Cabin or Map Light Ideas?

[Rodders67]

I find it very dark in cabin and it dawned on me… there is no courtesy lights in Z3? Perhaps mine are missing…

Has anyone put lights in footwells, doors or under rearview mirror?

Weird.

 

[Althulas]

There is a courtesy light on the trim above the mirror, is it switched off? Does the dimmer work on your light switch?
There is examples on here about wiring in lights if you use the search function you will be surprised on what you can find but to start you off https://zroadster.org/threads/led-footwell-lighting-the-easy-way.15408/

 

[Rodders67]

Thanks… I will check this out. I don’t see switch near door hinge.

The dimmer works and seems all is well when running at night. I have it brightest setting.

Maybe there is a button somewhere?

 

[Rodders67]

Upon review of your schematic… you guys have a switch with Auto setting. I have only a manual switch in the 1999 Roadster.

I will likely need to create a dash switch manual lights from battery and/or have them time off or switch when engine starts.

maybe i just put solar powered landscape lights on the floor.

 

[colb]

My 1.9 1999 has a cabin lamp at the top of the screen, it is switchable for switching it on and off and to switch off as a courtsy light that is operated by the door switch in the fixed door latch. I fitted two strips of led's in each footwell and wired these inyto the cable that feeds up to the interior mirror housing. The cable runs up the edge of the right hand side of the windscreen behind the plastic trim on that side. Can't remember which wire it was that I tapped into to connect the led's to, you obviously need a positive and an earth to feed the led strips.
There was someone on here that made the led kits to fit, thats where I got mine from but kits on ebay are available

BMW Z3 Footwell Lights for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for BMW Z3 Footwell Lights. Shop with confidence.

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[Fender2004]

I installed footwell lights, I bought a kit from somewhere really straight forward. I removed the A pillar cover on the drivers side (UK) to attach the wires to the power, so that they dim with the other lights.

 

[Rodders67]

I have “discovered” the three way switch above rearview mirror and associated map light. . Bizarre how obvious it is and yet still over looked. I suppose this is the three way on/off/auto shown in schematic.
I don’t see conventional door push switch, so I will assume it’s cam in linkage.

Now I will go find me some LED lighting.

Thanks all y’all.

 

[Delk]

I put an led bulb in my interior and its super bright.

 

[t-tony]

I put red LED in mine.

Tony.

 

[colb]

The door switches are part of the fixed door latch activated by the locking side of the door latch when the door is opened and closed.

 

[petecossie]

I installed footwell lights, I bought a kit from somewhere really straight forward. I removed the A pillar cover on the drivers side (UK) to attach the wires to the power, so that they dim with the other lights.

I had a similar set up installed by the guy who did my car radio installation, the kit I purchased from a chap on here back in 2017. He used LED strips the installation instructions are attached.
The setup works really well especially on winter nights.