2004 E53 4.8iS Lighting Upgrade - Page 4

X53Jay4.8is · #31 01-18-2016, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerE38E53

I would like to compare the difference between LED and HID for the fogs. And I don't use the fogs very often. Typically only on a back road when I head to work at 5:30AM. Not many cars out then :/

I would consider running the HID in the projector. I have LED in MY E39 M5 projector fogs and they color match the headlights real well but do nothing for increased visibility. So for the X its about the functionality with HID you can match the color and get great degrees of visibility.

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Ricky Bobby · #32 01-18-2016, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerE38E53

I'm blinding oncoming traffic using stock housings

crystalworks · #33 01-18-2016, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerE38E53

I would like to compare the difference between LED and HID for the fogs. And I don't use the fogs very often. Typically only on a back road when I head to work at 5:30AM. Not many cars out then :/

Gotcha. Not too much of a problem with blinding people then. I drive with mine on 100% of the time so it's a little different.

Traditionally, LEDs don't even throw as much light as halogens... but I think they are getting closer to stock output now. HID is still going to be significantly brighter than any LED bulb without a proprietary lens designed for the vehicle it's going on (Merc, BMW, Acura, etc newer headlights).

BimmerE38E53 · #34 01-18-2016, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Gotcha. Not too much of a problem with blinding people then. I drive with mine on 100% of the time so it's a little different.

Traditionally, LEDs don't even throw as much light as halogens... but I think they are getting closer to stock output now. HID is still going to be significantly brighter than any LED bulb without a proprietary lens designed for the vehicle it's going on (Merc, BMW, Acura, etc newer headlights).

Good info! I like the output with the HID fogs and I had my girlfriend follow me on the X the other day and it was bright, but not blinding may have been the dimming mirrors in my E38 that helped but I would say they're not an annoyance to other drivers.

crystalworks · #35 01-18-2016, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerE38E53

Good info! I like the output with the HID fogs and I had my girlfriend follow me on the X the other day and it was bright, but not blinding may have been the dimming mirrors in my E38 that helped but I would say they're not an annoyance to other drivers.

Yeah. The problem is not typically the rear view mirror (most are auto dimming now) where you get blinded but the wing mirrors... and even worse oncoming traffic traveling in the opposite direction. Maybe I notice it more because I have sensitive eyes or something...

BimmerE38E53 · #36 01-18-2016, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Yeah. The problem is not typically the rear view mirror (most are auto dimming now) where you get blinded but the wing mirrors... and even worse oncoming traffic traveling in the opposite direction. Maybe I notice it more because I have sensitive eyes or something...

True.....to be completely honest I just put a sheet of plywood in front of the X with the stock halogens and marked where they were. After putting in the HID fogs they were no higher just much wider and more evenly covering the board. I actually have extremely sensitive eyes and don't like being blinded myself. I am looking into a low profile LED light bar to go above the windshield as well. When I say country I mean COUNTRY where I work. So, I want to be able to make it look daylight in the dark. I have a lot of plans for the X and the headlight, halo and fog upgrades are only the beginning.

Forgot to mention I was talking about my side mirrors. My E38 has auto dimming on them as well.

crystalworks · #37 03-17-2016, 06:40 PM

Doing this now BimmerE38E53... wow you really have to cut out a lot of material to fit the high beam rings. Leaves some dead space behind for sure.

Wish they had 155 or even 150mm rings. No big deal I guess... mine looks just like yours from the pics on the first page. I can't wait to have it done and installed.

You said you used no resistors? Just tapped into the original halo light wires? With no bulb out errors I think you mentioned.

BimmerE38E53 · #38 03-17-2016, 08:19 PM

They didn't have any resistors. You can have them custom make a smaller halo. One of the other guys on here emailed them and they said they could. I didn't actually cut any material either. I didn't put he chrome bezel back on around the high beam. If you're not looking for it you would never know. And yes I tapped right into the original halo wires. The post earlier in this thread of where I got them worked like that. I don't know about any others. I must say I have had them in the X about 3 months now and love them. I have had a set on my E38 for about a year and a half now with zero LEDs out. Love the look!!

crystalworks · #39 03-17-2016, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerE38E53

They didn't have any resistors. You can have them custom make a smaller halo. One of the other guys on here emailed them and they said they could. I didn't actually cut any material either. I didn't put he chrome bezel back on around the high beam. If you're not looking for it you would never know. And yes I tapped right into the original halo wires. The post earlier in this thread of where I got them worked like that. I don't know about any others. I must say I have had them in the X about 3 months now and love them. I have had a set on my E38 for about a year and a half now with zero LEDs out. Love the look!!

You didn't cut the high beam black shroud? How the smurf did you get them to fit? LOL... mine were off by a good 3/4inch total width and made sure to measure they were ~160mm.

I didn't use the chrome trim ring on either the high or low beam, but may do some dremel work to utilize part of it so that it covers some of that dead space.

I agree they are great lights. I've used these same kits for years from this seller. Haven't had a failure other than one driver/regulator/resistor on one side of an e46 over 10+ kits.

Edit: Actually, did you measure your high beam LED's? Now that I look at the pictures... yours look substantially smaller than mine. Definitely not 160mm.

BimmerE38E53 · #40 03-18-2016, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystalworks

You didn't cut the high beam black shroud? How the smurf did you get them to fit? LOL... mine were off by a good 3/4inch total width and made sure to measure they were ~160mm.

I didn't use the chrome trim ring on either the high or low beam, but may do some dremel work to utilize part of it so that it covers some of that dead space.

I agree they are great lights. I've used these same kits for years from this seller. Haven't had a failure other than one driver/regulator/resistor on one side of an e46 over 10+ kits.

Edit: Actually, did you measure your high beam LED's? Now that I look at the pictures... yours look substantially smaller than mine. Definitely not 160mm.

I did not measure them. I used the dry fit method lol. And I have used these before in other vehicles and if you heat the light up just a bit, where you can barley touch it you can reshape them just a bit. That's what I did. Didn't take much. Maybe they didn't send me the 160mm.....post some pics when you get done !!!!

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