[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by Daftasabrush

Yes you're missing something, the rating is per headlamp unit not per individual lighting section (LED/xenon bulb). The two lights on the LCI aren't as bright in total as the single xenon per side

That would be the correct way to measure, but as far as I can read in this thread, we do not have confirmation on that or distance from source that measurement was observed.

Originally Posted by muckypup

I am quite surprised at how low the lumen rating is for LED & Xenon.

The Philips X-tremeVision halogen bulbs are rated at 1500 lm (http://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/12972XV...specifications) and I have a torch with a single LED in it that is rated at over a 1000lm.

Another reason to find out exactly where/how the measurement is being made.

Lumens drop dramatically as you increase your distance from the light source and also the axis from the light source if using lens/reflectors/shutters etc.

I was doing some rough measurements on Xenon HID last week in my garage and was amazed at dramatic change in Lumens directly in front of the car just by moving the x or y axis literally a few millimeters.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by russellg

The light source itself is almost irrelevant but I do prefer the temperature of the 4300k xenon over a 6000k LED.

If these Kelvin temps are correct, that would make the LEDs very close to Natural Sunlight. Sunlight, though not white, would explain why people are claiming the LEDs mistakenly as "whiter".

The next question would be how stable the LED Color Temp is as LEDs are notorious for increasing in Temp over time.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by Esto-Grande

I do a twice weekly night run, I can now compare the AHBA Xenons on my Z4 with the Adaptive LEDs.

I could not fault the LEDs with perfect visibility and illumination on the same route. It was apparent that the beam pattern kept changing and splitting when facing oncoming traffic or when closing down vehicles in front.

I have to say I'm more than happy with them.

You seem to be impressed with the Anti-Dazzle feature instead of the light source itself. Xenon HID have also had Anti-Dazzle available for several years.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by JOHNBMWM5

I just go by "how well I can see in the dark and the Adaptive LED's do it for me.
Especially with HBA.

Yes, you can compare facts and figures until the cows come home. I had Adaptive bi-xenons on my last two cars (F10 & F12). The Adaptive LEDs on my new 640i are simply amazing, not just in brightness but how each light reacts independently with regard to oncoming traffic and cars in front of you.

[AGONXF30]

Originally Posted by teaston

I don't care what they say, from actual use I can tell you that LCI non adaptive LEDs are far brighter than F30 pre LCI xenons!

It is literally night and day! I would say the same difference as between halogen and xenon!

Not even close. The LED are whiter, that is about it.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by Jon D

Yes, you can compare facts and figures until the cows come home. I had Adaptive bi-xenons on my last two cars (F10 & F12). The Adaptive LEDs on my new 640i are simply amazing, not just in brightness but how each light reacts independently with regard to oncoming traffic and cars in front of you.

You are posting about the Anti-Dazzle feature, not the light source.

You need a to compare both light sources with Ant-Dazzle - and the Xenon has better cutoff with the feature.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by AGONXF30

Not even close. The LED are whiter, that is about it.

Again, there is no such thing as "whiter" as white is the absence of all colors.

Lower Kelvin lights are more yellow (think incandescent bulbs at roughly 2900K) and as blue is added in the Kelvin goes up.

[Tengocity]

Forgot to come back to this thread after I got the 330e. So I have two cars, one with adaptive xenons, and one with adaptive LEDs.

There's really not that much in it to be honest, both are similarly bright, but the LEDs are not as good as I expected them to be, but that's more about how the light is spread, than the brightness alone. I actually prefer the xenons marginally.

Did I read something about the 3 series LEDs using a reflector system rather than a projector system which meant they weren't as good as other systems?

I think my wife's old Mini with LEDs worked better then the 3 series ones on dipped, in terms of colour and spread, though they didn't have adaptive functionality and on full beam didn't seem as good.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by AGONXF30

Not even close. The LED are whiter, that is about it.

Definitely not, I am still astonished at how bright my LCI non adaptive LED's are!

[Esto-Grande]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

You seem to be impressed with the Anti-Dazzle feature instead of the light source itself. Xenon HID have also had Anti-Dazzle available for several years.

I have a Z4 with Xenons and AHBA.

My 4 Series Gran Coupe with Adaptive LEDs are brighter, faster to react and have the Beam Splitting Function which in my opinion makes them better and safer.

[AGONXF30]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

Again, there is no such thing as "whiter" as white is the absence of all colors.

Lower Kelvin lights are more yellow (think incandescent bulbs at roughly 2900K) and as blue is added in the Kelvin goes up.

I am not quite sure you understand light and EM. White light contains all colors.

[Steces]

Hmmmm, after almost 8y in a RR Sport with adaptive xenons I have just taken delivery of my F31 LCI with LEDs and I'm not an immediate fan

Drove 20 mins on unlit roads tonight and whilst full beam is great dip really isn't. Intensity and spread are excellent but distance is far shorter than I expected. Is it possible mine have been set incorrectly or are they all like that? If normal then they're rubbish for a car of this nature and worse than I even remember the xenons on my E46

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

Again, there is no such thing as "whiter" as white is the absence of all colors.

