First BMW/ New Member

illmatic88 · 10-19-2018, 12:18 PM

Hey everyone. Just checking in. Picked up a 2018 340i x drive m sport in late June. Coming from a 2015 TLX and so far despite some small gripes, Im loving this car. Sport mode is a blast and the exhaust has a great sound.

One thing I’m really surprised at is the poor output of light. My TLX and TL before had lights that were much brighter than the bmw’s LED’s.

MONSTAR · 10-19-2018, 01:07 PM

you dont need headlight illumination. just drive faster and you will see further sooner

jh_f30 · 10-19-2018, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illmatic88

Hey everyone. Just checking in. Picked up a 2018 340i x drive m sport in late June. Coming from a 2015 TLX and so far despite some small gripes, Im loving this car. Sport mode is a blast and the exhaust has a great sound.

One thing I’m really surprised at is the poor output of light. My TLX and TL before had lights that were much brighter than the bmw’s LED’s.

LCI LEDs are said to be not as bright as the pre-LCI bi-xenons.

AndDown · 10-20-2018, 12:54 PM

There are numerous threads about adjusting the headlights, suggest you might want to try adjusting. I've had to adjust the lights upward slightly for the current Bimmers I have, does make a difference lighting up the road ahead.

illmatic88 · 10-21-2018, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndDown

There are numerous threads about adjusting the headlights, suggest you might want to try adjusting. I've had to adjust the lights upward slightly for the current Bimmers I have, does make a difference lighting up the road ahead.

Thanks. I’ll look into that.

frazervalley · 10-22-2018, 12:21 AM

Welcome to the forum, you will find knowledgable and helpful folk here.

eluded · 10-22-2018, 12:30 AM

How do you re-aim the headlights on a 340?

My search button is broken. Google appears to be blocked the firewall.

Zanity · 10-22-2018, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eluded

How do you re-aim the headlights on a 340?

My search button is broken. Google appears to be blocked the firewall.

theres a white hex key on top of the headlight you can turn to adjust height

BuefordTjustice · 10-22-2018, 10:49 AM

Are these the non adaptive LED's were talking about here? I'm pre LCI but even passengers that ride with me are amazed by the bright white illumination of the road. I have the adaptive LED's

jh_f30 · 10-22-2018, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuefordTjustice

Are these the non adaptive LED's were talking about here? I'm pre LCI but even passengers that ride with me are amazed by the bright white illumination of the road. I have the adaptive LED's

If you're pre-LCI, you probably have adaptive HIDs.

_tlink · 10-22-2018, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuefordTjustice

Are these the non adaptive LED's were talking about here? I'm pre LCI but even passengers that ride with me are amazed by the bright white illumination of the road. I have the adaptive LED's

You have HID's on pre LCI not LED's, hence the brighter output and why OP feels lack luster from their intensity output

BuefordTjustice · 10-22-2018, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _tlink

You have HID's on pre LCI not LED's, hence the brighter output and why OP feels lack luster from their intensity output

You sure about that? Here's my build sheet
ZLP Lighting Package 1,730.00 1,900.00
552 Adaptive Full LED Lights N/C N/C
5AC Automatic high beams N/C N/C

_tlink · 10-22-2018, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuefordTjustice

You sure about that? Here's my build sheet
ZLP Lighting Package 1,730.00 1,900.00
552 Adaptive Full LED Lights N/C N/C
5AC Automatic high beams N/C N/C

Which of these two housings do you have to clarify?

chhappy7 · 10-22-2018, 01:16 PM

So interestingly I noticed that in the 2018 330i with non-adaptive headlights, it may be LED but the housing is reflective. It makes for very jagged light lines and stuff from what I've observed compared to pre LCI HID that I have on my car.

jh_f30 · 10-22-2018, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuefordTjustice

Quote:

Originally Posted by _tlink

You have HID's on pre LCI not LED's, hence the brighter output and why OP feels lack luster from their intensity output

You sure about that? Here's my build sheet
ZLP Lighting Package 1,730.00 1,900.00
552 Adaptive Full LED Lights N/C N/C
5AC Automatic high beams N/C N/C

Hmm, I stand corrected. It appears full LEDs were an option on 4-series. This wasn't the case, to my knowledge, on the pre-LCI 3-series.

Zanity · 10-22-2018, 01:33 PM

I thought all BMWs are LEDs now except for the hologen 320i models. Didn't Xenon end in like 2014 ?

BuefordTjustice · 10-22-2018, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _tlink

Which of these two housings do you have to clarify?

I have adaptive LED. My S4 had xenons, I know what a projector looks like.

_tlink · 10-22-2018, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuefordTjustice

I have adaptive LED. My S4 had xenons, I know what a projector looks like.

Apologies, like the post above I was under the assumption that most if not all pre LCI were HID. Didn't know the 4 series came with that option. I guess the OP might just be used to an HID setup then since LED's are naturally lower in light projection.

