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Old 05-20-2015, 03:52 PM
Ricky Bobby's Avatar
Ricky Bobby Ricky Bobby is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Do you have factory xenon?

Honest opinion? They look extremely aftermarket, the eyebrow strip up top, the unreliable and full circle (smaller) CCFL rings, everything looks pretty cheap. If the housings were $200 I'd probably say go for it, but at $400 its not something I'd recommend. Don't get me started on the aftermarket projector lighting output, the facelift E55 isn't the best projector in the world to begin with, these will make it a step down in regards to driving at night.

Who corrected your lenses previously and what did they do? You should be able to get a pro to restore the lenses, and apply something like Opti-Lens (which is Opti-Coat for plastic headlight lenses) and the restoration should last YEARS. If they just sanded and polished and put some wax/sealant on there, the hazing will come back within a year since the original UV coating is removed.


Also keep in mind the facelift housings are permasealed and unable to be baked open. However, if you are patient enough you should be able to get them, eventually. You can find new lenses here if you are lucky enough to open the housings without breaking them:

BMW x5 E53 Facelift Set Headlights Headlamps Lamp Lens Cover Glasses 04 07 Year | eBay

As well, now would be a great time to surf German Ebay and get a used set of European Clear Facelift xenon headlights, super rare. But about $1200 when all is said and done.

So to summarize:

-$400 for aftermarket lights that will not give as good of light output as OEM housings (xenon projectors on aftermarkets are ALWAYS inferior), lower quality CCFL rings, etc, I don't recommend

-I do recommend having the lenses restored and apply Opti-Lens as additional clear coat/UV protection when finished

-I also recommend if you have the patience to crack the housings open (you will be one of a few that have done it), to replace with new lenses and fix your halo wiring while open

-If you want to go full boar, spend the bucks on Euro Clear headlights but you have to surf German Ebay

-If you go with the new lenses from Ebay and do decide to crack them open yourself, do yourself a favor and also UPGRADE THE HALOS to Umnitza V2 halos, they are worth it for $200. You also could go with EvoXR projector swap for superior lighting. At the very least, get a new set of OEM Philips or Osram bulbs as at your age of vehicle, the original bulbs are burning at probably half brightness by now
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