monkiboy x5 f15 build thread - cf fender trim installed!

[monkiboy]

Originally Posted by whitebeast1

I recently did Pinnacle 15 on all the windows....and will be doing either air 80 or pinnacle 50 on the windshield and pano.

Compare TSER

I recommend just depends on how dark you want to go and get good heat rejection. Pinnacle or DubIr are good if you dont mind it being darker tint. But if you want it to be lighter but still have good heat rejection then I would say the LLumar Stratos.

LLumar Pinnacle
DubIr
LLumar Stratos

I am looking to do ideally 35% up front two windows or if not available then 30%.

[whitebeast1]

TSER for these
Pinnacle - 55
Stratos - 58
DubIr - 57

So they are all pretty similar however feeling them with a heat lamp the stratos performed slightly better but the DUb ir and stratos were almost twice the cost in my area. Which is why I chose the Pinnacle 15 which the TSER for it is 60% rejection. Cost was $375 plus 160 for windshield, the windshield i plan to do later

[monkiboy]

Originally Posted by whitebeast1

TSER for these
Pinnacle - 55
Stratos - 58
DubIr - 57

So they are all pretty similar however feeling them with a heat lamp the stratos performed slightly better but the DUb ir and stratos were almost twice the cost in my area. Which is why I chose the Pinnacle 15 which the TSER for it is 60% rejection. Cost was $375 plus 160 for windshield, the windshield i plan to do later

thank you for your feedback, sir.

[nyalpine90]

i think you know the X5 better then techs at stealership!

where did you get the switch from?

[monkiboy]

Originally Posted by nyalpine90

i think you know the X5 better then techs at stealership!

where did you get the switch from?

not at all, just learning as I go and willing to work and tinker.

the switch came from ebay international - I think from Denmark. I just searched the part number in ebay and found a reputable seller with a used one for cheap. saved over 50% over new from ecs-tuning or similar and was immediately available vs the over one month wait if I went new.

[Maverik259]

Ya I did pinnacle 30 on front and 70 on windshield

[monkiboy]

probably one of the most fun mods so far is the one to adaptive LEDs just because of the scarcity of it. some folks in Russia and Singapore want to charge $800 for the DIY which seems crazy to me and definitely not my style so I set out to figure it out.

a lot of places indicated that it was not only a swap and some coding but there was wiring involved. at first I discredited this but after further research and seeing the schematics realized there is some work involved.

my particular instance was I was going from my 2017 OEM xenon headlamps to second hand 2015 adaptive LEDs which proved only a little more work was involved. took us a minute to figure that part out haha.

if swapping same year, the wiring requires only a swap of how the units receive power. if swapping from an earlier MY to 2016+ it requires that you depin and swap how the modules receive power. as on xenon head units there is power for each module on the LED units there is on power for all of them. but that is it. we ran power with a nice wire from the battery fuse box as done OEM but technically could be done from the box in the hood and care taken to hide the wires perhaps but I wanted as clean and professional look as possible.

wrapped the wires in cable wrapping tape and tucked them and one would be very hard pressed to even tell anything was done unless specifically looking for that and very dedicated.

did the coding for the LED modules and camera set up and the high-beam assist stalk swap which was really a five minute swap (take steering wheel off, pop off the steering column cover and remove the existing non HBA stalk and cluster and snap back in the new stalks with HBA) and did coding for anti-dazzle GFHB and euro set up and now it's all back together like OEM with some extra coded features.

will post up the photos shortly.

[DuSh]

Originally Posted by monkiboy

probably one of the most fun mods so far is the one to adaptive LEDs just because of the scarcity of it. some folks in Russia and Singapore want to charge $800 for the DIY which seems crazy to me and definitely not my style so I set out to figure it out.

a lot of places indicated that it was not only a swap and some coding but there was wiring involved. at first I discredited this but after further research and seeing the schematics realized there is some work involved.

my particular instance was I was going from my 2017 OEM xenon headlamps to second hand 2015 adaptive LEDs which proved only a little more work was involved. took us a minute to figure that part out haha.

if swapping same year, the wiring requires only a swap of how the units receive power. if swapping from an earlier MY to 2016+ it requires that you depin and swap how the modules receive power. as on xenon head units there is power for each module on the LED units there is on power for all of them. but that is it. we ran power with a nice wire from the battery fuse box as done OEM but technically could be done from the box in the hood and care taken to hide the wires perhaps but I wanted as clean and professional look as possible.

wrapped the wires in cable wrapping tape and tucked them and one would be very hard pressed to even tell anything was done unless specifically looking for that and very dedicated.

did the coding for the LED modules and camera set up and the high-beam assist stalk swap which was really a five minute swap (take steering wheel off, pop off the steering column cover and remove the existing non HBA stalk and cluster and snap back in the new stalks with HBA) and did coding for anti-dazzle and euro set up and now it's all back together like OEM with some extra coded features.

will post up the photos shortly.

