foot well lighting

UK forum for general and technical discussion about the Z3 roadster
Fender2004
Joined: Fri 14 Aug, 2009 10:24
Posts: 907

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Houghton-Le-Spring

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Fender2004 »

When you did the installation was it necessary to disconnect the battery?
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Woody1000
Joined: Sat 30 Mar, 2013 09:38
Posts: 224

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Chelmsford

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Woody1000 »

No I didn't that's why I spiced the wires above the plug, I simply unplugged the wires, spliced the dead side then plugged it back in and presto !!
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littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

no, no need. the wires just power the interior light. if in doubt just splice them with the doors shut, then there's no current anyhow :wink: I did mine with the doors open.
Fender2004
Joined: Fri 14 Aug, 2009 10:24
Posts: 907

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Houghton-Le-Spring

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Fender2004 »

Cheers thanks for the info
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littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

latest update. been busy

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these are the splice plugs
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one of the exit holes is blocked, it is meant to be like this, see diagram below
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the open wire needs go up against this stop inside the scotch plug as in illustration and pic below
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you will need to use pliers like this to squeeze the cutter/splicer in.
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fold cover over
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in order to ease with the peeling of the backing (as it sometimes comes off) I have put a tape tab on the end, start peeling this end by pulling on the tape tab

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the wire to splice to the brown and black wire is the longer wire, while the shorter goes to the brown wire ( remember this is beneath, before the plug in the A post)
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you should end up with something like this
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littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

DavidZ3 added :)

it would be good if everyone could add there pics and comments when there all l-e-d up
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David
Joined: Mon 16 Sep, 2013 18:33
Posts: 439

  Z3 roadster 1.9i

Re: foot well lighting

Post by David »

Thanks :)

I'd be very interested in a guide for getting the LEDs to work with the interior light switch also, as mentioned earlier.

D
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g8jka
Z Register member
Joined: Sun 18 Apr, 2010 21:16
Posts: 1149

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Telford

Re: foot well lighting

Post by g8jka »

I did this mod a while back and wired them in directly to the interior light (past the plug and up by the light itself). This meant they dim on and off with the interior light and also switch on and off with the interior light. I also did the glovebox and the boot, its a great mod :)
g8jka wrote:So I have been adding a couple of mods to the interior recently. Firstly I replaced the interior bulb and boot bulb for new SMD LED ones which are extremely bright and not as yellow as the standard ones.

Following on the LED theme, Zeds can be a little annoying at time because unlike more modern cars they do not have any footwell lights, useful for those wanting to hoover in there at night or if you drop anything in the dark. Now that there is loads of different LED's on the market I thought I would install some of the flexible strip type ones in the footwell and wire them to the main interior light.

They simply wire into the positive and negative wires on the interior bulb and come on at exactly the same time as the standard one and dim on / off. Peel off the double sided tape and stick them out of site somewhere.

The footwells now look like this

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Also the zed doesn't have a glovebox light which is really annoying at night, another LED strip connected to the others and I can now find what I'm looking for

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Had a couple of spares left over, so they went either side of boot, connected to the boot bulb

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2000 BMW Z3 2.8 Titanium Silver Roadster with too many mods to list :-D :drive
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bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: foot well lighting

Post by bertiejaffa »

Hi, is there any chance you can add me to the list for a set for the footwell and the boot please?
Here come the girls.....
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Fender2004
Joined: Fri 14 Aug, 2009 10:24
Posts: 907

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Houghton-Le-Spring

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Fender2004 »

Where did you connect the glove compartment lights too?
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g8jka
Z Register member
Joined: Sun 18 Apr, 2010 21:16
Posts: 1149

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Telford

Re: foot well lighting

Post by g8jka »

Fender2004 wrote:Where did you connect the glove compartment lights too?
They are coupled into the footwell lights so it works when these are on. With the glovebox closed you cannot see any light through the gaps, only when you open it so there was no need to wire in a separate switch or feed to the glovebox.
2000 BMW Z3 2.8 Titanium Silver Roadster with too many mods to list :-D :drive
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littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

umm hadn't considered glove box lighting :idea:
littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

posted so far -
wifevanda
ROBBELL
cn55
Althulas
colb
PCSAM
boysie
frank.a
fender2004
petecossie
the_youth
RichP
eyerisk

still to go, posting tomorrow -
DavidZ3
Topaz Z3
Rafolian


have I forgotten anyone?
stupot50
Joined: Tue 07 Aug, 2012 08:35
Posts: 237

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Torquay, Devon

Re: foot well lighting

Post by stupot50 »

littlefeller wrote:posted so far -
wifevanda
ROBBELL
cn55
Althulas
colb
PCSAM
boysie
frank.a
fender2004
petecossie
the_youth
RichP
eyerisk

still to go, posting tomorrow -
DavidZ3
Topaz Z3
Rafolian


have I forgotten anyone?
Yep! Will sort paypal payment tomorrow when I get back home
1999 2.8 Arctic Silver Z3
1987 Black Renault Alpine GTA V6 Turbo
2007 325d Msport - remapped
littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

theres no hurry, there not going anywhere.

