Replacing Front Lights and Rear Tails
 

Hello,

I have an X5 (2003, manufacture Month 5. Not sure if this is considered a 2004).

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p...edu/Xenons.jpg


I am looking at kits on eBay for upgrading the rear and front. Should I be purchasing kits for xenon models? I'm not entirely sure if my day time lights are xenon. But the lights which come on at night are definitely xenon.

Daytime lights are halogen. Yes, replacing them, you should use lights with matching setups. You can always upgrade your halogens with aftermarket hid kits but it's not advisable considering the heat output unless you use 35 watt bulbs and not the 55 watt versions. Cart before the horse.
You have a LCM, light control module, that understands that you have halogen and xenon bulbs. If you buy a set of lights with different setups, it can cause error messages. I say can, all depending on the lights you buy.

If you'll be going other than OEM, I hear people like the ones from DEPO. I just bought a set of Spyder lights and am not expecting miracles but I'm hopeful.

I'll try to open up and clean the OEM's that will be replaced and keep them as spares or sell them on the 'ol eBay.

OE Xenon > eBay junk. Unless you retrofit the projectors with some reputable ones.
Your DRL is halogen.
I went with LED taillights.

If you want plug and play, get the Depo D2S angel eye headlights ($650 or so) - your 2003's likely cannot be baked open. Yes you have factory xenons.

However, if you want a chance of actually seeing things at night with the above mentioned Depo's, get genuine D2S bulbs and don't reuse your 13 year old original bulbs.

For tails, I recommend the LED tail lights tmv and others have - mine have been on for 4+ years and going strong.