BMW’s best designs offer something unique from tip to tail. There’s a tremendous ability at both ends to leave a lasting impression on owners and viewers alike: lighting. Today we’re talking about lights on the back. From early experiments with LEDs to cutting-edge OLED and laser lighting, BMW has consistently transformed what is sometimes an afterthought into a distinctive design element. Across generations and models, these lights have influenced trends and helped shape the brand’s distinctive visual identity. And five models did it better than the others.
BMW E60 5 Series LCI
The E60 5 Series wasn’t really considered a looker at the time. But the time was good with the car. A highlight is the taillight design that the E60 sedans received after the facelift. New glass was a welcome change, but even more noticeable was the cool new LED turn signal design. Five “radial light guide rods” also contribute to the futuristic look. In the end, it was one of the most recognizable light signatures on the road. The updates have also been extended to the E61 Touring model. It’s arguably a more unique design, but the sedan’s lights are more iconic (simply because they’re more common).
Series 3 LEDs – LCI models E46 and E9X
BMW’s taillight improvements on the E46 and E90/E91/E92/E93 3-Series mirrored the 5-Series changes. As before, the brand (at the time) brought high-tech LEDs to a model that could hardly be considered “special”. In the case of the E46, rows of LEDs replaced the old halogen look, instantly making the car look years newer than its predecessors. The E9X 3 Series models have been significantly optimized and equipped with LEDs and light bars. The E92 335is is a particularly brilliant example, combining many of the best OEM features available at the time in one devilishly good package. In all cases, the new taillights immediately became a selling point and attention factor.
OLEDs – F82 M4 GTS and CS
OLED technology celebrated its debut at BMW in the F82 M4 GTS. Similar to the M5 CS for headlight designs, GTS OLEDs spawned a huge aftermarket as people started chasing the exclusive – and frankly cool – OLED bubbles. OLEDs – organic light-emitting diodes – not only provided a great new 3D effect, they were also thinner than previous LEDs. In addition, OLEDs provide more uniform lighting than conventional LEDs and, according to BMW, have an “extremely homogeneous appearance”. The automaker also highlighted the fairly obvious design advantages. While the “smaller” CS model originally debuted on the GTS, it was also given the treatment. Unfortunately, but perhaps not surprisingly, BMW never brought the cool taillight technology to the M3. In the automotive sector, OLED adoption has generally been slow. the lights are significantly more expensive.
Laser Taillights – M4 CSL and LCI 4 Series
The GTS has set the bar high for BMW’s lighting choices on top-of-the-line Halo models. It is therefore logical that the brand has opted for even more advanced lighting for the successor to the GTS, the M4 CSL. The result was “laser” taillights. When this technology was first used in a production car, the laser taillights offered better overall visibility and, probably more noticeably, a truly unique lighting signature. Like many other BMW lights, the laser taillights also have clear “BMW Laser” lettering in the housing. BMW surprised everyone when it came time for a mid-life update to the current 4 Series model. The brand now offers laser units for every 4 Series, from the 420i onwards. Or 430i if you’re in the US
Neon taillights – BMW Z8
One of only three cars ever to feature neon in the taillight assembly, the BMW Z8 relied on neon tubes for turn signals and brake lights. Neon offered faster response (activation time) and BMW also claimed that the lights would last the life of the car. That’s probably no consolation to the owners who had to replace them – a forum post from one owner in 2012 indicates a replacement cost of almost $3,000! Of course, adjusted for inflation, that’s around $4,288 in today’s money – still less than an OEM laser headlight from BMW costs. Regardless, the Z8’s impressive individuality makes it cool enough to top our list of the best BMW taillights.
