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-   -   Need Tech Help: 2005 X5 OEM Halogen to OEM Xenon HID Full Headlamp Swap (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/62687-need-tech-help-2005-x5-oem-halogen-oem-xenon-hid-full-headlamp-swap.html)

rlipsitz9 06-10-2009 09:02 PM

Need Tech Help: 2005 X5 OEM Halogen to OEM Xenon HID Full Headlamp Swap
 
All,

I have been getting some great input from a few members regarding this topic. In this post I am going to give some background information regarding my situation and then as soon as I can and with the members' permission I am going to quote some of the information I already have gotten via private messages.

I recently got a 2005 X5. I quickly realized it had a Halogen headlights which has been a bummer for me cause that's one thing I really wanted. I was really surprised cause the vehicle seems to have everything else (although it's probably a weird hodge podge car cause it's a 6spd manual...it has navi, sport, premium, cold weather, etc).

Because I felt like it was a good deal I jumped on purchasing a set of OEM xenon adaptive headlights assemblies only and then went ahead and got OEM ballasts, ignitors, and bulbs to make a complete headlight set (I believe).

So my question has been what am I getting into for this headlight swap. I have gotten many different responses and nothing seems to be super definitive (no offense to everyone who has been helping so far). I find it so hard to believe that no one out there has wanted to do a full OEM to OEM swap on these lights (that or it's impossible?)

I am starting this thread up (I had another one called 2005 X5 Halogen to HID conversion) and was not really getting any interesting. I hope that this one does better.

I will try to quote or give all the information I know here in the next post. I realize that there are cheap / other non OEM ways to accomplish what I am trying to do, and maybe I am being stubborn, but for now I'd like to stick to the all OEM swap plan. Thanks in advance to everyone who contributes to my journey.
Robert

StartX5 06-10-2009 09:27 PM

I see this issue is not really complicate, don't confuse yourself here.
You want to have OEM to OEM?
1. If you want to replace the entire halogen headlights to new xenon adaptive
you should follow these steps:
- Buy a pair of xenon headlights
- Buy a pair of "OEM" ballasts and HID bulbs from dealer
- Go to your local BMW indy shop or reliable headlight shop and ask them to cook for you.
They will take a look to estimate how much they're going to charge you. (problem solved)
This option will costs you not less than $1500
Or you can bring to your local BMW dealer and tell them to upgrade from halos to xenon for
your headlights.

2. Keep your current headlights with projector, buying a pair of xenon HID kit (including ballast
and HID bulbs) then bring to any auto shop then they will help you to upgrade your headlights. If
you DIY this is the cheapest option to get xenon for your headlight.
That's it and hope it works for you.

rlipsitz9 06-11-2009 10:43 AM

All my PM information
 
[FROM=Zulu95]
Robert,
All you need to do is grab a pair of the facelift headlights on flebay along with a set of OEM ballast (see below) that plug into the bottom of the headlights and a set of bulbs.
You'll need to drop the front bumper to pull your existing lights and slide in the xenon units with ballast. Connect the harness and you are set.
Just to clarify: No relay packs or wiring changes are required. The newer ballast do not trip the computer and use less amps so the wiring harness is good to go.
[END QUOTE]

[FROM=rlipsitz9]
Thanks for the info. So I could get something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/04-05...Q5fAccessories

I could take that and pull out my old headlight and undo harness...put this one in and plug in harness and be done?
[END QUOTE]

[FROM=Zulu95]
As far as I know everybody who just bought OEM headlights from fleabay that were made for xenon bulbs and who also used oem ballast found it to be plug and play. Even the guys who updated earlier E53 to the facelift had no issues as the new ballast elminated the need for "relay boxes" to fool the computer.
[END QUOTE]

[FROM=Zulu95]
When I was doing an upgrade harness I jumpered between the high beam "pin" and the bi-xenon "pin"
as a precaution in case the older wiring and newer headlight unit may not have "talked" to each other. The new xenon bi-xenons should be OK but, if not, it is a very simple procedure to make it work.
[END QUOTE]

[FROM=Zulu95]
Ignitors are built into the new headlights. The ballast plug into the oval hole and are powered from the contacts there and, in turn, supply the HV for the xenon capsules.
[END QUOTE]

[FROM=rlipsitz9]
OK I got oem headlight assemblies (adaptive xenon ones), oem ballasts that plug into the headlight, oem ignitor and bulbs
[END QUOTE]

[FROM=Zulu95]
You should be P&P as long as the ballasts plug into the lights. Everything else is inside the light units. You plug the large "rectangular" light connection plug into your new lights and everything should function. I have the pin-out for the plug and pins in both sizes to fit if required. Sound like a reasonable price for ballast and bulbs.
Keep me posted.
[END QUOTE]

[FROM=Zulu95]
When my LKM fried my dealer had a real problem with the programming as he though I had factory Xenon (not retro) and he kept getting an error as the self leveling computer and sensors were missing. He called me and I told him to use the halo settings. It took me a few minutes to convince him but it all went fine wqhen he followed directions.
Keep this in mind if your LKM ever needs to be changed. (I think it was a problem in earlier models only.)
[END QUOTE]

