[philtrick123]

Any views on upgrading the Halogen bulbs to these?
My friend who has an Audi A6 says they are excellent.

http://www.osram.com/osram_com/news-...ails/index.jsp

[RhoXS]

My suggestion is don't buy them. They provide less light than a normal Quartz-halogen bulb. Let me explain.

You will notice the bulb has a blue tint to it. That blue tint, representing what is called a dichroic filter, is there for for two reasons. First it absorbs yellow light raising the color temperature of the bulb making it look whiter. Second, it sort of gives the the bulb the appearance of being an HID bulb (whiter with a hint of blue) so it is a way of appealing to the HID wannabes.

The bulb is blue because that is the filter color for a filter that absorbs yellow light. By reducing the amount of yellow light energy, the blue frequencies become relatively more predominant and the light appears whiter. Unfortunately, yellow light frequencies represent the overwhelming amount of light energy produced by an incandescent filament, even one burning extremely hot like in an quartz halogen bulb. So, you end up with consequentially less light energy being emitted to light the road ahead. Adding insult to injury, yellow light frequencies penetrate moisture laden air much better than blue does and that is why fog lights are frequently yellow. By removing all that useful yellow light, you just don't see as well if there is any consequential moisture in the air.

In my opinion the blue tinted replacement bulbs are a very expansive scam. The whiter light with a trace of blue makes them appear brighter. However, there is actually less light energy being projected on the road ahead.

[Ranger 6]

From experience (I've got 4 fitted, both dip and main) they work well and are much better than standard bulbs.

Th advice above is partially right in that avoid anything marked 'cool blue' or similar. Use the AutoExpress test as a guide for UK media. They test properly.

edit: I found this if it helps: http://www.powerbulbs.com/product/ni...7-twin-blister

[philtrick123]

Originally Posted by Ranger 6

From experience (I've got 4 fitted, both dip and main) they work well and are much better than standard bulbs.

Th advice above is partially right in that avoid anything marked 'cool blue' or similar. Use the AutoExpress test as a guide for UK media. They test properly.

I presume dip and main beam are all H7 fitting. So I'll need 2 double packs of H7 to replace all 4?

[Ranger 6]

Yes, it is on the E83. I did it in two goes as I wasn't sure how good they'd be. I was so impressed by the dip beam set I got another for main beam.

Having just come back from doing course car on a night rally in Scotland I'd say the only way to get (OEM) better is 4 x Xenons. Hence why I'm disappointed with the F25 only having a pair of xenon lamps if you take that option.

[bagekko]

They most likely have a shorter life than the BMW bulbs, so you'll be replacing them very quickly. I once looked at some bulbs a friend recommended and they only had a 1 yr life expectancy.

[philtrick123]

I swapped the dipped and main beam bulbs for Philip X-Treme Vision 100%.
Total cost for 4 bulbs= £42 (~$65). I took a night picture before the swap last night. Weather is not so good tonight so can't post a comparison.

Does anyone know the bulb type for the sidelights at the front (just above the main beam bulbs. 501's? Do I need canbus?
Can anyone recommend road legal LED bulbs to replace the sidelight bulbs?

[PerryGunn]

Last weekend I replaced the low & high beam bulbs with the Osram Nightbreaker Unlimited H7 bulbs, they give a much brighter and whiter beam. I also swapped the front indicator bulbs for Osram Diadem chrome bulbs which gets rid of the orange 'egg yolk' effect and makes the whole headlight assembly look much cleaner

Today I replaced the DRLs with some new MTec 380w w21w Super White bulbs and the difference is amazing - when the first one was replaced it really showed how yellow the OEM DRL bulbs are

Also delivered today were some Osram Cool Blue Intense W5W bulbs to replace the parking lamps - I just can't figure out how to remove the parking lamp bulbs, the manual just says 'remove the bulb holder' but do they just pull out or are they a twist & pull, and I don't want to exert too much force? Anyone done this?

[philtrick123]

Originally Posted by PerryGunn

Also delivered today were some Osram Cool Blue Intense W5W bulbs to replace the parking lamps - I just can't figure out how to remove the parking lamp bulbs, the manual just says 'remove the bulb holder' but do they just pull out or are they a twist & pull, and I don't want to exert too much force? Anyone done this?

I assume you're talking about the small bulb above the main beam H7.
I removed one for access just by pulling it out. The other side looked a bit more wedged in, and I didn't remove it because I could access the main beam bulb with it in place.

