LED bulb instead of H7 halogen?

RarScaryFrosty · 04-07-2015, 08:45 PM

I was browsing amazon.com and came across this product which claims to be a LED direct replacement to the H7 bulb the stock F30 headlights use.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Brights-LE...headlight+bulb

Has anyone tried this before, or anything similar? I'd love to get this for my car if it truly works. The reviews are very positive on Amazon.com, but everyone seems to have different cars. Only one reviewer had a BMW, and he did not mention any flickering or canbus errors.

Mike_L · 04-07-2015, 09:02 PM

I have LEDs in my fogs. You gotta use a real conversion or they're gonna be dim. Either Philips LumiLEDs or CREE. http://horizonleds.co.uk/ Any of the headlight kits they have will do the job. The 80W Amazon kits are pushing the limits of the stock wiring and could melt it.

goon · 04-07-2015, 10:06 PM

I would not toss more money at these

Rather, When you get new headlights, invest in a hid retrofit.

This is what I'm doing

xxxjecxxx · 04-07-2015, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goon

I would not toss more money at these

Rather, When you get new headlights, invest in a hid retrofit.

This is what I'm doing

What parts are you missing?

goon · 04-07-2015, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxjecxxx

What parts are you missing?

The op has purchased a new headlight assembly to replace stck halogens

I'm suggesting he opt for hid over led, as the new assembly has projectors

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...1035202&page=8

xxxjecxxx · 04-07-2015, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goon

The op has purchased a new headlight assembly to replace stck halogens

I'm suggesting he opt for hid over led, as the new assembly has projectors

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...1035202&page=8

Sorry, I understood that you were piecing together an OEM xenon (hid) kit. My question was towards you.

Mike_L · 04-07-2015, 10:36 PM

If he's looking at H7 bulbs, he doesn't have projectors or HID headlights. He has the standard halogen housings. And a proper LED conversion puts out more light than HID, so they're the way to go.

RarScaryFrosty · 04-08-2015, 03:47 PM

I purchased the aftermarket Eagle Eyes headlight assemblies off eBay, so I will have projector lamps for both low and high beams. They still use the same bulbs as the OEM projector, so H7 is what I need.

I don't understand why these would not be bright when the photos within the amazon reviews seem shockingly brighter than the halogens. My only concern would be canbus errors and flickering, but coding out the check could potentially remove that right?

Mike_L · 04-08-2015, 05:56 PM

Its all about pattern. I could attach a million candle power spotlight to the hood of the car. It'd be blindingly bright but it'd be useless as a headlight. The LEDs need to be in exactly the same place as the original filament so it hits the reflector bowl properly.

RarScaryFrosty · 04-08-2015, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_L

Its all about pattern. I could attach a million candle power spotlight to the hood of the car. It'd be blindingly bright but it'd be useless as a headlight. The LEDs need to be in exactly the same place as the original filament so it hits the reflector bowl properly.

Thanks for your input Mike, I appreciate it. As I said above, I purchased the Eagle Eyes headlights off ebay, and they use projector lamps. I looked into Horizon LED's like you suggested above, and ended up purchasing a kit of theirs. It seems the kit was designed to be used in german cars, with BMW being one of them specifically mentioned. According to their description, the ballasts, are canbus friendly, and will not give off any error, or flickers.

I've also seen a few 2013+ BMW's use this kit with projector lamps, and they seem to work fine. Fingers crossed though!

Level3 · 04-08-2015, 07:46 PM

Let me know how the LEDs work out in your new projectors. I ordered these lights as well but won't be installing for a few weeks when I get my M Sport body kit installed.

goon · 04-08-2015, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RarScaryFrosty

I purchased the aftermarket Eagle Eyes headlight assemblies off eBay, so I will have projector lamps for both low and high beams. They still use the same bulbs as the OEM projector, so H7 is what I need.

I don't understand why these would not be bright when the photos within the amazon reviews seem shockingly brighter than the halogens. My only concern would be canbus errors and flickering, but coding out the check could potentially remove that right?

I noticed that those LEDs from Amazon are rated at 25k hrs and for the same price the Cree LEDs from horizon are 50k hrs. That, and horizon advertises them as canbus friendly. I purchased the Crees so let's see how they pan out.

