LED fog lights

MetaX · 02-09-2015, 05:59 PM

Has anyone tried or considered trying LED bulbs for your fog lights? I am intrigued with trying these out when my current bulbs kick the bucket but I suspect that they won't work that well for cars with the adaptive lighting package (pre-LCI). When the fogs light up with the turn signals or upon turning the wheel, they fade in and out rather than simply flip on. I'm guessing that the LED bulbs aren't designed with dimming in mind so they may misbehave a bit when the car tries its neat fade on/off trick. Other possible hangup coulds also be error codes and flicker from the automatic bulb tests that normally don't show up for incandescent bulbs.

For cars without adaptive lighting, there appears to be some benefit that comes from the added lumens you get from the LED bulbs (non-adaptive lighting vehicles use 35W H8 whereas adaptive uses 55W H11). H11s have the same plugs as H8 where the only difference is in wattage. Since the LED bulbs only draw around 10W you can use the same bulb while benefiting from the additional lumens.

akshay1234 · 02-09-2015, 10:53 PM

Why not retrofit the LED fogs from the LCI? It should be possible going how people have done it with F30s, etc.

MetaX · 02-10-2015, 01:38 AM

Ah never knew that would be an option but even if it were it would likely be more involving than I'd like (vs. just swapping a bulb). I'll look into it though. So far the LCI doesn't seem to be on realoem.com yet.

ianfp · 02-10-2015, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akshay1234

Why not retrofit the LED fogs from the LCI? It should be possible going how people have done it with F30s, etc.

I asked my BMW dealer if this could be done and they said it could not.

I would like to know if anyone can confirm that this is true?

skiajl6297 · 02-10-2015, 07:58 AM

Can't speak to whether this can be done, but the LED fogs in the LCI most definitely can handle the dimming/fading in with the adaptive lighting when turning or putting the blinker on. They work great and definitely have the same fading behavior. ('15 LCI with adaptive xenon package). Good luck!

akshay1234 · 02-10-2015, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetaX

Ah never knew that would be an option but even if it were it would likely be more involving than I'd like (vs. just swapping a bulb). I'll look into it though. So far the LCI doesn't seem to be on realoem.com yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianfp

I asked my BMW dealer if this could be done and they said it could not.

I would like to know if anyone can confirm that this is true?

Dealers wont retrofit it.

But going from what I read for the F30s, etc. The full housing needs to be changed, not just a bulb. And then there is coding after that.

The LEDs are on realoem, check the latest production date. Costs about $180 per side from what I looked up.

nyalpine90 · 02-10-2015, 08:35 AM

I have xenons with LED and they function same way as pre lci

The X Men · 02-10-2015, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetaX

Has anyone tried or considered trying LED bulbs for your fog lights? I am intrigued with trying these out when my current bulbs kick the bucket but I suspect that they won't work that well for cars with the adaptive lighting package (pre-LCI). When the fogs light up with the turn signals or upon turning the wheel, they fade in and out rather than simply flip on. I'm guessing that the LED bulbs aren't designed with dimming in mind so they may misbehave a bit when the car tries its neat fade on/off trick. Other possible hangup coulds also be error codes and flicker from the automatic bulb tests that normally don't show up for incandescent bulbs.

For cars without adaptive lighting, there appears to be some benefit that comes from the added lumens you get from the LED bulbs (non-adaptive lighting vehicles use 35W H8 whereas adaptive uses 55W H11). H11s have the same plugs as H8 where the only difference is in wattage. Since the LED bulbs only draw around 10W you can use the same bulb while benefiting from the additional lumens.

