[HixE27]

I’ve noticed that the European and Australian X5’s turn signals are amber as opposed to the red turn signals in the US. I read recently that rear end accidents occur up to 28% less when amber turn signals are utilized.

So, can we buy the amber turn signals for the X5 here in the US?

Data Source: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.do...ts/811_037.pdf

[Pictor]

I'm not aware of a source for the US parts in the US. However, I've purchased parts from shops like these guys. https://www.schmiedmann.com

You just need the part number from realoem.com for the EU model (not the US part number).

[MystroX5]

How do they determine amber is the reason as there is so many other variables in play??

[russelldav]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

How do they determine amber is the reason as there is so many other variables in play??

It's much easier to determine the colour difference from the brake or side lights!

[Ftpohyeah]

on realoem there are 2 part numbers for the outer tail light but only 1 for the inner(trunk) tail light. perhaps the US x5 has amber already?

i need those amber lights!!

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by russelldav

It's much easier to determine the colour difference from the brake or side lights!

Wouldn't red mean stop though, how would a brake light cause an accident? Flashing red light to me is just as visible as flashing orange. Maybe I'm just to simple to understand the difference

[Tenac]

The article was to long for me to read but found this to be a great graph to show the wife!

[Pictor]

I read the PDF itself some time ago and based on memory the hypothesis which was supported by looking at various car model changes that included models that switched tail lights. The hypothesis was that the red brake lights blend more with red turn signals while red brake lights was more easily distinguished from yellow turn signals. The data supports the hypothesis.

I looked at swapping out the tail lights for my F10 and it was possible but not cheap. I haven't looked at doing it with the G05 or G30. I want rear fog lights and amber turn signals (like a proper BMW) but I don't want to pay $1200 for that swap. Side note, the F10 rear fog lights was just a matter or swapping the switch on the dash. That's not the case with newer cars.

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by Ftpohyeah

on realoem there are 2 part numbers for the outer tail light but only 1 for the inner(trunk) tail light. perhaps the US x5 has amber already?

i need those amber lights!!

USA X5s have had red rear turn signals for quite some time and the foreseeable future.

[Qsilver7]

For the G05 X5:

• USA 11 digit part nbr:
  • #1 left/right: 63-21-7-442-261/262 or 63-21-9-448-071/072
  • #2 left/right: 63-21-7-931-997/998
  
  Europe 11 digit part nbr :
  • #1 left/right: 63-21-9-448-069/070
  • #2 left/right: 63-21-7-931-995/996

[secretanchitman]

Happy to see this thread exist! I did the same for my F82 M4 and if I ever got a G05 X5, this would be the first "mod" I would do to it.

Can't stand red turn signals, amber is safer and way more visible to everyone!

[puckybadger]

Who's got the G06 European part numbers?

[Pictor]

From realoem.com ...

[Alan l.]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

USA 11 digit part nbr:

• #1 left/right: 63-21-7-442-261/262 or 63-21-9-448-071/072
• #2 left/right: 63-21-7-931-997/998

Europe 11 digit part nbr :

• #1 left/right: 63-21-9-448-069/070
• #2 left/right: 63-21-7-931-995/996

According to Schmiedmann its about $1200 total for all 4 pieces of the euro taillights.

[Timmer-Bimmer]

Found this: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/d...ave-to-be-red/

It basically says Amber is permitted in the US, but is rarely offered.

[nosnoop]

Originally Posted by HixE27

So, can we buy the amber turn signals for the X5 here in the US?
Data Source: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.do...ts/811_037.pdf

I also hate "americanized" red turn signals when the original design in Germany is Amber. Just to save a few bucks?

We should complain to BMW as to why they would compromise safety for the sake of cost saving.

Amber turn signal is definitely safer. For red turn signal, it takes a second or two to distinguish a hazard light, or someone press/release brake peddle. The worst type of rear lights design is using the same light cluster for brake/signal/hazard, like current X5. They should at least separate the brake and signal light, or use Audi's sequential light.

[Dr. Jekyll]

Do I smell a group buy?

[TJ_BMW]

[:chesmu:]

I converted by 2006 330i to amber turn signals and was much happier. These seem way more expensive than those were. Would love to see these come down in price

[nosnoop]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jekyll

Do I smell a group buy?

In the old days, you can just switch out the bulb or the lens cover.

Nowadays, it is difficult as the LED cluster powered on during braking/signaling is completely different between US and European cars.
In Europe, LEDs used for braking and signaling are separate, the former is red, the latter is amber. In US, they used both sets of LEDs simultaneously for both braking and signaling - so if you switch for European parts, you would get both red and amber LEDs lighting up in both braking and signaling.

[HixE27]

So is the solution to recode? Reprogramming? To me, this makes a huge difference and I want to do this when I get my X5!

Originally Posted by nosnoop

In the old days, you can just switch out the bulb or the lens cover.

Nowadays, it is difficult as the LED cluster powered on during braking/signaling is completely different between US and European cars.
In Europe, LEDs used for braking and signaling are separate, the former is red, the latter is amber. In US, they used both sets of LEDs simultaneously for both braking and signaling - so if you switch for European parts, you would get both red and amber LEDs lighting up in both braking and signaling.

[Pictor]

Originally Posted by nosnoop

In the old days, you can just switch out the bulb or the lens cover.

In the old days, BMW's in the US all had amber turn signals.

In the early 2000's, people started complaining about the amber lenses and I think BMW responded by going all red. This also helped reduce cost as they transitioned to LED. The problem is that you can have amber turn signals without the big amber lenses that some people didn't like. Personally, I was never bothered by the amber lenses and though the all-red look was very cheap even if BMW uses different bulbs for brakes and turn signals unlike the crappy US cars that use the same lamp for both functions.