[rodneychan]

Did anyone try to upgrade LED bulb in the fog light for 2011-2014 model? does it require coding?

any input will be appreciate in advnace.

[TonyX3driver]

Hi, I did not. Why? Because for bestvisibility in fog is optimal to have wave lenght around 4300K- traditional bulb. Cold light LED is for nothing in fog. But it's nice looking of course. Depend what you prefer

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by rodneychan

Did anyone try to upgrade LED bulb in the fog light for 2011-2014 model? does it require coding?

any input will be appreciate in advnace.

It would require coding unless you get the LED with the error canceling circuit build in or you can buy a resister wire harness.

[MSport_Jon]

There are people in the F30 forums doing it as we speak... It seems it a straight swap provided your code the car for cold and warm bulb testing. LED Fogs help tremendously in Dark areas. They light up when you use your signal and when you do a tight turn and it illuminates well. They also light up when in reverse.

Fog performance is excellent. i had the E90 fogs and the performance is night and day... IMO

[MSport_Jon]

Originally Posted by TonyX3driver

Hi, I did not. Why? Because for bestvisibility in fog is optimal to have wave lenght around 4300K- traditional bulb. Cold light LED is for nothing in fog. But it's nice looking of course. Depend what you prefer

Not sure what you mean with wave length but i was under the impression that the 4300k was for Lumen count.

The difference between bulbs for a 4300k Lumen count output is the following;

Incandescent 310-320 Watts

Compact fluorescent 95- 110 watts

LED - 40 - 45 watts


All three technologies have an out put of 4300k Lumens.

[The X Men]

Originally Posted by MSport_Jon

Not sure what you mean with wave length but i was under the impression that the 4300k was for Lumen count.

The difference between bulbs for a 4300k Lumen count output is the following;

Incandescent 310-320 Watts

Compact fluorescent 95- 110 watts

LED - 40 - 45 watts


All three technologies have an out put of 4300k Lumens.

4300K is actually the kelvin temperature of the xenon bulb, it translate into the color of the bulb in layman's term. Stock xenon is around 4300K, while halogen is around 2700K kelvin. Difference wavelength of light will produce a difference color output, however, 4300K is not a wavelength unit, a xenon bulb's wavelength is in the vicinity of 185-2000 nm. A 35 watt xenon bulb usually produce around 2500 to 3000 lumens.

[ianfp]

I think the fog lights have standard Tungsten Halogen bulbs with a color temperature of typically 3200 deg Kelvin. This is fine with matching headlamps, but in my opinion looks awful with Xenon lamps. Incidentally, the full spectral output of a Xenon lamp is limited to visible wavelengths by the plastic and glass covers.

[buze]

I'd also be interested to upgrade, and not with the resistor pack, as all it does is heat up the road with the difference in power output -- that resistor thing is quite ridiculous...

[ianfp]

I would like to code mine so that they don't come on when indicating or turning corners. I have had several people tell me that I have a fog light out!

A decent LED solution would be the next best option!

[derriktr]

I actually just replaced my fog lights with LEDs. I almost did HIDs but I noticed that when turning the wheel, or using blinkers at low speeds the vehicle "warms up" the bulb with a soft on, and wanted to preserve that.

I ended up going with 5000k white since as others have stated, the stock xenons on my car are 4500k. I didn't want a blue look such as you get with higher ranges. The end result looks damn similar.

I'm VERY satisfied with the bulbs. I can try and find the link if anyone is interested.

I didn't get CANBUS error free bulbs and just recoded cold and warm checks as well as enabled the computer to see the bulbs as LEDs.

They turn on well, no issue with cycling on or off, and no errors due to coding.

I would highly recommend, and can post some pictures if interested as well.

[derriktr]

Here's a video showing the fogs as well as all other lights replaced.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o07UCjzWR8Q

Excuse the whining, that belt was just replaced by the dealer (goodwilled!)

[Lotus99]

Originally Posted by derriktr

Here's a video showing the fogs as well as all other lights replaced.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o07UCjzWR8Q

Excuse the whining, that belt was just replaced by the dealer (goodwilled!)

Nicely done! Which reverse bulbs did you use? I see you saw mine.

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=18790530

What about your fog LED's? Any links to the bulbs you used?

[derriktr]

Originally Posted by Lotus99

Nicely done! Which reverse bulbs did you use? I see you saw mine.

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=18790530

What about your fog LED's? Any links to the bulbs you used?

I used the Philips for the brake lights - and am VERY satisfied with them.

As for the Fogs I used Opt7 brand via Amazon. Awesome pattern, great output and color not to mention fitting in the enclosure just perfectly.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o02_s00

That's the link to the fogs I purchased.

These are the Brake light bulbs I used:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o06_s00

The brake lights were a tad bit expensive, but seeing as how Philips should cover them for twelve years I figured it was worth the investment.

I used the following for the reverse lights:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o07_s00

[Lotus99]

Cool. I'll bookmark those for later. I almost bought those JDM backup bulbs actually, and then ended up getting the other set they sell (though thru Ebay):

http://www.amazon.com/JDM-ASTAR-Extr.../dp/B00K3GBRQ2

Pretty happy with them, other than the fact that 1 out of 5 times, I get a bulb out error.

[derriktr]

Originally Posted by Lotus99

Cool. I'll bookmark those for later. I almost bought those JDM backup bulbs actually, and then ended up getting the other set they sell (though thru Ebay):

http://www.amazon.com/JDM-ASTAR-Extr.../dp/B00K3GBRQ2

Pretty happy with them, other than the fact that 1 out of 5 times, I get a bulb out error.

I'm actually going to get the ones you have - I'm happy with the color of mine but yours are 2x as many lumens, something not easily discounted when it comes to rearward visibility. Thanks for the links!

[Lotus99]

Good stuff. The ones I got not only have 15 bulbs, but they're the 3535 type, vs. the 2835 in the ones you have, so it should be brighter.

[rodneychan]

Originally Posted by derriktr

I used the Philips for the brake lights - and am VERY satisfied with them.

As for the Fogs I used Opt7 brand via Amazon. Awesome pattern, great output and color not to mention fitting in the enclosure just perfectly.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o02_s00

That's the link to the fogs I purchased.

These are the Brake light bulbs I used:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o06_s00

The brake lights were a tad bit expensive, but seeing as how Philips should cover them for twelve years I figured it was worth the investment.

I used the following for the reverse lights:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o07_s00

Do you need to coded it to make it work?

[derriktr]

Originally Posted by rodneychan

Do you need to coded it to make it work?

Yes, you'll have to code them to work. Either that or patch into the wires themselves to trick the computer into thinking it's a standard halogen bulb. I'd recommend coding though. That ways you can get comfortable with it and have some fun enabling other features of the car.

[MSport_Jon]

Originally Posted by The X Men

4300K is actually the kelvin temperature of the xenon bulb, it translate into the color of the bulb in layman's term. Stock xenon is around 4300K, while halogen is around 2700K kelvin. Difference wavelength of light will produce a difference color output, however, 4300K is not a wavelength unit, a xenon bulb's wavelength is in the vicinity of 185-2000 nm. A 35 watt xenon bulb usually produce around 2500 to 3000 lumens.

I stand corrected. Thank you!

[iya_f25]

I went for the super white ziza halogen bulb that ECS tuning sells. Works great for me