[graphicjunkie]

Does anyone know how hard it is to convert the "upgraded" LED headlights to HID? Is it as easy as a housing swap? Or do I need to have something programmed?

[nyalpine90]

do you mean down grade?
if you have LED headlights why would you want HID/xenons?

[kevinjt]

I really don't know... but let me know if you want to do a Swap I have OEM HID's

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by graphicjunkie

Does anyone know how hard it is to convert the "upgraded" LED headlights to HID? Is it as easy as a housing swap? Or do I need to have something programmed?

Much more than a housing swap. All kinds of electronics, wiring changes and programming as well.

Originally Posted by nyalpine90

do you mean down grade?
if you have LED headlights why would you want HID/xenons?

Search the forums and you can find many reasons why from users who are unhappy with the LEDs.

LEDs are in their infancy and have issues.

They will improve as time goes on - that doesn't help current owners.

[nyalpine90]

most swear by the LEDs are far better than xenons, and even better with coding anti dazzle.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by nyalpine90

most swear by the LEDs are far better than xenons, and even better with coding anti dazzle.

Yes, that's why the IHS rates the BMW Standard LEDs as Poor and Adaptive LEDs as Marginal based on scientific repeatable tests.

Of course anyone that takes 5 seconds to realize what anti-Dazzle does knows that it reduces distant of high beams so that reduces Adaptive from Marginal to Poor.

And Anti-Dazzle done correctly can be achieved with Xenon HID with its better cutoffs and controls than the LEDs.

But what do you expect? Every pre-schooler is taught about crowd hysteria when read "The Emperor's New Clothes".

[Adamr916]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

And Anti-Dazzle done correctly can be achieved with Xenon HID with its better cutoffs and controls than the LEDs.

While yes, you can activate the Anti-Dazzle on the OEM Bi-xenon lights, you will not get the "true" Anti-Dazzle with them because there is a second shutter on the E-code lights that allows the Anti-Dazzle to work.

BMW should have gone with projector LED's like they did in the new X1, or used the LED's from the 4 series, since they are far better than the 3's, and even better once the anti-dazzle is activated.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by Adamr916

While yes, you can activate the Anti-Dazzle on the OEM Bi-xenon lights, you will not get the "true" Anti-Dazzle with them because there is a second shutter on the E-code lights that allows the Anti-Dazzle to work.

BMW should have gone with projector LED's like they did in the new X1, or used the LED's from the 4 series, since they are far better than the 3's, and even better once the anti-dazzle is activated.

Wow. A shutter in the in the assembly! Who knew

BTW, I was very exact in my post. I stated it "can be achieved", not "can be coded" as most others claim.

Even with the 4 Series, the LEDs are still in their infancy in terms of what can be controlled in terms of light direction/cutoff and Anti-Dazzle is more exact with properly equipped HIDs.

That is not to say LED is not advancing and the technology will be there in the near future.

[Danddd]

The Xenons in my E91 definitely better than the LEDs in my F31. They look bright, but coverage seems lacking.

[440xiGCMsport]

Originally Posted by Adamr916

While yes, you can activate the Anti-Dazzle on the OEM Bi-xenon lights, you will not get the "true" Anti-Dazzle with them because there is a second shutter on the E-code lights that allows the Anti-Dazzle to work.

BMW should have gone with projector LED's like they did in the new X1, or used the LED's from the 4 series, since they are far better than the 3's, and even better once the anti-dazzle is activated.

how is the 4 series Led different from the ones in the f30?

[Adamr916]

Originally Posted by 440xiGCMsport

how is the 4 series Led different from the ones in the f30?

The 4 series LED's are actually brighter and more sharper than the LCI 3's. BMW downgraded the LCI headlights when they brought the lights over here. That's why one of the biggest things with the LCI coding is trying to code in euro-spec brightness and beam pattern because of how much different it is.

[jeebus]

Yeah, the LED are nothing to brag about. My e90 HID were much better. I'm sure LED costs a ton less too.

[440xiGCMsport]

Originally Posted by Adamr916

The 4 series LED's are actually brighter and more sharper than the LCI 3's. BMW downgraded the LCI headlights when they brought the lights over here. That's why one of the biggest things with the LCI coding is trying to code in euro-spec brightness and beam pattern because of how much different it is.

So even the north American 4 series led have euro spec brightness?

[Adamr916]

Originally Posted by 440xiGCMsport

So even the north American 4 series led have euro spec brightness?

They have full euro brightness, just US spec beam pattern and height adjustment.

[graphicjunkie]

LOL....didn't realize I would open such a "can".

I made some adjustments to the height. It's better....
I first adjusted them too high, and they were closer to the visibility of what I would expect from HIDs...but then EVERYONE was flashing me and getting pissed... SO! Had to dial them down a little. I think I found a good compromise, but it seems to be all or nothing. First they were way too low, and visibility sucked. Then way too high, and visibility was good. Now just a tad lower, and visibility is marginal.

All in all, I'll take a set of 55W 4200K HID's over these any day.

Next is to fix a set of 3XXX K HID fog lights. I rode home in a ground blizzard last week, and I was LITERALLY hunched hover my steering wheel trying to see the road, since the "awesome" LEDs wouldn't cut through the weather for crap.

[kadify]

That's one thing I've noticed each time I've gotten a loaner with LEDs (besides the X1). The HIDs just seem to provide a more even light that throws further than the LEDs. I'm not going to lie, I always regretted not getting the LEDs on my car because they look so cool but once I got a loaner with them I was happy with my HIDs because the lighting distribution on the LEDs was crap tbh. Not jealous anymore.

[dsc888]

I just wanted to chime in about HIDs being superior to the LEDs after I got a loaner while my car was in for a backup camera replacement.

The LEDs looked cool and made things look very white and contrasty BUT the beam was weaker and didn't throw the light as far. On top of that, I noticed that the spread of the light was not even and there were hot spots in the pattern. There was a noticeable dimmer area on the road on the passenger side.

It was all confirmed tonight when I drove got my car back and drove home at night. The HIDs, being a mature and now outdated tech, had nice warmer and even light distribution up to the cutoff and I could clearly see objects at least 10-15 feet further down the road.