[boblob]

I ordered the BMW LED Door Light Projectors (Puddle Lights) (BMW Part #63312463924) for my iX. I finally received delivery of my iX yesterday and attempted to install the puddle lights in the doors.

I plugged them into the driver and front passenger doors, but there was no light coming out of them. I then re-installed the factory lights, but when those lights were reinstalled, no light is coming out of them.

For further information on this issue, the rear door lights (factory lights) are still working fine. Both front door lights were working fine with the factory lights before I swapped in the puddle lights.

Any thoughts on what I am doing wrong here? It seems like this should be a really easy swap.

Thanks for any thoughts on this.

[Sheva_BMW]

Originally Posted by boblob

I ordered the BMW LED Door Light Projectors (Puddle Lights) (BMW Part #63312463924) for my iX. I finally received delivery of my iX yesterday and attempted to install the puddle lights in the doors.

I plugged them into the driver and front passenger doors, but there was no light coming out of them. I then re-installed the factory lights, but when those lights were reinstalled, no light is coming out of them.

For further information on this issue, the rear door lights (factory lights) are still working fine. Both front door lights were working fine with the factory lights before I swapped in the puddle lights.

Any thoughts on what I am doing wrong here? It seems like this should be a really easy swap.

Thanks for any thoughts on this.

Not sure if it is helpful, but I asked about puddle light inserts in another topic here and I was told that puddle lights are not listed as compatible with iX as of now .
https://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1938191&page=2

[boblob]

Originally Posted by Sheva_BMW

Not sure if it is helpful, but I asked about puddle light inserts in another topic here and I was told that puddle lights are not listed as compatible with iX as of now .
https://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/s...1938191&page=2

Odd. You'd think that BMW or my dealership would have picked that up when I ordered. Also, not sure why they wouldn't be compatible - it looks like just 2 wires, which is probably just power.

[hugo_nz]

Did you wait for the car to go to sleep before trying the lights again?

[sor]

I'm not really familiar with how these work. Did you swap the actual projector unit, or just the little light lens that has the design?

Is it just a two wire power plug to these lights or something more sophisticated?

[boblob]

Originally Posted by hugo_nz

Did you wait for the car to go to sleep before trying the lights again?

Yes. I put the factory lights back in the car. It has been about 24 hours and the car has slept several times, but the factory lights still aren't working.

[boblob]

Originally Posted by sor

I'm not really familiar with how these work. Did you swap the actual projector unit, or just the little light lens that has the design?

Is it just a two wire power plug to these lights or something more sophisticated?

The factory light modules are connected with a plug that is two wires. The projector units are full modules with the light lens built in and an LED light that plugs in using the same plug.

[sor]

Originally Posted by boblob

The factory light modules are connected with a plug that is two wires. The projector units are full modules with the light lens built in and an LED light that plugs in using the same plug.

I see, so likely just power wires, not some sort of logic connection. I wonder if it's worth testing them with a meter to see if you're getting DC power, or if the plug just isn't fully seated into the module.

If it's not getting power, then either the car somehow detected the loss of lamp and shut down the circuit, or the new module drew too much power and blew something.

If you do have power then it's probably just not plugged properly (though I sort of doubt that). Maybe the projector is blocked or something?

Looked like the lens itself was swappable on the new module so I wasn't sure if you could just swap the lens on to the existing light.

[freshxdough]

Interesting

[hugo_nz]

The puddle lights are controlled by the door control module which in turn reports back to the BCM. If the projector lights use more power than the original lights then the door module may have shut off supply due to over voltage detection. Just a theory though.

[boblob]

Well, after about 36 hours or so, the original factory lights are now working again. I put the original lights back in immediately after the puddle lights didn't work and I have not messed with them since. This is odd, but I'm glad they are working again.

Do we have confirmation for sure that the BMW puddle lights do not work with this car? I wonder if I should install the puddle lights and wait 36 hours to see if they come on.

[evanevery]

I have EXACTLY the same issue!

The dealer provided these puddle projectors as a substitute for a factory option (which wasn't available at the time my iXM60 was built).

The "projectors" flash twice when they are installed and then NOTHING. Putting the original "lamps" back in place did not work immediately either. Close doors, lock car, nothing. I had to turn the car off for several hours (overnight) before the original lamps would start working again. (Whew!) Same behavior on both sides of the vehicle.

Once the lamps started working again (and I was fairly sure no permanent damage was done), I tried installing the projectors all over again. SAME EXACT BEHAVIOR!!! (Projectors flash twice, then completely out, reinstalling the lamps are still out, wait several hours and original lamps start working again).

Dealer swears these SHOULD work, but I have not heard anything back from them after I suggested they try this on one of their own vehicles...

These projectors quite simply DO NOT WORK with the iX50/iXM60!!!

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by evanevery

I have EXACTLY the same issue!

The dealer provided these puddle projectors as a substitute for a factory option (which wasn't available at the time my iXM60 was built).