posting one to spain tomorrow, didn't cost that much more just an extra £1.80 :)
Alan W
Joined: Thu 20 Jun, 2013 10:56
Posts: 670

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Bexley, Kent UK

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Alan W »

Don't forget our arrangement?
1999 facelit Z3 Roadster 2.8 Auto in Cosmos Black aka 'Gloria'
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littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

Alan W wrote:Don't forget our arrangement?
I havnt forgotten :wink: , there was someone else with a special arrangement too, I will go back through my pms and see. :lol:
littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

this is my boot now, real bright

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now thinking about the glove box or even underhood lighting :)
littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

bertiejaffa wrote:Hi, is there any chance you can add me to the list for a set for the footwell and the boot please?

added 8-)
petecossie
Joined: Wed 11 Apr, 2007 13:13
Posts: 160

  M coupe S50
Location: Billingham

Re: foot well lighting

Post by petecossie »

littlefeller wrote:posted so far -
wifevanda
ROBBELL
cn55
Althulas
colb
PCSAM
boysie
frank.a
fender2004
petecossie
the_youth
RichP
eyerisk

still to go, posting tomorrow -
DavidZ3
Topaz Z3
Rafolian

have I forgotten anyone?
Received mine thank you. Probably a couple of weeks before I fit it though.
Pete C

2000 Z3M Coupe - Cosmos Black Metallic/Black Interior.

Previous BMWs
2003 E46 M3 6 speed manual - Carbon Black/Black Interior.
2000 Z3M Coupe - Cosmos Black/Black Interior
1986 M635
1985 E28 M5
1983 E28 528i Alpina
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Althulas
Joined: Fri 13 Feb, 2009 00:55
Posts: 818

  M roadster S50

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Althulas »

Received mine too. I'm still waiting for my car to be put back together from the engine rebuild but not looking forward to that bill.
If you like gaming with mature minded players visit our retirement home http://www.oap-clan.co.uk/
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littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

posted this morning, including the one to spain.
DavidZ3
Topaz Z3
Rafolian
stupot50
Clivebse

have I missed anyone?

later today I will post the others that have other arrangements :wink:
littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

after playing around with the glove box light I found the best place for the scotch plugs are to the rear of the A post, see pic below. there is space at the back where the trim clicks in ( a kind of channel running down the far side of the A post).

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ROBBELL
Joined: Thu 13 Jan, 2005 18:15
Posts: 89

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: RUNCORN

Re: foot well lighting

Post by ROBBELL »

Received mine as well on Friday thanks will not be able to fit till later.
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PCSAM
Joined: Sat 13 Aug, 2011 01:19
Posts: 1002

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Location: Taynuilt

Re: foot well lighting

Post by PCSAM »

also received mine thanks .......... :D
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bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: foot well lighting

Post by bertiejaffa »

littlefeller wrote:
bertiejaffa wrote:Hi, is there any chance you can add me to the list for a set for the footwell and the boot please?

added 8-)

cheers - will PM address details etc
Here come the girls.....
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My //M Refurb
My First Zed Journal
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David
Joined: Mon 16 Sep, 2013 18:33
Posts: 439

  Z3 roadster 1.9i

Re: foot well lighting

Post by David »

Mine arrived today - all fitted in 30mins (and a little tinkering), and that was done by myself; a mod n00b by all accounts.

Just waiting for the night, and I will take a photo.

Thanks littlefeller
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littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

8-) also waiting for dark so I can photo my new boot lights
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David
Joined: Mon 16 Sep, 2013 18:33
Posts: 439

  Z3 roadster 1.9i

Re: foot well lighting

Post by David »

Ta-dah!!!!

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Apologies for 'the office' being in a bit of a mess! :)


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littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

new boot :) yeh mines a mess too
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dw1985
Joined: Fri 30 Aug, 2013 07:28
Posts: 49

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: foot well lighting

Post by dw1985 »

I would like a set too, also what's the extra cost for a strip for the boot? Inbox me let me know the next steps. Thanks in advance!!
My Zeemer: 1998 BMW Z3 1.9 Atlanta Blue
littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

ok boot lighting

This was my boot
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before I switched to the two smaller led strips, one either side.
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First one was cool white for brightness, while the second is again the warm white.
First one is good for practicality (quite bright)
while the second is more aesthetically pleasing.
First locate boot light here -
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mine came out real easy
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remove boot floor mat (I just folded the first half over)
then lift rear mat, I had to loosen the sides first, this is just done by hand, no trim screws are removed.
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Once the rear mat has lifted enough to get your hand/arm behind you need to feed a loop of the led wire through the light hole
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the loop needs to be in the centre of the cable with equal amount left either side (both ends are connected to a led strip which will run either side of the boot.
The red and white wire is the positive feed while the brown and black is the ground.
The led is connected like this

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if the single long strip is used as in pic 1 then the connection is simpler, you only need to feed the end of the led wires through the light hole and simply connect the positive to the red and white and the ground to the other.

Scotch blocks fitted

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you should now have this
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replace mats and tuck back and surplus led cable
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left side

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for anyone wondering, the switch for the boot light is here, took me awhile to spot it.

