Lighting Package

[alphaod]

In the early E70 X5, the inside section housed an halogen bulb that lit up the angel lights, and on many F-series sedans it acts as the turning bulb. I guess it's just a carry over design of the quad angel eyes, but as the Xenon bulb acts as both low and high beam there is no use for the center. It's simply a design choice that offers consistency.

[IvanLZ]

Originally Posted by HZX540e

Somewhat related: I have the xenon lights. Only one of the eyes on both sides light up low/high beam what's the other eye for? I've seen pictures of cars with LED where both eyes light up, I guess when using the high beam, which begs the question what did BMW leave it blank for the xenon?

LED always has both lit up regardless of high beams or not. Xenons inner angel eyes are just dummies. Usually its used as fog lights on the sedans however considering how tall the X5 is, those would be useless. Also to cut costs most likely so they just placed fakes ones instead of real bulbs.

[bjcarls]

Wife has a leds and I have xenons, in general the led's are better all around once I raised the angle of her light pattern. Is it $1900 better in a first ring suburb, not really. I'd get HUD before the lighting. I would put a price on it of $900.

[Velocifero]

The Lighting Package also includes the LED front turn signal "eye brow" which is pretty cool. I kept seeing X5s with the one in the corner around town and was wondering why mine was different. I wish it also added amber rear turn signals...sigh...

Originally Posted by TallTrees

BMW engineers aren't followers?

The LED's work great especially with the anti-dazzle. I've never had better lighting than this on any previous vehicle.

I should give them more credit then. They're more than aware of the competition and chose to use a different technology. Does adding the anti-dazzle coding automatically add the feature where it auto-levels depending on your incline/decline and when you're the first one at an interesection?

[Doanster]

I love the LEDs for all the aforementioned benefits (brightness, NGHB/anti-dazzle, etc.), but the glaring (heh heh!) downside is in fact the use of reflector housings. The beam pattern is horrendous compared to projector housings. That was one of the first things I complained about here when I bought the car a couple years ago.
Also agree that $1900 would've made me seriously think about a diff upgrade if I had the choice (was a lot car that I bought).

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by Doanster

I love the LEDs for all the aforementioned benefits (brightness, NGHB/anti-dazzle, etc.), but the glaring (heh heh!) downside is in fact the use of reflector housings. The beam pattern is horrendous compared to projector housings. That was one of the first things I complained about here when I bought the car a couple years ago.
Also agree that $1900 would've made me seriously think about a diff upgrade if I had the choice (was a lot car that I bought).

Of the three major German marques, if my info is correct, both the Mercedes and Audi systems cannot be reconfigured for GFHB... On many of the Audi models, what may look like a projector LED system are actually mini reflectors in the assembly as well.

So in that aspect at least we're ahead.

For me if I would choose LED on any car I buy.

[r00ts]

I had some thoughts about this when I placed my order, but ultimately decided to get LED.

So I picked up my X5 2 days ago. On the way home I was driving on I-280 in the SF Bay Area. Locals know some stretch of this freeway is dark with no street lights. I ran into a 650GC with Xenon. As I pulled alongside I can compare my LED is whiter and brighter than his Xenon. That gave me the validation that the extra $1900 is well spent

[SCA]

I really like the LED headlights aesthetically, but the $1900 is a tough pill to swallow when one truly desires M Sport Pkg w/ M Adaptive suspension.

[kevin350]

LED's are definitely brighter but the xenons have a better and crisper cutoff. The LEDs to me have a much more flooding light feel and the color matches the fogs. Not sure if the stock xenons use 6000k or 4300 but LEDs are pure white. I have 6000k in my Audi and it just feels way dimmer in comparison. Also the daytime LED is much more brighter and crisper than than the xenons. You also get the LED turn signal which looks way cooler, but I still do miss the straight line cutoff of the projectors though. If i had to choose again I'd still go with LEDs.

[mermar]

Living in Minnesota - we can have dark,
Wet , cold night ... with plenty of dark two lanes. The led's on my 2016 are fabulous and, not sure, but if $1900 pkg is only way to get auto high beams - that is huge to me. The auto highbeam works faster then a human and lets you use your
High beams more often. I want to have my x5 coded for anti dazzle. Also - I often read about people raising their led set point - is this recommended ?? An easy DIY?

[theove]

When you have nightvision, you don't get led fogs. That's not possible.

[Zucka]

I have them on the X5 and thrust me THEY ARE WORTH IT! Do yourself a favor and get them, every single feature makes a difference when driving at night, I have found them to be of great help to see better at night. I will never go back to xenon.

[turboawd]

my first x5 had xenon, and i thought led were no big deal. i now have led on my current x5 and it would be one of the first options i would get next time. they just look cooler!

[P1]

Aesthetically, the vehicle just looks meaner with LED headlights. It was my second "must have" option after M Sport.

[mermar]

Originally Posted by theove

When you have nightvision, you don't get led fogs. That's not possible.

Who says? I have both. USA market.

[MochiEater]

Originally Posted by theove

When you have nightvision, you don't get led fogs. That's not possible.

Depends:

North American market X5 Night Vision does not have Spotlight Beam. NV cars have standard fixed fog lights. Antiquated NHTSA rules forbid Spotlight technology along with Glare Free High Beam.

RoW market X5 Night Vision has Spotlight Beam. In place of fog lights, there are mini spot lights that automatically swivel and light up animals and pedestrians identified by the Night Vision system.

[F15GorDe]

Originally Posted by theove

When you have nightvision, you don't get led fogs. That's not possible.

Maybe not in the Netherlands, my 2015 F15 has night vision and the LED fog lights. Coding has enabled GFHB when HBA has been switched on. Our 550i has the xenons and they work well. But every new vehicle ordered in the future will come with the LED lighting package.

[mermar]

Originally Posted by F15GorDe

I recently had the HBA coding done for my LED lighting package. There is a noticeable difference when this feature is enabled. For me the largest improvement is the way more of what is in front of you is illuminated. Overtaking vehicles allows you to really see the motors working to keep the hotspot of the beam out of the drivers view as you roll on by.

I'm very pleased that I now realize all of the benefit of this expensive option. It's really a shame that the USDOT does not see fit to encourage the use of a technology that is widely accepted everywhere else in the world.

Can you recommend someone to code this ?

[Kzang]

We are already paying and driving around an overpriced SUV.. why stop there??

[X5M50D]

As I mentioned in other threads I was debating on either LED headlights or leather dash when placing my order, and went for the leather dash. I have no regrets but in the back of my mind should I have gone LEDs as well?
What are the differences between adaptive xenon's and LEDs for the X5 and will I notice a marked difference? Are the cats eyes the same for either option? I know it too late now but would be interested to know.
Cheers.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by X5M50D

As I mentioned in other threads I was debating on either LED headlights or leather dash when placing my order, and went for the leather dash. I have no regrets but in the back of my mind should I have gone LEDs as well?

We're probably going to have the same regrets but in reverse, as I was debating the same two items and went for the LED's over the leather dash

The photos of that leather dash in that Pearl Silver M50d have already set the pangs of regret going

[X5M50D]

Originally Posted by GeeRam

We're probably going to have the same regrets but in reverse, as I was debating the same two items and went for the LED's over the leather dash

The photos of that leather dash in that Pearl Silver M50d have already set the pangs of regret going

I suppose you can't have it all if you are on a budget and it has to stop somewhere?
I'm sure if I wasn't on this forum these sort of things would not cross my mind as I would be none the wiser
Shows that these sort of Forums can cost you loads of money.
Still interested in the differences if someone could advise.