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BMW Rear Top Box Lights?

TN_Sooner said:
I don't know the specifics of your top case, but I added Admore lights to my Givi box with very good results. I move the top case between bikes, you I had to also get an adaptor kit for each bike - very simple to plug and "light".

http://admorelighting.com/index.php?route=common/home
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It's the BMW case. Seems odd they wouldn't find a way to make something even more expensive to sell. Looks like I'll need to add on lights and do custom work to get them wired. I've seen these before and they look like a variety of good options. I was just hoping to take off the useless red plastic and replace with lights.
 
Colin J Monteith said:
I think you could wire up a couple of LED units to the box fairly easily. I considered it for my GIVI V47 and sourced all the pieces before buying the unit designed for that box.
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Excellent idea! I spent a little more time looking at the assembly and it looks like there is a fair amount of room behind the useless red plastic for the flat tape style LED lights. I think I'm gonna try it because I think more light is needed - especially with the box. A couple questions about how this might work:

1. I'm thinking some disconnect coupling would be necessary so the box could come off without the wire - is that how the "kits" do it?
2. Would you run the cable from the box under the seat and just close the seat on it or is there another cable route?

I was thinking about this one:
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/admore-universal-led-topcase-kit
 
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TwoPort said:
Has anyone figured out how to make the BMW top box reflector functional? Seems like it could function as another running, stop and turn signal.
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I have installed the Admore kit on my 650 Topcase, I will send some pics. I am happy with Admore because everything is included and it is a simple install and a couple positaps into existing wiring and voila!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
I ordered the same lights as Lcdrakallen from admore as the effect looked perfect. BMW should have done this in the first place. Admore doesn't show the additional LED strips on their site so you have to ask them to create a custom order and they send the invoice via Payapl.
 
I'm working through the install process for the Admore lights in the top box. Thanks to Lcdrakallen for how he doubled the lights. Just finished the top case last night. I mounted the lights on some thin wood. Then I spliced the two light segments together. There were some fittment issues and I trimmed the wood a little to make it fit. I don't like the visual of the space between the segments but I'll wait to see what its like when lit up. I also used black Sugru to seal around the top as it is not really sealed against water intrusion.

IMG_0654.webpIMG_0655.webpIMG_0656.webpIMG_0657.webpIMG_0658.webp
 
Next Pictures.
IMG_0659.webpIMG_0661.webpIMG_0660.webp

Now it's time to work on the bike side. Had a little trouble with the wiring and then found the scheme on web bike world. (thank you)

You'll see five wires; the colors are as follows:

brown = ground

white = running (12V when the bike is on, 0V otherwise)

red = brake (12V when either brake is applied)

green = right signal (alternates between 12V and 0V as the signal blinks)

yellow = left signal (likewise).

Now it works... It's pretty bright but won't irritate drivers behind mme.

IMG_0662.webp
 
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Looks good. I didn't think to use a sealant, cleaver. I have not had any problems. The really cool thing about the lights is the "Flash" on initial braking to alert those behind you, and it will not repeat the triple flash unless there has been a minute or so, neat! I used a piece of opaque diffuse type "window" shade, to act as a "refractor", so it is sort of "reflector-ish". I hope that they make an actual red see through reflector vice that useless piece of plastic. Also as a backing, I used red reflective tape, to add more visibility. TwoPort, Job Well Done!

Bravo Zulu
 
exavid said:
Hi TwoPort. I'm assuming that flux isn't acid based? Good for plumbing but not wiring.
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Good question. The solder paste is for wiring. My custom audio connections setup got used for this. Mostly it is the high quality solder iron (meaning it gets very hot) that does the trick. I did notice that my eyes were not what they used to be; the little wires were not so easy to focus on! I'll need a bigger magnifying vice/clamp setup for Christmas.

As a side note my wife has followed me before in a car and always remarked that she wished there were more lights in the back because the stock light is "not enough." That issue is now resolved and particularly because of how high they are.

One more thing - the turn signals don't exactly sync with the bike's lights. In fact they are opposite so far as timing of when they are lit. My wife thought that actually created more visibility because it is "interesting."
 
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