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      12-03-2016, 05:10 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MashinBenzin View Post
Yes, it's a legal requirement and MOT failure if washers aren't fitted I believe.
From VOSA:
Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.
Where such systems are fitted, they must work;

So as far as I can interpret, if you fit your own, you don't need either washers or self-levelers.
A bit sorry!
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      12-03-2016, 05:15 AM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by evdok View Post
After driving a 335D with halogen lights, i was convinced BMW set a death trap, go to be the worst headlights I've used in 30+ years of driving, utter shit.
+1

Philips +130% gives a noticeable improvement at just 2% of the cost of Luke's OEMs
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      12-03-2016, 05:27 AM   #25
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Brilliant bulbs, fitted them to daughters car....massive improvement & really white light.
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      12-03-2016, 05:32 AM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by evdok View Post
Brilliant bulbs, fitted them to daughters car....massive improvement & really white light.
Have I read the package correctly - an expected life time of just 450 hours? That seems extremely short, perhaps needing replacement every year for the typical driver.
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      12-03-2016, 05:34 AM   #27
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"Best in its class"
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      12-03-2016, 06:47 AM   #28
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It's something I need to do sharpish! The halogens are utter shite! Where did you get the lights? EBay or direct from BMW? I may just get BMW to quote me for doing the full retro fit and be done with it.
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      12-03-2016, 06:49 AM   #29
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Originally Posted by Skello View Post
It's something I need to do sharpish! The halogens are utter shite! Where did you get the lights? EBay or direct from BMW? I may just get BMW to quote me for doing the full retro fit and be done with it.
Please sit down and adopt the brace position while they are giving you a price My guess is £4,000

I suggest you first see if better halogen bulbs will do enough to get by, or alternatively sell the car and buy another with xenons.
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      12-03-2016, 06:54 AM   #30
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might as well wear shorts at the time....be easier
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      12-03-2016, 07:03 AM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JD6 View Post
Please sit down and adopt the brace position while they are giving you a price My guess is £4,000

I suggest you first see if better halogen bulbs will do enough to get by, or alternatively sell the car and buy another with xenons.
I do miss xenons, I must have been high when I bought this car not getting xenons! I have night breakers in currently, there is a difference but they are still dire.

Come summer I won't be so fussed as I'm not driving around in perpetual darkness. It's a safety issue for me as I live in the middle of nowhere (think mordor and you're getting close). The car is constantly caked in crap and after a few miles of driving the headlights may as well be switched off the vision is that bad!
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      12-03-2016, 07:04 AM   #32
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might as well wear shorts at the time....be easier
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      12-03-2016, 07:22 AM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skello View Post
I do miss xenons, I must have been high when I bought this car not getting xenons! I have night breakers in currently, there is a difference but they are still dire.

Come summer I won't be so fussed as I'm not driving around in perpetual darkness. It's a safety issue for me as I live in the middle of nowhere (think mordor and you're getting close). The car is constantly caked in crap and after a few miles of driving the headlights may as well be switched off the vision is that bad!
I know the feeling. I have had xenons since the late 90s in all of my cars, except in 2003 I was tempted by an almost new 330i Sport Touring which had everything I wanted except xenons. I lived in London at the time, so it wasn't such a big deal, but we then moved out to the deepest darkest part of the sticks. It became clear pretty quickly that this wasn't a car for night driving! What are BMW thinking in making their halogens this bad?!!
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      12-03-2016, 07:35 AM   #34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JD6 View Post
I know the feeling. I have had xenons since the late 90s in all of my cars, except in 2003 I was tempted by an almost new 330i Sport Touring which had everything I wanted except xenons. I lived in London at the time, so it wasn't such a big deal, but we then moved out to the deepest darkest part of the sticks. It became clear pretty quickly that this wasn't a car for night driving! What are BMW thinking in making their halogens this bad?!!
I feel your pain! Similar here. It since early 2000s with xenons for me. The Alfa had them and they were brilliant. No idea why BMW don't have them as standard on everything apart from the boggo basic spec cars and have LED as the optional upgrade.
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      12-03-2016, 07:51 AM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skello View Post
I feel your pain! Similar here. It since early 2000s with xenons for me. The Alfa had them and they were brilliant. No idea why BMW don't have them as standard on everything apart from the boggo basic spec cars and have LED as the optional upgrade.
I might suggest LED as an optional downgrade! I have just returned a 2016 320d loan car with non-adaptive LEDs, and while they are bright in the near field, their ability to light up the distant parts of the road isn't great. They also lack the homogeneity of the xenon projector beam - with bright and dark areas clearly visible.