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if any one wants any - leave your name here again
Topaz Z3
Joined: Tue 05 Jan, 2010 13:15
Posts: 54

  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Topaz Z3 »

Fitted my footwell lights from Littlefeller last night.

WOW - they eally look the business.

Thanks Jaosn. :thumb:
Fender2004
Joined: Fri 14 Aug, 2009 10:24
Posts: 907

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Houghton-Le-Spring

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Fender2004 »

Count me in
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littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

list so far
Fender2004
ROBBELL
dw1985
Rafolian


these two strips are shorter than the footwell light so will also be cheaper 8-)
Last edited by littlefeller on Sun 29 Sep, 2013 06:37, edited 3 times in total.
ROBBELL
Joined: Thu 13 Jan, 2005 18:15
Posts: 89

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: RUNCORN

Re: foot well lighting

Post by ROBBELL »

Count me in as well
littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

added 8-)
stupid sky has messed up my broadband, im having to use mcdonalds free wifi till they can get there act together, so posting wont be as often. however its not such a hardship as I can now justify having mcdonalds and its just 100 yards from my house :lol:
dw1985
Joined: Fri 30 Aug, 2013 07:28
Posts: 49

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: foot well lighting

Post by dw1985 »

count me in...
My Zeemer: 1998 BMW Z3 1.9 Atlanta Blue
ZedAintDead
Joined: Tue 12 Mar, 2013 10:12
Posts: 96

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: foot well lighting

Post by ZedAintDead »

Got mine yesterday, fitted this morning, awesome idea and so simple to do!

Thanks very much! Be interesting to see how long it takes the wife to notice!
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Boysie
Joined: Sat 23 Apr, 2005 14:24
Posts: 1654

  M roadster S50
Location: Wallington Surrey
Contact:

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Boysie »

Just got back from hols and a package on the mat
All I need now is to install the foot well lights
I had better read back on this thread on how to do
Cheers
Jason
Ray

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S50 ///M Roadster, Arctic Silver, Imola Red/Black interior
1970 Austin Healey Sprite, Original ' Now Sold :-(
2002 Harley 1130cc V Rod Custom

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Rafolian
Joined: Wed 27 Feb, 2013 08:41
Posts: 547

  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Rafolian »

Count me in as well! Cheers.
littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

for anyone who is still waiting, im posting again in the morning. one member who paid by cheque is still waiting, sorry I didn't realise till I was going through my messages, these will also be posted in the morning. 8-)
Fender2004
Joined: Fri 14 Aug, 2009 10:24
Posts: 907

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Houghton-Le-Spring

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Fender2004 »

Fitted my lights a few days ago and really pleased with the results. :D
What I have noticed is as the light is in the foot well it makes it a lot easier to see when you are trying to put the key in to start the car.
Cheers :cheers
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littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

sorry for the delay folks, im in the middle of a switch between sky and bt, real pain but they don't explain there is an activation date for broadband if you switch. so im using mcdonalds free wifi :twisted:
price for the boot strips is £6 as there a little shorter, this includes post. 8-)
I will check back again in the morning, if anyone wants any I can then post Friday as I have a day off :P
Alan W
Joined: Thu 20 Jun, 2013 10:56
Posts: 670

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Bexley, Kent UK

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Alan W »

Now have my set of footwell lights, thank you. Wiring looks straightforward but I think I may prefer them to come on both when I open the door and manually switch on the courtesy light and unless I am imagining it I'm sure someone on here did this and wired up to somewhere behind the glovebox?

Anyone here fitted these lights that way?
1999 facelit Z3 Roadster 2.8 Auto in Cosmos Black aka 'Gloria'
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littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

I did have mine set like this, I just simply wired the positive to the bulb holder in the curtesy light. you can get into the light by poping off the cover, then the wire through from the top (bit fiddly), but basicly you can turn back some of the rubber to expose the back and push the wire through the small slots at the edge of the fixing, it should connect to the bulb holder on the drivers side.
I can take a picy tomorrow if you wish :)
Alan W
Joined: Thu 20 Jun, 2013 10:56
Posts: 670

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Bexley, Kent UK

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Alan W »

Yes please take a photo Jason, I presume having taken the live from the light you just earth to any suitable fixing under the lower dash?
1999 facelit Z3 Roadster 2.8 Auto in Cosmos Black aka 'Gloria'
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littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
Posts: 683

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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

yes that's exactly what I did. will take pics later today. it was real simple 8-) both ways has it pros and cons, the option I have now is the A post conection as I can switch the light off and have just footwell lights 8-)
littlefeller
Joined: Sun 28 Apr, 2013 18:06
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Re: foot well lighting

Post by littlefeller »

remove light cover
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live feed goes through here (lift back the rubber trim)
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it needs to come through here (arrowed) - the thin slots, not the square hole. then connected here (circled)
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tuck wire under rubber seal along the top
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and around under the A post trim.
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Alan W
Joined: Thu 20 Jun, 2013 10:56
Posts: 670

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Bexley, Kent UK

Re: foot well lighting

Post by Alan W »

Thanks JAson - very useful
1999 facelit Z3 Roadster 2.8 Auto in Cosmos Black aka 'Gloria'
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