Crap X5 Reversing lights

[X5-D-Sport]

I may have a fix for the sh*te reversing lights issue on X5's....

I just jerry rigged some LED 100watt H4 6K headlamp bulbs into my reversing light clusters... with a couple of blobs of silicone adhesive to secure

As i understand it, the LED 100Watt rating is the LED equivalent light-output as a 100Watt filament bulb... not the measured power consumption.

The 100watt LED units draw the same/similar power to a standard 21watt filament bulb, & create less heat than a 21Watt filament bulb -
which is untouchable after 60 seconds of being powered up.

The light output of the LED 100watt units are amazing.
My home is in Rural Staffordshire UK, no street lighting & the driveway is dark & dank hollow in the winter.
Reversing up near the porch has seen close shaves of demolishion with the X5.

Now the entire drive & side of the house is lit up beautifully.
My wife's new Merc AMG has all LED lighting & her LED reversing lights are amazing, so Mercedes have dome some thing similar with the AMG.

[Themoog2]

I tried led bulbs in mine but just got the dash warning with very little improvement in light output.
I may give your fix a go... I too live in blackness and reversing off the drive is a gamble.

[Themoog2]

Do you get a blown bulb warning with them?

[X5-D-Sport]

No... i didnt get a blown bulb warning because they draw the same or similar current to original filament bulbs.

[Alan Gunn]

Might just give that a go.
Have you got a link to the kit you put in.

[Greydog]

My first 4.4 X5 had appalling lights front and back!! Headlamps were sorted with OEM HID units from a breaker. The reversing lamps when I took them out to clean them I saw the reflector was a poorly sprayed silver coat on the plastic. I glued some aluminium kitchen foil in place (shiny side out) the difference was really noticeable and actually usable when reversing.

Even back in the late 90's my AMG's always had good lights all round so the X5 was a shock with how poor the lights were all round. Manoeuvring on my drive is taken care of by a high level LED security light so anyone can see what they have squashed

[X5-D-Sport]

i used these - link below.

I trimmed the metal flanges so that they locate in the original bulb housings & secured with a few blobs of white silicone.

Ensure the led does not contact the lens or the reflector.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/H4-Led-Bulbs ... SwhARfGAX3

[sleepyfolk]

How exactly did you Jerry rig them? It’s a while since I’ve been in there but don’t ours have a holder for the lamp that clips in and those replacement lamps have connectors on the back

[X5-D-Sport]

Both my tail lights had a different bulb fitting, so i chose the metal edged H4 100w LED headlight bulbs do i could jerry-rig or trim the metal plate bulb mount plate so i could tease the cut & twisted metal to shape to form a reasonably solid mount.
The bulb connector i chopped off & crimped nee spade connectors to connect to the new LED bulb.

The blobs of silicone do not seal the LED item, rather just blobs to secure it from vibrating loose.

[sleepyfolk]

Ok cheers, il have a look at mine, I have to reverse into a drive on an unlit farm and it’s just guesswork at the minute!

[X5-D-Sport]

When you refit the tial light clusters...
Be sure to clean the foam seals on the light clusters AND the mating surface.

My preference is silicone lubricant spray applied to both surfaces as a water repellant to ensure water does not leak into the lower tailgate.

[Alan Gunn]

Thanks for the link.
Going to investigate the e90 rear lights before i order might be able to do the same job on that.