Underwater LED install on Z3

[Smcqueen]

I have several upgrades planned this winter including a second undrerwater light. So I started looking things over and I cannot see how to get to the penetration from inside the boat. There is a fiberglass wall between the engine compartment and where the light would come through the transom. Has anyone done this on a Z3? Will I have to pull up the floors in the rear locker?

[chpthril]

What you are seeing as a fiber glass wall, is the engine stringer i believe. Yes, you will likely need to pull up the false floor in the locker.

[BLucas86]

Smcqueen,

Texas Tige just installed a 2nd one on mine last week and even had to go through the new AVX bracket (as would the factory). Came out IDENTICAL to a factory install. I would recommend letting them tackle that job.

Glad to send you pics of the professional job they did.

Cheers,
Brandon

[Smcqueen]

Pictures would be great! I'm not afraid to tackle the job, I just don't want to waist a lot of time attempting the wrong approach.

[chpthril]

Since your 2014 will not have the AVX, the LED assembly will mount directly to the gel coat, not an aluminum like the 15's with the AVX. If you know the tips and tricks for drilling and screwing gel coat, its just a matter of locating the new one in the same spot as the original.

[Smcqueen]

I pulled the rear locker wall and use a mirror to see between the false floor and transom wall. Looks like nothing in the way and I should be able to fish the wire out without having to remove the floor. Also found the wiring to tie into. Might not be as bad as I thought.

[Detonate]

I pulled the rear locker wall and use a mirror to see between the false floor and transom wall. Looks like nothing in the way and I should be able to fish the wire out without having to remove the floor. Also found the wiring to tie into. Might not be as bad as I thought.

Take some pics! I'm wanting to do the same thing. My 2014 Z3 came with 1 underwater light, and I'm wanting to add a second of the same type.

[Travism]

I had the dealer install 3 shadow caster 10" led light bars. two on the transom and one on the taps plate. Looks incredible !!!

[scoot18]

Pics

[chpthril]

2 SC-10's is a lot of light fo sure, but 3 would be awesome.

[Smcqueen]

It takes only three screws to remove the rear locker wall to gain better access to the rear transom.

[Smcqueen]

You can see the hydraulic pump for the TAPS cylinder and the two wires on the left I put a volt meter on and verified they were for the underwater lights.

[Smcqueen]

You can see where the hole would penetrate the rear transom using a mirror looking down between the subfloor and the transom wall. There is a pump right there. You can see the wires going down to it. According to my buddies at Texas Tige, you dont want to drill a hole throug the transom then through the pump. I slid a piece of aluminum between the wall and the pump to that when I drill through the transom it will hit the aluminum before going into the pump.

[Smcqueen]

I used a caliper to locate center of the existing light, then transfer to the other side. I did find that the VX is not symetrical so marking location of the light will differ depending upon what you reference off of. Plus or minus a quarter inch left or right should not make a difference.

All I have for now. Should be ready to drill a hole.

[Smcqueen]

I drilled my holes last night. I used a 1/8" drill as a pilot hole for the center. It did hit against the metal plate i had dropped on the other side to protect the pump. I followed up and drilled the hole out to the 1/2" required.
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