10-25-2014, 09:13 AM | #1 |
Lieutenant
45
Rep 472
Posts |
Replacing Halogen bulbs to Osram Night Breaker Unlimited?
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 |
10-25-2014, 03:09 PM | #2 |
Second Lieutenant
17
Rep 233
Posts |
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. Last edited by RhoXS; 10-26-2014 at 07:17 AM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
10-28-2014, 11:32 AM | #3 |
Yorkshireman trapped in a Berkshire postcode
12
Rep 213
Posts |
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
__________________
X3 3.0d M-Sport
Mini Countryman Cooper S ALL4 Last edited by Ranger 6; 10-28-2014 at 11:35 AM.. Reason: add price |
Appreciate
0
|
10-28-2014, 01:02 PM | #4 | |
Lieutenant
45
Rep 472
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-29-2014, 05:50 AM | #5 |
Yorkshireman trapped in a Berkshire postcode
12
Rep 213
Posts |
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.
__________________
X3 3.0d M-Sport
Mini Countryman Cooper S ALL4 |
Appreciate
0
|
10-29-2014, 12:23 PM | #6 |
Major
851
Rep 1,118
Posts
Drives: Lots of BMWs
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: RI/MA
iTrader: (0)
Garage List 2018 M4 Vert [0.00]
2006 Z4M Roadster [0.00] 1995 540i [0.00] 2008 BMW M5 [0.00] 2019 i3 Rex [0.00] 2021 X7 40i MSport [0.00] |
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.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-03-2014, 02:14 PM | #7 |
Lieutenant
45
Rep 472
Posts |
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? |
Appreciate
0
|
11-03-2014, 02:40 PM | #8 |
Idiot-in-chief
31
Rep 218
Posts |
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?
__________________
X3 F25 LCI 30d M Sport
Alpina Roadster S |
Appreciate
0
|
11-03-2014, 04:29 PM | #9 | |
Lieutenant
45
Rep 472
Posts |
Quote:
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. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-04-2014, 12:31 AM | #10 |
Idiot-in-chief
31
Rep 218
Posts |
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?
__________________
X3 F25 LCI 30d M Sport
Alpina Roadster S |
Appreciate
0
|
11-04-2014, 06:57 AM | #11 |
Lieutenant
45
Rep 472
Posts |
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)...
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-04-2014, 07:05 AM | #12 |
Idiot-in-chief
31
Rep 218
Posts |
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
__________________
X3 F25 LCI 30d M Sport
Alpina Roadster S |
Appreciate
0
|
11-04-2014, 07:09 AM | #13 |
Idiot-in-chief
31
Rep 218
Posts |
@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
__________________
X3 F25 LCI 30d M Sport
Alpina Roadster S Last edited by PerryGunn; 11-04-2014 at 03:54 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
11-04-2014, 07:12 AM | #14 | |
Lieutenant
45
Rep 472
Posts |
Quote:
Just ordered some 'cheap' white LED ebay replacements for mine. Last edited by philtrick123; 11-04-2014 at 08:15 AM.. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-04-2014, 07:27 AM | #15 | |
Idiot-in-chief
31
Rep 218
Posts |
Quote:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005OK4PR0
__________________
X3 F25 LCI 30d M Sport
Alpina Roadster S |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-04-2014, 07:39 AM | #16 |
Idiot-in-chief
31
Rep 218
Posts |
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
__________________
X3 F25 LCI 30d M Sport
Alpina Roadster S |
Appreciate
0
|
11-04-2014, 03:18 PM | #17 |
Idiot-in-chief
31
Rep 218
Posts |
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
__________________
X3 F25 LCI 30d M Sport
Alpina Roadster S |
Appreciate
0
|
11-05-2014, 09:53 AM | #18 | |
Private
4
Rep 59
Posts |
Quote:
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. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-05-2014, 03:58 PM | #19 |
Lieutenant
45
Rep 472
Posts |
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.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-06-2014, 12:27 PM | #21 |
Registered
0
Rep 2
Posts |
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. |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|