E90Post
 


Extreme Powerhouse
 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > UK Technical Forum > Headlamp Bulb upgrade



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      05-25-2009, 05:49 AM   #1
Dr Dave
Zummerzet Zyder Drinker!
United Kingdom
116
Rep
5,541
Posts

Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Somerset

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Lightbulb Headlamp Bulb upgrade

One option I'd have liked on my 330 was Xenon headlamps, but beggars can't be choosers!

Have any of you guys swapped your stock headlamp bulbs for something a little whiter/bluer - something a little more xenon looking? I'm looking for real-life reccomendations.

Not going down the slap-a-HID bulb-in-the-normal headlamp reflector for many reasons of which I'm sure you're all aware of!

I guess I'm correct in thinking I have an H7 bulb fitment on my low beams......
__________________
Appreciate 0
      05-25-2009, 05:53 AM   #2
willhollin
Major General
willhollin's Avatar
England
272
Rep
9,914
Posts

Drives: VW T5
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Worcestershire

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
These always get good reviews.

http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_detail.asp?prod=81
Appreciate 0
      05-25-2009, 05:58 AM   #3
Dr Dave
Zummerzet Zyder Drinker!
United Kingdom
116
Rep
5,541
Posts

Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Somerset

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Wonderful, thanks Will.

Not going to break the bank either.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      05-25-2009, 12:23 PM   #4
kceire
Private
kceire's Avatar
Ireland
4
Rep
98
Posts

Drives: 2007 E90 318d
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Dublin, Ireland

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by willhollin View Post
do you know if they throw an error code or not?

thanks.
Appreciate 0
      05-25-2009, 02:13 PM   #5
Dr Dave
Zummerzet Zyder Drinker!
United Kingdom
116
Rep
5,541
Posts

Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Somerset

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by kceire View Post
do you know if they throw an error code or not?

thanks.
They shouldn't do - as they are like for like bulbs.

I'll report back on my findings as soon as I can locate a pair locally. I want a pair NOW and can't wait for delivery!!
__________________
Appreciate 0
      05-25-2009, 05:15 PM   #6
kceire
Private
kceire's Avatar
Ireland
4
Rep
98
Posts

Drives: 2007 E90 318d
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Dublin, Ireland

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Dave View Post
They shouldn't do - as they are like for like bulbs.

I'll report back on my findings as soon as I can locate a pair locally. I want a pair NOW and can't wait for delivery!!
thanks mate, these are my next mod if they are error free.
__________________
2007 E90 Titanium Silver BMW 318d M-Sport
2008 E60 LCI Alpine White BMW 520d M-Sport
Appreciate 0
      05-25-2009, 05:22 PM   #7
Dr Dave
Zummerzet Zyder Drinker!
United Kingdom
116
Rep
5,541
Posts

Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Somerset

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
With a bit of luck I'll be able to let you know tommorrow!

They will be error-free, I'm 110% certain of that!
__________________
Appreciate 0
      05-26-2009, 03:55 AM   #8
xenon
Major General
xenon's Avatar
England
1469
Rep
8,199
Posts

Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Coventry

iTrader: (0)

They're just higher-quality H7 bulbs so there will definately be no error.
__________________
Ian
Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport
Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
Appreciate 0
      05-26-2009, 09:07 AM   #9
jjbirch
Banned
jjbirch's Avatar
79
Rep
2,927
Posts

Drives: E60 530D M SPORT
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: england

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
tell me how it goes m8 and some pics one side with the normal bulb and the other with the brighter one
Appreciate 0
      05-27-2009, 12:23 PM   #10
Dr Dave
Zummerzet Zyder Drinker!
United Kingdom
116
Rep
5,541
Posts

Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Somerset

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Just ordered the Phillips Extreme bulbs x 4 for both high & low beams - will let you all know how things go - probably at the weekend now.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      05-28-2009, 06:33 AM   #11
swanseahammer
Lieutenant
United Kingdom
26
Rep
400
Posts

Drives: F30 LCI 330e M Sport
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Swansea

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2008 320d SE  [0.00]
Photos please
Appreciate 0
      05-28-2009, 10:04 AM   #12
Cardinal Fang
New Member
0
Rep
8
Posts

Drives: BMW 335d SE Coupe
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

Used Osram Nightbreakers in my old Accord Type-S - made a significant improvement. Bought them cheap off Ebay. I may have some spare if anyone is interested.
__________________
2007 335d SE Coupe with all the toys
Appreciate 0
      05-28-2009, 11:36 AM   #13
SiKkBaSs
GTR'in it
United Kingdom
179
Rep
4,434
Posts

