How to retrofit Ambient Light on BMW F30/31

In this video I will show you how to retrofit Ambient Light for the BMW F30/20
Ambient Light is part of the Light Package which is standard in the US
but optional in the EU.
This retrofit requires coding.
If you own fabric M Sport or Sport Line BMW, you only need to code S563
Ambient Light: www.aliexpress...
________________________________________________________________________
NOTE:
If you don't know how to code, then check this step-by-step guide:
www.mediafire.c...
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[@Acelele320]

2:20 rendering glitched and the text dissapired: "I have connected doors to the window switch to check the illumimation, but brightness was too high" As you can see on 2:30. Rest of the video is fine.

[@robyedumor8848]

Hi, ive got the zb9 mid level fem module, i dont have a blue connecter at the second slot, at mine its black. Does this make a dofference?

[@marinnikolic6763]

Great write up. I had other scheme in my mind but will use yours as it conects to original FEM scheme. Thank you a lot :)

[@lory7984]

Ciao, ottimo lavoro,dove hai acquistato i pin ed i connettori?

[@SimonsaysMLG]

What about cars that have light package? I installed this kit on my f30 few days ago by connecting the driver's door light red and black wires to the car (I used all wires they provided) and the light is too bright and I can't control the brightness in the settings, do I also need to put resistors and how?

[@Acelele320]

@Simon If your BMW has OEM Light Package, then this kit is Plug and Play. You need to connect 3 Pin connector from the ambient light to the car. If you connect only 2 Pin, then you can't control it from the iDrive. So, disconnect 2 Pin connector, and connect 3 Pin ONLY, and everything should work. For the brightness, yes, to reduce it, you need to add resistors. To do so, you need to cut wires on the harness either on the ambient light or the car harness, in my video I have shown how to install resistors on the car harness. You can buy resistors from ebay, I have bought 100 pcs of 820 Ohm and I have used 3 resistors per wire, 6 resistors per door, 24 resistors for all 4 doors.

[@SimonsaysMLG]

@@Acelele320 The wires they provided have both 3 pin and 2 pin connectors, I connected both on each door (passenger doors connect 3 pin to the original ambient light socket and 2 pin on the window controller and the driver's door 3 pin on the original ambient light socket and last wire didn't have a connector just raw 2 red and black wires and had to connect them to the car under the seat). It's possible that I connected those 2 wires on the driver's door wrong but as you say they are 2pin they should only give power not control. Now the light doesn't even go off when the car is locked until for few minutes. As for resistors, since I have 2 wires with 3pin and 2pin, on which to put it?

[@Acelele320]

@@SimonsaysMLG You need to connect ONLY 3 Pin connectors, same like I have shown in the video, disconnect those 2 Pins, and you are good to go. That's why it's PnP for cars with Light Package, you only connect 3 Pin to the car and that's it. Also, you need to switch red and blue wires on the new ambient light. Watch on 4:00 and you will see.

[@SimonsaysMLG]

@@Acelele320 On the installation guide from the link you provided on aliexpress you say to ignore step 16 and step 18 and just to connect 3pin to the original 3pin connector? Then why do they even provide 2pin connectors and show it in guide that I followed... As for switching the blue and red, those is only if the color is wrong as it says on the installation guide or there is some other special reason to switch them? So for resistors, need to put it on 3pin wire on positive wire, 2 wire per door(red and blue). I hope I understand it now and won't need a 3rd try to assemble all doors.

[@Acelele320]

@@SimonsaysMLG AliExpress provided those cables for cars without light package, that's why I didn't used them. Since your car already has Light Package, for you it's plug and play. (Plug only 3 Pin connector) I have switched wires cos in the Light Package car harness is Pin 1 - ground, Pin 2 - red, Pin 3 - blue. But the ambiend light from aliexpress has Pin 2 - blue and Pin 3 - Red, that's why you need to replace them. For the resistors, connect them on positive wires (red and blue) anyware you want, i suggest you to connect them on the car harness, or create new harness.