The "projectors" flash twice when they are installed and then NOTHING. Putting the original "lamps" back in place did not work immediately either. Close doors, lock car, nothing. I had to turn the car off for several hours (overnight) before the original lamps would start working again. (Whew!) Same behavior on both sides of the vehicle.

Once the lamps started working again (and I was fairly sure no permanent damage was done), I tried installing the projectors all over again. SAME EXACT BEHAVIOR!!! (Projectors flash twice, then completely out, reinstalling the lamps are still out, wait several hours and original lamps start working again).

Dealer swears these SHOULD work, but I have not heard anything back from them after I suggested they try this on one of their own vehicles...

These projectors quite simply DO NOT WORK with the iX50/iXM60!!!

The listing on the product’s website states that they won’t work if you have the ambient lighting package listed below. While I did not find that particular option listed on the build sheet for my iX M60, I would assume it’s part of another option package.

https://www.shopbmwusa.com/product/1...GHT-PROJECTORS

“Note: Note: Not compatible with Option 4U4 - Ambient Lighting”

[hugo_nz]

Ambient lighting is addressed through the bus by the BCP. When lights are changed the addressing has to be regenerated by the BCP using BMW ISTA. In other words…a straight swap may no longer be possible...

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by hugo_nz

Ambient lighting is addressed through the bus by the BCP. When lights are changed the addressing has to be regenerated by the BCP using BMW ISTA. In other words…it’s not a straight swap any longer.

The real question is, does ambient lighting still work on the doors when these have been programmed appropriately? I’m glad someone responded to this thread because I was about to order these.

[hugo_nz]

Originally Posted by VirtualGuitars

The real question is, does ambient lighting still work on the doors when these have been programmed appropriately? I’m glad someone responded to this thread because I was about to order these.

I am not sure. The way I tested this was with an accessory designed for the X5/X7. In those cars the bus addressing just works, and you can plug the LED module into any existing RGB light connector and voila... on IX, however...nothing. The module doesn't even light up. No matter what I tried it didn't work. Then, when digging around ISTA I found a service function for readdressing the ambient lighting modules. Ran than, and nothing. It made no change at all.

Will this work with official accessories? Not sure. For the moment though aftermarket accessories seem to be out of luck.

Disclaimer: this is based on my admittedly isolated testing. YMMV

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by hugo_nz

I am not sure. The way I tested this was with an accessory designed for the X5/X7. In those cars the bus addressing just works, and you can plug the LED module into any existing RGB light connector and voila... on IX, however...nothing. The module doesn't even light up. No matter what I tried it didn't work. Then, when digging around ISTA I found a service function for readdressing the ambient lighting modules. Ran than, and nothing. It made no change at all.

Will this work with official accessories? Not sure. For the moment though aftermarket accessories seem to be out of luck.

Disclaimer: this is based on my admittedly isolated testing. YMMV

But the product I listed above is from BMW…

[hugo_nz]

Originally Posted by VirtualGuitars

But the product I listed above is from BMW…

OK. Taking that into account:

1. Product says not compatible with ambient lighting. There is no IX variant that excludes ambient lighting so that makes these incompatible by default.

2. Parts database does not list projectors as being available for IX. These usually go under Group 03-15 in the database. They are there for X5, X6, etc. but not for IX. (see attached)

From a technical perspective the door entry lights in other models (like X5) are connected directly to the BDC which activates the door entry light with a pulse-width modulated signal. In IX, the light is connected to the door control module, and is also activated by PWM. The difference here could be the signal being sent by the respective control modules which could also contribute to why the module wont light up.

[VirtualGuitars]

It only says it’s not compatible with the specific “Option 4U4 - Ambient Lighting.” I don’t see that code on my build sheet, although it may be part of another option package; however, it shows that it is compatible with the iX M60 as shown here:

[Paladin1]

My experience with a succession of X5s is that the "This fits your BMW" message from BMW is not 100% accurate. A good example is previous puddle lights listed as "compatible" wherein the opening in the door had to be trimmed for them to fit. I suppose "compatible" is open to interpretation. More accurately stated for this example "This fits your BMW if you cut a larger hole in the door, and be advised your original light will no longer fit."

[hugo_nz]

I don't think people understand just how different the IX is compared to the rest of the BMW lineup from a module/network/hardware/software perspective so I'm going to stop trying to explain it. My final comment on this is the screenshot below clearly stating that LEDs need to be readdressed by the diagnostics system.

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by hugo_nz

I don't think people understand just how different the IX is compared to the rest of the BMW lineup from a module/network/hardware/software perspective so I'm going to stop trying to explain it. My final comment on this is the screenshot below clearly stating that LEDs need to be readdressed by the diagnostics system.

Didn’t mean to question you, so sorry if I came across that way. I certainly trust you over what the Shop BMW USA website says! Kind of bummed out because I had these in my M550 and I think they look awesome. I’m really glad I did not order and attempt to install them.