LEDs vs Xenons (picture analysis)

punjabimd · 09-02-2014, 09:42 AM

Fantastic comparison, thanks for making this effort!

BMW FOREVER · 09-02-2014, 10:04 AM

for the high beam pics…I noticed the LED light up only until the mid point of the doors, whereas the xenons light up well above that

m_alnimah · 09-02-2014, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC4

Cool.

Still not worth $1900.

In my opinion it is worth every penny... (Well here in some areas of the middle east they come as standard) they have an anti glare function that is actually pretty good and it also has a 3D look and design... While driving under 25 mph the left headlight unit (for left hand cars) dips down and all the way to the left.. In my opinion its worth it but if i had to i'd take Xenons anything but not Halogens...

openwheelracing · 09-02-2014, 02:35 PM

I would upgrade for $800. Not $1900

G30 B58 · 09-02-2014, 04:28 PM

Love our new LEDs.

Good info OP.

stormlv · 09-03-2014, 03:41 AM

Thanks again

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webic

Good work OP. If you could keep the cars longer I'd almost be willing to send you my LUX meter to measure light output. However your image analysis and comparisons are good. Thanks. Someone should sticky this.

Unfortunately the loaner is long gone, but I appreciate the thought!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW FOREVER

for the high beam pics…I noticed the LED light up only until the mid point of the doors, whereas the xenons light up well above that

The lighting pattern is indeed different, but if I were to venture a guess, I would say that it's because beam pattern of the LEDs is better controlled. Since it's brighter than xenons, i'd say they have to be a bit more careful with it especially when you have it in Auto High beams mode.

In any case, notice that the two beam centers sit at around the same height (it not slightly higher for LEDs) though.

Rxpert · 09-03-2014, 07:01 AM

Just wanted to say thanks to the OP for this great thread. It was probably a lot of work and is really appreciated.

It's nice to see the benefit of LEDs. I got them simply for the aesthetics so it's great that they also provide better light output. Thanks!

shivaswrath · 09-03-2014, 08:48 AM

Great effort! Now let's see if we can pool money, fly you to Germany, and have you do an i8 laser vs. LED comparison :-)

Eyenerd · 09-03-2014, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

Great effort! Now let's see if we can pool money, fly you to Germany, and have you do an i8 laser vs. LED comparison :-)

Actually there's a BMW corp car that's an i8 that has been driving around to all the dealerships to show it off .. I believe they are from NJ but could be wrong. They stopped by NoVA and my CA actually got to see it! I wish he would have called me, I missed it by two days dang it!!

Pauleebe · 09-03-2014, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC4

Cool.

Still not worth $1900.

Exactly

rjpeaks · 09-03-2014, 10:56 AM

thanks OP.

i think it's worth it.

aksi · 09-03-2014, 01:02 PM

Toyota Corolla S I just leased for work comes with LED headlights. I couldnt believe my eyes of how bright the damn thing is compared to my 335.
Corolla 1 : 0 335 lol

xDrive35i · 09-03-2014, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 300hp

I am yet to come across a claim BMW made that did not turn out to be true or understated

Hah!

JUSTIN808 · 09-03-2014, 07:08 PM

Thank you OP for finally putting this debate to rest. We had no evidence that the LED lighting package was better before your post and everyone without the package just bashed it. Your post is proof enough for me that it was worth it.

Lights are brighter, looks better and costs more = best oem headlights available on 4 series period.

for those that think its too expensive and don't get them at least now know that the lighting package is better then other standard lights available.

People ordering can now make this decision based on facts.

Thank you again for all your work.

stormlv · 09-04-2014, 11:36 AM

Thanks guys, glad that you find the thread useful

Quote:

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

Great effort! Now let's see if we can pool money, fly you to Germany, and have you do an i8 laser vs. LED comparison :-)

Hehe, I'd probably drive there and test my car on the autobahn as well

I actually saw an i8 here in Geneva while going to work one morning. It really looks like something out of a SF movie.

snowghost · 09-04-2014, 04:44 PM

So Xenons are standard now and $1900 more for the LED?

I don't have my 2013 build sheet handy, but IIRC the lighting package back on mine was extra to get the Adaptive Xenon. So if that's now standard, it seems the $1900 would be worth it.

CaptChaos · 09-04-2014, 11:15 PM

Thanks for the info!

SamS · 09-05-2014, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowghost

So Xenons are standard now and $1900 more for the LED?

I don't have my 2013 build sheet handy, but IIRC the lighting package back on mine was extra to get the Adaptive Xenon. So if that's now standard, it seems the $1900 would be worth it.

US cars: Xenons standard on the 335i/435i. You can pay the extra $1900 to get LED on the 428i/435i only.

JJS · 09-05-2014, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JUSTIN808

Thank you OP for finally putting this debate to rest. We had no evidence that the LED lighting package was better before your post and everyone without the package just bashed it. Your post is proof enough for me that it was worth it.

Lights are brighter, looks better and costs more = best oem headlights available on 4 series period.

for those that think its too expensive and don't get them at least now know that the lighting package is better then other standard lights available.

People ordering can now make this decision based on facts.

Thank you again for all your work.

What he said +1.

Mauricio Palacios. MD · 01-26-2015, 06:14 PM

I don't like the LED look. I prefer projector lenses instead of reflectors. If the illumination is better, then and only then, I agree… I would choose LED instead HID. Thanks for the thread, swiss friend.