[@OscarAMartin]

Hi! I dont have any ambien light on my F30, no footlights or cupholder lights. If I want to add this light where I should connect the wires?

[@fabiusmaximuscunctator7390]

Che risultato bello!

[@skelton1375]

Perfect Video - However after I coded S563 and 7AC, the interior dome light stopped working. Even pressing the button does nothing and I don't want to upgrade them as it's too much effort . Is there any workaround?

[@Sidabra24]

Hey, nice work, buddy. Can you help me out a bit? My car has no light function and has no FEM blue connector. Can I still wire the lights into the FEM or do I need to change the FEM module? If so, which version should I get? I cannot find any info on any differences on these FEM modules. I have managed to code everything alright, got control of the Classic/Sport and brightness on the iDrive, but no power from pins 50/51 on the FEM module.

[@josuealmagro5382]

Realizado espectáculo !!😎

[@MrAditza95]

Hello, love the video nice job, but i have a question if you can please answer. So i have a f20 lci 2015 with lights package not extended lights package that means i cannot switch colours, that means i have only orange ambient light, but i dont have orange ambient in the footwells.. i only have footwell when i open the doors but not in the dark with the rest of the ambient so i want to retrofit that, what do i need to do? So I’m not interested in switching classic to sport, i only want to have orange in my footwells as i have in the rest of the car dor handels centre console and roof little lights. Thanks 🙏

[@heartbreakradio1440]

Forget the lights, those seats look amazing. Did you get them reupholstered?

[@Acelele320]

No, they are from factory. If you spec an M Sport package on F30 here in Europe, you will get Alcantara interior as a standard and leather is a optional. With the G20 and G30 leather is standard and Alcantara is optional.

[@robyedumor8848]

Hi, i have vought the orignal door trim (came with leather sport seats) and i want to connect the ambiabt lighting and puddle lights. Will it work if i use the same pins etc from your vid?

[@angeloarieta970]

è possibile aggiungere le 'Sharpened Lines' ? o queste ultime montano soltanto sugli ambient light originali?

[@SiavoshTaba]

Very nice, will be my spring project as my car doesn't have light package :) I have 1 question, I have already installed aftermarket footwell 12V RGB LED SMD5050 strips under all seats, is it possible to wire it to the FEM together with the ambient lighting when doing this retrofit?

[@Supremepikachu]

I got all oem parts but not connected to the FEM. As i don't understand how to do it, i wanna connect my rgb footwells that i still have in the box as well but i doubt that would work, anyway this dude won't answer you trust me.

[@denisnovakov5460]

Where have you connected it then

[@davidescaringi1195]

Hello, I want to mount simple blue LEDs inside the door handle and inside the door object holder pocket. can I get power from the window button LED of each door? What colors should I get from under the window button pin? Greetings

[@casualracecardriver]

Did you find out ?

[@alexandrupopa9443]

Hi, excelent job !!!! I have the light package on my f30, but i don t have the door ones ... i have to do the same? I have the radio lughts, on the legs, at s.o.s buttom, and the pillars

[@Acelele320]

Hi, yes you would have to do the job as I did.

[@thisispointless29]

Where do you source your wire from? Having trouble finding somewhere that stocks all the correct colours to make it as factory correct as possible

[@Acelele320]

I have took original harness from a wrecked BMW that had Ambient Light from factory.

[@KlepicPredrag]

Hello! I really Hope you could help me a bit since I am deseperate about this one. I have F30 and it have light package, I had only orange strips which I replaced with 2 color ones, I also installed 2 colours dashboard ambient light. However, I now face one issue: When I change color in iDrive system from orange to blue, dashboard works as expected and it changes the color normally, however doors does not work on that way. While on Classic(orange mode) they work fine. As soon as I change them to sport, they all shut down and dont shine at all(only doors, dashboard changes to blue and it works). Do you maybe know what could be the issue? Maybe some coding? I have tried already a lot of things and I am really desperate. Thanks in advance!!

