[thaddolson]

I'm looking at buying a pair of headlights for my project BMW from someone on here. I've searched the part number for the one and not coming up with anything.

I need to know if these are LED non-adaptive? The say LED and LCI on label and I just want to make sure before I drop a lot of money for them.

Thanks

[jnj2455]

These are LCI non-adaptive LEDs. They will only auto-level.

To get adaptive LEDs you need a lot more than just the headlights themselves.

[psyki]

Pretty sure those are xenon/HID, not LED headlights. There is very clearly a projector style lens which is specific to HID headlights. The "LED" on the sticker is referring to the DRLs (angel eyes) and/or turn signals.

[jnj2455]

Originally Posted by psyki

Pretty sure those are xenon/HID, not LED headlights. There is very clearly a projector style lens which is specific to HID headlights. The "LED" on the sticker is referring to the DRLs (angel eyes) and/or turn signals.

LCI 4-series uniquely had non-adaptive projector bi-LEDs as standard very similar to pre-LCI xenons, whilst the rest of the LCI line up had reflector based non-adaptive LEDs if so equipped.

Just to make it more confusing, all LCI 3/4 adaptive LEDs were reflector based.

Not sure why BMW went this route with the projector LEDs just for the 4 series but they did. The script on the eyebrow would say "BMW XENON", "BMW LED", or I believe "BMW ADAPTIVE LED"

[psyki]

Originally Posted by jnj2455

LCI 4-series uniquely had non-adaptive projector bi-LEDs as standard very similar to pre-LCI xenons, whilst the rest of the LCI line up had reflector based non-adaptive LEDs if so equipped.

Just to make it more confusing, all LCI 3/4 adaptive LEDs were reflector based.

Not sure why BMW went this route with the projector LEDs just for the 4 series but they did. The script on the eyebrow would say "BMW XENON", "BMW LED", or I believe "BMW ADAPTIVE LED"

Crazy, I stand corrected. I have pre-LCI adaptive LEDs on my F32 and the eyebrow only says "BMW LED", whereas my F15 with adaptive LED says "BMW ADAPTIVE LED". I hate that kind of inconsistency.

[smrtypants44]

Originally Posted by jnj2455

LCI 4-series uniquely had non-adaptive projector bi-LEDs as standard very similar to pre-LCI xenons, whilst the rest of the LCI line up had reflector based non-adaptive LEDs if so equipped.

Just to make it more confusing, all LCI 3/4 adaptive LEDs were reflector based.

Not sure why BMW went this route with the projector LEDs just for the 4 series but they did. The script on the eyebrow would say "BMW XENON", "BMW LED", or I believe "BMW ADAPTIVE LED"

Not only that because they are the only projector LEDs on the f3x they have arguably the best output pattern and they are base lights haha

[jnj2455]

Originally Posted by psyki

Crazy, I stand corrected. I have pre-LCI adaptive LEDs on my F32 and the eyebrow only says "BMW LED", whereas my F15 with adaptive LED says "BMW ADAPTIVE LED". I hate that kind of inconsistency.

I think maybe it's just a model year thing? When I was shopping for my F32 I was choosing between one that had adaptive and non-adaptive LEDs (2019MY) and the adaptive one said so on the eyebrow. I assume your F15 may be newer?

Originally Posted by smrtypants44

Not only that because they are the only projector LEDs on the f3x they have arguably the best output pattern and they are base lights haha

I ventured into a thread on here once and said my LEDs (base projector LEDs) performed just as well if not better than bi-xenon set ups I've owned/had in the family and I swore nearly everyone was about to get out the pitchforks lol. Makes more sense in retrospect since I guess most people have the reflector-based model.

[thaddolson]

Originally Posted by jnj2455

These are LCI non-adaptive LEDs. They will only auto-level.

To get adaptive LEDs you need a lot more than just the headlights themselves.

I'm not wanting Adaptive, just trying to find a set that's meant for my car.
Thanks for the reply

[thaddolson]

Originally Posted by jnj2455

LCI 4-series uniquely had non-adaptive projector bi-LEDs as standard very similar to pre-LCI xenons, whilst the rest of the LCI line up had reflector based non-adaptive LEDs if so equipped.

Just to make it more confusing, all LCI 3/4 adaptive LEDs were reflector based.

Not sure why BMW went this route with the projector LEDs just for the 4 series but they did. The script on the eyebrow would say "BMW XENON", "BMW LED", or I believe "BMW ADAPTIVE LED"

The ones I found, he says it does say BMW LED on the lens. The car I bought had no headlights. From my research I need non-adaptive LCI LED.

My car is 2018 430i convertible.

Thanks for the reply

[thaddolson]

Looks like I'm still in the market for some headlights.

Looking for set of LCI non-adaptive LED. Thanks

[psyki]

If you're going to spend OEM money I highly recommend the pre-LCI adaptive LED for your 4 series. It's the only US model that has the hardware to support non-glare high beams and is easy to enable via coding.

[thaddolson]

Originally Posted by psyki

If you're going to spend OEM money I highly recommend the pre-LCI adaptive LED for your 4 series. It's the only US model that has the hardware to support non-glare high beams and is easy to enable via coding.

So if my car didn't come with Adaptive I can still install them and they will work?

[psyki]

Originally Posted by thaddolson

So if my car didn't come with Adaptive I can still install them and they will work?

Yes you can although you will need to perform coding using a tool like e-sys, none of the phone apps will do this kind of coding.

[kjx]

Originally Posted by psyki

Yes you can although you will need to perform coding using a tool like e-sys, none of the phone apps will do this kind of coding.

You need more than just the headlights for this. You'd need the KAFAS camera in the windshield. I don't know if there are additional control units or wiring required, but there have been people who've attempted this in the past and I don't think they got very far in most cases.

[psyki]

Originally Posted by kjx

You need more than just the headlights for this. You'd need the KAFAS camera in the windshield. I don't know if there are additional control units or wiring required, but there have been people who've attempted this in the past and I don't think they got very far in most cases.

Good point, should have mentioned that. I imagine the normal swiveling left to right functionality would work but you would not be able to code the non-glare high beams unless you also had the KAFAS camera.

[kjx]

Originally Posted by psyki

Good point, should have mentioned that. I imagine the normal swiveling left to right functionality would work but you would not be able to code the non-glare high beams unless you also had the KAFAS camera.

The left to right functionality is fed off the steering angle sensor. In theory it should work without KAFAS. What needs to be coded, or if there is additional control units/wiring needed is beyond my level of knowledge unfortunately.

There is a very good but intimidating post titled ‘LED Headlight Retrofit Guide’ on Bimmerfest where someone has done this. Based on what they say however, because of the complex interactions between various ECUs and buses in the car, it can “become very expensive and really hard to retrofit a car that do not already have adaptive headlight or KAFAS based system installed”.

The guide talks through several pitfalls to avoid to ensure you don’t have the car accidentally damage the new headlights.

If I needed to do this, I’d just trade the car for the one that had the options I wanted. Others may have a higher tolerance for risk and time expenditure.