IIHS F15 Test Results: HID vs LED

[P1]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

you're poor. I actually pay someone to drive my M3 by my house. That way I can marvel at how cool I would look driving the M3.

I'm in the process of buying an identical X5. That way, we always drive together and I can see how sweet those LED headlights look.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by P1et

I'm in the process of buying an identical X5. That way, we always drive together and I can see how sweet those LED headlights look.

from time to time, my wife and I happen to drive the two cars between her parents house and our house.

I make it a point to follow her X5. I just love the stance on the staggered OEM 20s. Waiting for OP to tell me how useless my staggered 20s are.

[Dirty Cash]

Originally Posted by Kzang

I would agree that the LED's aren't ground breaking better than the HID's. But in comparison to my E70 HID side by side they are much whiter and more brilliant. As far as the light output tests goes... even if the HID performed only slightly better I'd still fork up the $1900 to get the LED's because it just looks cleaner and nicer. Same reason I paid more for the MSport Line and paid extra for the 20" staggered wheels, multi- contour seats, MPPK, MPE, carbon fiber parts, etc etc.

Don't forget with the LED's you also get the inner bulbs that work so you have 4 bulbs that light up whereas with the HID the inner bulbs are "dummies" and have no functional use.
We bought these cars because we all like nicer cars.

Agreed, on all points!

Get what you want, when you want and how you want as long as you're spending your own cash.

Satisfaction belongs to the owner, no one else.

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

you're poor. I actually pay someone to drive my M3 by my house. That way I can marvel at how cool I would look driving the M3.

Originally Posted by P1et

I'm in the process of buying an identical X5. That way, we always drive together and I can see how sweet those LED headlights look.

[Dirty Cash]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

I just love the stance on the staggered OEM 20s. Waiting for OP to tell me how useless my staggered 20s is.

No one in their right mind, seeing the X5 from the back (or any angle for that manner) could honestly feel the staggered 20's are useless on this vehicle!

[IvanLZ]

I have the HIDs and i have to agree that LED looks menacing at night.

Anyways i will be coming back to this thread

[Flying Ace]

There's no shame in a no-line X5 on poverty spec donut 18s.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

from time to time, my wife and I happen to drive the two cars between her parents house and our house.

I make it a point to follow her X5. I just love the stance on the staggered OEM 20s. Waiting for OP to tell me how useless my staggered 20s are.

Most people on this forum apparently don't get this

[zinengineer]

I'm not going to read the results of the test; I really don't care. As for resale, we keep our cars waaayyyy longer than most. We traded in a 2004 MDX with 175K miles for the X5 (yes, MSport) that we currently have.

did I need to get the full-on MSport w/LED, parking assist, and all the other goodies? NO, but once I decided to get a BMW, it was all in (maybe not all the way...still can't afford a X5M). If I simply needed a basic SUV, I would have purchased a Honda Pilot; I went through the Honda phase and wanted a BMW because "I can".

I like the LED's, and compared to the Xenons on my 535, they "seem" brighter. The important thing is, the X5 is my wife's DD and SHE likes the LED's.

When you've been married for 37 years, you'll understand that the incremental pricing I paid for the LED's was worth it. I don't have to justify that incremental expense to anyone.

And yes, when I pull into the garage and see those 20" tires greeting me with a rear end view, I smile each and every time.

[Dirty Cash]

Originally Posted by zinengineer

I'm not going to read the results of the test; I really don't care. As for resale, we keep our cars waaayyyy longer than most. We traded in a 2004 MDX with 175K miles for the X5 (yes, MSport) that we currently have.

did I need to get the full-on MSport w/LED, parking assist, and all the other goodies? NO, but once I decided to get a BMW, it was all in (maybe not all the way...still can't afford a X5M). If I simply needed a basic SUV, I would have purchased a Honda Pilot; I went through the Honda phase and wanted a BMW because "I can".

I like the LED's, and compared to the Xenons on my 535, they "seem" brighter. The important thing is, the X5 is my wife's DD and SHE likes the LED's.

When you've been married for 37 years, you'll understand that the incremental pricing I paid for the LED's was worth it. I don't have to justify that incremental expense to anyone.

And yes, when I pull into the garage and see those 20" tires greeting me with a rear end view, I smile each and every time.

First off, 37 years!

Congratulations, you are a smart Man to have lasted that long (I've been married 17, together 21). I'm sure you live by a few mottos, one being "Happy Wife, Happy Life."

Secondly, I smile every time I see the derrière of my X5 (even though it only has non-staggered 19's for now) and I'm sure when I upgrade to the stag-20's I'll bust out the Kool-Aid "OH YEAH!!!" smile from that point forward.

For those who have ventured back to the forum because of this thread, you picked a good time to jump back in!!!

[zinengineer]

Originally Posted by Dirty Cash

First off, 37 years!

Congratulations, you are a smart Man to have lasted that long (I've been married 17, together 21). I'm sure you live by a few mottos, one being "Happy Wife, Happy Life."

Secondly, I smile every time I see the derrière of my X5 (even though it only has non-staggered 19's for now) and I'm sure when I upgrade to the stag-20's I'll bust out the Kool-Aid "OH YEAH!!!" smile from that point forward.

For thos who have ventured back to the forum because of this thread, you picked a good time to jump back in!!!

you are correct; Happy Wife = Happy Life. Everything follows from that, makes decisions rather "simple"

[Kzang]

How can you NOT smile and grin every time you see an ass like this..







Versus this....




And Lastly....

[P1]

[Kr0m3assass1n]

Originally Posted by Kzang

How can you NOT smile and grin every time you see an ass like this..







Versus this....




And Lastly....

Now back to topic. DO I NEED HIDS OR LEDS TO SEE THAT A55 properly?

[Dirty Cash]

Originally Posted by Kzang

Versus this....

Unfortunately, I'm in the Versus this category (for now!)

BTW, great illustration!!!

[Dirty Cash]

Originally Posted by P1et

Sir, no offense, but this X5 is BOOTYFULL!!!

That is all!!!

[PeanutButterJellyTime]

My first few questions of many to the sales guy at BMW were:

-is it the full Msport package?
-Does it have LED headlights?
-does the satellite in space zoom in for the overhead view?

In that order.

Those are the 3 options that I feel is a must for me.

[Dirty Cash]

Originally Posted by PeanutButterJellyTime

My first few questions of many to the sales guy at BMW were:

-is it the full Msport package?
-Does it have LED headlights?
-does the satellite in space zoom in for the overhead view?

In that order.

Those are the 3 options that I feel is a must for me.

The overhead view is actually a micro-drone housed in the shark fin that deploys on demand.

[P1]

Originally Posted by Dirty Cash

Unfortunately, I'm in the Versus this category (for now!)

BTW, great illustration!!!

You have a M Sport, so you're not on this category whatsoever! You'll get your 20s or 21s eventually. All in due time!

[Flying Ace]

Terrible anology, I'm cool with either

[Chadmatic]

[iconoclast]

while this is not a perfect comparison since it is not an x5 v. x5 this is what the led x5 headlights look like versus oem e-code hid 4L Q7 headlights w/ autobahn mode enabled (Philips XV50 4300k Bulbs). same roads, similar speeds at same time of year neither have their brights on... lower photo is same driveway same time of year low beam and high beam:





(Euro Spec Headlights on the 4L Q7 put out 20% more light and have a sharper cut-off than their NAR counterparts.)