E70 Headlight
 

I have a 2007 X5 4.8L and the headlights are terrible. I've had them buffed, restoration, etc. and they never look quite right. Now they look down right nasty as I haven't had them touched up for a few years and they're very cloudy and scratched up.

I looked to see if I can replace them at my local BMW and they will let them go at cost, $1100 a piece (I know a guy there)! I also looked on my local Craigslist and eBay. One on Craigslist is $330 for the left side, but the model is a 2011.

My question is, will any E70 headlight from the years 2007-2013 fit in my 2007 X5 4.8? Are they interchangeable as long as they are E70?

Thanks

If they are LCI then you will need to have them coded in. It also won't work of you have halogen head lights and are trying to fit Xenon

My SAV is xenon.

The other car on craigslist is a 2011, thats all I know right now. It says that my car was built in 7/2007.

The one on Craigslist is $330 for the left side, the model is a 2011 will that be ok for my car or you cant know for sure? It looks like it would.

The headlights are different. The 2011 is the LCI model. You can check realOEM to be sure.

post a picture of the 2011 headlight and I will tell if is LCI or not, if is not LCI it will fit.

Here is the one on craigslist.

http://images.craigslist.org/00Q0Q_4...Ur_300x300.jpg



2011 bmw x5 headlight left side

That's a LCI headlight and it will not fit unless you do a full retrofit of both headlights, ballast, LED controler, new FRM and coding.

Thanks for the help!

I'm assuming doing, "a full retrofit of both headlights, ballast, LED controler, new FRM and coding," would cost a pretty penny?

Since my X5 is a 2007, which model year would fit? 2007, 2008, and 2009?

It will fit in any E70 as long as you retrofit everything, I think I spent like $1500, with mostly use parts from Ebay

I see.

And if I didn't retrofit it and keep it as is, which year X5 headlight will be interchangeable, '07, '08, '09?

They will fit from 07 to March 2011 built. From April 2011 to 2013 is LCI.

April builds (04/2011) and later have the LED coronas. The 2011 MY is the the LCI update.

Thanks for the info, I saw a few on eBay but not as good of a price.

My current headlights are very cloudy and scratched up and they need to be replaced!

I'm looking on eBay and it says, "The headlight does not include the xenon ballast or the xenon bulb and has 3 tabs missing."

I'm assuming I can take the xenon ballast and certainly the bulb from my current headlight?

What about the 3 missing tabs? Is that an easy fix or something that is not fixable? And would that be more prone to break again?


Edit: Another says no module for a 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010? What is that?

So, you have a 2007 and that is known as a pre-facelift or pre-LCI model. As someone mentioned before, the LCI or facelift model started production as a model year 2011 vehicle in August 2010. After March 2011 there was a lighting upgrade, specifically the Halogen corona (angel) eyes were changed to LED.

While any headlight from any E70 will physically fit or be made to fit relatively easily, there will be considerable modifications needed to fit an LCI headlight to a non-LCI vehicle and have it work 100% as intended. You should look for a headlight from a MY2007, 2008, 2009 or 2010 vehicle equipped with Xenon headlights.

Yes, thanks for the reply.

I don't want to do any mods so want to keep it between 2007 to March 2011 when purchasing new headlights.

I've never dealt with the headlights before and I'm not sure on a few things.

One says does not include xenon ballast. Can I take that from my current headlight and just swap it in there?

3 missing tabs. Is that something that wouldn't be a problem fixing?

Another says no module. Is that another part I can swap from my current scratched up headlight into the new one?


Thanks

Hello, you can remove all your components from your current headlights and use them in the new ones.

As far as the missing tabs, I think the dealer sells replacements but I'm not 100% sure on that.

Have you considered wet sanding your current headlights?

I restored my headlights with the 3M kit and used Opti-lens for UV protection. It's been 5 months. So far so good. Did you apply any kind of UV coating after you restored the headlights?

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...age1-copy-.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...age2-copy-.jpg

tons of fine cracks on the inside? common? why?
 

My 2007 has a lot of fine what looks like cracks on the inside of the light housing not the outside. Is this common? I can see from the records this was happening many years ago. Anybody understand why it happened? Can I remove the light fixture and polish the inside of the light fixture?

Keep in mind, once you buff out the headlights you have removed all of the UV protection that there was.....and as the factory UV protection dies it turns that brown/yellow. So....once your buff it out, there is no UV protection left and the light will get worse MUCH more quickly than it did before, and start cracking. The only way to prevent this is re-apply some kind of UV protection (think spraying a UV Clear Coat paint type product on them). Some places, like headlight doctor do this as part of their restoration service.

Good luck.

Can anyone verify if this headlight would match my pre LCI 2007 X5 4.8?

BMW x5 E70 2007 Xenon Headlight with Flasher Right | eBay

That one will fit, looks like is not OEM, it says OEM suppliers

Dealer sells replacement tabs (except the long one) for about $50. Otherwise, I'd recommend going with a professional headlamp lens cleaning service. The stuff they sell in auto stores is a waste of money because it only clears the lenses temporarily.

have you been tried with 3M headlight restoration kit?
I did and it has much more improvement/clear.
the kit is here:
http://www.amazon.com/3M-39008-Headl.../dp/B001AIZ5HY