Now go and put a fresh pair of Osram D2S bulbs in, your eyes will thank you (at your age and mileage those bulbs are about half their original brightness)

I didn't realize xenon bulbs lose their light. What wears in them causing the lower output?

Brad

Yes they do for sure. At about 2000 hours they are maybe less than 50% of original output? Between the colorshifting (at that point they have moved to 5500k), and the degradation of the electrodes and salts in the chamber, as well as the clouding of the glass in the capsule over time, they have lost significant light.

Google search some articles by The Retrofit Source or any threads on HIDPlanet for more info, but to be honest most all of us on this forum should be at least on our 2nd pair of HID bulbs based on our X5's age and mileage/hours of use.

Xenon's aren't like halogens in which they just go out when dead, its gradual over time. At the worst point right before complete failure they will fail to ignite, or light up a very dim but very pink color.

Interesting stuff. Thanks for the information. I will have to take a look and see if mine are original. They don't seem all that bright. Mine is a 2005.

Add me to the list. I just picked up an 02 5 speed with sport package earlier today.

Hi everyone, add me too.
BMW X5 2003 3.0i manual 5 speed
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Welcome to both of you!

Hi Andrey, must say I never saw the beige interior trim before! As well, love your Spyder headlights as they were the best design for the E53 with aftermarket headlights. Have you considered opening them and painting the bezels/shrouds black to offset some of the chrome inside?

Both of you added, welcome!

Thanks !!!

The BMW was brought from USA, by VIN it has a lot of history in carfax that i haven't read yet. So where (in specific place) was this car and to whom it belonged I DON'T KNOW.

Headlights - I do like them as they are :), I bought them from ebay.com - 185$ both.

Ok, quick question, owners manual says a little less than 2 qts for the trans but 2 quarts in and it seems low.... how much does the 6 speed hold??? tia!