[Jonny2400]

Hi Chaps,

I’ve been considering getting my tail swapped to the LCI versions.

A highly respectable BMW coder local to me can supply and fit for about £1000.

My authorised BMW dealership has quoted me £1260 to supply and fit.

The difference in cost is less than I anticipated, I pay £66 a month for the top cover BMW insured extended warranty, therefore I was very much going to just have my dealership carry out the work, safe in the knowledge it won’t cause me any warranty issues, down the road. I have had confirmation from the warranty team provided the work is done by authorised BMW service centre using Genuine parts they are covered.

But in the last few days, the coder has been posting pics on his FB of G30s that have come to him, to have LCI tail lights correctly aligned after some other installer, had fitted them [he doesn’t state who done the work previously] but the before pics are terrible looking.

However it’s got me thinking, are they hard to align correctly on install and would you expect a BMW dealership to struggle to fit them correctly or is it likely this has been the work of a some cowboy?

[RonronEG]

Dealership will not struggle and really for that specific part of the light to have that gap should be embarrassing to the installer.

Aligning the lights aren't hard at all you just have to pay attention. If there's anywhere where there could be an issue it's where the outer light from the rear quarter meets the inner on the trunk lid. You have to get the gap there right and the depth so there is a smooth transition between the two separate pieces.

[Joe-BMW33]

They are not hard to align and are a pretty easy install, including repining the inner connector. I have not seen anyone complain about alignment.

For the difference in your quotes, I would let the dealer source and install them and code them. They will also warranty them if they provide them and do the work. They will run a few wires from the BDC. They can also change your vehicle order so future updates will not overwrite the coding.

Given you will have to hire a coder which is about $150 USD, it is almost a wash assuming the dealer will code them. Hell, if you aren't happy with the alignment, bring it back, but honestly, there is nothing to align, IF, the gutters and rain guards are put on properly. I am guessing the alignment issues you posted were due to aftermarket rain and gutter trim.

[Jonny2400]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

They are not hard to align and are a pretty easy install, including repining the inner connector. I have not seen anyone complain about alignment.

For the difference in your quotes, I would let the dealer source and install them and code them. They will also warranty them if they provide them and do the work. They will run a few wires from the BDC. They can also change your vehicle order so future updates will not overwrite the coding.

Given you will have to hire a coder which is about $150 USD, it is almost a wash assuming the dealer will code them. Hell, if you aren't happy with the alignment, bring it back, but honestly, there is nothing to align, IF, the gutters and rain guards are put on properly. I am guessing the alignment issues you posted were due to aftermarket rain and gutter trim.

Thanks, yeah am just going with dealership. Sounds like the pics are from some cowboy installer.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Jonny2400

Thanks, yeah am just going with dealership. Sounds like the pics are from some cowboy installer.

Good move. You are going to love the look. That's a great price for a dealer.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Good move. You are going to love the look. That's a great price for a dealer.

Hey Joe, this guy is from Belfast.
I thought I remembered reading somewhere that we (USA/Canada) had to re-pin and add the extra wire but the Euro G30's were already setup to accept the LCI Tails. Probably wrong, but figured you would know.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

Hey Joe, this guy is from Belfast.
I thought I remembered reading somewhere that we (USA/Canada) had to re-pin and add the extra wire but the Euro G30's were already setup to accept the LCI Tails. Probably wrong, but figured you would know.

Hey Mark,

It doesn't have much to do with the market of the car. Even Euro pre LCI cars need to be repinned and a 5th wire needs to be run with Euro LCI's. I think the only difference in the wiring is the existence of a rear fog wire.

The main reason for the wire that needs to be run whether it be from the BDC or jumping is that on the LCI lights, the inner lights on the trunk lid blink and brake where they don't on pre LCI lights no matter what the country. Reassigning the pins is necessary on all lights, US or Euro in any market.

I think you may be thinking that us US guys who went with Euro lights needed to do the repinning because they are Euro. Even the US LCI lights need the same repinning. The only difference between install is the Euro's need the extra wire. Both require repinning and coding. I know way too much about this shit. For some reason I dug in way too much, but I do like a wiring challenge.

[paquet]

that's a lot of detail - i'm glad you know all this.

i haven't yet tried to check again if my non-LCI have the diodes...

but i'm curious now if US dealers will install the LCI lights as well... (taking care of wiring, coding, updating system config, etc)

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by packet

that's a lot of detail - i'm glad you know all this.

i haven't yet tried to check again if my non-LCI have the diodes...

but i'm curious now if US dealers will install the LCI lights as well... (taking care of wiring, coding, updating system config, etc)

Seems like one of those things that depends on the dealer.

[The Zimmer]

Hi Jonny,

I only trust one person with my car who is a well known and probably the best coder in the uk.

When a dealer installed the MPPSK on my G31 they killed my head unit and wanted £1800 to fix it.

The coder took two minutes and my car was back up and running and the MPPSK was installed also.

He recently fitted my LCI lights and they are perfect

I also only paid £680 for my lights directly from a contact in parts at a dealership

Thanks
Paul

[Jonny2400]

Originally Posted by The Zimmer

Hi Jonny,

I only trust one person with my car who is a well known and probably the best coder in the uk.

When a dealer installed the MPPSK on my G31 they killed my head unit and wanted £1800 to fix it.

The coder took two minutes and my car was back up and running and the MPPSK was installed also.

He recently fitted my LCI lights and they are perfect

I also only paid £680 for my lights directly from a contact in parts at a dealership

Thanks
Paul

I understand Paul and glad your happy, I’ve had a conversation with BMW insured warranty as I have the extended warranty for my G30.

They have advised that the work won’t be covered and any faults to my car that can be linked to the new taillights also won’t be covered, however if the taillights are installed or coded by another other than the dealership then the entire warranty is void, seeing I just paid £700 for another years cover, it’s better value to just have my dealership install.