[GOF_430d]

Can anyone tell whether I can replace my existing Xenon headlamps with LED units? I'm not thinking about changing just the lamps [I would say bulb] but the entire headlamp moulding.

I have changed the Xenon lamps for Osram Night breakers, which are a vast improvement over the OEM lamps, they're as not as bright as I would like - as I get older the worse my vision at night becomes.

Other than buying the lamp units and drivers, getting them coded, what else would I need and most importantly is this feasible?

[xenon]

Why on earth would you want to? The OEM Xenon headlamps are much better than LED.

[Bachu1]

xenon i wonder if I've ever seen you ( car ) around in Coventry as i live there tooooo...

[GEP77]

The perceived light output from the Xenons and the Adaptive LEDs are very similar. I went from adaptive Xenon to Adaptive LED when I changed from my 335 to the 440 and while the behaviour of the lights was different, the LED adaptive function was much more refined for instance overall vision was very similar.

Generally the Xenons were better than the standard LED in my view. And both are leagues ahead of the old halogen units.

In your circumstance having a brighter headlight might not be the solution to the problem. As we get older the accommodation of eyes reduces, ie the eye takes longer to recover between periods of brightness and darkness. This is especially a problem at night with oncoming traffic for older people.

If it's becoming too much I would recommend talking to your optician about it as they might be able to assist before you spend hundreds or even thousands on replacing your headlights.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Bachu1

xenon i wonder if I've ever seen you ( car ) around in Coventry as i live there tooooo...

Could be - I'm currently in a G21 330i in Mineral Grey, around the Keresley End / Corley area.

[GOF_430d]

Thanks for your replies, its weird but the Xenons on my previous 2012 E92 produced a white light providing a great view of the road in all weather conditions and even having swapped the lamps for Osram Night Breakers the light output is nowhere as good as it was with the old car. Might be my rose tinted memory.

I will be getting my eyes tested as I've noticed that I am less able to judge the speed of the vehicles ahead of me in the dark so I tend to leave a large braking distance ahead which rapidly gets filled by other cars - I've resigned myself to driving more slowly.

[GOF_430d]

I may have resolved the problem - I've cleaned them - the lenses looks much clearer now.

[Alscoob]

The xenon lights on my old F31 were better than the LED's are on my current F31. Much better spread and distance of light. (both non adaptive).

But keeping them clean also helps

[SuperHamz]

I asked BMW this recently and they said there's a lot involved to upgrade from Xenon to LED, you're probably looking at £3-4k for parts/labour to get it right.