Paigey · 01-26-2015, 08:29 PM

This experiment is misleading. Your goal is not to light up a brick wall in front of you. It's to light up the road in front of you.

Replicate this using real world settings and I bet you wouldn't be able to tell which is which.

Sladester100 · 01-26-2015, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paigey

This experiment is misleading. Your goal is not to light up a brick wall in front of you. It's to light up the road in front of you.

Replicate this using real world settings and I bet you wouldn't be able to tell which is which.

You cant please everyone...

Seriously though its a valid point, on an empty road with the same test it would be interesting to see to be honest.

You can clearly see on the floor however that the LED's certainly appear brighter.

Good stuff Storm

09-02-2014, 09:42 AM	#23
punjabimd New Member 2 Rep 17 Posts Drives: 435i cvt Join Date: May 2014 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	Fantastic comparison, thanks for making this effort!
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09-02-2014, 10:04 AM	#24
BMW FOREVER First Lieutenant 164 Rep 392 Posts Drives: 2014 535i Xdrive Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	for the high beam pics…I noticed the LED light up only until the mid point of the doors, whereas the xenons light up well above that
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09-02-2014, 02:35 PM	#26
openwheelracing Captain 192 Rep 814 Posts Drives: 5 different 3 Series Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Santa Barbara, CA iTrader: (0)	I would upgrade for $800. Not $1900
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09-02-2014, 04:28 PM	#27
G30 B58 Pace Car Driver 1548 Rep 3,164 Posts Drives: '22 AW G30 B58 M-Sport Join Date: May 2014 Location: my garage in PA iTrader: (0)	Love our new LEDs. Good info OP.
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09-03-2014, 07:01 AM	#29
Rxpert Second Lieutenant 187 Rep 231 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 M3 ZCP 6 Speed Manual Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Just wanted to say thanks to the OP for this great thread. It was probably a lot of work and is really appreciated. It's nice to see the benefit of LEDs. I got them simply for the aesthetics so it's great that they also provide better light output. Thanks!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-03-2014, 08:48 AM	#30
shivaswrath Brigadier General 649 Rep 4,323 Posts Drives: 2012 335i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lost in NJ iTrader: (3)	Great effort! Now let's see if we can pool money, fly you to Germany, and have you do an i8 laser vs. LED comparison :-) __________________ CURRENT: 2017 RS3 (miss you guys) SOLD: 2012 335i Mineral Gray M Performance Exhaust/Brakes/Suspension/LSD\|Bav Stage 1/AMP\|\|ER CP/IC/DP/OC \| Dinan CAI/N55 PWG BIG TURBO\|BMWF30.com
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09-03-2014, 10:56 AM	#33
rjpeaks Lieutenant 14 Rep 577 Posts Drives: F30 335i M-Sport 6pd Join Date: May 2014 Location: Huntington Beach iTrader: (0)	thanks OP. i think it's worth it. __________________ 335I M-Sport 6spd EBII MPPK MPE DHP HK PDC ZTP ZPS ZPP ZDA ZPK 802.11ac ABC123
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09-03-2014, 01:02 PM	#34
aksi First Lieutenant 82 Rep 398 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: May 2014 Location: CA,US iTrader: (0)	Toyota Corolla S I just leased for work comes with LED headlights. I couldnt believe my eyes of how bright the damn thing is compared to my 335. Corolla 1 : 0 335 lol
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-03-2014, 07:08 PM	#36
JUSTIN808 Private First Class 7 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 22 X4MC, 22 Ridgeline RTLE. Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: HONOLULU iTrader: (0)	Thank you OP for finally putting this debate to rest. We had no evidence that the LED lighting package was better before your post and everyone without the package just bashed it. Your post is proof enough for me that it was worth it. Lights are brighter, looks better and costs more = best oem headlights available on 4 series period. for those that think its too expensive and don't get them at least now know that the lighting package is better then other standard lights available. People ordering can now make this decision based on facts. Thank you again for all your work.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-04-2014, 04:44 PM	#38
snowghost Colonel 155 Rep 2,266 Posts Drives: '13 335i M-Sport 6MT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1)	So Xenons are standard now and $1900 more for the LED? I don't have my 2013 build sheet handy, but IIRC the lighting package back on mine was extra to get the Adaptive Xenon. So if that's now standard, it seems the $1900 would be worth it. __________________ F30 Sapphire Black M-Sport 335i 6MT
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09-04-2014, 11:15 PM	#39
CaptChaos Captain 55 Rep 817 Posts Drives: 2017 M2 - Mineral Grey Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richmond, BC, Canada iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the info!
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01-26-2015, 06:14 PM	#42
Mauricio Palacios. MD Stark und Frei 48 Rep 155 Posts Drives: BMW F32 435i M Sport Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Erlangen, GERMANY iTrader: (0)	I don't like the LED look. I prefer projector lenses instead of reflectors. If the illumination is better, then and only then, I agree… I would choose LED instead HID. Thanks for the thread, swiss friend. Last edited by Mauricio Palacios. MD; 01-27-2015 at 01:26 AM..
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01-26-2015, 08:29 PM	#43
Paigey Private 11 Rep 58 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	This experiment is misleading. Your goal is not to light up a brick wall in front of you. It's to light up the road in front of you. Replicate this using real world settings and I bet you wouldn't be able to tell which is which.
	Appreciate 0 Quote