BMW e90 Adaptive Xenon Retro Fit guide (2011 328i with factory Halogen)

undermine · 09-15-2013, 10:24 AM

(For those of you attempting this yourself, take your time, install your harness first)

This is for the E90, however F30 will be the same.

I was trying to stay on a budget and I saved by purchasing used hardware, my adaptive xenon lamps were damaged and needed some work, used ballasts, bulb/ignitors, one used smc, and one new smc, new FRM3 Max Brose, New front and rear level sensors, I did test with a used one from an e46 at first and it worked. I bought two new level sensors after I knew my retrofit was complete because I wanted it to be factory. I made my retrofit harness to spec (factory pins and plugs, 18awg, 22awg, ect-era) I am selling retro fit harness(s) to earn a few bucks from my experience for half of what BMWpartsupply has it listed for.

Everything works and has been 100 percent reliable.

I have 2011 E90 (Factory Halogen)

Stock FRM3R LED Basis (LCI) note this FRM3R supports Xenon, further testing required to confirm if modifications can be made to support AHL and adaptive.

The following you will have to source.

Adaptive Xenon AHL Headlamps

I made my conversion harness so it all looks OEM, I had to purchase level sensors, you can make it work with just the front or use both, left front and left rear.

Install the harness first, I assume you are going to install adaptive on a side note I am going to test my stock FRM3R LED Basis and see if there is a way to modify it so it works like the MAX Brose, otherwise if you want adaptive with shutter lens and AHL you'll need the MAX Brose, I bought mine from the dealer, they were so shocked I was doing it myself that they gave me the BMWPartsupply price at their location.

So after you have installed your harness and sourced all the components for your headlamps such as ballast, bulb/ignitors, smc, times 2, purchased a max brose it's time to code which is another story.

The new frm module must be coded with your vin so your car accepts it. Once coded you need to update the vehicle order (VO) with the corresponding codes $522 for Xenon and $524 Adaptive / AHL.

Even after this you will still have to code the NFRM to work properly, I have been through the entire process

You will then need to code the LSMC, and the RSMC, these are the modules that are on the bottom of the headlamps that control the vertical and horizontal position of the Xenon's (adaptive/ahl).

Good luck to everyone taking this on, if you plan accordingly it will make the install go much smoother. Feel free to ask any questions.

omare90 · 02-04-2014, 05:44 PM

Hi, I need to make one last wiring harness, but can't seem to identify the right wiring contact for the plug. Do you know what size the bottom rows are?

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k9...Picture044.jpg

Is it contact #5 on RealOEM chart? Contact #7 appear too big, maybe for the top row?
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...91&hg=61&fg=15

What did you use? Thanks for your help.

xr@y · 11-01-2014, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undermine

The new frm module must be coded with your vin so your car accepts it. Once coded you need to update the vehicle order (VO) with the corresponding codes $522 for Xenon and $524 Adaptive / AHL.

Even after this you will still have to code the NFRM to work properly, I have been through the entire process

You will then need to code the LSMC, and the RSMC, these are the modules that are on the bottom of the headlamps that control the vertical and horizontal position of the Xenon's (adaptive/ahl).

Good luck to everyone taking this on, if you plan accordingly it will make the install go much smoother. Feel free to ask any questions.

Hi there!

i have purchased 335i with adaptive xenon headlights. one side was not functional, so i purchased ballast and installed it. now there is light but it doesn't turn and there is a warning on the dashboard that says that adaptive light is not working. i replaced the HEADLIGHT AUTO LEVEL MODULE BALLAST ADAPTIVE AFS CONTROL - still no luck.
what you are saying that installation should be followed by coding. Can you explain a bit more on what exactly is needed. I have a friend who does coding and help me but it would be great to have some guidance to explain him what to do and how.

thanks in advance!

undermine · 11-23-2014, 09:03 PM

Sorry for the delay.

(LSMC) Left SMC - Left Head Lamp, (RSMC) Right SMC - Right Head Lamp.

So there is a module on your headlamp called an SMC, it controls the vertical and horizontal position of your headlamp.

What I mean by coding is, the SMC, new or USED, must be coded with the VIN number from you car so that it can communicate with all of the other modules on your car.

In addition, L SMC, R SMC, the model is the same for both sides, the only difference is in the coding.