Finally a first man to accomplish this! A giant step for x5 forum world in North America!

[monkiboy]

finally got the photos loaded of the LED conversion for anyone interested...

[nyalpine90]

were you able to clear the errors???

[monkiboy]

Originally Posted by nyalpine90

were you able to clear the errors???

yes, of course - that was during coding so the modules hadn't been coded yet. all working like OEM with the additional GFHB/HBA and other goodies.

thanks!

[Sedoy]

Wondering why you went with OEM LEDs which cost so much more vs. replica LED headlights? They are direct plug-and-play for HIDs (just need some coding), cost about $1200-1400 for both and also brighter compared to stock (US) LED. Here is an example for F10:

[monkiboy]

Originally Posted by Sedoy

Wondering why you went with OEM LEDs which cost so much more vs. replica LED headlights? They are direct plug-and-play for HIDs (just need some coding), cost about $1200-1400 for both and also brighter compared to stock (US) LED. Here is an example for F10:

thanks for the interest in my thread!
i went with OEM LEDs because they did not cost me so much more vs. replica LEDs as i negotiated an excellent deal, there is not a replica led option for the f15 like the f10, quality and longevity is proven on the OEM part whereas I've always had poor experiences long term with Chinese parts; especially those dealing with power, actuators, harnesses, and beam out - just something i wouldn't trust long term on my car from china. lastly, when dealing with figuring out for the first time, as no one was able to assist with wiring guidance or advice, i like dealing with a known quantity. that is, schematics and wiring, and pin outs are all available for the iterations i was working with between the existing xenon and led adaptive. if i had to work with a retailer or manufacturer from shengzen I'd doubt the information coming in and it would have been much more costly and time-consuming.

[Sedoy]

Good to know, mast have been a really good deal.

Originally Posted by monkiboy

thanks for the interest in my thread!
i went with OEM LEDs because they did not cost me so much more vs. replica LEDs as i negotiated an excellent deal, there is not a replica led option for the f15 like the f10, quality and longevity is proven on the OEM part whereas I've always had poor experiences long term with Chinese parts; especially those dealing with power, actuators, harnesses, and beam out - just something i wouldn't trust long term on my car from china. lastly, when dealing with figuring out for the first time, as no one was able to assist with wiring guidance or advice, i like dealing with a known quantity. that is, schematics and wiring, and pin outs are all available for the iterations i was working with between the existing xenon and led adaptive. if i had to work with a retailer or manufacturer from shengzen I'd doubt the information coming in and it would have been much more costly and time-consuming.

[mikeson]

Wow,..good posting.
Thank you for such info.

[DuSh]

Monikboy you make it look so easy dude. Half the mods you did are a major headache projects for many of us to accomplish. Are you very familiar to electrics/engineering and/or have some mechanical background? Just wondering

[monkiboy]

Originally Posted by DuSh

Monikboy you make it look so easy dude. Half the mods you did are a major headache projects for many of us to accomplish. Are you very familiar to electrics/engineering and/or have some mechanical background? Just wondering

thanks sir for following and kind remarks. I don't have any of that background but have been a car enthusiast tinkering and modding cars since I've been 12. just enjoy taking on unique projects and figuring things out, I guess. especially when the experts tell me something isn't possible, that makes it even more appealing, haha.

[Installsplus]

Subscribed! Great thread and work!?

[P1]

Originally Posted by Sedoy

Wondering why you went with OEM LEDs which cost so much more vs. replica LED headlights? They are direct plug-and-play for HIDs (just need some coding), cost about $1200-1400 for both and also brighter compared to stock (US) LED. Here is an example for F10:

Frankly, because some of us just don't feel right putting Chinese replica parts on an expensive vehicle such as an X5. Personally, I'd rather drive around with OEM Xenons than replica LEDs.

[shezi01]

Damn, this thread is amazing. and great job for taking these DIY's head on.

[monkiboy]

Originally Posted by Installsplus

Subscribed! Great thread and work!?

thank you sir for following along and posting!

[monkiboy]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Ya I did pinnacle 30 on front and 70 on windshield

thanks again, I ended up redoing it with 3m crystalline 40 on the front two windows and 50 on the windshield. perfect install and TSER is up there so hopefully performs very well too when I need it.