Yep! Silver is the best colour!!!

I did the same to mine, last year, and posted the pictures
Regards,
Lez

2 cj10jeeper,
Perfect job! I liked it and got few questions:
1. What kind of Silver Paint did you use? as per my opinion it should be Heat Resistant Paint.
2. Can you find one pair of Headlights with manf. pre 10/02? ;)

Hi - thanks for the comments.

OK so I used Plasti-Kote metallic project paint. I have no worries about temperature issues as 1) the bulbs are behind their own lenses 2) the dipped HID beams are much less current than standard halogen and 3) the paint has performed well for me in other application.

If it all goes sadly wrong I have 2 complete sets of internals to try again with - but I doubt I'll need them.

My stock lights were pre 10/02. It may not look it but that X5 is just over 6 years old. This made the task easier as I opened my stock units 5 minutes each then chopped my newly sourced Xenons (with a powerful reciprocating saw) to canibalise the internals. They are actually identical apart from one access hole and an earth lead that was an easy retrofit.

I picked up my HID units for <£50 a piece on ebay so adding a couple of ballasts and the need for a unit to fix the 'check light' has taken me to a £200 ($400) project.

As an aside as I now have some later seal remenants on the bench I'll see what attacks it to dissolve them - which I doubt anything will.

Just a quick post script to the AE / Xenon conversion recently completed as I understand this has been an issue for people in the past sealing the lights where the Xenon cable enters the light housing, unless using OEM X5 specific ballasts.

Good 'ol BMW will not sell a separate 'grommet' as it's an integral part of the ballast, so only sell a complete ballast at $$$ a shot.

End solution was to get hold of a pair of armoured cable shrouds. These push fit perfectly inside the housing. A small slit to thread the cable through, a zip tie for security and a dab or silicone to waterprooof.

Jobs now finished properly fro <$5:

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/DSCN0618.jpg