If your friend codes have him message me if he hasn't done this before and I can tell him what he needs to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xr@y

Hi there!

i have purchased 335i with adaptive xenon headlights. one side was not functional, so i purchased ballast and installed it. now there is light but it doesn't turn and there is a warning on the dashboard that says that adaptive light is not working. i replaced the HEADLIGHT AUTO LEVEL MODULE BALLAST ADAPTIVE AFS CONTROL - still no luck.
what you are saying that installation should be followed by coding. Can you explain a bit more on what exactly is needed. I have a friend who does coding and help me but it would be great to have some guidance to explain him what to do and how.

thanks in advance!

xr@y · 11-30-2014, 01:53 AM

It's snowing here and i wasn't driving much on my blue rocket ) so it is good time to fix this before spring! Great thanks for the response! I will talk to my friend and we'll write to you in case he's got questions!

Quote:

Originally Posted by undermine

Sorry for the delay.

(LSMC) Left SMC - Left Head Lamp, (RSMC) Right SMC - Right Head Lamp.

So there is a module on your headlamp called an SMC, it controls the vertical and horizontal position of your headlamp.

What I mean by coding is, the SMC, new or USED, must be coded with the VIN number from you car so that it can communicate with all of the other modules on your car.

In addition, L SMC, R SMC, the model is the same for both sides, the only difference is in the coding.

If your friend codes have him message me if he hasn't done this before and I can tell him what he needs to do.

zhaotao · 11-08-2024, 10:49 AM

Hi undermine. My car is e90 325i that only has xenon SA522 and automatic headlights and wipers and frm2 led xe. I have bought ahl and frm3 max brose and other parts for retrofit. I want to know how to code in detail. May I need delete $522 first and then add $524? Thanks a lot.

09-15-2013, 10:24 AM	#1
undermine UnderminE 68 Rep 86 Posts Drives: 2015 M4 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M4 [0.00]	BMW e90 Adaptive Xenon Retro Fit guide (2011 328i with factory Halogen) (For those of you attempting this yourself, take your time, install your harness first) This is for the E90, however F30 will be the same. I was trying to stay on a budget and I saved by purchasing used hardware, my adaptive xenon lamps were damaged and needed some work, used ballasts, bulb/ignitors, one used smc, and one new smc, new FRM3 Max Brose, New front and rear level sensors, I did test with a used one from an e46 at first and it worked. I bought two new level sensors after I knew my retrofit was complete because I wanted it to be factory. I made my retrofit harness to spec (factory pins and plugs, 18awg, 22awg, ect-era) I am selling retro fit harness(s) to earn a few bucks from my experience for half of what BMWpartsupply has it listed for. Everything works and has been 100 percent reliable. I have 2011 E90 (Factory Halogen) Stock FRM3R LED Basis (LCI) note this FRM3R supports Xenon, further testing required to confirm if modifications can be made to support AHL and adaptive. The following you will have to source. Adaptive Xenon AHL Headlamps I made my conversion harness so it all looks OEM, I had to purchase level sensors, you can make it work with just the front or use both, left front and left rear. Install the harness first, I assume you are going to install adaptive on a side note I am going to test my stock FRM3R LED Basis and see if there is a way to modify it so it works like the MAX Brose, otherwise if you want adaptive with shutter lens and AHL you'll need the MAX Brose, I bought mine from the dealer, they were so shocked I was doing it myself that they gave me the BMWPartsupply price at their location. So after you have installed your harness and sourced all the components for your headlamps such as ballast, bulb/ignitors, smc, times 2, purchased a max brose it's time to code which is another story. The new frm module must be coded with your vin so your car accepts it. Once coded you need to update the vehicle order (VO) with the corresponding codes $522 for Xenon and $524 Adaptive / AHL. Even after this you will still have to code the NFRM to work properly, I have been through the entire process You will then need to code the LSMC, and the RSMC, these are the modules that are on the bottom of the headlamps that control the vertical and horizontal position of the Xenon's (adaptive/ahl). Good luck to everyone taking this on, if you plan accordingly it will make the install go much smoother. Feel free to ask any questions.
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02-04-2014, 05:44 PM	#2
omare90 Enlisted Member 16 Rep 49 Posts Drives: 328xi Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	Hi, I need to make one last wiring harness, but can't seem to identify the right wiring contact for the plug. Do you know what size the bottom rows are? http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k9...Picture044.jpg Is it contact #5 on RealOEM chart? Contact #7 appear too big, maybe for the top row? http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...91&hg=61&fg=15 What did you use? Thanks for your help.
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11-08-2024, 10:49 AM	#6
zhaotao Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: bmw 325i Join Date: May 2023 Location: china iTrader: (0)	Hi undermine. My car is e90 325i that only has xenon SA522 and automatic headlights and wipers and frm2 led xe. I have bought ahl and frm3 max brose and other parts for retrofit. I want to know how to code in detail. May I need delete $522 first and then add $524? Thanks a lot.
	Appreciate 0 Quote