[@NR-qq8qf]

Because you dont have a wire that leads from FEM to the doors for the second light color. In the door panel itself, you have that wire but from the door connector to the FEM it is missing and you have to add it yourself.

[@alex11udr]

Great work , I only have once question. How do you know the pin numbers on those connectors?

[@Acelele320]

Hello, thank you. I know correct pinout because I have access to BMW wiring diagram, as you can see on 6:58

[@randypetrache8559]

After instaled this, you can add strips? To be like the oem? A line with light? Many thanks

[@Acelele320]

Yes, because this wiring harness is OEM-like, so you can add OEM ambient light if you can find it.

[@jttuning5118]

Will this work of f21 bmw?

[@MrJquondude]

Where did you get the wiring diagram for this I m assuming its not the same for an F82, I could be, but where did you get it, I m trying to just do a center console add in since my year didnt come with it and if i had the FEM diagram for my f82 i could build a wire harness and do this exactly. I may even be easier for me because I already have the doors

[@Acelele320]

Hello, here, I found you wiring harness for F82 for interior lights: www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f82-m4-cou/wiring-functional-info/body/lighting2/interior-lighting/interior-lighting/1VnXxcyvkD

[@MrJquondude]

@@Acelele320 :D.... :D you are the best

[@romain9034]

Hi Ace, I just installed the same LEDs as you except that my central AC console remains on. Did you have that too? And the leds of the bars light up at the same time. Don't you know what that could be?

[@Acelele320]

Hello. Did you connected Ambient Light on the same pins as the AC cover?

[@romain9034]

Ace320 I went back to the original electrical harness there was a small light under the AC. In SPORT color blue mixes with orange when I turn off my lights the AC remains on orange as well as the foot lights which turn red instead of the original yellow the white tab which blocks the blue connector of the fem s is broken you think that it could be that?

[@andrey41q]

Hello, I'm doing a similar retrofit, but with rgb leda for several colors. My car didn't hace the conections for rgb, so I has to wire everything. The only thing pending ud that I don't know how to connect the light module that comes with the lights. It has as outputs, power, gnd, canHi and canLo. Also, can I wire the rgb into the FEM so I don't have to use the light module that I just mention es before? I would really appreciate your help. Thanks.

[@Acelele320]

Hello. - You can't wire RGB to FEM and change colors in the iDrive menu. - Did the seller provided a installation scheme with the kit? I don't have experience with such kits so I can't tell you where to connect it.

[@andrey41q]

@@Acelele320 Thanks for the asnwer. And yes, they provide me a scheme to set the lights in order to control the colors with the radio buttoms. But I still have some doubts. Could you ease write me in my email? so I can show you, this is my email: [e-mail].

[@rubenalsaker2327]

Can you still adjust brightness with the knob beside the steering wheel (instrument cluster light)

[@Acelele320]

Yes

[@edimarinescu1503]

Hi, if I connect the ambient lights on the doors to the ambient lights on the legs, will it work?

[@Acelele320]

Hi. In theory it should work but i don't know about the brightness, will it be reduced or not.

[@baditabogdan4867]

Hi, Congrats for the video. If i don't have the light package and i order trims from Aliexpress can i wire them directly to the button and add resistors to dimm the light? It's seems to be a lot of work to make it OEM, so i will be happy if i just can connect them to the window button. It will work? Thanks?

[@Acelele320]

Hi. Yes, you can do it that way, but you can't control lights from iDrive menu. If you want to change colour, you have to do it manually for each panel.

[@baditabogdan4867]

@@Acelele320 the light can be adjusted from the little wheel that controls all dashboards lights? I mean the one next to lights control. Thank you!

[@Acelele320]

@@baditabogdan4867 Yes It can, but you can put resistors as well.