[PerryGunn]

Originally Posted by philtrick123

I assume you're talking about the small bulb above the main beam H7.
I removed one for access just by pulling it out. The other side looked a bit more wedged in, and I didn't remove it because I could access the main beam bulb with it in place.

It's the small w5w bulb in the outer reflectors but it's below the H7 bulb - if we're talking about the same one, I'll try pulling harder?

[philtrick123]

Originally Posted by PerryGunn

It's the small w5w bulb in the outer reflectors but it's below the H7 bulb - if we're talking about the same one, I'll try pulling harder?

Don't pull it! I just double checked and the one I'm referring to must never have been twisted in the factory. Twist 90 degrees to remove. See the pictures below (bulb is under the hatch- the top bulb)...

[PerryGunn]

Having seen a picture of the pre-LCI halogen lights it looks like there are only 3 bulbs in the headlamp on each side
and it does have the parking/side light bulb in the inner reflector above the high-beam bulb




On the LCI, there are 4 bulbs on each side and the parking/side light bulb is in the outer reflector below the low-beam bulb



It's bulb no. 4 in the picture above that I'm having difficulty working out how to remove

[PerryGunn]

@philtrick123 - looks like you posted while I was uploading the pictures and composing my post

Is the bulb you're holding in your second picture a 5w5 wedge bulb? If so, I'd think it likely that the holder is the same on both models and mine will need a 90deg twist

Edit - as @philtrick123 points out below it's w5w not 5w5

[philtrick123]

Originally Posted by PerryGunn

@philtrick123 - looks like you posted while I was uploading the pictures and composing my post

Is the bulb you're holding in your second picture a 5w5 wedge bulb? If so, I'd think it likely that the holder is the same on both models and mine will need a 90deg twist

I'm almost 100% sure its a 501 W5W (not 5w5!). BUT not an expert on car bulb fittings! http://my-car-bulbs.co.uk/w5w-501-ca...idelight-bulbs
Just ordered some 'cheap' white LED ebay replacements for mine.

[PerryGunn]

Originally Posted by philtrick123

I'm almost 100% sure its a 501 5w5. BUT not an expert on car bulb fittings!
Just ordered some 'cheap' ebay replacements for mine.

The OSRAM ones I ordered weren't exactly expensive for a branded pair - they were £9.17 with free delivery through Amazon so I didn't bother shopping around

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005OK4PR0

[PerryGunn]

For anyone else thinking of doing this on the LCI, the full list of bubs that I've used is

High & Dipped Beam - OSRAM Night Breaker Unlimited H7

DRLs - MTEC 380W W21W Super White Xenon Effect bulbs T20 7440

Parking Lights - OSRAM Cool Blue Intense w5w

Indicators - OSRAM Diadem Chrome indicator light PY21W

[PerryGunn]

I managed to remove/replace the parking light bulbs this evening They do just pull out but you have to feel for the 'gaps' on opposite sides of the moulding on the shell and pinch the bulb holder itself - I'd been gripping the moulding tube that mostly surrounds the bulb holder

It's harder to explain than to do - getting them back in is easier if you have the lights on as you can peer into the headlamp and see the lit tip of the bulb to guide it back into place

[bowler_1]

Originally Posted by philtrick123

I presume dip and main beam are all H7 fitting. So I'll need 2 double packs of H7 to replace all 4?

Hi philtrick123,
If you are interested I have 2 sets of 55W HID lamps on Ebay which were fitted in March this year to my 2013 F25 X32.0D M Sport. I have just changed the X3 for an X5 4.0D M Sport so took the HID's off.

[philtrick123]

Originally Posted by bowler_1

Hi philtrick123,
If you are interested I have 2 sets of 55W HID lamps on Ebay which were fitted in March this year to my 2013 F25 X32.0D M Sport. I have just changed the X3 for an X5 4.0D M Sport so took the HID's off.

Are they road legal? I understand that a lot of the HID kits are not legal because they are not link to a self levelling system, and the halogen reflector is not suitable for HID bulbs.

[The X Men]

Here in the US, 55 watt HID are illegal no matter what housing you put it in.

[vak_GR]

Hello from Greece.
I have the f25 2014 facelift LCI model for 10 days.
Pretty nice car.
But I don't like the fog lights. They are too yellow compared to the xenon lights I have.
I am thinking to buy from the ebay the LED fog lights.
Do you know if they are just plug n play?
Or I need any special wiring and cables.

sorry for the off topic question, couldnt find an answer anywhere else.

[The X Men]

You will need the error free H8 LED.