779 Rep 3,815 Posts Drives: M2 CS Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: NJ iTrader: (4) Garage List 2022 Tesla Model Y ... [0.00] 1974 BMW 2002 [0.00] 2020 BMW M2 CS [0.00]	Pretty cool. I saw a car with this the other day.... was wondering how they did it.
	Appreciate 1 Quote

05-26-2015, 10:00 AM	#8
Sassicaia Brigadier General 4453 Rep 3,308 Posts Drives: SMB F80 6MT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Vancouver, Canada iTrader: (0)	I thought this could be done with coding? IMO they should flash all the time, but rather only when you press hard on the brakes.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-26-2015, 02:23 PM	#9
gtrsam Lieutenant 224 Rep 516 Posts Drives: 2015 m3 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: kennesaw iTrader: (2)	I got a ticket for this over 10 years ago when I did this to my civic. emergency vehicle light or something like that.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-26-2015, 09:54 PM	#13
whatheheck Private First Class 94 Rep 140 Posts Drives: Ferrari 360, 2015 SO M4 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Everett, WA iTrader: (0)	Here it is when I did the same mod on my M6: By the way, folks, dont forget, to each his own. Your car, do whatever makes you happy. I am posting for sharing. Dan
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-27-2015, 10:53 PM	#14
JNoSol Brigadier General 1383 Rep 3,834 Posts Drives: 750 MSPORT & E90M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (0)	Wish this could be coded. __________________ Daily: G12 750 MSPORT Weekend Car: E90 M3
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04-14-2018, 01:10 AM	#17
YAZBIMM4 Private First Class 25 Rep 116 Posts Drives: '16 YMB BMW M4 Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Sorry to bump an old post but I'm trying to do this.. I'm dumb when it comes to electric. Exactly what wires do I connect where, from the device to the car? Or is there a video somewhere explaining how to install on m3/m4? I couldn't find one.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-19-2018, 09:47 AM	#20
YAZBIMM4 Private First Class 25 Rep 116 Posts Drives: '16 YMB BMW M4 Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	^wondering the same thing
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