Angel eyes upgrade - what headlights do I have?

[stevo6]

I'd like to upgrade my DRL angel eyes to whiter after-market bulbs.  Question is, how do I work out what type of bulls I need?  I assume I have Xenons, but how do I confirm? 

If that's correct - are these OK? : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380760141503? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Vehicle is '08 3.0SD (UK RHD)

Thanks

[X5Sport]

No beam height adjuster on the dash light panel is a giveaway.  You also get a 'flash' then the lights warm up when switched on.  Another clue is the presence of danger signs under the bonnet by the headlights as the operating arc ignition voltage is several thousand volts!

You can also check your build by using the last 7 VIN characters on a build website like http://www.bmwarchiv.de/

You're looking for S522A.

Richard

[RenoHuskerDu]

Tread carefully with aftermarket AE kits. I have not seen one yet that looks as bright as the stock ones. Well, perhaps I have, but did not notice it because it was bright. OTOH I have seen many aftermarket kits that look like dooky (a technical word).

[kjb1]

best bet for getting led lateset looking lights is to fit a hid kit to the angel eyes!! these will match performance of latest headlight with genuine drl led's but possibly too bright sometimes! this is the way i will go eventually.

[stevo6]

[quote="X5Sport"]
No beam height adjuster on the dash light panel is a giveaway.  You also get a 'flash' then the lights warm up when switched on.  Another clue is the presence of danger signs under the bonnet by the headlights as the operating arc ignition voltage is several thousand volts!

You can also check your build by using the last 7 VIN characters on a build website like http://www.bmwarchiv.de/

You're looking for S522A.

Richard
[/quote]

Thanks - Xenons confirmed!

[stevo6]

[quote="RenoHuskerDu"]
Tread carefully with aftermarket AE kits. I have not seen one yet that looks as bright as the stock ones. Well, perhaps I have, but did not notice it because it was bright. OTOH I have seen many aftermarket kits that look like dooky (a technical word).
[/quote]

So do you think the ones I linked above are no good?  Might not be as good as stock LED, but better than my existing yellow DRLs surely??

[celica]

Why the change do you not like the yellow glow?

I actually quite like the yellow glow and not seen any aftermarket white ones I like as in the day they are not as visible as the new factory spec type

[X5Sport]

I use MTEC filament bulbs which are white, though not as bright as factory.  Nothing on the market so far will give you that look.


UPDATE:  I think it was these type of bulbs.  Straight swap.

Richard

[pcdee]

I copied Richard. .. lol....happy with the result, like Richard said not as bright but definitely looks better than stock

[RenoHuskerDu]

[quote="stevo6"]
[...]
So do you think the ones I linked above are no good?  Might not be as good as stock LED, but better than my existing yellow DRLs surely??
[/quote]

Those look great, but remember it's a vendor's photos. I can make stuff look real good with photoshop. Have you seen them in real life? I guess that's what I meant by tread carefully...

[X5Sport]

MTECs on my car in bright light.

[stevo6]

Now I'm confused!  Those MTEC bulbs look completely different to the CREE ones I linked to.  Are they really alternatives?

[stevo6]

[quote="stevo6"]
Now I'm confused!  Those MTEC bulbs look completely different to the CREE ones I linked to.  Are they really alternatives?
[/quote]

Just noticed "Pictures of bulbs are for illustration purposes and items may differ slightly due to individual model requirements & ongoing product enhancements" so ignore previous post!!

[X5Sport]

CREE are LED units which are not as bright as filament bulbs yet.  The issue is mainly to do with getting the light into the light guide tubes.  I've seen 40W CREE LEDs on offer which are either multiple chips that make up 40W, or a single chip.  If it were possible to get all of the LED output into the guide then things would be better.

As I put in my earlier reply, MTEC are filament bulbs, conventional bulbs, just with a higher colour temperature generated by use of a blue filter.  They are as bright as the yellow filament lamps but blue/white in colour.........and a lot less money too.

Richard

[celica]

[quote="X5Sport"]
MTECs on my car in bright light.

[/quote]


Nice red example as don't see many

I see what people change but stock has more function in terms of visibility and being seen
I'm not convinced yet but maybe I will if I saw those in real