RarScaryFrosty · 04-08-2015, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goon

I noticed that those LEDs from Amazon are rated at 25k hrs and for the same price the Cree LEDs from horizon are 50k hrs. That, and horizon advertises them as canbus friendly. I purchased the Crees so let's see how they pan out.

I guess Goon, you and I are in this together. We're both ordering the H7 LED kit, and Eagle Eye headlamps.

goon · 04-08-2015, 08:03 PM

Level3 · 04-08-2015, 08:23 PM

I'm using you 2 as guinea pigs so don't let me down!!! LOL

04-07-2015, 08:45 PM	#1
RarScaryFrosty First Lieutenant 79 Rep 312 Posts Drives: 2013 328i xDrive Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Toledo, Ohio iTrader: (0)	LED bulb instead of H7 halogen? I was browsing amazon.com and came across this product which claims to be a LED direct replacement to the H7 bulb the stock F30 headlights use. http://www.amazon.com/New-Brights-LE...headlight+bulb Has anyone tried this before, or anything similar? I'd love to get this for my car if it truly works. The reviews are very positive on Amazon.com, but everyone seems to have different cars. Only one reviewer had a BMW, and he did not mention any flickering or canbus errors.
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04-07-2015, 09:02 PM	#2
Mike_L Banned 284 Rep 1,961 Posts Drives: 2015 335xi GT M-Sport MPPK Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: New York City iTrader: (2)	I have LEDs in my fogs. You gotta use a real conversion or they're gonna be dim. Either Philips LumiLEDs or CREE. http://horizonleds.co.uk/ Any of the headlight kits they have will do the job. The 80W Amazon kits are pushing the limits of the stock wiring and could melt it.
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04-07-2015, 10:06 PM	#3
goon Second Lieutenant 126 Rep 265 Posts Drives: 2014 328i AW Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 328i [10.00]	I would not toss more money at these Rather, When you get new headlights, invest in a hid retrofit. This is what I'm doing __________________ MODS: afe intake, afe scoop, afe scorcher module, 19" AG M580's, H&R Sports, AWE Tuning exhaust, LED conversion,wrapped interior, msport steering wheel, msport aero kit
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04-07-2015, 10:36 PM	#7
Mike_L Banned 284 Rep 1,961 Posts Drives: 2015 335xi GT M-Sport MPPK Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: New York City iTrader: (2)	If he's looking at H7 bulbs, he doesn't have projectors or HID headlights. He has the standard halogen housings. And a proper LED conversion puts out more light than HID, so they're the way to go.
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04-08-2015, 03:47 PM	#8
RarScaryFrosty First Lieutenant 79 Rep 312 Posts Drives: 2013 328i xDrive Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Toledo, Ohio iTrader: (0)	I purchased the aftermarket Eagle Eyes headlight assemblies off eBay, so I will have projector lamps for both low and high beams. They still use the same bulbs as the OEM projector, so H7 is what I need. I don't understand why these would not be bright when the photos within the amazon reviews seem shockingly brighter than the halogens. My only concern would be canbus errors and flickering, but coding out the check could potentially remove that right?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-08-2015, 05:56 PM	#9
Mike_L Banned 284 Rep 1,961 Posts Drives: 2015 335xi GT M-Sport MPPK Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: New York City iTrader: (2)	Its all about pattern. I could attach a million candle power spotlight to the hood of the car. It'd be blindingly bright but it'd be useless as a headlight. The LEDs need to be in exactly the same place as the original filament so it hits the reflector bowl properly.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-08-2015, 07:46 PM	#11
Level3 1/2 Asian Sensation 217 Rep 397 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW M3 e92 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 e92 ZCP [0.00] 2008 BMW 135i Conve ... [9.00]	Let me know how the LEDs work out in your new projectors. I ordered these lights as well but won't be installing for a few weeks when I get my M Sport body kit installed. __________________ All too easy...
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04-08-2015, 08:03 PM	#14
goon Second Lieutenant 126 Rep 265 Posts Drives: 2014 328i AW Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 328i [10.00]
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04-08-2015, 08:23 PM	#15
Level3 1/2 Asian Sensation 217 Rep 397 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW M3 e92 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Raleigh, North Carolina iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 e92 ZCP [0.00] 2008 BMW 135i Conve ... [9.00]	I'm using you 2 as guinea pigs so don't let me down!!! LOL __________________ All too easy...
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