Adding LED style clear turn signals to the front lights (R55)

This is a very minor modification. Doing it properly will still have your vehicle be road legal. You will have to modify the bulbs you just brought from your local vender. I ordered my 2013 R55 (Clubman S) with CLEAR front marker lights.. what I got were clear lenses with ugly amber bulbs buried inside of them. I hate that look with a passion.

Be sure to get the 1156 bulbs marked AMBER or YELLOW to stay DOT/US compliant.

The Pilot LED 1156 bulbs (marked on package, see P/N) are CANBUS error free/BMW friendly lights. However the turn signal in the Mini R55 headlamp is made for a European PY21W bulb. The main difference between the 1156 bulb and the PY21W bulbs are the angles of the alignment pins. Wattage and sizes are very close to the same (if not identical, see images below).

Why did I go with LEDs? I don’t like the “Silver” bulbs. Why spend $25 for conventional “silver” bulbs when I can have faster reacting LEDs that in theory will never fail (ok, it’s a crappy parts store brand.. but I’m sure it’s the same crap all over the internet..).

I paid $20 at my local auto place (pep boys). The LED version of the proper PY21W bulbs don't seem to exist in North Merica' and online they cost $50/pair. Screw that.


Before you ask, “are they as bright”, yes, they are just as bright, even in daylight. See this short you tube video;


I enjoy the "snappier" bulb action. The passenger side looks delayed..

Replacing a turn signal bulb

21 watt bulb, PY21W

1. Turn in the wheel all the way left or right.
Do not remove the wheel.
Do not remove the bumper.
Do not jack the car up.
Do not remove the fender.
Do not try to gain access from inside the engine bay.
Do not remove the headlight.
Do not try to remove the outer lens of the headlamp.

2. Remove the upper outer cover located inside the wheel well. 

Turn the cover counterclockwise.
You’ll see an inner cover plate once removed.

3. Remove the inside cover.

To do so, turn the cover counterclockwise.
(note markings once removed.)

4. Reach in and Unscrew the upper bulb counterclockwise.
Once out - Unscrew the bulb from its base counterclockwise.
File off one “bump” of the 1156 LED light. File it about half way.
Insert the modified 1156 bulb, into the slits in the bulb base.

Install the filed – end first into the slot marked “1” on the image below. Once in the slot, press the bulb into the slot on the other side “2”. Once installed about half way down, turn the bulb clockwise with light pressure to fit the pins to the PY21W base.






Reinstall the bulb into the light housing and verify it functions.
Check for errors with the CANBUS system by turning the car on with the hazards or turn signals on. Also run a system check VIA the BC button.




5. To insert the new bulb and replace the cover, proceed in reverse order.

Sit back and enjoy the clear lights YOU PAID FOR. (facepalm)




1156 bulb -
PY21W -





Factory Bulb in Holder (mounted in Headlamp)



















BONUS! Extra batteries from the store LED battery samples! yet more projects!!

 

This is great. I hate the amber bulb.

 

I think amber or yellow is best, but technically most (maybe all) states allow white for front turn signals.

 

Agreed... my 68' Cougar had white front turn signals, and white side markers.

I added that because they (Pilot) offer Blue, Red, Yellow, and White 1156 bulbs.

And, note: the package claims they are 7506 Bulbs.. which is the Sylvania/OSRAM code for the P21W style.

PY21W is the amber version of P21W, and its base pins are placed differently than P21W so that those two bulbs can't be interchanged (a European requirement). There are legitimate "invisible" (silver/chrome) versions of PY21W from Osram and Philips.

 

Awesome mod. Are the LEDs causing the lights to go out of sync for hazards?

 

LOL, yea, it looks like it.. but the lights are fine now (now that both are LEDs).. I think the delay was just caused by the latency of the bulb filament.

 

Oh, when they're both LEDs, they sync?

 

Absolutely.

 

Just did this to my 2014 Clubman and it was super easy. In fact the only real issue was ordering the darn bulbs as the local Pep-Boys (or any other local auto parts store for that matter) didn't carry them.

 

I just did this last weekend, I got some LED's from SuperBrite LED online $20 ea, very bright. I got 2 more for the rear, I hope they work there as well.