BuefordTjustice · 10-22-2018, 02:26 PM

From what I understand, nobody wanted to spend $1900 on a LED headlight only upgrade, so it is somewhat rare.

chhappy7 · 10-23-2018, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zanity

I thought all BMWs are LEDs now except for the hologen 320i models. Didn't Xenon end in like 2014 ?

My 2015 has Xenons XD
I think 2015 was the last year since 2016 was when the new lights kicked in? (IIRC, which I may not be doing correctly)

jh_f30 · 10-23-2018, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chhappy7

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zanity

I thought all BMWs are LEDs now except for the hologen 320i models. Didn't Xenon end in like 2014 ?

My 2015 has Xenons XD
I think 2015 was the last year since 2016 was when the new lights kicked in? (IIRC, which I may not be doing correctly)

Yeah. All LCI (2016+) non-halogen headlights are LED. Not sure if the LED lighting option for pre-LCI was available on the sedans, but after some research, I found it was an option package on the coupes.

Sea-Tac · 10-23-2018, 06:02 PM

Welcome to the forum...

10-19-2018, 12:18 PM	#1
illmatic88 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2018 340i xdrive Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (0)	First BMW/ New Member Hey everyone. Just checking in. Picked up a 2018 340i x drive m sport in late June. Coming from a 2015 TLX and so far despite some small gripes, Im loving this car. Sport mode is a blast and the exhaust has a great sound. One thing I’m really surprised at is the poor output of light. My TLX and TL before had lights that were much brighter than the bmw’s LED’s.
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10-19-2018, 01:07 PM	#2
MONSTAR #gotboost 517 Rep 861 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Irvine, California iTrader: (0)	you dont need headlight illumination. just drive faster and you will see further sooner __________________ 2018 F87 M2 (09/2020 - ) Dinan Cold Air Intake \|Dinan Axle Back \| VRSF 6.5" Intercooler \| VRSF Catless Downpipe \| VRSF Charge Pipes \| BM3 \| MST Inlet v2 \| Turbosmart VR11 2013 F30 328i (12/2015 - 09/2020) SOLD!
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10-20-2018, 12:54 PM	#4
AndDown Just Copacetic! 177 Rep 616 Posts Drives: 2019 F22 230i MSport Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Redlands, CA iTrader: (0)	There are numerous threads about adjusting the headlights, suggest you might want to try adjusting. I've had to adjust the lights upward slightly for the current Bimmers I have, does make a difference lighting up the road ahead. __________________ '01 X5 3.0 AlpWhite '16 428i GC AlpWhite '19 230i MSptPkg AlpWhite
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10-22-2018, 12:21 AM	#6
frazervalley Second Lieutenant 125 Rep 217 Posts Drives: 2015 328i xdrive Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: British Columbia iTrader: (0)	Welcome to the forum, you will find knowledgable and helpful folk here.
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10-22-2018, 12:30 AM	#7
eluded 2JZ-GTE 3029 Rep 3,991 Posts Drives: 340 6MT, 50e, others Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Sofia iTrader: (0)	How do you re-aim the headlights on a 340? My search button is broken. Google appears to be blocked the firewall. __________________ A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.
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10-22-2018, 10:49 AM	#9
BuefordTjustice Second Lieutenant 181 Rep 247 Posts Drives: '16 435 Gran Coupe xdrive Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	Are these the non adaptive LED's were talking about here? I'm pre LCI but even passengers that ride with me are amazed by the bright white illumination of the road. I have the adaptive LED's
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10-22-2018, 01:16 PM	#14
chhappy7 Major 519 Rep 1,171 Posts Drives: TBD Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Hanover, NH iTrader: (0)	So interestingly I noticed that in the 2018 330i with non-adaptive headlights, it may be LED but the housing is reflective. It makes for very jagged light lines and stuff from what I've observed compared to pre LCI HID that I have on my car. __________________ 2020 X3 M40i 2015 328i - Sold @ 104,000 miles
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10-22-2018, 01:33 PM	#16
Zanity Major 731 Rep 1,045 Posts Drives: 428i Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: BC, Canada iTrader: (0)	I thought all BMWs are LEDs now except for the hologen 320i models. Didn't Xenon end in like 2014 ?
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10-22-2018, 02:26 PM	#19
BuefordTjustice Second Lieutenant 181 Rep 247 Posts Drives: '16 435 Gran Coupe xdrive Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	From what I understand, nobody wanted to spend $1900 on a LED headlight only upgrade, so it is somewhat rare.
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10-23-2018, 06:02 PM	#22
Sea-Tac Major 1453 Rep 1,487 Posts Drives: 2108 X3 xDrive30i Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Bellevue, Wa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 X3 xDrive30i [0.00] 2016 328i xDrive [0.00]	Welcome to the forum...
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