[@baditabogdan4867]

@@Acelele320 www.aliexpress.com/item/33014495737.html?spm=2114.best.6.8.6b2c0mGG0mGGKS&scm=1007.17258.155808.0&pvid=8cf077d0-183b-49d1-a203-6084ab808641 This trims are the same? It will work? thank you for your time and answers

[@lennerddecoene4952]

Hi! If you connect it directly to the window switch , what are the colours of the wire’s that you need from the window switch ?

[@edimarinescu1503]

After installing the ambient lights,Do they need to be coded?

[@Acelele320]

Yes, you need to code it, Light Package option (if you already don't have it)

[@michelmiddag603]

Hi, thanks for the vid. It helped me to retrofit light package. I only have one problem. After coding 7ac and 563 the leds and Lci radio panel works well, but the leds in the ceiling (near interior light switch) are now off. I also can’t choose the ambient lightning in the idrive. I only see brightness. Thanks in advance for your answer

[@Acelele320]

Hi. Do you have LED Dome Light or basic dome light (with a single button)

[@michelmiddag603]

Ace320 hi, as far as I know it’s led. It has 3 buttons. One for all and one for the driver and also one for the passenger.

[@Acelele320]

@@michelmiddag603 Did it came like that from factory or you installed it?

[@michelmiddag603]

Ace320 it came out of the factory this way. I didn’t install anything.

[@michelmiddag603]

Ace320 hi just did some investigation. When I delete optioncode 7AC the amber light in the dome is on again. The ambient lighting behind the radio panel is off (connected to pin 50 and 51 on FEM). Deleting code 563 doesn’t do anything. I also don’t have the ambient light options in the idrive either i have the 563 option on or off

[@christos1984]

my car has no light pack. I have to do exactly what you do in your video to work. Also i want to install ac radio led trim and i dont have the cup holder led. From where i can run a wire?

[@Acelele320]

For the cup holder you also need to connect it to the FEM. My car already came with that because it's an M Sport model. (Footwell light and cup holder light is standard on Sport/M Sport models)

[@christos1984]

@@Acelele320 ok i see. But i need to connect another pin to fem or i must to connect the cable for the cup holder to the same wire of the ambient light before the fem. And then all wires for the ambient light plus cup holder led to the fem?

[@Acelele320]

@@christos1984 You need to connect it to the same wire like Ambient Light, they are connected, that's how they do it in the factory. Everything is together.

[@lennerddecoene4952]

What do you guys mean with fem? I don’t have the light package in my f30 and i wanted to add the radio trim light and i tried to take power from the wire’s from my ac/radio connector but that doesn’t work.

[@lennerddecoene4952]

@Ace320

[@tzdaouk]

I have a G20. To add ambient lighting, it would've cost me $3000. I want to do the retrofit, but I'm worried to mess anything up cuz it's a lease. Is it even possible on a G20?

[@Acelele320]

How so that you didn't ordered the G20 with Ambient Light? It would cost you less. Also, where are you from?

[@tzdaouk]

@@Acelele320 I'm from Ontario Canada. I bought mine with the M package, and the essential package. Combined for an extra $4000. The premium package would've had everything the essential does, plus wifi hotspot, heads up display, parking assistance, and the ambient light, for an extra $3000

[@Acelele320]

@@tzdaouk If I was you, I would go for the Premium Package. Anyway, about the ambient light on your G20. Well, I rly don't know anything about it, bcs this isn't my job, it's my hobby so am not always up to date. But I have searched on AliExpress a little bit and found a full kit for the G20. It's OEM-like and costs 360€. www.aliexpress.com/item/4001152617241.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.4c9611aah05fIn&algo_pvid=5f0cdb9b-2df7-4803-b919-d769c072dfe3&algo_expid=5f0cdb9b-2df7-4803-b919-d769c072dfe3-13&btsid=0b0a050115950070586766716e8d50&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

[@tzdaouk]

@@Acelele320 yea. I'm kind of regretting it now. That's sick. You didn't have to. Thanks a bunch. I'll look into it! Hopefully it has good installation instructions

[@Acelele320]

@@tzdaouk Instructions are probably in Chinese like always. And unfortunatley I cannot help you bcs I have never worked on G20, myb one day if I buy it 😁

[@mcarcox]

Hi Sir, I haven’t in my car installed in FEM A173*9B the BLUE CONNECTOR . How can do it?

