E70 X5 LED Angel Eyes

[Teo]

Thanks to all of you for your input. Although I'm getting a 2011 X5 in the coming month, I have to consider retrofitting the DRL's with one of these retrofit alternatives. In trying to summarize:
H8 alternatives:
1.) H8 GP Thunder: Tried them on my current 2007 X5 - Useless !!!
2.) European 2011 X5 with Xenon lights, seem to be fitted with an H8 bulb for the DRL's. BMW part # 63 21 7 160 782. It's available on BMWpartsoutlet for $28.95/pc
http://www.bmwpartsoutlet.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=searchCatalogOEM&siteid=215944
the question remaining: does it work?

LED alternatives:
1.) City Vision LED (from Modbargains) - 1 pc body/2 LED's:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?=7934577
They do not seem to be very visible in day light and reported to fail by some users.

2.) GP Thunder Dual-LED H8 Ring Marker (30 deg. opening)-2 pc V-Shape body/2 LED's ($ 150)
http://www.hid-lights.com/products/led/led-bmw/2979W.htm OR
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Angel-Eyes-E92-E93-E70-E82-2-LED-H8-bulbs-Marker-BMW-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3c9d36c862QQitemZ26033 5650914QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso riesQQxZ22QQyZ4
http://www.hid-lights.com/products/led/led-bmw/2979W.htm

3.) iJDMtoy 60 Deg opening of the one above (Korean made)-2 pc V-Shape body/2 LED's ($ 120) - Apparently more efficient because of the wider angle but no user post that I have seen yet.
http://store.ijdmtoy.com/BMW-Angel-Eyes-High-Power-LED-H8-Ring-Bulbs-p/led_bmw_halo_s7.htm

4.) PIAA H-499 H-8 LED Marker - 2 pc V-Shape body/4 LED's ($ 285)
Similar to the above Korean design with 2 add'l LED's, closer to the base of the "bulb". No review that I have seen/read.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PIAA-H-499-H-8-LED-Marker-Angel-Ring-BMW-Series-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3a5cda8f53QQitemZ25066 5930579QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso riesQQxZ38QQyZ9

5.) Faulkner BMW OEM LED ANGEL EYE UPGRADE - 2 pc T-Shape body/4 LED's ($ 225)
Similar approach to emitting the light closer to the ring openings, using a different shape. Total of 4 LED's per "bulb" with 2 at the base. No review that I have seen/read.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-OEM-LED-ANGEL-EYE-UPGRADE-REPLACES-H8-BULB-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem439ff0f332QQitemZ29044 6177074QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso riesQQxZ35QQyZ4

6.) MDS LUX H8 Rings for BMW - One body "bulb". The v.2 seem to have 4 LED's ($ 249).
http://www.namotorsports.net/detail.cfm/part_cd/MDSLUXH8
There has been a very good post by Epacy, with plenty of pictures, even in day light.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e70-forum/74822-lux-led-v2-installed-angel-eye-bliss.html
Downside is that some of the components seem to have to go outside of the headlight assembly (heat dissipation).

I'm interested to read some reports from the people who have bought either the PIAA H-499 H-8 LED Marker or the T-Shape Faulkner to see how these ones do.
Anyone?


HID alternatives:
They seem VERY bright and likely to generate a lot of heat ... Don't think they represent a true alternative in trying to get closer to the latest BMW OEM DRL's.

[paqs]

Originally Posted by Teo

2.) European 2011 X5 with Xenon lights, seem to be fitted with an H8 bulb for the DRL's. BMW part # 63 21 7 160 782. It's available on BMWpartsoutlet for $28.95/pc
http://www.bmwpartsoutlet.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=searchCatalogOEM&siteid=215944
the question remaining: does it work?

I don't think that part number is correct for a Euro LCI, its the same part that is in the 08 X5

[Teo]

Question for Epacy on the MDS LUX LED v2:
The Heat Sink of this bulb seem to be pretty thick and I was wondering if you had managed to put the round black cover, at the back of the headlight assembly, with the bulb installed. The clearance between the socket of the OEM H8 bulb and the cover is pretty small ... 10 mm maybe.
When I look at pictures you took of the LUX bulb, I wonder and would appreciate you to clarify. You said it was difficult but did you manage to put the cap back in place, as is, or did you make a cut into it?
I understand that you elected to place the power module & fuse outside of the headlight assembly. To do that you must have made a cut in the plastic wall, right?
So far, any issue with the bulb? Still working OK? Thanks again.

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by Teo

Question for Epacy on the MDS LUX LED v2:
The Heat Sink of this bulb seem to be pretty thick and I was wondering if you had managed to put the round black cover, at the back of the headlight assembly, with the bulb installed. The clearance between the socket of the OEM H8 bulb and the cover is pretty small ... 10 mm maybe.
When I look at pictures you took of the LUX bulb, I wonder and would appreciate you to clarify. You said it was difficult but did you manage to put the cap back in place, as is, or did you make a cut into it?
I understand that you elected to place the power module & fuse outside of the headlight assembly. To do that you must have made a cut in the plastic wall, right?
So far, any issue with the bulb? Still working OK? Thanks again.

The bulb assembly fits with no problems. There was no cut made in the cap for the bulb assembly or to accommodate the wires. You simply just press the cap down hard enough and twist to lock it with the wires running out from underneath the cap.
The bulbs are still working fine and looking great. I have the same LUX bulbs, an earlier version, in my M3 for a year now and no problems either.

[8ball]

Originally Posted by Teo

I'm interested to read some reports from the people who have bought either the PIAA H-499 H-8 LED Marker or the T-Shape Faulkner to see how these ones do.
Anyone?


HID alternatives:
They seem VERY bright and likely to generate a lot of heat ... Don't think they represent a true alternative in trying to get closer to the latest BMW OEM DRL's.

I got the PIAA's; I've had them for a few years now and no problems. They were in my 2007 then changed them over to the new one. All the wireing goes inside the cap. Get no error codes, visibility during the day is not that bad for LED's it all depends at what angle your looking at them. At night they look great. There is a couple of pic's here towards the end.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ated-pics.html

[Teo]

Thanks, for the pictures on the PIAA LED's and, by the way, good looking car. I like the 214-Style 20" rim package. I picked it as well but wonder about the ride and the tire noise.

Back to the DRL's, most of you have seen the pics of the 2011 X5 launch in Florida, where they used European versions. Here is one of the links:
Ultimate Photo Gallery: 2010 BMW X5 LCI

In comparing all the pictures that have been posted so far, I do believe that the MDS LED LUX V2 (pictures posted by Epacy) are the closest to the new BMW OEM LED DRL's. I saw a 3-Serie this week, that looked very good, although in the middle of a sunny afternoon, both inner & outer rings being very visible.

I assume the Xtec LED's (T-Shape) are likely to be close to the PIAA's (V-Shape). By the way, here is another site selling the Xtec (UK):
XTEC LED ANGEL EYES MARKER KIT BMW e90,e60/3/4,X3,X4,X5 - Xenon HID Headlight Upgrade Kits from HIDs DIRECT Ltd