Drives: Nissan GTR Black Edition
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Kensington, London

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2006 325i  [0.00]
Show pics when done. I had one high beam go out. Considered getting a whole replacement for all of them but then decided to go for the cheaper route by replacing just the one. The bulbs are f***ers to get in place though. Would consider getting these if all goes well. Let us know how it goes...
Appreciate 0
      05-28-2009, 11:40 AM   #14
dxb335d
The Tarmac Terrorist
dxb335d's Avatar
England
1011
Rep
29,344
Posts

Drives: 997.2 GT3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ''Fandango Towers''

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
WHATS wrong with the ''drop in'' ones?
__________________
997.2 GT3
Appreciate 0
      05-28-2009, 11:42 AM   #15
MOB
Major
MOB's Avatar
England
59
Rep
1,413
Posts

Drives: Alpine White M2 LCI
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Northants UK

iTrader: (4)

Quote:
Originally Posted by willhollin View Post
I've got those on my Cayman - definite improvement in power, a bit whiter than stock but not dramatically

Very good bulbs IMO
__________________
Appreciate 0
      05-28-2009, 11:45 AM   #16
SiKkBaSs
GTR'in it
United Kingdom
179
Rep
4,434
Posts

Drives: Nissan GTR Black Edition
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Kensington, London

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2006 325i  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by dxb335d View Post
WHATS wrong with the ''drop in'' ones?
"drop in"?
Appreciate 0
      05-28-2009, 11:55 AM   #17
Dr Dave
Zummerzet Zyder Drinker!
United Kingdom
116
Rep
5,541
Posts

Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Somerset

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by lightweight View Post
"drop in"?
"Drop in" probably means as you "drop" them down into the depths of the underbonnet area while you fiddle the things into the lamps!
__________________
Appreciate 0
      05-28-2009, 02:22 PM   #18
foxy-367
Lieutenant
foxy-367's Avatar
United Kingdom
6
Rep
448
Posts

Drives: 320d M-Sport
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: North West

iTrader: (0)

I had the Osram Nightbreakers on my Leon, very good bulb but seemed to pop sooner than expected. Looked whiter and were much brighter. Also got them from Power bulbs really reasonable prices.

Let us know what the Philips are like.
__________________

Now - E90 320d M Sport, Le Mans Blue, sun protection glass, Auto lights and wipers, 193M, a big grin
Previous - Seat Leon FR, Golf Gttdi (x2), Mk3 Fiesta SI, E30 318i Peugeot 205 Roland Garros, Mk2 Fiesta Ghia (it had a rev counter!!!!)
Appreciate 0
      05-30-2009, 03:57 AM   #19
Dr Dave
Zummerzet Zyder Drinker!
United Kingdom
116
Rep
5,541
Posts

Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Somerset

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Bulbs arrived yesterday as promised on a next-day delivery - I'll fit them later (might do a How To as I reckon it'll be fiddly!)

I'll leave one side as standard and see if my camera will pick up the difference.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      05-30-2009, 03:59 AM   #20
Duhst
That Go
Duhst's Avatar
United_States
120
Rep
7,415
Posts

Drives: AW e90
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Vegas?

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2007 328i  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Dave View Post
One option I'd have liked on my 330 was Xenon headlamps, but beggars can't be choosers!

Have any of you guys swapped your stock headlamp bulbs for something a little whiter/bluer - something a little more xenon looking? I'm looking for real-life reccomendations.

Not going down the slap-a-HID bulb-in-the-normal headlamp reflector for many reasons of which I'm sure you're all aware of!

I guess I'm correct in thinking I have an H7 bulb fitment on my low beams......
enlighten me.......
__________________
Appreciate 0
      05-30-2009, 04:02 AM   #21
Dr Dave
Zummerzet Zyder Drinker!
United Kingdom
116
Rep
5,541
Posts

Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Somerset

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Headlamp beam scatter for starters in a normal lamp reflector - you must have seen the young lads with retrofitted HID kits in 'normal' headlamps?

One word......blinding.

The only retrofit I would do is one into a projector style lamp assembly. But then you risk upsetting the bulb failure monitoring system.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      05-30-2009, 04:07 AM   #22
Dr Dave
Zummerzet Zyder Drinker!
United Kingdom
116
Rep
5,541
Posts

Drives: '06 330D Le Mans Blue
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Somerset

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Here's the official stance from the UK Dpt for Transport

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps
__________________
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:31 PM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST