Converting to LED headlights

[jgb87]

Has anyone done the conversion from xenon to led headlights? I know I will need a new wire harness but can't seem to find any posts on this. Then the proper coding. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Almaretto]

It has been done, but do not remember post.

Anything OEM can be VO coded (522/524 to 552 LED).

[Kzang]

As much as it costs to do this retrofit, I wouldn't even bother especially since Xenons are only slightly less brighter or whiter than LED's.
Next time just order the LED's on your car, unless you got the car used or off the dealers lot and had no control on the options

[P1]

Honestly, it's worth it. The LEDs look so much better than the HIDs. It was second on my "have to have list" after the M Sport package. I feel it makes a BIG difference.

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by Kzang

As much as it costs to do this retrofit, I wouldn't even bother especially since Xenons are only slightly less brighter or whiter than LED's.
Next time just order the LED's on your car, unless you got the car used or off the dealers lot and had no control on the options

I sometimes find the Xenons brighter and LED only "shine" when really dark outside plus coded for NGHB/VLD.

[MysticBlue]

I don't see that it would be worth the trouble. Another classic case of newer is not always better. My 8 year old xenons are better than my 2 year old LED's. The xenons put out a "fuller" light. Light fills all the area in the pattern. The LED's light within the pattern are not as full or complete... there are bright spots and dim spots. Like paint that doesn't completely cover in one coat.

[P1]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

I don't see that it would be worth the trouble. Another classic case of newer is not always better. My 8 year old xenons are better than my 2 year old LED's. The xenons put out a "fuller" light. Light fills all the area in the pattern. The LED's light within the pattern are not as full or complete... there are bright spots and dim spots. Like paint that doesn't completely cover in one coat.

But they LOOK better, right? All that matters.

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by P1et

But they LOOK better, right? All that matters.

Exactly. Same reason people drive around with their fog lights on all the time.

[MN2///M]

You'd be better putting the money into a new deal IMO. The LEDs are great, but I'm sure the retrofit will cost you considerable coin unless you can locate a junked one with the right parts.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by P1et

Honestly, it's worth it. The LEDs look so much better than the HIDs. It was second on my "have to have list" after the M Sport package. I feel it makes a BIG difference.

but I have halogens on my M3. I feel completely inadequate. Anyone want to trade my M3 for a bus ticket or your F15? I'll even take a euro 20d.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by MN2///M

You'd be better putting the money into a new deal IMO. The LEDs are great, but I'm sure the retrofit will cost you considerable coin unless you can locate a junked one with the right parts.

this is correct. On the E70, people have been trying to go halogen to LED, or to X5M/X6 LEDs, which requires brand new light housing and coding.

The only way to get this done for less than $5k is to search junk yard websites, and cross your fingers it's not damaged, b/c you're also buying it sight unseen with no return policy.

BTW, $5k is half of the depreciation of what your F15 will eat this year of ownership...so either forget about doing this, or trade your car in for the real deal.

[Codinchen]

I didn't order and picked one from the lot that came with the lighting package. I am not sure if this would be a must have option for me. The salesperson kept saying how great the halos shine during the day but I thought it looks the same without the LEDs? I don't know if I would spend the coin for swapping, but then again, my X5 came with the aluminum roof rails which I priced to have changed to gloss black and it is just quite prohibitive for a cosmetic change. I figure every dollar I spend to change the roof rails or in your case the headlights, then that could go to something else. Nonetheless, we all want our cars to be perfect for us.

[jgb87]

I have the led headlights already. I just don't know if the wire harness could be bought or I could take it to someone to retrofit the wiring? As for the coding that would be the easy part I assume.

[Florida-X3]

You all do realize the higher you go in Kelvin (color temp, 6500 = daylight) the less lumens (aka actual brightness) so just because a bulb is nice and white doesn't mean its actually putting out more light. Cheap 6000k bulbs look blue, aka the ricers that go to AutoZone and buy the cheap stuff or put 8000k bulbs in. A good led (using VLEDS as my guide, have bought many) will be nice and white at 5000k. I'm in the camp that yeah you can probably do it but I'm sure it's a lot of $$$ for basically cosmetic.

