Angel Eyes on a pre-facelift E53 X5 - Am I ordering the right lights ?

[RoShamBo]

Hi all,

First post so go easy on me.

I purchased my 03 E53 X5 4.4i recently - my first BMW ever (!) after many many years of Porsche ownership (Boxter S, 996, 996 4S, 996 Turbo) so quite a change but loving the X5 so far.

I have the Halogen standard headlights (level adjuster on dash, yellow glow from lights, lights not very good !) and really want the Angel Eyes look to freshen up the front end.
Having read many many threads on this I am still a bit confused, but I think these will fit :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171146503590? ... 933wt_1042

Depo seem to be the best - if a little pricey. Feel free to correct me if you feel otherwise.

Guess the question is :

Are they the correct replacement lights ?
Are they literally a direct fit / plug and play (I am useless at DIY and don't ask me to go near anything with wires!)
Are my headlights easy to remove ? Don't have to take bumper off, drop the engine out etc

Guess the above covers it.

Any help appreciated with it all and looking through all the years of help and advice I think I have found the most helpful BMW forum around !

Cheers

Ro.

[Jackstrath]

ebay.USA , so they will be for LHD cars no ?

[RoShamBo]

No RHD....probably better to get / order from UK ?
Do you think these are the right type of lights for what I want ? Just need to find them for UK.

Thanks

Ro.

[james8whippy]

Hi Ro,

Welcome aboard! I too bought a set of Depo headlights for my 2002 E53 Pre Facelift X5. They were similar but came with LED's and were Xenons model.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/390563980121?item=390563980121&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME:X:RTQ:MOTORS:1123&vxp=mtr

Also check my posts out on this page http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/https://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7

I've had mine since September and I find the build quality of Depo very good so far but as you say maybe a little pricey compared to other competitors but I suppose you get what you pay for

The ones I bought were plug and play and were really easy to fit no bumper removal needed!

Under the headlights is a trim piece. In the middle there are pinch clips. Get a pair of pin nose plyers and squeeze them carefully and the trim pieces will pop off. There are 2 x 8mm torx bolts under the headlight and 2 x 8mm Torx bolts on the top. The headlight will then slide out forward.
Make sure you use a magnet as if you drop these bolts they can be a right pain to get back... As I found out!

Same as OEM headlights the DEPO ones come with levers on the back which switch the beam pattern from LHD to RHD (My ones did anyway).

Hope this helps

Cheers
James

[kjb1]

Got mine from ebay Germany.  Lovely lights!! with hid kit fitted in projector lamp made a great difference!! get on it!!

[RoShamBo]

Thanks everyone and James for the "how to" guide - will be needing that !

So looks like I have the right lights for my car, they are literally plug and play and jobs a good en !

I will see if I can source some from the UK but looks like it doesn't matter if the lever is on the back to change. I go everywhere now looking at BMW headlights !

Ro.

[danny wilson]

I also have the standard halogen headlights and would like to upgrade to something angel eye like.
Any advice guys

[RoShamBo]

With shipping, these Depo lights come in at £ 525 ish. £ 115 of that is shipping / postage.

Anyone know if / where I can get these in the UK....if only to save on the postage !

Cheers,

Ro.

[RoShamBo]

Any thoughts on these ? :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-X5-Type-E ... 335wt_1238

Cheers

Ro.

[kjb1]

I had these on my e53.  Look oem and really freshen up front end.

[RoShamBo]

Ah ok, they make no mention of Halogen or Xenon versions.
I can contact them to check but were your original lights halogen or xenons ?

They also say mention motors and swapping (diy isn't my thing) - I don't have self levelling but levelling adjustment on dash......any thoughts ?

[Sanj]

[quote="RoShamBo"]
I don't have self levelling but levelling adjustment on dash......any thoughts ?
[/quote]

If you have the level dial on the light switch in the car then you don't have xenons and you will have to change motors over... 

[RoShamBo]

Pants.....is that easy ?

[Sanj]

No idea - think it is but a faff. Gotta have both units old and new on a table to swap em over.

[kjb1]

Wrong.  These units do come with leveller.  Purely for adjusting beam heights.  The motor they talk of is for oem xenon.  I fitted these years ago, its simply a case of pulling old unit out, swapping a few bulbs ( installing a hid kit for dipped beam and then re installing.  Really not a difficult job genuinely.