2005 Halogen to HID Conversion Help
 

I realize that there are about nine million posts about this on here, and I have read Zulus explanation a few times, but I seem to be confused on exactly how all this comes together specifically for my car.

I have a 2005 X5. It has the angel eyes, etc. I just bought it and after a couple days of owning it I quickly realized I have Halogens and not Xenons. This was kind of surprising to me cause even though it's a 3.0i, I have sport pack, premium pack, cold weather, bluetooth, and navi. All I want is the regular head lights to be Bi Xenon HID.

Anyways what I could really use help on is a shopping list of what I would need to start. I would like to use OEM parts anywhere possible and have a good local connection at BMW to get the parts at a reasonable price.

Is there one part number for the ballast, bellow, bulb assembly shown in zulu95's tutorial?

Can I install the bulb into my exist socket and projector housing where the halogen bulb is? Or do I need to get a whole different head light housing to make this happen correctly?

What is the electrical setup. I see the Ballast needs grounded and has a couple other connections maybe?

Do I need a new wire harness or adapter for the extra current draw?

Do I need these relays? Can I buy them somewhere? How / what do they connect to?


That should be a good start. Any information would be helpful. I feel like a lot of the threads on here are relative to prefacelift and / or people who want full kits / after market mods.

Thanks for all the help in advance. I have found Xoutpost is extremely helpful already in installing some after market audio, bluetooth info, and navi update info.

If you want to upgrate it to factory Xenon lights it will cost you arms and legs.
Here is the kit that you will be very happy with and member Startx5 will tell you how he love it.

You need one set of H7 HID converson kit and this kit come with everything you need and it plug and play.

HIDNY.COM 646-662-5221 HID light & Auto Accessories wholesaler importer : HID-102S > HID Single Beam Digital Ballast Kit

Tom, take care him :) LOL I will mod the fogs light to HID this weekend (just order from HID NY again) and replace pads for my front brake (shipping arrives tomorrow). Read your DIY article regarding the rotors and pads replacement it's extremely your own experiences and it's great to know. Thanks for you writing Tom.

rlipsitz9, mrbmwx5 and other members will gives you instructions how to do. I did it by myself and result turned out great.

Thanks for the info on the after market stuff. I have been speaking with another member and I believe if I can simply swap my headlights for ones that are oem xenon headlights (with oem ballast and bulbs) bought either from bmw or fleebay and the wire harness and everything is the same. Again this is for a post facelift 2005 X5 with halogen and angel eyes. (weird I know).

Anyone have experience with this swap and any extra insight? This is a simple one for one swap. No extra wires or harnesses etc??

Before you try to replace the entire headlights with Xenon OEM, you should investigate some more about power supplies [wire] between the Xenon and non Xenon headlights. I have learned that there is NO just plug and play [Tom and my BMW motor werke at indy shop told me]. If you decide to go with this option, in order to make it works, we need to modify or replace wires.

I completely agree with you StartX5. I definitely want to know what I need to do before I start spending hundreds on parts. Does anyone have any extra info on the wiring differences between face-lifted halogen and facelifted xenon headlamps???

All,

I got a pair of 2005 X5 headlamps (enclosures only so far) off a guy on ebay who said he works at a bmw and some guy had after markets headlamps put in. ($275 shipped was too tempting to wait on)

I got a few pictures he sent me posted on http://www.robertlipsitz.com/files/x5
(well they will be there in by 10am est at least)

Anyone see any problems or missing components other than bulb and ballast?

I am not home to verify the main wire plug on my car is the same or not. I would imagine if its not some how theres an adapter or harness etc. If it is the same can I assume I can use it?

Has anyone out there actually done this before. 2005 X5 with facelifted halogen headlights to 2005 X5 adaptive xenon headlights? (don't care about adaptive part (although extra info would be interesting...static xenon is fine)

Thanks, Robert

In those pics above you missing ballast and adaptive xenon unit

Yea I am aware of that. I am looking at getting something like ...04 05 06 BMW X5 Xenon Headlights Ballast Bulb HID KIT:eBay Motors (item 400039942439 end time Jun-25-09 22:11:44 PDT)

Thats a kit with ballast, igniter and bulbs. That should complete the headlamps. From all pictures of 05 X5 xenons this all looks right and complete.

Anyone see anything I am missing other than potential wiring problems in swap. I am not home to look at my current headlight connections at all. I should have all parts by end of next week or something.

Robert

Watchout... the item stated:: As Is.. no return no exchange... don't rush to buy this yet.
Upgrading from halos to xenon with the best way to save money is buying a HID ballast and bulbs then upgrade (with headlight houses are still looking good). If i want to spend some money, i better go with brand new xenon adaptive headlights and white amber euopean look style. I will go for it later LOL

I don’t usually post on message boards but I found this post and I wanted to reply. Sorry if I am not following the forum etiquette.

I have done the halogen to xenon conversion on my car. I have a 2005. Let me tell you the way you are going results in an extremely expensive conversion. I had originally bought the oem kit with the headlamps, ballasts, bulbs, level sensors, wiring harness etc. I had someone work works at a dealer start putting in the parts and they realized that the computer that comes with the car is not compatible.

I am not one hundred percent sure how it works but I know he gave up on installing the retro fitted harness and just wired it directly somehow. I know the computer in the car also had to be re-programmed. The reason for this has to do with the car looking for the halogen current draw and having the xenon current draw. You will get the warning on the dash board saying that the front headlights are out and the computer will turn off the lights.

I can go on and on about all the problems we encountered...

Make a VERY long story short… I spent about 1500 in oem parts, and about 1500 in labor and I did get it to finally work with 100 percent oem parts. Best bet just go with an aftermarket kit and forget going oem

After the retrofit job, you must code your x5 by using BMW SSS to add this equipment. Otherwise, it won't work and pop up errors.

Hi, I have searched a couple hundred of the thousand posts on headlights :dunno: as I am interested in getting whiter headlights. Sorry for dumbing down this thread but how do I know if I have xenon head lights or standard? I have a 2004 build facelift E53. Have attached a pic. Thanks...

Mozzie,
Xenon headlights are also known as HID's (High Intensity Discharge) lights. They use a xenon gas filled bulb and a projector to emit a light beam as opposed to a standard halogen light which essentially bounces light off a curved mirrored surface.
Xenon h/lights are very easily identified by slightly different hues of blue, purple, white etc when viewed from different angles. You may recall seeing an HID equipped vehicle going over a speed bump at night time, it's quite noticeable when doing so.
Xenon h/lights are completely different from halogen lights when viewed from a distance. They emit a much whiter (usually) and far brighter light beam.
Asides from the above, HID h/lights have several other advantages over halogens.

You might find this rather informative as it details exactly what you are asking. It's bit of read but well worth being informed if you so desire: intellexual net · m k i v

Also check out this thread by Twins Poppa: Any one with experience with this HID Kit ... (Check out Post #44).

GL

Hey Mozzie,

From my experience it is probably easier to get a after market HID kit then swap for OEM lights. You can easily tell if you have the halogen bulbs if you look under the hood at the light housing. If you can twist out your low beam bulb then you have a halogen. The white xenon lights require electronic boxes called ballasts and are a bit more complicated as far as access to the bulb goes.

The X5 is a bit deceiving because the headlight housing from the exterior looks identical regardless of having halogen or xenon bulbs. That is because the halogen bulbs use the same style projector as the xenon. In any case I am very happy with my swap to OEM xenon headlights...and in the end it did not cost me but a few hundred dollars...and a few hundred hours of my time.

rlipsitz9 & X Foomph, thanks for the info. Definitely something to think about!!