[turboawd]

my first f15 x5 had xenon, and i thought led were no big deal. now i have led on my current x5 and i would have to get them again if i bought another. they just look cool for one and the light output is unique. not sure how to describe exactly. plus you get the led turn signal.

[MN2///M]

US spec BMW's with LEDs are truly a night and day difference IMO, code them to Euro spec with NGHB/Anti-dazzle/VLD and they are just plain amazing. The LED lighting illuminates reflective surfaces better. I will concede that the evenness of the light is not the same as the Xenon, but it is not really that noticeable and the LED's I think still provide overall better light across the entire field than the Xenon. I would not buy another BMW without them, but I also would not get hung up about it if I had chosen not to go with them after the fact.

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

I sometimes find the Xenons brighter and LED only "shine" when really dark outside plus coded for NGHB/VLD.

+1

My wife had a 2016 428i Convertible with Xenons and I had an M4 with Adaptive LEDs. When I'm on the road and give a high beam to someone to flash them so they would move away, with the LEDs, I could barely see any light coming out but with her Xenons, when I flash them, you could see a very bright and strong high beam that would scare people away.

I took the M4 to the dealership to have it checked and they told me that's how it is. LEDs are brighter on the road, as in, they show more light over the horizon but not as powerful as the Xenons in terms of output power, they are meant to be energy efficient.

OP, it's not worth it brah, I'd stick to the Xenons

PS: My M4 had the Euro version of the Adaptive LEDs so it's not a coding issue either.

[P1]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

Exactly. Same reason people drive around with their fog lights on all the time.

I always have my foglights on when my headlights are on.

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by P1et

I always have my foglights on when my headlights are on.

And every time I see you I just
This is why we can't have nice things. BMW's (and most others built in Europe) have rear fog lights, but not in the US. The hardware is there, but disabled and no switch. Because they know stupid Americans would just turn them on all the time. I have them on my M3 because I fixed the light housing so they would work. I turn them on when it's foggy. I turn them off when it's not.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

And every time I see you I just
This is why we can't have nice things. BMW's (and most others built in Europe) have rear fog lights, but not in the US. The hardware is there, but disabled and no switch. Because they know stupid Americans would just turn them on all the time. I have them on my M3 because I fixed the light housing so they would work. I turn them on when it's foggy. I turn them off when it's not.

Wtf?

X5's "fog lights" are not even fogs... they are actually driving lights. The lights are set too high and the light color is white when it should be amber or yellow. BMW also programmed these lights to turn on individually as cornering lights.

So all you stupid Americans, please use your fogs!

[P1]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

And every time I see you I just
This is why we can't have nice things. BMW's (and most others built in Europe) have rear fog lights, but not in the US. The hardware is there, but disabled and no switch. Because they know stupid Americans would just turn them on all the time. I have them on my M3 because I fixed the light housing so they would work. I turn them on when it's foggy. I turn them off when it's not.

First of all, I *am* European. Second of all, I don't have rear fog lights on my X5. I'm talking about my front foglights here. They are hardly "fog" lights, as they are too far off the ground to truly make a difference at night.

You need to relax...

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by P1et

First of all, I *am* European. Second of all, I don't have rear fog lights on my X5. I'm talking about my front foglights here. They are hardly "fog" lights, as they are too far off the ground to truly make a difference at night.

You need to relax...

I didn't say front was back or back was front. My point, we don't have rears because Americans would turn them on and leave them on. I have them but use them properly. I only use them when it's foggy. And my front fog lights work just fine as turning lights when the switch is in auto. They don't have to be "on" to work. And you are correct. They really aren't very good at being fog lights... they are too high up and too blue/white. So, I really don't use them for much of anything. I just let them be turning lights. And I'm plenty relaxed, thanks.