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  #1  
Old 04-03-2012, 10:03 PM
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2002 X5 4.6is headlights

Hey All,

I've been researching this for a couple of days now, but before I order, I would like to confirm.

1) How do I tell for sure whether I have HID or xenon headlights? When the lights came on, they would start sort of pinkish and quickly warm up to full brightness. I think I have HID.

2) The right bulb seems to have failed, is there any way to tell whether it is the ballast or the bulb? It started failing by not warming up to full bright, and now it is out.

3) I think I am going to order the DEPO replacements:

DEPO - Projector Headlamp Set - E53 X5

But I cannot seem to find a definitive answer for replacing the turn indicator with an LED. Might as well get it all done at once.

Anyone have any thoughts, tips, watch outs, cheaper price?

Thanks so very much!!
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  #2  
Old 04-04-2012, 12:00 AM
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tmv tmv is offline
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1) HID and Xenon are the same. I am sure 4.6is came with HID headlights.
2) Switch the ballast. If the right side lids up, it's the ballast. If not, it's the bulb.
3) Why replace OEM headlights with something inferior? Replace the bulb or ballast and you should be good.
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Old 04-04-2012, 12:36 AM
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its probably easier to swap bulbs around, instead of ballasts, to be honest.
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Old 04-04-2012, 12:37 AM
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LED signal indicators may not work correctly. they may have a very fast blink on/off much like when a bulb is out on some vehicles. as stated above, depo lights are decent for the money but by no means as nice as OEM.
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  #5  
Old 04-04-2012, 10:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmv View Post
1) HID and Xenon are the same. I am sure 4.6is came with HID headlights.
2) Switch the ballast. If the right side lids up, it's the ballast. If not, it's the bulb.
3) Why replace OEM headlights with something inferior? Replace the bulb or ballast and you should be good.
Funny, I was laying in bed last night thinking the same thing: "Hey, waitaminit! Those are the same headlights!

I checked ECS, Bavarian, and Bimmian it doesn't seem they have ballasts. Any suggestions?

Meh. You're probably right. I would really like the Angel Eyes, and that seems like the best way to do it. I truly don't want to bake my headlights.

Thank you for your comments!
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  #6  
Old 04-04-2012, 10:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dinan e39 View Post
LED signal indicators may not work correctly. they may have a very fast blink on/off much like when a bulb is out on some vehicles. as stated above, depo lights are decent for the money but by no means as nice as OEM.
D'oh! I wondered about the blinking factor.

Thanks so much!
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  #7  
Old 04-04-2012, 11:03 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Clockwork View Post
its probably easier to swap bulbs around, instead of ballasts, to be honest.
Good point. Just need to find a place that sells both.

Thanks!
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Old 04-04-2012, 11:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rush View Post
Funny, I was laying in bed last night thinking the same thing: "Hey, waitaminit! Those are the same headlights!

I checked ECS, Bavarian, and Bimmian it doesn't seem they have ballasts. Any suggestions?

Meh. You're probably right. I would really like the Angel Eyes, and that seems like the best way to do it. I truly don't want to bake my headlights.
Thank you for your comments!
http://www.xoutpost.com/members/mrbmwx5.html
He might be able to do this for you, and he did good work as I have heard from other members.
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  #9  
Old 04-04-2012, 12:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmv View Post
http://www.xoutpost.com/members/mrbmwx5.html
He might be able to do this for you, and he did good work as I have heard from other members.
Perfect, thank you. I sent a PM.

Now, assuming I keep the OEMs, does anyone have any suggestions for replacing the bulb on the DRLs (highbeams)? Criminy I hate that yellow color and would much prefer a color that matched the the HIDs.

Thanks again guys,

Rush
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Old 04-04-2012, 02:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rush View Post
Perfect, thank you. I sent a PM.

Now, assuming I keep the OEMs, does anyone have any suggestions for replacing the bulb on the DRLs (highbeams)? Criminy I hate that yellow color and would much prefer a color that matched the the HIDs.

Thanks again guys,

Rush
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...questions.html
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