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      04-17-2021, 12:31 AM   #1
marticztn
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Multicolor ambient lights installed on my 2017 X1 xDrive28i

It turns out that the F48 X1 uses "light head" instead of "light strip". So the installation process is easier than other BMWs that use "light strips" (Someone else installed these for me, no need to drill holes, no removing/replacing light strips)

All the ambient lights will be turned on with the headlamps, looks really good at night as you can see from the pictures below! There are a total of 8 color choices right now, there's also a "cycle" mode that cycles through all the colors, and the speed is adjustable as well. Theoretically, it's possible to change the ambient light to whatever color you want via coding (RGB hex values), even with multiple color layers at the same time, but I don't have enough time to do those stuff today, I'll probably try it in the next few weeks.

Feel free to ask any questions you have!

EDIT 1: It is an aftermarket solution, by "code it to whatever color you want" I mean obviously you'll have to install the aftermarket light head in the first place, otherwise it won't work because the ambient light head in pre-CLI X1 models doesn't support multicolor. You will have to enable the "light design" feature in the Bimmercode app, then you can tweak with those color options, I'll post steps when I have a chance. To clarify, I'm not a seller and I'm trying to promote anything.

EDIT 2: Just a few Q&A:
Do you have to remove the door panel?
Yes, you'll have to remove the door panel for all 4 doors but you only need to replace the "light head" with the aftermarket one and reorganize the wires, it's NOT that easy to do.

Does it control via the original iDrive?
Yes, but first you'll have to enable the "light design" option via the Bimmercode app.

Where can I get this mod?
The only place I know is Taobao, it's the largest shopping website in China and they got tons of mods for the X1 including this ambient light mod. You can try to purchase it here: https://s.taobao.com/search?q=宝马X1氛围...tton&catId=100
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Last edited by marticztn; 11-23-2022 at 04:17 AM..
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      04-17-2021, 02:33 AM   #2
Nsehati1
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So how did you get the multicolor ambient lights? BimmerCode/iCarly coding! Esys?
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      04-17-2021, 01:29 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nsehati1 View Post
So how did you get the multicolor ambient lights? BimmerCode/iCarly coding! Esys?
Yeah via BimmerCode
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      04-17-2021, 02:00 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marticztn View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nsehati1 View Post
So how did you get the multicolor ambient lights? BimmerCode/iCarly coding! Esys?
Yeah via BimmerCode
Any chance you can share the procedure? 😄
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      04-17-2021, 11:40 PM   #5
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Ambient Lighting

I'm also interested in this!

- Do you control the colours through iDrive?
- Did you have to remove the door panels?
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      04-19-2021, 03:30 AM   #6
Jorix
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I am also interested, if you can share instructions .
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      04-19-2021, 01:43 PM   #7
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Seems like an aftermarket solution to me.
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      04-23-2021, 07:09 AM   #8
jkont
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It is definintely , an aftermarket mod.
Not a Bimmercode coding.

He said "feel free to ask for more info" but he didn't give a single answer to the people who asked.

He ssid that is possible to code via Bimmerrcode even a rotating color scheme.
This is impossible if the retrofit is based on original BMW parameters.

And he will never reply with info, because it is a chinese mod , not a Bimmercode one.
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      04-23-2021, 11:11 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jkont View Post
It is definintely, an aftermarket mod.
Not a Bimmercode coding.

He said "feel free to ask for more info" but he didn't give a single answer to the people who asked.

He ssid that is possible to code via Bimmerrcode even a rotating color scheme.
This is impossible if the retrofit is based on original BMW parameters.

And he will never reply with info, because it is a chinese mod , not a Bimmercode one.
Of course it is an aftermarket mod, I should've said that in the first place, sorry about that. The original BMW light head on the pre-LCI X1 only supports 2 color schemes, the aftermarket light head supports RGB, so it's possible to code it via the Bimmercode app to any color you want, I'll post steps later.

"He ssid that is possible to code via Bimmerrcode even a rotating color scheme.
This is impossible if the retrofit is based on original BMW parameters."
No, the rotating color scheme can be controlled inside the original iDrive's light design settings. The last option in the light design settings IS the rotating color scheme in this case, and believe it or not, the speed of it cycling through color is controlled via the "ambient light brightness" settings.

