Buy one from this Romanian guy at ebay for like $35 thats all you need if you want to read out codes from the car or program something test calibrate you name it. Useful from every angle

You Won't find any bulb swap for the angel eyes that will keep up to the newer style rings....its the limitation of the optics and current tech of the source.

Do the fogs right, get a set of projectors from the pre-facelift X5's and swap a set of HID's into those. You'll get the kind of light you're after with the proper cut-off. There's a DIY of it kicking around here somewhere. Dig it up an you'll see what I mean. :thumbup:

i know they wont be the exact same quality...just looking to be as close as possible....

as far as the projectors...seems a bit over my noobish head

ricky bobby? comment please?

This is the DIY I was referring to... The second page has a before and after.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...tallation.html



No LED bulb currently available will match the output of the stock bulb. PnP kits are the other route you could go...but if you want the best output with the proper distribution, there's only one way to go.

One thing I will mention, (obviously) you need to remove the needles to swap the gauge faces... which can be a bit tricky putting them back on (it's possible to break or install them incorrectly). The needles may not react 100% accurately or even at all if not done right, kinda scary. Honestly, it's just one of those mods that I wouldn't recommend.

ive been told you do not need to remove the needles....

Maybe it's different than the E46.

You mean this to say that replacing the dull oem ae bulbs with an led would not look brighter? How could this be as i think there are many on here who have done just that and gotten good results?

I think you are getting my posts mixed up....

For angel eye LED upgrades, there is no bulb swap that will make them bright like the E70 rings. They will definitely be brighter, sure, but will still wash out in daylight like the OE bulb.

My last post was specifically to address the fog lights. Again, there is no LED equivalent (as far as output is concerned) to the factory H11 bulb....unless you move to an HID set up; which opens up other issues to address. Problems arise with regards to light distribution when you stick a HID bulb into a reflector housing designed for an incandescent. More specifically it produces copious amounts of what is know as glare, which is dangerous & annoying to oncoming traffic. This is a good read that explains why HID's in a reflector (whether its a headlamp or fog lamp) are wrong, and also shows the distribution patterns for such.

HID plug n play fails govt test

If you're after a proper upgrade, take the time to read and do the research. You'll benefit in the end with a lighting setup that offers the most light possible with the correct distribution.