[DrTopitop]

Just bought a 2013 328i, love the car. Practically has every package except...xenon It seems from my research this conversion is very difficult and time consuming. Honestly will probably trade this car in about 3 years, probably for a M2/3, so don't want to go through the headache of a proper conversion.

I just wanted to know (simplified) a way to make my halogen set up look better and brigther. I know there are threads on here on coding/resistors/bulbs, etc. I am not sure how this all works. I'm looking to just replace the bulbs with nicer ones, plug in play type situation! Any help would be much appreciated, thanks!

[Diddler]

I too looked into this a ton as well. Your options are to buy whole new headlight assembly to get non halogens but this will run $1500-$2000 + installation which isn't worth it imo, especially because you are planning on selling your car in ~3 years.

The other option is to replace your lights with white ones which look a lot better. Note that this does NOT make them brighter. They are only bulbs that are white and look better.

Most people get these for day time running lights: http://store.ijdmtoy.com/BMW-F30-328...L-p/40-016.htm

For low beams and high beams, this one is pretty common: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Diamon...dp/B007JZKBVW/

Technically, there's a 3rd option of installing a HID conversion kit and getting HID bulbs, but then you'll be blinding everyone on the road, because you're headlight assembly is designed for halogens, not HIDs.

[John in VA]

There are some suggestions in this thread:
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1243771

[Adamr916]

Your best bet for living with halogens is first, turn the adjustment screws up about 3/4 of a turn and upgrade your bulbs. After that, you can either do a bi-xenon retrofit or put the Umnitza LED headlights. If you run price comparisons, and you shop long enough, you can do the retrofit for roughly the same price of the LED headlights, but the LED lights are a plug and play direct swap, but if something goes wrong with the LED light, you're pretty much SOL, and have to by a new light. But at least with the OEM retrofit, if something goes wrong with them, you can buy replacement parts.

In short, easiest, cheapest: turn the adjustment screws up about 3/4 of a turn and upgrade bulbs

Easiest, most expensive: Umnitza LED headlights

Not so easy, but roughly same price as led: OEM Retrofit.

[DrTopitop]

Originally Posted by Diddler

I too looked into this a ton as well. Your options are to buy whole new headlight assembly to get non halogens but this will run $1500-$2000 + installation which isn't worth it imo, especially because you are planning on selling your car in ~3 years.

The other option is to replace your lights with white ones which look a lot better. Note that this does NOT make them brighter. They are only bulbs that are white and look better.

Most people get these for day time running lights: http://store.ijdmtoy.com/BMW-F30-328...L-p/40-016.htm

For low beams and high beams, this one is pretty common: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Diamon...dp/B007JZKBVW/

Technically, there's a 3rd option of installing a HID conversion kit and getting HID bulbs, but then you'll be blinding everyone on the road, because you're headlight assembly is designed for halogens, not HIDs.

Thank you so much diddler for the suggestions, i'll def be looking into these. Did you buy any of these products, if so how do u like them?

[Adamr916]

I have the ijdmtoy DRL's, going on 2 years, and they are still running good.

[Rick4345]

Try Sylvania Silverstars. You can pretty much find them anywhere. I've used them with a lot of success. All I have ever used are the Silverstar version. I never have tried the Ultra model.

[alohasurftoad]

just replace your H7 with these and be done

http://www.morimotohid.com/led-light...ght-bulbs.html

[DrTopitop]

Originally Posted by alohasurftoad

just replace your H7 with these and be done

http://www.morimotohid.com/led-light...ght-bulbs.html

Link not working?

[alohasurftoad]

sorry, looks like they've discontinued them, not sure why.

my friend has morimoto xb led headlight bulbs (different bulb number) in his tundra fog lights and it is impressive.

there is possibly a coding issue because bmw have canbus. likely works on older/simpler vehicles or if you have access to coding.

my bad for this recommend. this is what they look like, though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/H7-Morimoto-...lUyEBl&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/H7-Morimoto-...dXOqPA&vxp=mtr

[MSporta24]

Got the same LED bulbs for daytime running lights as Diddler posted. No errors and very happy with the transformed look compared to OEM.

As for low beam lights, you can only really get the whiter and "brighter" H7 bulbs. I decided not to go the LED route for the main lights. Currently I have Phillips Ultra Vision bulbs and they are better than the originals.

[scostu]

Originally Posted by alohasurftoad

sorry, looks like they've discontinued them, not sure why.

my friend has morimoto xb led headlight bulbs (different bulb number) in his tundra fog lights and it is impressive.

there is possibly a coding issue because bmw have canbus. likely works on older/simpler vehicles or if you have access to coding.

my bad for this recommend. this is what they look like, though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/H7-Morimoto-...lUyEBl&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/H7-Morimoto-...dXOqPA&vxp=mtr

Didn't think those would fit in the BMW due to the sealed cap?
Did you just drill a small hole in the plastic dust cover/weather cap and thread the wires through?

I thought we could only go with the "braided" led H7s.

[DrTopitop]

Today , I installed the IJDMTOY LED DRLs, and I gotta say, what a difference, huge upgrade, and look fantastic.

