Im interested as well, sounds like quite a retrofit.

In regards to coding all 4 lights, I did this in NCSexpert, it is a numbered variable, so you will need to lookup which value corresponds to all 4 on with high beams.

All you need to do is put killer driving light bulbs in the driving light sockets (the ones in the bumper) since this will fix the low beam light output perfectly.

Then code the inner high beam lights (the halogen ones) to come on with low beam xenon lights.

Presto you now have more light output than a 747 landing at night :)

This shows how to code them :

Coding High Beam lights with xenons | Crowz Nest


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This shows the bulbs to use in the bumper lights.

BMW X5 Driving Lights | Crowz Nest


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This is the stock xenon low beams by themselves.

http://crowz.narmir.com/wp-content/u...612_211239.jpg


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This is the stock low beam xenon lights AND the led driving lights (ones in the bumper).

http://crowz.narmir.com/wp-content/u...612_211235.jpg

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This super short clips shows them in action in a video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUIaeS4CsGE

Another shot of them on from the front. Doesn't really do them justice.

http://crowz.narmir.com/wp-content/u...all-lights.jpg

The coding of the highbeams to come on with the xenons was the final piece of the puzzle. The halogen highbeams are actually VERY bright aand their yellowish color combine with the xenon white color makes driving a night a dream. Its more natural and fills in better. The e53 with this setup kicks my 2013 E70's butt on night driving.

Bluish xenons could be bulbs around the 5000 - 6000 kelvins range. Some don't understand the numerical luminosity range and assume the higher the number the greater the luminosity.

A xenon bulb between 4500-5000 kelvins will be whiter and have greater luminosity for the human eye. A bluer hue is lesser luminosity.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...PIAtB3_UgQUnwD

Thanks Crowz, I had already favorited your website! Found it yesterday when searching. Problem: I've downloaded the INPA software and instruction manual but don't know which interface cable to buy. I see several on Amazon but some only run on XT or NT which I don't have. Which cable should I get and from who? The interface cable listed on the site where I got the software cannot be shipped to the US.

Thanks again.

Thanks Qsilver7, I'm familiar with the difference between kelvin color temp and lumen output. I'd say these are around 6000K kelvin, no idea what the lumen output is. I prefer 5000K for my cars, I like the white light. Thanks again, I think some different bulbs and a good headlight buffing are in my future.

I just took some pics with my camera on manual and the same settings for each pic so the difference in output can be seen. I need to mention the fogs/driving lights have been replaced with high power LED's.

First pic is high beams alone.

Second pic is low beams alone.

Third is HB and Lows together (holding the "flash to pass" mode on)

Lows and the LED fogs/driving lights.

As you can see, not a great difference between highs and lows. The addition of the "flash..." lights makes a great and wanted difference. The last is to show the fogs/driving light up the short range area well.

Thanks to all for the help! :thumbup::thumbup:

The last one I bought was from a guy in Romania on ebay. I think that's the normal purchasing method most go with. Had the cable and a disc with the software on it and runs on all versions of windows. I don't have a link since it changes often.

I think it was $39.

The hid bulbs I have in the E53 are the night breaker osram ones overboost posted earlier. They are a strange color. Not really pure white but a bit off white towards the yellow spectrum. That's not saying they are yellow at all just more that direction than towards the blue spectrum.

I went with those first in a desperate attempt to get some light out of the headlights. When I bought the X5 the headlights were HORRIBLE. Between the lenses needing polishing back clear and the poor light output it wasn't safe to drive. Polishing the lenses helped but even with the night breakers they do not put out what they should. Im convinced the bowls of the headlights are failing aka the reflective material is coming off or tarnishing.

But since it has the adaptive headlights its not feasible to fix them. So I went with the method I mentioned above and it now has the brightest lights of anything I own. The hids still suck but you cant tell it now :)