Some LED are dimmable, but what does it matter if it fades on and off or not? Aftermarket LED bulbs will cause a CAN bus error, you will need a error canceling circuit, some LED bulb have the circuit build in and some have external harness. The build in one is the best option as the external type tends to get very hot. Lumens wise, even the H8 is about as bright as the average aftermarket LED. Most people switch to LED for the color, not for the lumens. I have tried both aftermarket LED and changing the H8 bulb to H11. If you want lumens, the H11 mod is a better option. The BMW OEM LED fogs are the brightest, a bit brighter than the H11. You will need to re-code the car. The dealer will not do it, you will need to learn how to do it or find someone that can do it for you. keep in mind that every time the dealer reprogram your car, you will need to re-program the fog lights again.

m_alnimah · 02-10-2015, 09:38 AM

But the LCI's Fogs also serve as Cornering Lights... Here in the Middle East and Europe/Asia.. I don't know about the US! I still however believe that they don't illuminate a corner as well as the Cornering Lamps on my 640 GC with Adaptive LEDs... On the Pre-LCI it did illuminate a good amount but the LCI doesn't really (i think) because it doesn't have that piece of plastic over the Bulb in the housing that reflects the light... Am i Right? I've never seen it in there on the LCI

seff5677 · 02-10-2015, 09:44 AM

on my LCI X3 my fog lights are significantly brighter then my xenon headlights

would it great if they both had the same power ie my headlights have the same strength.

nyalpine90 · 02-10-2015, 10:02 AM

this is true, only way is to upgrade stock bulb 4300 to 5000 or 6000

Quote:

Originally Posted by seff5677

on my LCI X3 my fog lights are significantly brighter then my xenon headlights

would it great if they both had the same power ie my headlights have the same strength.

MetaX · 02-10-2015, 01:51 PM

Yep I assumed that a full housing replacement would be necessary but the coding change would be a deal breaker for me. As for the bulbs I suppose I could give it a try and return 'em if they error out or act weird since its only about a 5 minute process but the color temp of the Philips bulbs means that while I gain lumens I may actually lose visibility in inclement weather. Non-starter for me.

seff5677 · 02-11-2015, 09:40 AM

So the HID fogs are 6000k strength? or 5000 which ever it is. I will have to match them, and it will look great after

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyalpine90

this is true, only way is to upgrade stock bulb 4300 to 5000 or 6000

nyalpine90 · 02-11-2015, 10:59 AM

seff5677 fogs are not HID. they are LEDs on 2015 x3

back in the days when fogs were halogens, and tried matching with xenons. HID kits of 5k and 6k were used lol . alot of guys were running 6k hids to match xenons. this was back in 2008..

now we have to match our headlights with fogs,

the only thing is bumping up to 6k bulb u might cut short the distance of light output.

seff5677 · 02-11-2015, 06:38 PM

Haha yes your right they are LED i totally missed that. I need those LED headlights.. next car i will have lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyalpine90

seff5677 fogs are not HID. they are LEDs on 2015 x3

back in the days when fogs were halogens, and tried matching with xenons. HID kits of 5k and 6k were used lol . alot of guys were running 6k hids to match xenons. this was back in 2008..

now we have to match our headlights with fogs,

the only thing is bumping up to 6k bulb u might cut short the distance of light output.

apbx3 · 03-18-2015, 11:34 PM

The fog lights will work on pre lci X3's but you need to change the bracket that holds the fog lights. I have a 2014 3.5 with adaptive xenon lights and I plug them up and it work no coding. The issue I had is that I didn't want to pull the bumper off to change the bracket and also needed the part numbers for the holders.

