06-04-2012, 11:58 PM | #1 |
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European / German Headlight Swap
Has anyone swapped their US spec headlights on a F25 to European/German spec (sans orange/amber reflector)? Or can anyone confirm that this is possible and a direct plug/play without issues? I know that folks have swapped the rear signals successfully (to get amber signals) but I have not been able to find much on headlights.
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06-06-2012, 05:18 PM | #3 |
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I'm sure it would be technically feasible, but probably very expensive to get the new housings. Also might be a bit difficult to get a hold of, you'll have to get someone to purchase them in Europe and have them shipped over.
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06-06-2012, 06:12 PM | #4 |
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Like switching out the side view mirrors or the rear turn signals . . . . . why don't they have the amber rear turn signals in the US? Why????
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06-06-2012, 06:21 PM | #5 |
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There are regulations over there which stipulate that rear turn signals must be amber, but in the US they can be amber or red in the back. My guess is the BMW designers prefer the look of having the housing be all red, so that's what they do in markets where this is possible.
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06-07-2012, 04:35 AM | #6 |
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I'd thought that before, too, about the consistent red appearance of the gels. I think the amber models still look red when they're not activate. Unless they preferred the "all red" even when activated? Goofy to me. The safety advantage of the instant recognition of the amber as a turn indicator seems significant -- from a distance on a rural road, in the midst of heavy traffic when folks are frequently on and off the brakes quickly. I hope they change their mind going forward!
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06-07-2012, 02:54 PM | #7 | |
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06-07-2012, 03:56 PM | #8 | |
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At any rate, highly interested in the results, thank you in advance! |
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06-07-2012, 04:01 PM | #9 | |
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06-21-2012, 03:36 PM | #11 |
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06-21-2012, 04:36 PM | #12 |
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so you installed the fronts with no issue? ie, no codes, just fired right up?....did you have adaptive?
....updates appreciated...rear ambers should be plug/play. thx again for leading the way here. |
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06-23-2012, 09:21 AM | #13 |
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I've been looking into this the day I got my car and it always seemed to be direct swap. Now I realize that the US spec vehicles are equipped with Bi-Xenons for hi-beams whereas that may not be the case in Europe. So for a direct swap you may loose the ability to use your xenon headlights as high beams. Not sure entirely, just a hunch.
I suppose we can easily confirm with someone from Europe and see what their high beams are like. |
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06-23-2012, 03:24 PM | #14 |
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AFAIK the Euro lights are bi-xenon just like ours. They should be identical in every way except for the amber reflectors and they'll have different cutoff patterns instead of our DOT ones. Usually the Euro cutoff patterns are a really good upgrade on their own, good light further down the road and a sharper, more colorful edge.
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06-24-2012, 12:50 PM | #15 |
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rears are no problem, straight swap... of course you still lack rear fog light which is obligatory in europe (at least in some countries)
front ones are working after straight swap, only those markers using orange side indicator bulbs are problematic, it's job for good guy with proper software for bmw |
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07-03-2012, 04:51 PM | #18 | |
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he also unlocked many more things like rear hood closing via key, radio stations with even frequency channels, european navigation, language, etc. |
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07-07-2012, 11:17 AM | #19 |
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Thanks again br21, I wonder what he changed....also wonder if this would be possible via the coding program that everyone is using now. I don't suppose it is possible to get more detail from your bmw specialist on what values he changed for coding or further detail on the coding itself?
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