Lightnings on my E46

SimonM · #1 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 05:05 AM

I've been waiting a while for these to arrive, but they turned up today, so installed tonite. Here is an extremely dodgy picture halfway through. LHS are lightnings, RHS are the Gen IV DDE'
s I just removed. No flash, hence the camera didn't focus really well. Pretty much what Umnitza says. The Gen IV have higher definition, lightnings more glare...

The wiring set up is excellent on the E46 - when you turn ignition to position 1, they lightnings come on. When you turn off, they stay on for 10 secs or so, and then turn themselves off. Most impressed!

(unf, one of the rings is dead, so no final pics as yet...)

pOint_01 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 05:52 AM

Very Purdy! hope the last ring is okay!

henryw · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 06:06 AM

Simon! I know about how u felt about the fibre optic ones. I think these look so much better and such a cleaner install.

Lightboxes were so *cough* dodgy *cough* *cough*

dunitt_e36 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 11:53 AM

Very nice simon.....so with the e46, does that mean the lightnings are on all the time from the point you put the key in the ignition? i thought it would work the same way as light box ones....where they come on when u put ur parkers on?

Also, does anyone know how much power lightnings use? is it like the fibre optic ones, or more like the LED's? coz i know the fibre optics used heaps and LED's very little....

Cheers,
Daniel

SimonM · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 12:07 PM

I think that last ring is dead as a doornail.

The lightnings are on all the time the way I wired them, but there are wiring 3 options provided for in the instructions. E36 are easier as you just take the wiring for the park lights...

punchy501 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 07:16 PM

Hmmm a dead one huh?

Seems a bit of that going around with me as well lately! I got my DDEs last week and somehow one of them broke during the install - my fault probably. So I ordered and paid for TWO replacement rings just in case I had more problems or one ring breaks again in the future.
Lucky that I did because the next day after a good install one ring went dead!

I put the spare in and they've been working OK so far, but I nervously have to check each time I switch off my car that all four still work - a bit unsettling!

pOint_01 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 09:42 PM

Ouch!!! Gotta have the Ching Ching 4 Tha Bling Bling!!!

dunitt_e36 · #8 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 10:31 PM

damn....hope i get mine will all working rings!!

Simon, im sure Umnitza would send you over another ring right? if it came to you faulty...?

Hopefully e36 install will be easy...i know all about how to open headlights, put the rings in, etc. just not sure about the wiring....after i heard all the stuff about highbeam problems ive gotten worried, lol...

is it possible to wire them up the same way you did Simon? so they will be on all the time, and turn off after 10 secs or so? Also, does that mean your rear lights will come on too all the time since the Lightnings are on? and would this use alot of battery?

Cheers,
Daniel

SimonM · #9 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 11:38 PM

Yup, Matt is looking after me for the ring - they were QA tested before they were shipped. Might actually follow punchy501's tip and order a couple more in as spares - with 8 rings in the household...and they look so darned good, well worth the risk of the occasional dud ring. It'd stuill take a while to get to the cost of Gen V rings...

Daniel - wiring is fine - see my posts about not cutting all the wires, or feel free to PM mee - I did it for Sharon and Kaya_318is E36...

As to wiring them up to come on automatically, I don't know, but using the parklights is very good - at least you can choose when they are on or off. No the rear lights aren't on - its picking up some aux line - bit like an AMP picks up a power on off trigger /ends demonstration of total lack of knowledge of car electrics

Beema320 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-04-2004, 02:12 AM

Does anyone think that DDE's / Lightings or whatever they are calling the things now, have gone a little out of control?

Dont get me wrong, i love em, but i think the ones above (Simon's) are a little on the bright side, so much so that its hard to define the ring from the rest of the light now.

Meh i donno, maybe they look better in person.

P.S. Buy yourself a tripod for your camera.

dunitt_e36 · #11 (**permalink**) 02-04-2004, 02:18 AM

I think its just that they dont come up too well in pics.....when i saw BlueIS's and sxtacy's at that meet a while ago they looked bright, but still looked defined, as in, even in the dark, you could still see the rings well....did you see them? i thought they looked great

Cheers,
Daniel

Baron_Bohr · #12 (**permalink**) 02-04-2004, 02:33 AM

I agree daniel - they were pretty easy to see in real life... looked good too.

Beema320 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-04-2004, 02:42 AM

Yep i seen them, i have to agree they look better than in that pic, are they the same ones?

Still a little bright for me though.

wullza · #14 (**permalink**) 02-04-2004, 02:45 AM

they look fat

Vinnie320 · #15 (**permalink**) 02-04-2004, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dunitt_e36
I think its just that they dont come up too well in pics.....when i saw BlueIS's and sxtacy's at that meet a while ago they looked bright, but still looked defined, as in, even in the dark, you could still see the rings well....did you see them? i thought they looked great

Cheers,
Daniel

IMO, they were too bright. I mean they still looked OK, but too bright considering that angel eyes are only meant to be park lights (eg E39, E65 etc) Bright isn't always best.

That being said, DDE's suck