02-09-2015, 05:59 PM	#1
MetaX Second Lieutenant 105 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 2022 X3MC Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	LED fog lights Has anyone tried or considered trying LED bulbs for your fog lights? I am intrigued with trying these out when my current bulbs kick the bucket but I suspect that they won't work that well for cars with the adaptive lighting package (pre-LCI). When the fogs light up with the turn signals or upon turning the wheel, they fade in and out rather than simply flip on. I'm guessing that the LED bulbs aren't designed with dimming in mind so they may misbehave a bit when the car tries its neat fade on/off trick. Other possible hangup coulds also be error codes and flicker from the automatic bulb tests that normally don't show up for incandescent bulbs. For cars without adaptive lighting, there appears to be some benefit that comes from the added lumens you get from the LED bulbs (non-adaptive lighting vehicles use 35W H8 whereas adaptive uses 55W H11). H11s have the same plugs as H8 where the only difference is in wattage. Since the LED bulbs only draw around 10W you can use the same bulb while benefiting from the additional lumens.
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02-09-2015, 10:53 PM	#2
akshay1234 Private First Class 30 Rep 113 Posts Drives: E90 320D, F25 X3 30D Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mumbai iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 320D [0.00]	Why not retrofit the LED fogs from the LCI? It should be possible going how people have done it with F30s, etc.
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02-10-2015, 01:38 AM	#3
MetaX Second Lieutenant 105 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 2022 X3MC Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Ah never knew that would be an option but even if it were it would likely be more involving than I'd like (vs. just swapping a bulb). I'll look into it though. So far the LCI doesn't seem to be on realoem.com yet.
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02-10-2015, 07:58 AM	#5
skiajl6297 Enlisted Member 8 Rep 39 Posts Drives: 2012 528i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DMV iTrader: (0)	Can't speak to whether this can be done, but the LED fogs in the LCI most definitely can handle the dimming/fading in with the adaptive lighting when turning or putting the blinker on. They work great and definitely have the same fading behavior. ('15 LCI with adaptive xenon package). Good luck!
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02-10-2015, 08:35 AM	#7
nyalpine90 Lieutenant General 7425 Rep 11,840 Posts Drives: MY24 G01 AW Msport Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: L.I. NY iTrader: (4) Garage List 2016 BMW X4 [9.33]	I have xenons with LED and they function same way as pre lci
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02-10-2015, 09:38 AM	#9
m_alnimah Lieutenant 70 Rep 473 Posts Drives: 2016 Mini Cooper S 5 Door Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Doha, Qatar iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW X5 [10.00]	But the LCI's Fogs also serve as Cornering Lights... Here in the Middle East and Europe/Asia.. I don't know about the US! I still however believe that they don't illuminate a corner as well as the Cornering Lamps on my 640 GC with Adaptive LEDs... On the Pre-LCI it did illuminate a good amount but the LCI doesn't really (i think) because it doesn't have that piece of plastic over the Bulb in the housing that reflects the light... Am i Right? I've never seen it in there on the LCI __________________ 2015 X5 xDrive35i M Sport, Black Sapphire on Terra Dakota Leather, Lane Change Warning, Lighting Package, 6WB, ConnectedDrive Services... (Sold) 2016 Mini Cooper S 5 Door Fully Equipped. (Sold) 2016 Audi A6 35 TFSI 2017 X6 xDrive50i Pure Extravagance, Space Grey on Coral Red, Fully Equipped.
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02-10-2015, 09:44 AM	#10
seff5677 Enlisted Member 1 Rep 39 Posts Drives: 2015 F25 X3 Xdrive28D Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	on my LCI X3 my fog lights are significantly brighter then my xenon headlights would it great if they both had the same power ie my headlights have the same strength.
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02-10-2015, 01:51 PM	#12
MetaX Second Lieutenant 105 Rep 253 Posts Drives: 2022 X3MC Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Yep I assumed that a full housing replacement would be necessary but the coding change would be a deal breaker for me. As for the bulbs I suppose I could give it a try and return 'em if they error out or act weird since its only about a 5 minute process but the color temp of the Philips bulbs means that while I gain lumens I may actually lose visibility in inclement weather. Non-starter for me.
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02-11-2015, 10:59 AM	#14
nyalpine90 Lieutenant General 7425 Rep 11,840 Posts Drives: MY24 G01 AW Msport Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: L.I. NY iTrader: (4) Garage List 2016 BMW X4 [9.33]	seff5677 fogs are not HID. they are LEDs on 2015 x3 back in the days when fogs were halogens, and tried matching with xenons. HID kits of 5k and 6k were used lol . alot of guys were running 6k hids to match xenons. this was back in 2008.. now we have to match our headlights with fogs, the only thing is bumping up to 6k bulb u might cut short the distance of light output. Last edited by nyalpine90; 02-11-2015 at 11:04 AM..
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03-18-2015, 11:34 PM	#16
apbx3 Private First Class 8 Rep 123 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW X3 (3.5i) Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Tarzana, CA iTrader: (0)	LED retrofit X3 pre LCI The fog lights will work on pre lci X3's but you need to change the bracket that holds the fog lights. I have a 2014 3.5 with adaptive xenon lights and I plug them up and it work no coding. The issue I had is that I didn't want to pull the bumper off to change the bracket and also needed the part numbers for the holders.
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