[FROM=rlipsitz9]

From your experience do you think I will have problems with my LCM? I was reading a long ass thread just called Lamp Control Module (you contributed to it). I guess one way or another I have to have a LCM anyways. The adaptive xenon sounds like a complicated, faulty, and for the most part useless toy of a system. Robert[END QUOTE]
[FROM=Zulu95]
I think the LCM is about a reliable as any other BMW module. My '01 gave a problem but it is not as common a failure part as others in the vehicle. I would not think anything you are planning will effect the LKM. It will just carry on "thinking" you have halo lights.
The adaptive would be nice for the rural area I live in but I'm not about to rewire the vehicle to get it. I would not even do this face lift thing. I'd rather buy another with it all fitted. A simple upgrade from halo to xenon is worth the effort as you'll find out. If I were looking to get all the b ells and whistles then I would buy a Lexus or the like as they do electronic do-da's better than BMW.
[END QUOTE]


[FROM=Weasel][FROM=rlipsitz9][FROM=Weasel][FROM=rlipsitz9][FROM=Weasel][FROM=rlipsitz9]Weasel,

Hope you don't mind me private messaging you. I am new to the Xoutpost forums. Just got my 2005 X5 a couple weeks ago. I noticed you have posted to a few different threads regarding Xenon headlights.

I realized after the fact that I have halogen headlights with the face lifted angel eyes. I am in the process of trying to get things together and do a swap to OEM xenons. I was able to purchase OEM headlamps, ballast, ignitors, and bulbs.

I was wondering if you knew anything about making the swap over and can think of any problems I may run into. I am hoping the wire harness plug for the new lights are the same and that I can just ignore the adaptive part. I just want the static xenon headlights to work. Not sure on electrical or computers problems. I appreciate your time and information. Thanks in advance, Robert Lipsitz[END QUOTE]

I know the lighting control module is different from xenon to halogen, but am not sure how different the harness is. It has to be different... but how different. I've never done a retrofit like that with OEM parts, just using the aftermarket cheapo xenon kits.

I wonder if any of the mod guru's have done such a retrofit... Maybe ask for help with lightwerks or mrbmwx5... Do you have a thread on this yet?[END QUOTE]

Thanks for the response. What is different with the LCM, programming or physical device? Why does wire harness have to be different? I can't seem to find anyone that has done this and I am really surprised. I have been talking with zulu95 a good bit about it and he seems to think I can swap. I will PM lightwerks and mrbmwx5 and see if they have any extra info.

Regarding the LCM Zulu says "I would not think anything you are planning will effect the LKM. It will just carry on "thinking" you have halo lights."

I have a thread in the E53 forums titled "2005 Halogen to HID Conversion Help"

Thanks for any help..

Sincerely,
Robert[END QUOTE]

The physical part# is different from halogen to xenon with the light module, and it will have different outputs accordingly, which it monitors for self diagnostic purposes.

And I am confused on one thing... where do the halo lights come into play with the halogen to xenon conversion? That circuit is separate from the headlight bulbs, and should be the same on each setup.

Honestly if it were me, and the halogens are already a projector lens, I would get the ~$200 aftermarket xenon kits and wire the ballasts to the OEM headlight wiring with pigtail wires. I did this on my old E36 as was able to do it with no OBC warnings.[END QUOTE]

I guess first the halo lights do not come into play other than I am swapping the headlight completely. Both my current headlight and the new headlight should have the same angel eyes. I just wanted it to be a point that that have the facelift headlights already (but I suppose thats obvious since it's a 2005).

I see what your saying with the LCM. What is the wiring schematics of the car look in regards to LCM. like does the LCM have 12V power and a bunch of inputs into it from the switches and then an output harness that connects to the headlights?

I have looked at the route of the aftermarket, but for now I'd like to stay stubborn to my OEM path. I really should move all conversations to the thread so everyone can see whats being discussed.
Thanks,
Robert[END QUOTE]

If you want to dig around through the wiring schematics, they are actually on this site. At the top of the page is an "online references" link with "X5 wiring schematics" in the drop down list.
[END QUOTE]



[FROM=LightWerkz][FROM=rlipsitz9]Lightwerkz,

Hope you don't mind me private messaging you. Weasel referred me to you both. I am new to the Xoutpost forums. Just got my 2005 X5 a couple weeks ago.

I realized after the fact that I have halogen headlights with the face lifted angel eyes. I am in the process of trying to get things together and do a swap to OEM xenons. I was able to purchase OEM headlamps, ballast, ignitors, and bulbs.