I was going to get the IJDMtoy LED turn signals next, does anyone have experience with these? Also, are there any good LED suggestions on the low/high beams, such as H7 ones, or do most people just go with an upgraded bulb such as the sylvania or phillips?

Thanks!

[alohasurftoad]

Originally Posted by scostu

Didn't think those would fit in the BMW due to the sealed cap?
Did you just drill a small hole in the plastic dust cover/weather cap and thread the wires through?

I thought we could only go with the "braided" led H7s.

my friends tundra has'em on his fogs. i'm not sure how the bmw halogens cap is. as i have factory led. made the suggestion without enough info on halogen housings, etc. my bad

[mrkwinning]

Originally Posted by Adamr916

I have the ijdmtoy DRL's, going on 2 years, and they are still running good.

Did you have to code the cold/warm check out for the iJDM DRL's?

[Adamr916]

Originally Posted by mrkwinning

Did you have to code the cold/warm check out for the iJDM DRL's?

Yup, otherwise they will flash.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by DrTopitop

do most people just go with an upgraded bulb such as the sylvania or phillips?

The Sylvania and Phillips bulbs aren't true upgrades, as they're all 55w with the same, if not lower, lumens output. Some appear 'whiter', but that's only by tinting the bulb envelope, which reduces intensity.
The only H7 bulb that is higher wattage, with 50% higher lumens output than stock halogens, is the Osram Rallye 64217. I've been running them for over a year. They're true plug and play, with no additional components or coding.
http://store.candlepower.com/osraulhiouh7.html
There are 80w H7s as well, like the Osram 62261, but they have less output than the 64217, and the power draw might be too much for the wiring.

[rikashh]

Just do HID's. I got innovited hid kits for my 2016 320i and i got ddm tuning warning cancelers for them and its been going strong for about 3 months now. Whiter and about 3x brighter. I did the headlights and foglights for about 110 total so its not expensive either

[Adamr916]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

The Sylvania and Phillips bulbs aren't true upgrades, as they're all 55w with the same, if not lower, lumens output. Some appear 'whiter', but that's only by tinting the bulb envelope, which reduces intensity.
The only H7 bulb that is higher wattage, with 50% higher lumens output than stock halogens, is the Osram Rallye 64217. I've been running them for over a year. They're true plug and play, with no additional components or coding.
http://store.candlepower.com/osraulhiouh7.html
There are 80w H7s as well, like the Osram 62261, but they have less output than the 64217, and the power draw might be too much for the wiring.

I run the 65w's in my Jetta, huge difference in actual output. I had them in my F30 for about a week before I took them out, just didn't care for the amount of heat they put out. My current set up is the PIAA XTREME White in the lows, and the Osram 65w in the highs.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Adamr916

My current set up is the PIAA XTREME White in the lows

Before paying $40 each I'd want to know their lumens output. It's nowhere to be found in the PIAA literature, nor anywhere else that I could find.

[mrkwinning]

I purchased the Philips DiamondVision and they are okay... I would say same output as stock just a slight bit whiter. If you look directly in front of the headlight, certain angles is a bit blue for my taste. May be looking at HID alternative for a brighter and whiter look.

[rtb001]

Originally Posted by Diddler

I too looked into this a ton as well. Your options are to buy whole new headlight assembly to get non halogens but this will run $1500-$2000 + installation which isn't worth it imo, especially because you are planning on selling your car in ~3 years.

The other option is to replace your lights with white ones which look a lot better. Note that this does NOT make them brighter. They are only bulbs that are white and look better.

Most people get these for day time running lights: http://store.ijdmtoy.com/BMW-F30-328...L-p/40-016.htm

For low beams and high beams, this one is pretty common: http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Diamon...dp/B007JZKBVW/

Technically, there's a 3rd option of installing a HID conversion kit and getting HID bulbs, but then you'll be blinding everyone on the road, because you're headlight assembly is designed for halogens, not HIDs.

1. I actually have to replace a parking lamp which has burned out. Is it this one? http://store.ijdmtoy.com/BMW-Mercede...t-p/90-013.htm

2. Regarding the DRL, ijdmtoy actually feature several PWY24W LED replacements, including a slightly cheaper 7.5W bulb, and this slightly more expensive 25W version: http://store.ijdmtoy.com/PWY24W-LED-...s-p/40-015.htm Apparently the front side blinkers use the same bulbs as well. Not sure which ones might be the best, although I wonder if it is wise to put the 25W ones in as DRLs, since they are on all the time, and maybe could cause some heat issues? Perhaps the 25W ones might be better suited as turn indicator lights. They actually don't list the wattage for the one that costs in between the two, but it is somewhere between 7.5 and 25 I guess.

3. Lastly regarding getting replacement halogens for the low-beams. Is there any reason why the aftermarket bulbs have such abysmal lifetime? I've read they can be as short as 100 hours of expected lifetime. Sure they are a bit brighter, but the ones in my car have lasted 4 years, so maybe 500 hours already? It looks like kind of a pain to replace the lowbeam/indicator lamps as opposed to the highbeam/DRL/Parking lamp cluster, so I'm wondering if it is worth the bother. I do a fair bit of night driving though, so maybe I should go for it.