[Kabrich]

Originally Posted by xenon

Originally Posted by AGONXF30

I am not quite sure you understand light and EM. White light contains all colors.

I am aware of how white is composed IN LIGHT by a combination of RGB.

HOWEVER, as shown on the above chart this combination runs on a yellow/blue scale.

White in nature is the absence of Color. Notice how blonde hair is bleached to remove all color. What is left is either white or something on the yellow side.

Obviously light can not be made by removing the 3 primaries colors as that removes all light. But as pointed out on the scale, White is NOT a Color. As thus there are literally millions of variations that could be called "white" as there is no absolute white (again, absence of all color).

So again, to call a light "whiter" does not exist as there is no such thing as definitive white on the x/y axis - and the eye sees wavelengths on the Kelvin a Scale.

That's is why TVs are calibrated are calibrated on the grey scale in an effort to get the colors to combine as closely as possible to an x/y coordinates. However, as previously stated, as true white does not exist, the x/y coordinates are different for HDTV, 4K TV and Digital Cinema.

Which brings us right back around to there is no absolute white when producing a light "white" which is by nature an absence of all color - and again why a light cannot be "whiter - only more yellow or blue on the Kelvin Scale where there is no white.

Probably more than you wanted to know without me getting into exact scientific numbers.

[....,,,,..,,..]

There was me always assuming white light was the sum of 'all' wavelengths.

Which TBH is a huge mass of wavelengths.

Right off to tear up my fibre optics notes.

Obviously got that one wrong.

There was me believing it was all based on frequencies and wavelengths.

Bugger !

[JOHNBMWM5]

I have been pleasantly surprised with the Xenon Adaptive with HBA.
They are not so bad as i thought they would be after LED's, good in fact.

[Tom Tallon]

Thread heading is totally wrong. The answers going to and fro on here are anything but definitive!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AGONXF30]

Originally Posted by Kabrich

I am aware of how white is composed IN LIGHT by a combination of RGB.

HOWEVER, as shown on the above chart this combination runs on a yellow/blue scale.

White in nature is the absence of Color. Notice how blonde hair is bleached to remove all color. What is left is either white or something on the yellow side.

Obviously light can not be made by removing the 3 primaries colors as that removes all light. But as pointed out on the scale, White is NOT a Color. As thus there are literally millions of variations that could be called "white" as there is no absolute white (again, absence of all color).

So again, to call a light "whiter" does not exist as there is no such thing as definitive white on the x/y axis - and the eye sees wavelengths on the Kelvin a Scale.

That's is why TVs are calibrated are calibrated on the grey scale in an effort to get the colors to combine as closely as possible to an x/y coordinates. However, as previously stated, as true white does not exist, the x/y coordinates are different for HDTV, 4K TV and Digital Cinema.

Which brings us right back around to there is no absolute white when producing a light "white" which is by nature an absence of all color - and again why a light cannot be "whiter - only more yellow or blue on the Kelvin Scale where there is no white.

Probably more than you wanted to know without me getting into exact scientific numbers.

Again you do not seem to understand EM and particularly the visible spectrum. When you mix RBG, you get white. So white is the mix of all colors.

[swanseahammer]

My current car is an LCI F30 with adaptive LEDs, previous was pre-LCI F30 with adaptive Xenons. Adaptive LEDs seem marginally better when HBA puts main beam on whereas adaptive xenons seemed better when on dipped, so overall not a lot in it, depends where you are driving and under what conditions / street lighting. For example, last night I was out driving on an urban road with white-ish street lighting with HBA active, it put the main beams on, something I never noticed the adaptive xenons do. Unless of course they've made street lighting worse which is entirely possible.

[Jon D]

Regardless of all the quotable facts and figures, what happens in the real world, behind the wheel at night is what really matters.
Up until last night I was very impressed with my Adaptive LED lights but I had only driven on unlit country roads where and I was extremely impressed with them.
Last night I was on the M9 in the rain and I have to say that I was disappointed. In these conditions I the Adaptive Xenons I had on me previous F12 were significantly brighter.

[Minty]

Thread resurrection...:-)

Was in stealers today and noticed the new 4 series and 1 series LCI had projector LED's (non adaptive)...has anyone experienced these - are they any good?

I wonder why BMW have changed again from reflector LED's to projector LED's, apart from the fact that the projectors look MUCH better.

[HiBee]

Update on my opinion that the LED's after around 18000 miles.

I still think they are still shit compared to the xenons!!
Many people differ i know.

I think that the LED does not appear to be brighter than the xenons although not much significant change in the addaptive.
The throw doesn't appear to be as far though.
May be why i don't get flashed as much now.

Given a choice it would be xenon, but that's no longer available.