I was wondering if you knew anything about making the swap over and can think of any problems I may run into. I am hoping the wire harness plug for the new lights are the same and that I can just ignore the adaptive and self leveling components of the lights. I just want the static xenon headlights to work. Not sure on electrical or computers problems. I appreciate your time and information. I have gotten various and conflicting responses regarding just about every aspect of the swap. I hope you or someone you know has experience in the exact swap I am discussing Thanks in advance, Robert[END QUOTE]

Robert

I dont have ANY experience with this swap, but thats OK. We have made a variety of wiring harnesses and wired up a lot of retrofitted headlights. The process is generally the same. IN this case all that you will want to do is run a seperate relayed wiring harness to provide power to both lights, off the battery. You can do that or you can possibly use capacitors in line (factory wiring) so they power up the HIDs normally. You can also just try to wire them directly in. I would suggest simply tracing back the wiring on the original setup to the low beams, and mark the pin location. This way know which wires power the original high beam setup. You can then use that wiring and feed it directly to your new ballasts. It will take some trial and error but I think you should be able to safely get it done over a day taking your time.
[END QUOTE]

rlipsitz9 06-11-2009 10:48 AM

I know that is a lot of posts. Anyone give me more information or opinions on:

1) Plug and play swap possibility?
2) LCM problems?
3) Any experience with this?
4) electrical problems?
5) Can no one confirm or refute that a 2005 X5 with Halogen has a different wiring harness for the headlights that than a 2005 X5 with Xenon?

If I am being unclear...let me try to reiterate, I am simply going from OEM Halogen Angel Eye Headlights to OEM Xenon Angel Eye Headlights and I have on order the complete pair of OEM Xenon headlight enclosures with ballast, ignitors, and bulbs from a 2005 X5.

rlipsitz9 06-11-2009 11:15 AM

New Info
 
Got a ebay seller of
BMW X5 E53(3.0i, 4.4i N62, 4.8is) RH Halogen Headlight:eBay Motors (item 290321305122 end time Jul-01-09 07:57:04 PDT)

to send me a picture of the connector....thats the exact halogen headlight with angel eyes that I (Should) have in my X5.

Here is the pic....http://www.robertlipsitz.com/files/x5/halogen.jpg

Here is the picture of the connector (sorry it is bad) from the headlights I have on order.

http://www.robertlipsitz.com/files/x5/xenon3.jpg


Looks like the same connector...different number of pins used. I know for sure on the halogen picture the guy said only 5 pins are there. Thoughts???

rlipsitz9 06-11-2009 11:51 AM

Based on Zulu95 wire pinout from the main tips page ...

Plug Unit Pin Out From Rear

1 2 3 4 5
○○○
○○○○○○○
6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Wiring layout:
  1. Turn Signal
  2. Ground
  3. Low Beam
  4. Ground
  5. Bi-Xenon
  6. High Beam
  7. Angel Eyes
  8. Aim Self leveling
  9. Aim Self leveling
  10. Aim Self leveling
  11. Aim Self leveling
  12. Unused
looking at the halogen picture it looks to me like turn signal(1), low beam(2), ground (4), High Beam (6), Angel Eyes(7) ... makes sense....

so then the question would be does my wire harness send out the signals on the pins for xenons... and is (2) grounded...etc...


What is the difference between low beams and xenons....is that like you can have one or the other and not both....also if you have xenons you have regular high beams too right?

StartX5 06-11-2009 12:09 PM

Now you see there is not just plug and play because non-xenon (halos) headlights lack of Aim Self Leveling wire. The way they designed look very similar between halos and xenon of the plug unit but functions don't work the same.

I don't know who you listen to but I have tested this before after i bought one OEM xenon on ebay and plug and play, lowbeam was working but not xenon adaptive and aim self leveling. I returned right a way and decided to mod to xenon with just HID kit and it's been working excellent.

rlipsitz9 06-11-2009 12:19 PM

[FROM=startX5]
Now you see there is not just plug and play because non-xenon (halos) headlights lack of Aim Self Leveling wire. The way they designed look very similar between halos and xenon of the plug unit but functions don't work the same.

I don't know who you listen to but I have tested this before after i bought one OEM xenon on ebay and plug and play, lowbeam was working but not xenon adaptive and aim self leveling. I returned right a way and decided to mod to xenon with just HID kit and it's been working excellent.
[END QUOTE]

Ok when you say lowbeam was working you mean the HID xenon low beam was on and working....I do not see any reason to need self leveling and xenon adaptive features....it's not like I have that with the halogens...

you say you returned it and got HID kit, but HID kit did not give self leveling or adaptive either obviously....so your saying doing the head light replacement gives you the same result as the kit just more expensive so why do it?

StartX5 06-11-2009 12:58 PM

I don't need self leveling with just HID upgrading from Halo - but if i spend hundreds or thousand of $$$ to replace the entire xenon headlights, i would love to have xenon adaptive/aim self leveling work. I want my money worth for what i spend. If you don't care about xenon adaptive work for your headlights, you should not waste your money and confuse youself with all PM and posts in forum. All you need is keep your current halo headlights with projector upgrading from Halo to Xenon with HID kit. Job done - and no more confuse.

StartX5 06-11-2009 01:01 PM

One more thing, if i were you, i come to local BMW dealer to ask the experts before make your own decision. They will tell you what it should be done and how much you should pay (over $2000) [if you still want to stuck with replacement new OEM headlights with xenon]


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