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HID help?

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
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X5Sport
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Re: HID help?

Post by X5Sport » Tue May 15, 2012 5:14 pm

Lookin good.... :thumbsup:
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Sanj
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Re: HID help?

Post by Sanj » Tue May 15, 2012 8:27 pm

[quote=""X5Sport""]Lookin good.... :thumbsup:[/quote]

I know, I like the grey one too. Particularly proud of that one. Then some dirty black crap adorned my drive!?!

Drive way came up nice....................... :whistle:
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Re: HID help?

Post by X5Sport » Tue May 15, 2012 8:30 pm

Black one needs its engine bay cleaning...... :stir:
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Re: HID help?

Post by Sanj » Tue May 15, 2012 8:31 pm

[quote=""X5Sport""]Black one needs its engine bay cleaning...... :stir:[/quote]

Told him the wipes wouldn't be enough!
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Re: HID help?

Post by X5Sport » Tue May 15, 2012 9:01 pm

Well then see, as the Master you should educate your student...... :poke: :rtfm: :punish:

A quick demonstration usually does the job. Yours being spotless means you'll have to use his as the demonstration tool..... :nahnah: :exitright:

Job for next Tuesday... :whistle:
Last edited by X5Sport on Tue May 15, 2012 9:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: HID help?

Post by storminmike » Tue May 15, 2012 9:02 pm

[quote=""X5Sport""]Lookin good.... :thumbsup:[/quote]

I agree...interesting that the hole was drilled in the backplate off centre

Look good against OEMs too. Not dark enough but a nightime shootout between OEM/35w/50w would be nice to see. I think the headlights start from a p1ss poor usefullness IMO so HIDs are welcome.

A (non-scientific)test I considered was when side by side on the motorway at night was to judge who's lights on the tarmac was the brighter, easily obviated when the beams overlapped. My old E36 was downright dangerous on a dark poorly lit raining night.

Having said that I think the beam is a bit on the narrow side because road signs in the distance are well lit but the side spread on out of town A and B roads to pick out the verges is iffy. I've driven with the fog lights on before on my own to fill in that verge lighting

Might upgrade to 50w 4,300k from the 35w if it's a step up

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Re: HID help?

Post by X5Sport » Tue May 15, 2012 9:05 pm

Are the ballasts current rating specific, ie you need 50W ones for 50W bulbs, or is there an 'upper limit' after which you must uprate?

What I'm wondering is whether I can uprate the X6 OEM 35W bulbs without re-ballasting?
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Re: HID help?

Post by storminmike » Tue May 15, 2012 9:16 pm

[quote=""X5Sport""]Are the ballasts current rating specific, ie you need 50W ones for 50W bulbs, or is there an 'upper limit' after which you must uprate?

What I'm wondering is whether I can uprate the X6 OEM 35W bulbs without re-ballasting?[/quote]

I asked HIDS Direct if my 35w kit could b upgraded with bulbs...they said no but then again it was a kit and not OEM. A bit like those poxy 12v garden light transformers you get that do just enough

most of these kits come from the far east don't they?,,,,what's 35 watt in chinese symbols :D

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Re: HID help?

Post by X5Sport » Tue May 15, 2012 9:30 pm

The X6 ballasts are below the headlight unit and seem to be a slimline design. I suspect the answer is that upgrading may not be straightforward without upsetting the warranty.... :(

Still, the LED ones fit.....even if it probably needs a mortgage to buy them. Parts now on Realoem.. :thumbsup:

Looks like a straight-ish swap of light units.
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Re: HID help?

Post by Raj » Tue May 15, 2012 10:10 pm

Makes such a difference. They will transform night time driving.

Tbh I find the OE xenons really poor compared to all the other models I have owned.
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HID help?

Post by jeegnesh » Tue May 15, 2012 10:26 pm

Ok keep in mind I just came off what I call no lights, started her up and wow I can SEE, pics is very hard to show the true difference but here they are anyway:

Image
Image

I like on a no lights road and previously when I would turn into my road I could not even make out if my lights were on, no longer the case:

Image
Image

When I changed to superego te bulbs I was able to take a pic of the lights head on, not this time the light so bright that the picture was just a blur of light had to take a picture side on focus on the white to get anything:

Image

I can't compare to 35w to say whether there better, same or worse do plan to compare with oem one day when I get the chance, but I'm well please with the upgrade, I can now see at night :-)
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HID help?

Post by ITBarbie » Tue May 15, 2012 10:55 pm

Sanj I see Jig is still using you as his b@*ch! Hope you feel better
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Re: HID help?

Post by Raj » Wed May 16, 2012 9:55 am

Massive difference as expected.

Hole is drilled off centre due to the plastic flap you can see as you want the rubber grommet to sit flush against the cap.
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Re: HID help?

Post by jeegnesh » Wed May 16, 2012 10:00 am

[quote=""ITBarbie""]Sanj I see Jig is still using you as his b@*ch! Hope you feel better[/quote]
That's not nice :roll:
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Re: HID help?

Post by jeegnesh » Wed May 16, 2012 10:00 am

[quote=""Sanj""][quote=""X5Sport""]Black one needs its engine bay cleaning...... :stir:[/quote]

Told him the wipes wouldn't be enough![/quote]

I told you we needed more wipes :D
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