Alternatively, could the brake/tail lights be swapped with the rear reflectors thus eliminating the wire flexing altogether?
Yes - I replaced my reflectors with an additional set of brake/tail lights. There's a thread about it somewhere on here. The only issue is running the wires to the reflector's pod. I drilled holes just behind where they are joined together, and ran a black coated wire between them, then sealed the holes with black silicon. You can't see them unless you look very closely.
The reflectors that you pull out could go into the factory brake/tail lights if you wanted to. I prefer the additional visibility of the extra lights.
The number plate light is in the same housing and has it's own holder and power supply cable within the housing. It is a 12v filament rather than a LED. That seems less prone to getting crimped and damaged than the tail LED lights supply wires. The LED's are on separate supplies, LH and RH and can blow separate fuses even if they short out, as I found out. The front sidelight is on the same circuit as the rear one.
Alternatively, could the brake/tail lights be swapped with the rear reflectors thus eliminating the wire flexing altogether?
Yes - I replaced my reflectors with an additional set of brake/tail lights. There's a thread about it somewhere on here. The only issue is running the wires to the reflector's pod. I drilled holes just behind where they are joined together, and ran a black coated wire between them, then sealed the holes with black silicon. You can't see them unless you look very closely.
The reflectors that you pull out could go into the factory brake/tail lights if you wanted to. I prefer the additional visibility of the extra lights.
I did it by running two very thin wires through the hole to the turn signal. I then used a bigger bolt to the lower housing which I drilled out. I grounded the brake light inside the turn signal housing. LED's are very LOW draw so you do not need much in the way of wiring
Rodger 2018 M3W "Dreamers on the Rise" 2004 Plus 8 (wife's) old Goldwings and a couple of Harleys
I bet that is the only M3W with a disability badge (/numberplate in the US). Kudos! PS the added rear brake/stoplight looks good too!
I was surprised that when i was registering it for the first time the person behind the counter asked if i wanted it since i am registered already with my 4 wheeled vehicles. It sounded so funny to put one on a thing they call a motorcycle i laughed and said why not๐. I suspect the law enforcement folks might be a wee bit more understanding about my bad leg/foot putting to much pressure on the gas pedal๐๐ , well one can only hope.
2019 M3W Sold and is now in Las Vegas enjoying the showgirls :-)