[ben.bell1987]

Hi

Apologies if this has already been answered but planning a Pre-lci Halogen to Pre-lci Xenon. Plugged the lights in and the angel eyes light up but not the xenons. Question is does it just need coding or is the wiring different too?

Read something about needing FRM3 which I don't believe my car has.

My car is a 57 plate E90 Pre-lci btw.

Many Thanks in advance.

[ben.bell1987]

Anyone?

[Sensible_]

Your car will need to be coded. In short you need to tell the cars Vehicle Order that it now has Xenon Headlights. Then tell disable auto levelling (unless you have done a complete retrofit).

You can do the coding very easily with NCS-Expert and a DCAN cable.

[ben.bell1987]

Originally Posted by Sensible_

Your car will need to be coded. In short you need to tell the cars Vehicle Order that it now has Xenon Headlights. Then tell disable auto levelling (unless you have done a complete retrofit).

You can do the coding very easily with NCS-Expert and a DCAN cable.

Thank you very much, after reading around it looks like I need to add $522 to the vehicle order.

Just need confirmation that I didn't need need additional wiring for the xenons to work?

I am ok with with disabling the auto levelling.

[Silverbmw328]

Hi Ben, What are you thinking of fitting as I'm considering this ?

[Deeg]

Originally Posted by Silverbmw328

Hi Ben, What are you thinking of fitting as I'm considering this ?

+1

I'd consider this also if its fairly simple? and just a straight swap out and coding.

[ben.bell1987]

Originally Posted by Deeg

+1

I'd consider this also if its fairly simple? and just a straight swap out and coding.

Great, i'll give that a go tonight.

I am just planning on a straight swap but changing the angel eyes to Lux or something similar to match 6000k bulbs.

Probably going to chance it with no washers or self levelling.

[Sensible_]

Originally Posted by ben.bell1987

Thank you very much, after reading around it looks like I need to add $522 to the vehicle order.

Just need confirmation that I didn't need need additional wiring for the xenons to work?

I am ok with with disabling the auto levelling.

I think you will get away with your current wiring. I've only done this conversion on a PRE-LCI vehicle with LCI XENONS in which case it needs new wiring / harness if I remember correctly. If you are using PRE-LCI xenons I guess you'll be ok with just coding it into the VO and disabling auto levelling.

[bazz780]

I would do this too if its a case of swapping headlights and coding, can someone confirm?

Regards

[ben.bell1987]

I have added $522 to the VO for both the CAS, FRM and the NFRM, plugged the headlight in to test and only the angel eyes light up, nothing from the xenon. High beams work when flashing.

Is there anything else I need to code or does it need rewiring?

[bishbosh]

I did a pre-lci halogen to pre-lci xenon conversion.

Full details can be found here http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=912413

Your xenons aren't lighting up because you need an extra earth wire.
The genuine BMW aftermarket wiring harness has this.

Or you could bridge pins 2 and 4 in the headlight socket.

Cheers

[ben.bell1987]

Originally Posted by bishbosh

I did a pre-lci halogen to pre-lci xenon conversion.

Full details can be found here http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=912413

Your xenons aren't lighting up because you need an extra earth wire.
The genuine BMW aftermarket wiring harness has this.

Or you could bridge pins 2 and 4 in the headlight socket.

Cheers

Thanks for the help, can you buy the harness from BMW?

Also what do you mean by bridge pins 2 and 4?

[Sensible_]

http://www.online-parts.co.uk/bmw/ad...7#.Uz56Cni9LCQ

Double check it's the correct one as I'm not sure of the differences between LCI and pre LCI wiring.

The term 'bridge' just means connect those two pins together. It's an easy fix, but I'd personally go for the full retrofit.

[ben.bell1987]

Originally Posted by Sensible_

http://www.online-parts.co.uk/bmw/ad...7#.Uz56Cni9LCQ

Double check it's the correct one as I'm not sure of the differences between LCI and pre LCI wiring.

The term 'bridge' just means connect those two pins together. It's an easy fix, but I'd personally go for the full retrofit.

Just tried the bridge and it worked a treat! Thank you very much Sensible!

Bit gutted though, I ordered the cable earlier today from BMW so not sure whether to return it and save myself £30 + VAT or just sell it on here.

Fitting them tomorrow and coding out the bulb errors

[bishbosh]

IMO the BMW cable is the better solution.

1. It's part of the official retrofit.
2. You will have proper full beam and flash to pass function. One the wires in the BMW cable runs to the FRM (footwell module) which enables the bixenon full beam function.

You don't need to have this wire but if not you must bridge pins 5 + 6 (I think). However your flash to pass lights (the halogen ones) come on with the full beam. It's not as clean a solution really.

The loom also includes the connectors to work with the levelling sensors as you'll see in my thread. If you don't have the levelling sensors the headlight beam angle will always be set to their lowest position so the light output won't be spread further down the road. This is so you are unlikely to blind oncoming traffic.

Cheers

[chargingbear]

So have you replaced halogens with xenons by just changing headlights, adding $522 to the VO for both the CAS, FRM and the NFRM and finally bridge pins 2 and 4 in the headlight socket.

If thats all thats required that is relatively simple, however, theres no auto levelling and washers; is this okay for MOT?

[ben.bell1987]

Originally Posted by chargingbear

So have you replaced halogens with xenons by just changing headlights, adding $522 to the VO for both the CAS, FRM and the NFRM and finally bridge pins 2 and 4 in the headlight socket.

If thats all thats required that is relatively simple, however, theres no auto levelling and washers; is this okay for MOT?

Yes, just added $522 to the VO replaced the headlights, also have to bridge pins 2 and 4 or buy the harness (61120395932) and remove the bulb warnings. A couple of hours work but well worth it.

I have not fitted levelling sensors or washers which make it completely legit but by default it points towards the road so no dazzling anyone (thanks bishbosh) It depends where you go for an MOT, some are more lenient than others. I have passed with a HID kit in Halogen headlights so should be fine.

[bishbosh]

Me? No, I used the loom and sourced levelling sensors. Oh and a new light switch as I don't need the dial for headlamp beam adjustment. It's all in my thread I linked to earlier.

Regarding the MOT, levelling sensors and headlight washers are NOT required for the MOT.
I don't have washers and my car passed it's MOT last month.

[Sensible_]

Originally Posted by bishbosh

Me? No, I used the loom and sourced levelling sensors. Oh and a new light switch as I don't need the dial for headlamp beam adjustment. It's all in my thread I linked to earlier.

Regarding the MOT, levelling sensors and headlight washers are NOT required for the MOT.
I don't have washers and my car passed it's MOT last month.

Awesome retrofit dude! Nice diy guide as well.

Re MOT and washers / levellers. I was under the understanding they had to be working for MOT, IF fitted. If they aren't fitted, MOT rules do not apply to them.

[bishbosh]

Originally Posted by Sensible_

Awesome retrofit dude! Nice diy guide as well.

Re MOT and washers / levellers. I was under the understanding they had to be working for MOT, IF fitted. If they aren't fitted, MOT rules do not apply to them.

Thanks

Yes, that's my understanding too from reading the MOT wording.

[Deeg]

Bish Bosh,

Thanks for your full thread link, I'm seriously considering this as the next step for my D3, If I'm going to do this I'm going to do it correctly.

Will look in to it more and see what I'm up against, although the coding side of things is beyond what I can do. Might need to source someone who can help with that.

Cheers

Deeg