Replacement Xenon bulbs and matching Angel Eyes?

[svvg]

Hi - I'm new to the forum but a long standing member of various E46/M3 sites.... I recently bought a 2004 E53 4.8 - and have been rebuilding it all!

One of the last items for attention are the headlights. I refurbished them with a 3M kit plus a McGuires UV protector spray (so they're no longer opaque and yellow, and should hopefully last a year or so before requiring further attention...) - but the light output is still pretty poor. I have Xenons - but I think I have original bulbs, and while they provide a white light, don't seem to be that bright anymore.

I replaced the Xenons in my M3 with Osram 66240CBI D2S bulbs a few years ago - but bought from the Light Workz (or may have been the Retrofit Source actually....) - but they're both in the States and I was hoping there was a good supplier in the UK? Ideally I'm after the best light output without having to stay too yellow in the heat range (so the bulbs mentioned are a pretty good compromise) - and I'd also like to match the Angle eyes with a white bulb.

Does anyone have any experience with this and can make any recommendations?

Many thanks!

[X5Sport]

Osram Xenarc Nightbreaker should do the trick as they have a very good reputation on test.

[kkx5]

+Mtec angle eyes.

[qwertik]

My choice is:
Osram 66240CBI - D2S
MTEC Ver.3 - angel eyes

[svvg]

Thanks for the replies - tried to buy the Osram 66240 CBIs from Euro Car Parts - who accepted my order but then emailed this morning to say they're going to check whether they can in fact supply them at the price they had advertised!

I'd seen the Mtec Angel Eyes - think you're referring to these ones:

https://www.hids-direct.co.uk/mtec-ver- ... -7-series/

There are a myriad of options out there - and these are the most expensive - assume the £17 ones form the same site will be rubbish then? Get what you pay for etc.... but are they really worth the £60 premium?

Many thanks!

[Alan Gunn]

If you put an order in and paid then they have to sell them to you at the advertised price.
Did you get an email confirming your order when you placed it.

[svvg]

Yep - and as you say - offer and acceptance etc. Will be a total ball ache arguing it with them though...!

[svvg]

Have received the osram 66240 CBI xenons and mtev v3 angel eyes from HIDS direct.. Any advice on fitting, as it looks like I'll have to remove the air box on one side and the power steering reservoir on the passenger side to get to the back of the lights (for the xenons)? A couple of you tube vids I've watched  suggest removing the entire headlamp??

Angel eyes don't seem to work - which I'm guessing is because the are wired the other way round from the factory harness - and the supplied "adaptor" plugs don't fit - so had to message the supplier.

Grateful for tips on best way to swap the bulbs.

Thanks!

[X5Sport]

Something is nagging in the back of my mind that the front bumper has to be moved to get at the light units as something is in the way.  Removing the air box etc would be the alternative route to access.  BMW don’t design to maintain - and they aren’t the only ones doing this now  >:(

[svvg]

Bumper off's not the end of the world - but I don't want to have to align the headlights afterwards if I can't refit the headlight in exactly the right place... not sure which is easier!!

[svvg]

Got it sorted - no need to remove bumper or the lights...

Angel eyes from Mtec were not supplied with the correct wiring adaptor. A few threads/reviews seem to suggest that all the harness adaptor did was to reverse the polarity of the factory plug - checked it with some spare wire and then just swapped the terminals around in the plug - and hey presto.

As for the Xenons - had to lift out the airbox for the driver's side and lift up the coolant/expansion tank/power steering fluid reservoir (all held in the same bracket - just three bolts) for access on the passenger side. Bottom screw in each cover is tricky to get to and can only be seen from a funny angle with a torch - but I have girls  hands so was able to get there. Used a short e tension, bit homder and torx (a longer torx driver wouldn't fit I don't think).

[A Blair]

Hi ssvg,
Where the new xenons an improvement?
I was interested in your thread as it looks like I need to do something. Cleaning the plastic lenses is a start, upgrading the bulbs seems an obvious follow on to this.

[svvg]

Yep - Defo improved things. Is not an extraordinary transformation - my M3 xenons are much brighter but I also replaced the factory frosted lens with a clear lens (again, with the cbi osrams). My old bulbs felt like they weren’t really on and produced a yellowy light on the road. The new bulbs produce proper light. They are obviously not as good as modern led lights though, but a definite improvement!!!