Adaptive LEDs may be a bit better, but a friend with them thinks they are still a little less good than the BMW xenons he had before. Bring on BMW Laser Light!
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      12-03-2016, 08:22 AM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4WDriver View Post
+1

Philips +130% gives a noticeable improvement at just 2% of the cost of Luke's OEMs
Osram Night Breaker Laser H7's also good, I tried the Philips ones but preferred the Osram, both a vast improvement over stock though
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      12-03-2016, 08:54 AM   #37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skello View Post
It's something I need to do sharpish! The halogens are utter shite! Where did you get the lights? EBay or direct from BMW? I may just get BMW to quote me for doing the full retro fit and be done with it.
3 options really.

Buy a new car with them

Get DEPO aftermarket headlights

Keep an eye on ebay for full sets with all parts for £1000-1500
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      12-03-2016, 08:58 AM   #38
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JD6 View Post
I might suggest LED as an optional downgrade! I have just returned a 2016 320d loan car with non-adaptive LEDs, and while they are bright in the near field, their ability to light up the distant parts of the road isn't great. They also lack the homogeneity of the xenon projector beam - with bright and dark areas clearly visible.

Adaptive LEDs may be a bit better, but a friend with them thinks they are still a little less good than the BMW xenons he had before. Bring on BMW Laser Light!
I didn't realise LEDs are so bad. I've got xenons on my car and my last 3 BMWs and they are bloody awesome. Wouldn't want to change them TBH - better the devil you know.
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      12-03-2016, 05:50 PM   #39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JD6 View Post
I might suggest LED as an optional downgrade! I have just returned a 2016 320d loan car with non-adaptive LEDs, and while they are bright in the near field, their ability to light up the distant parts of the road isn't great. They also lack the homogeneity of the xenon projector beam - with bright and dark areas clearly visible.

Adaptive LEDs may be a bit better, but a friend with them thinks they are still a little less good than the BMW xenons he had before. Bring on BMW Laser Light!
I really don't understand why so many people say this about the LED headlights! Mine are absolutely amazing, definitely far brighter than the Xenons on my pre LCI F30!
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      12-04-2016, 01:49 AM   #40
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Can't say I have a problem with the non adaptive LED's, they seem fine to me
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      12-04-2016, 10:44 AM   #41
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Problem with BMW LED is they use reflector based housings like halogens. Really great saving for them i guess. Other manufacturers like Jaguar, Audi, Mercedes, Porsche all use projector lenses for their LEDs. But, the new G30 has that too i guess, but only for dipped beam.
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      12-05-2016, 04:21 AM   #42
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Quote:
Originally Posted by teaston View Post
I really don't understand why so many people say this about the LED headlights! Mine are absolutely amazing, definitely far brighter than the Xenons on my pre LCI F30!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steven1077 View Post
Can't say I have a problem with the non adaptive LED's, they seem fine to me
+1 on both counts. I regularly drive at night and have never been disappointed.
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      12-05-2016, 04:35 AM   #43
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4WDriver View Post
From VOSA:
Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.
Where such systems are fitted, they must work;

So as far as I can interpret, if you fit your own, you don't need either washers or self-levelers.
A bit sorry!
I borrowed a Mini JCW a few weeks back, which had full LED's and no washers.
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      12-05-2016, 04:41 AM   #44
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Quote:
Originally Posted by teaston View Post
I really don't understand why so many people say this about the LED headlights! Mine are absolutely amazing, definitely far brighter than the Xenons on my pre LCI F30!
Early days for me but I agree with the post slagging off non adaptive LED's

Mine are great on full beam but exactly as described on dip
Near field is fine but the throw is poor

Are we missing a beam height adjust or something?
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