As for what you said, "he didn't give a single answer to the people who asked." Bruh, I got stuff to do, and obviously, I won't stare at this forum all day long. This is a forum, not a real-time messaging service so please give me some time to reply. Posting replies is not my JOB

Last edited by marticztn; 04-23-2021 at 11:41 AM..
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      04-23-2021, 11:27 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nsehati1 View Post
Any chance you can share the procedure? ��
I will, but to clarify, you'll need to install this mod in the first place. The original ambient light doesn't support multicolor. Check my re-edited post for more info
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      04-23-2021, 11:42 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by ShankM8 View Post
I'm also interested in this!

- Do you control the colours through iDrive?
- Did you have to remove the door panels?
Hi, please see my edited post, and sorry for the late reply!
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      04-26-2021, 12:40 AM   #12
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Do the door Panels have two light heads, one at each end of the strip? I notice my drivers door is dim on one end of the strip.
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      04-30-2021, 04:49 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZZZZ View Post
Do the door Panels have two light heads, one at each end of the strip? I notice my drivers door is dim on one end of the strip.
Yes, each door panel has 2 light heads, 1 for the upper one and the other is for the lower one. Dim on the end of the light strip is normal but it shouldn't be very noticeable.
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      05-01-2021, 12:00 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marticztn View Post
Yes, each door panel has 2 light heads, 1 for the upper one and the other is for the lower one. Dim on the end of the light strip is normal but it shouldn't be very noticeable.
It's quite noticeable for my driver's door. Not noticeable on the passenger side. (part of the strip towards the front of the car). Do you still have your original light heads and willing to sell? Maybe one of mine is burnt out and can be replaced.

Zzzz
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      05-02-2021, 04:52 PM   #15
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What was the cost of the light package from taobao ?
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      06-02-2021, 12:41 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by StefanJ View Post
What was the cost of the light package from taobao ?
Around $250-$300 with shipping fee
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      03-04-2022, 07:24 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marticztn View Post
Around $250-$300 with shipping fee
Hi do you have the photo of the product you bought from taobao?
i plan to buy one from aliexpress. but from the photos i can't see the light head, only the light strip with cable.

and when you code with bimmer code. how many colors do you code?
7, 10, or 11? do you have the photo from the idrive lightning color menu?

Thanks a lot bro
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      03-05-2022, 10:43 PM   #18
marticztn
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Originally Posted by ggiovanno View Post
Hi do you have the photo of the product you bought from taobao?
i plan to buy one from aliexpress. but from the photos i can't see the light head, only the light strip with cable.

and when you code with bimmer code. how many colors do you code?
7, 10, or 11? do you have the photo from the idrive lightning color menu?

Thanks a lot bro
Hi, I just checked my purchase history on Taobao and it seems like the seller is no longer selling them anymore, not sure why, but if you copy and paste "宝马X1氛围灯" on Taobao, you will find tons of results. Just look for those sellers that have high ratings and sell counts. As for the quality though, all the sellers are basically selling the same stuff, so I don't think there's a much of difference between different sellers. Hope these helps!
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      03-06-2022, 02:10 AM   #19
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hello, when you removed the panels of the 4 doors, were the original bmw connectors for the ambient light installed? that is, could you put the original bmw led light? Or did you have the BMW ambient light as standard? On my dashboard I did have a free connector for the ambient light, but I don't know if we have it on the doors too. Thank you
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      03-06-2022, 02:46 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rzorsan View Post
hello, when you removed the panels of the 4 doors, were the original bmw connectors for the ambient light installed? that is, could you put the original bmw led light? Or did you have the BMW ambient light as standard? On my dashboard I did have a free connector for the ambient light, but I don't know if we have it on the doors too. Thank you
My car is a 2017 model and it is equipped with the premium package, so ambient lighting is a standard option on my car. Each door contains 2 "light head", and yes those were already there.
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      03-06-2022, 03:02 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marticztn View Post
My car is a 2017 model and it is equipped with the premium package, so ambient lighting is a standard option on my car. Each door contains 2 "light head", and yes those were already there.
OK thank you very much. my x1 is also from 2017, but it does not have the ambient light as standard. but I saw that there was a connector on the dashboard trim and I put a led there. I need to know if it also has it on the doors.
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      03-06-2022, 08:14 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marticztn View Post
My car is a 2017 model and it is equipped with the premium package, so ambient lighting is a standard option on my car. Each door contains 2 "light head", and yes those were already there.
hi, how did you remove the light strip from the light head?
i've tried to pull it but no luck, any advice?

these light head are inside the the door panel
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