LCM Programming
 

I'm not sure if anyone knows where to find this info or where to look other than here, so here I am. I am working on a custom project to give the E53 Sequential turn signals and side markers, along with a lock/unlock sequence. Is there a way to set the voltage that the LCM outputs for certain actions, or is it always 12v? I'm planning to use a microcontroller which I will have to supply with switched 12v anyway, so I was hoping to set it up to detect different actions from the LCM, like if the lights are just on versus turn signal on versus lock/unlock blink. If you guys also happen to know an easier way to do this and I'm just making it too complicated that advice would be appreciated too! Thanks for any tips you can provide!

The LCM modulates brightness by pulse width. If you are using a micro controller then in theory you should be able to detect on/off and brightness and output accordingly. I think there are 2 or 3 different brake/tail lite strategies though so keep that in mind.

So would you recommend I try using an oscilloscope to see what the different stages and frequencies are? That makes the most sense to me at least

That would be a good start, frequency should be consistant with only the pulse width changing. You might consider monitoring inputs at the LCM instead of outputs as well.

What do you mean by sequential indicators?

Indicators flashing when locking/unlocking is already a factory coding option.

Indicators are supplied with the same voltage regardless of the purpose they are activated. Only when front side light fails the indicator is activated to be on permanently with lowered voltage.

Sequential like mustangs had back in the day, some newer vehicles have them too. I've noticed a few vehicles that have them that shouldn't, so I'm thinking it's "a thing" now. I assume he is going to incorporate the brake lites into the system as well (depending how the bulbs work out) and probably some kind of fancy light show when he sets the alarm. ;)

Sequential turn indicators on the side are available in LED on line. They're plug and play. If you get an android head unit with the Resler module and the IBUS app you can program all kinds of "light shows". Not sure how it works as I'm not interested in figuring out as I wouldn't use it, but it's available. Might be a cheaper simpler route to go than buying/building some special module jsut for the LCM with the added advantage of Nav, multiple apps, etc.

I don't think the young guy is looking for the simpler route and cudos to him for that! ;)
Micro controllers are between $3 and $10 the drivers and other stuff might be another $20 but the experience, knowledge, and pride, priceless! This almost a breath of fresh air that we have some younger guys thinking this way! :) Buying the ready made version is kind of buying a ready made noise maker to clothes pin onto your bike when you where a kid. ;)

This is exactly what I'm thinking and I appreciate you seeing what I'm trying to do! I have decent experience with some programming and electrical design as I am currently getting my college education in engineering. I'm always in pursuit of learning more and pushing my boundaries, plus I hate paying for labor :)
I'd rather just buy the parts and do it from scratch myself! The only issues I've been having are accessibility to things that aren't something I can manufacture, like a new taillight lens, as that's not an individual part you can order.

Now that you bring it up the way that you did about it being a thing of pride and you recognize that I'll do my best to make periodic updates and I'll do my best to make everything publically available, plus if people really like the end product, I may even manufacture them and sell in small quantities to those interested, but that may be years down the road.

P.S. If anyone knows how to:
a) Make your own reproduction taillight lenses pretty easily
b) knows where I can buy a real taillight lens that I can put on a factory housing
c) If you can make taillight lenses
Please either reply or send me a message!

Why not use the original tails lites? or maybe get a set of replace LED lite assemblies you can play with and still have the originals to put back in? I don't think it would be hard to put some extra bulbs and dividers into the lamp asemblies. I imagine you are going to use the tailgate portion as well? What are you using for a micro controller?

Hey I just realized you are CanBus guy, what happened with that??

I switched to smoked spyder tail lights 2 years ago because my factory ones were taking on water and both tail gate lights were taking on water, so I could build in them to mock up but if I were to actually use them like that they'd be ruined. I'm planning on using, at least at this point one of the "Arduino" line of microcontrollers. I haven't decided which for the tails yet, but for the two side markers I'm gonna use an ATTiny85. The reason why it would be hard to use the factory housing without modifications is because I want to do a grid that fills the entirety of both tail lights, so trying to get the boards into place with the current space available.

The CAN bus project is on hold for an indefinite amount of time, due to the fact that one day I was working on it and experienced all kinds of issues for weeks until I restored my backup EEPROMS for the DME and IKE, so I can't afford to do that. I'm in college and don't have a real space to work on it, and plus this isn't my "project car" this is my daily... so the downtime involved would be too substantial. Back home I'm soon taking ownership of a wrecked 4.4 that was headed for the junkyard and I'll probably try to further my work on that project over this summer. Also since it's my daily, I can't really cut up the tail lights that are still installed for obvious reasons.

Maybe just set some bulbs up on a 2x4 and get that working before going through the work of actually installing it.

Yeah that’s what I’ve been working on. I need to find somewhere that I can not freeze while I use my oscilloscope on the tail lights to check the frequencies, and once I’ve done that I can emulate them from said oscilloscope in my room to test. Only issue I’m having now is finding high enough wattage LEDs for brightness but can still be driven by the microcontroller voltage. I may have to use a mosfet switching circuit and use the 3.3v for a trigger


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You can get the micro-controller, lites, drivers all set up, programmed and working without going to the car so maybe do that first and it will give you some eyecandy, satisfaction and motivation to continue.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8de45232e7.jpg Speaking of which, I have a working prototype of the side markers, I just need to find different LEDs, or “hack” it into the depo led side markers I already have



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You have a ways to go yet ;) The other day I saw a newer car (not sure exactly what it was but was the newer putty colour) that had sequential signals that went all on and then sequentially off.

Yeah, I’m in the process of deciding what I want,
-One led “chasing” (unlikely) across the light
-All the LEDs turning on sequentially, then off in the same order (more likely on tail lights eventually)
-All the LEDs turning on sequentially, then all off at the same time (most likely for side markers)
-Or something I haven’t thought of



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You could write code for all 3 and then switch between them. Sometimes it's hard to tell what looks right until you see it. The lights going all on then sequentially off certainly got my attention like a brake light would but I don't know if I would like that.