anyone replace DRL/halo bulbs?

HaroldC · #1 03-12-2008, 04:54 PM

I love the halo rings, aka 'angel eyes', but am not fond of the yellowish color. I know that it's an H8 bulb, which is not very common and has to be ordered. The only difficulty is that the xenon matched bulbs are blue in color and I know have an output less than that of a regular halogen bulb.

Has anyone had success in switching to a xenon colored bulb? How is the light output (brightness)?

On my e46 M3, I've got real HIDs in place of my fog light bulbs. While I thought about it for the X5, I think they're too high to put HIDs in them, for fear of blinding oncoming cars since it's not a projector lens. I also toyed with the idea of using HIDs for the halo rings/DRLs, but will need to find somewhere to place the ballast. There is not much room back there, and I would probably have to run the ballast outside of the housing, which would mean a hole through the housing.

Or am I just crazy?

lakai · #2 03-12-2008, 07:04 PM

Don't do it. You'll get warnings in the dash and you risk melting or ruining the entire lamp housing. The rings are different than your e46. There are too many roadblocks to get bright halo's in these new bmw's, but the major roadblock for the e70 specifically is that the halo goes into low-power mode when your headlights are on.

Another problem is getting light output on the outer ring around the headlight to match the inner ring. This is because the 2 rings are not a solid piece. The e92 guys have the same probems since its a similar system and still haven't come up with a solution yet so I'd wait for them to figure it out first.

I've tried the 2 most popular xenon matched bulbs and I would recommend you get the Mtec cosmo blue for the best color and consistancy. There are tons of threads on here about the halos, but let me be the first to say, Do Not trust the pictures. In pictures, the rings look solid but in real life, the color scatters.

I've been wanting to do the HID fogs too, and bought everything I need for it. I've just been reluctant to try it yet because I have adaptive lighting. If you're willing to go forward, I'll be happy to share any information I know about what needs to be done. It's pretty simple really, the main thing is making sure you have a relay harness. Go with toying with the HID foglights. I'm sure many of us are willing to try that out.

HaroldC · #3 03-12-2008, 07:46 PM

Thanks for the info. I figured that since it is a 35w bulb it must be running on low power, because they aren't that bright. I did notice that the rings are not the same piece, as the inner ring is brighter than the outer. I guess I'll hold off until others figure it out.

HID fogs on the other I'm tempted to do. I would imagine the wiring is similar to the e46, with the main power coming from the LCM. Which is why running a relay is important to take some of the load off the LCM when igniting the ballast.

I just need to figure out how to access the fogs. I imagine that the easiest way is to come at it from the bottom, which means removing the undertray and everything in between.

Denalio · #4 03-12-2008, 10:13 PM

Accessing the fogs is easy. Installing the HIDS is fairly easy. My big concern would be the wear on the ballast and igniters everytime you make a turn and put on the blinker that fog will come on to the side of the corresponding turn. It's only for a few seconds at a time just enough to make the turn so those HID fogs won't even warm up to the correct temp or color. I am just not sure what all this will do to the HID electronics. I was ready to convert to HID then thought about it. I certainly do not want to be replacing a ballast or ignitor every year, 6 months whatever.

lakai · #5 03-20-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denalio

Accessing the fogs is easy. Installing the HIDS is fairly easy. My big concern would be the wear on the ballast and igniters everytime you make a turn and put on the blinker that fog will come on to the side of the corresponding turn. It's only for a few seconds at a time just enough to make the turn so those HID fogs won't even warm up to the correct temp or color. I am just not sure what all this will do to the HID electronics. I was ready to convert to HID then thought about it. I certainly do not want to be replacing a ballast or ignitor every year, 6 months whatever.

same reason I haven't done mine either. How about if we have the foglights as "ALWAYS-ON" ?

nynd · #6 03-20-2008, 11:34 AM

Here is a pic of the mtec on the angel eyes as well as the fog.

yorencer · #7 04-06-2008, 11:44 AM

on my x5 i put on the nokya lights and they look exactly the same... and when i turn on the actual headlights, and the halo's go in low power mode, they match pretty damn well, now i think i should make my fog lamps HID's

Dataready · #8 11-01-2008, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denalio

Accessing the fogs is easy.

Sorry guys, new to the E70. I do not want to work hard to figure it out, but how do you access the fog light lamps? I understand it is H11 so I will try a Xenonmatch from Bimmian.com. I will also try the H8 for the DRL, my understanding it does light the Halo too. Even if it is dimmed with the low beam on, will be at least whiter than the yellow hint the lights have now. Anybody can help and elaborate on the process..? Thanks

wb488641 · #9 11-01-2008, 06:09 AM

make sure the H8 is 35 watts. you dont want to burn up any wires using a 55 bulbs. the fog light is easy to access.. just remove the black plastic cover on your bumper right under the fog light.. just pulled and it should pop out... and reach your hand up to twist the socket loose.. and do the same to the other side.. it should take about 15 minutes..

watrob · #10 03-12-2008, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaroldC

I love the halo rings, aka 'angel eyes', but am not fond of the yellowish color. I know that it's an H8 bulb, which is not very common and has to be ordered. The only difficulty is that the xenon matched bulbs are blue in color and I know have an output less than that of a regular halogen bulb.

Has anyone had success in switching to a xenon colored bulb? How is the light output (brightness)?

On my e46 M3, I've got real HIDs in place of my fog light bulbs. While I thought about it for the X5, I think they're too high to put HIDs in them, for fear of blinding oncoming cars since it's not a projector lens. I also toyed with the idea of using HIDs for the halo rings/DRLs, but will need to find somewhere to place the ballast. There is not much room back there, and I would probably have to run the ballast outside of the housing, which would mean a hole through the housing.

Or am I just crazy?

The bulb is a H8 35w, I bought new ones, H8 35w 4,750k, $30 for two, also replaced the fogs with H11 55w 4,750k. Got the dealer to put them in. Now all my lights match my Xenon's.

Did it to my last E70 also no problems.