[@Acelele320]

Hi. Can you tell me what is the model of your FEM? Look at the FEM and you should see something like this "ZB10_HIGH_E" or "ZB6_MID_E" or anything like that. Note: This is very important, if your FEM is below ZB6 (i.e. ZB4), then you might not will be able to retrofit Ambient Light. Cars who came without A173*9B connector are base model F30s, so these models can't retrofit Light Package, 6WA cluster etc.. So, if you have ZB4 FEM you will probably not be able to do it, but you can buy ZB10 FEM and do the retrofit, brand new is FEM is ~300€, used is ~100€ on ebay.

[@mcarcox]

Z4

[@wolfstyleification]

I have the same problem, how i can do it in this case?

[@massimosalpa4968]

hi, why you will resistor on positive wire?

[@Acelele320]

Hi. Because lights are too birght and driving like that at night is impossible. So, to reduce brightness you need to add resistors.

[@massimosalpa4968]

@@Acelele320 thanks

[@VeErik]

@@Acelele320 but you can change the brightnes in the screen right?

[@gulo46]

Hey ACE, which connector is this at 04:05

[@Acelele320]

Hi. That's Ambient Light connector.

[@gulo46]

Ace320 ok thx, i bought 4 original Panels with Ambiente, is it the same connector?

[@Acelele320]

@@gulo46 Yes, it's the same connector. This retrofit kit from AliExpress is replica of OEM but for much cheaper price and brighter LED's

[@gulo46]

Ace320 i bought the hole oem Panels integrated with Ambient for 160€. I think is a fair Price. I want to visit Venice this year, maybe you can retrofit this for me?

[@Acelele320]

@@gulo46 It's a good price. Yes I can retrofit Ambient Light for you, am about 1 hour from Venice (I live in Udine) and to do this job I would need couple of hours of work, if everything goes as planned. Only issue is wiring harness that needs to be installed under the carpet and rear seats, that takes a lot of time to do, bcs you need to remove a lot of panels and covers, as you can see in the video.

[@chervaineburchell7151]

Can u do this on a f20

[@Acelele320]

Hi. Unfortunately no, F20 does not have ambient light from factory.

[@samuelebasso]

Ti ho scritto nel video degli specchi. ho la tua stessa auto e dalla targa presumo tu sia italiano. Fammi sapere per il Coding e teniamoci in contatto. Io sto per modificare tutti i led interni da arancioni a bianchi. Se vuoi ti giro le foto e le specifiche LED per fare un video quando avrò finito ;)

[@Acelele320]

Ciao. Purtoppo il coding non si puo fare con Bimmercode, solo con BMW programma Per scoprire più, vai su questi siti per il download e tutorial come si usa programma: bimmervideos.cloud/bmw-esys-fdl-coding-beginners-guide-and-files/ f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1312102

[@edimarinescu1503]

Hi, I don't understand how to put the wires in the door

[@Acelele320]

Hi. Throu the door plug/connector. You need to rout wires throu the connector and plug them into the Pins. Watch video carefully and you will see how it's done.

[@edimarinescu1503]

But in the door with which threads are you continuing?

[@edimarinescu1503]

Do I put wires on the same pine?

[@Acelele320]

@@edimarinescu1503 Yes, in the same Pin, otherwise it won't work.

[@edimarinescu1503]

Does this retrofit require coding? Even if I have ambient lights on my feet?