The three wires don't have anything to do with the LED for the door handles. One set plugs into window/mirror switch, one operates the puddle light (plug clipped to door), and I believe the other set is for the heated mirrors (plug clipped to door).

Try connecting back the window switch if you haven't done so, the LED will only light if the window switch is plugged in with the black or white plug (I forget which). Alternatively, the LED might just be dead.

Yeap, yeap... It light up:) I guess window switch got wet and messed up, it started acting weird. sometimes beeps on open door sometimes not:) anyway I am almost done, 3/4 handles are good to go:) Although I didn't use the glass that comes with handles, I pluged the light right into the hole :))) Comes out good. thanks alot again.

Production date doesn't appear to be the determining factor on whether the inside door harnesses have (or don't) the LED bulb & harness as part of the door harness itself.

A 03/2001 produced X5 EURO model 3.0i (delivered in Germany) had them on all four doors. Chassis number is LM27192 if you want to see what in the build list made the "magic". It was a donor car from which I bought the entire leather interior & door panels for my 08/2002 X5 EURO 3.0d and installed them some ten months ago. I wasn't aware of the LED lights in the handles but the little clear light guides were broken (poor removal from the kid who parted out the car).

I just removed the left rear door panel to look for the LED light in the harness but it's too cold to undo the foam barrier tar caulking without tearing the foam barrier itself.

FYI - if you buy the LED light (I posted the part number) - it comes with a rather long twin wires so you can replace a bad LED or splice into the illuminated power for the power window switch.

I recall a post and theory that an ambient lighting factory option might drive this - but there isn't nothing remotely close on the build list of LM27192 (it had a lot of options however).

Anyone with a car without the lights care to offer their short VIN number and production date?

Any other information is indeed welcome.

Im sure you can get cheap led strips from generic auto advance and put them in there and it will iluminate the entire trim possibly

hey guys

I have done this so far.

It is not finished yet, but I mean it´s nice mod anyway.

I was inspired by F10 and new X5 - illumination package, it´s not like that of course, because light source is LED strip, but you can get nice solid output light by using light diffusor, in my case I have used white semitransparent adhesive tape.

I can dim, so it works with car illumination.

practicalities:
connect to grey-red cable in doors; that one is for illumination (12V+) and brown is ground, I used fast connectors RED color to connect led strips to car wiring, very easy job.
I have never measured 12V there but dont worry, it illuminates anyway, it´s managed by Light modul somehow...



cheers

Per the suggestion above, I added amber LEDs to light up the paddle shifters. They are on anytime the key is on. I also added amber LEDs aimed at the door sills. I just wired those into the existing interior lamps--no errors from either.