[JBH320]

Hi guys. I am a new member to this forum. I previously had a 323 with Xenon headlights and I am now the owner of a 320D without Xenon's. ( I got a great deal on a stock car so took advantage of the price). I didn't realise that there would be such a significant difference in range and spread of light. As I do a fair bit of night country driving I would like to know if anyone has upgraded their lights to HID globes. I have asked my BMW dealer and they won't touch it.

[Sephanite]

are u after just HID's and not the bi-xenons with the angel eyes?

[Ichiro]

Hi JBH320,

Congrats on your new purchase!
There is a massive difference in headlight setup between halogen reflector based headlamp and a self levelling, projector based bixenon headlamp with washers. The headlamp housings are completely different and one shouldn't put Xenon globes into a halogen reflector housing as these aren't designed for the extra light.

Normally people still pursue this path and the light that comes out of a halogen headlamp running xenon globes/ballast combo is dangerous. The beam is thrown everywhere and isn't focused like a projector housing designed for HID. Oncoming traffic gets blinded, and the driver doesn't really see a vast improvement either.

If you want the spread and range you really need to retrofit HID projectors, self levelling motors, washers etc to get it working correctly and giving you the benefits you're looking for. Unfortunately this is often a costly exercise and I doubt a dealership will be willing to undertake this (as this is something straight from factory). You're looking at DIY or take it to a reputable shop to undertake this. I also know of a few US members members getting theirs done from a thrid party who could also customize turn signals etc, but they still had no washer setup (which I think is required here in AU)

[JBH320]

Yes I was just after HID's. I understand that the cost of angel eyes here in Australia is very high.

[JBH320]

Originally Posted by Ichiro

Hi JBH320,

Congrats on your new purchase!
There is a massive difference in headlight setup between halogen reflector based headlamp and a self levelling, projector based bixenon headlamp with washers. The headlamp housings are completely different and one shouldn't put Xenon globes into a halogen reflector housing as these aren't designed for the extra light.

Normally people still pursue this path and the light that comes out of a halogen headlamp running xenon globes/ballast combo is dangerous. The beam is thrown everywhere and isn't focused like a projector housing designed for HID. Oncoming traffic gets blinded, and the driver doesn't really see a vast improvement either.

If you want the spread and range you really need to retrofit HID projectors, self levelling motors, washers etc to get it working correctly and giving you the benefits you're looking for. Unfortunately this is often a costly exercise and I doubt a dealership will be willing to undertake this (as this is something straight from factory). You're looking at DIY or take it to a reputable shop to undertake this. I also know of a few US members members getting theirs done from a thrid party who could also customize turn signals etc, but they still had no washer setup (which I think is required here in AU)

Thanks Ichiro.

Appreciate the comments and understand what you are saying. It looks like by trying to save some cash with the purchase it will end up costing me in other ways.

Damn those Xenon lights are very good.

[Kafkaesque328]

Originally Posted by Ichiro

Hi JBH320,

Congrats on your new purchase!
There is a massive difference in headlight setup between halogen reflector based headlamp and a self levelling, projector based bixenon headlamp with washers. The headlamp housings are completely different and one shouldn't put Xenon globes into a halogen reflector housing as these aren't designed for the extra light.

Normally people still pursue this path and the light that comes out of a halogen headlamp running xenon globes/ballast combo is dangerous. The beam is thrown everywhere and isn't focused like a projector housing designed for HID. Oncoming traffic gets blinded, and the driver doesn't really see a vast improvement either.

If you want the spread and range you really need to retrofit HID projectors, self levelling motors, washers etc to get it working correctly and giving you the benefits you're looking for. Unfortunately this is often a costly exercise and I doubt a dealership will be willing to undertake this (as this is something straight from factory). You're looking at DIY or take it to a reputable shop to undertake this. I also know of a few US members members getting theirs done from a thrid party who could also customize turn signals etc, but they still had no washer setup (which I think is required here in AU)

Not sure how prices etc. compare Aus vs. US but I asked the dealer about doing this to my 320 as well as a few reputable shops in the area and no one will touch it. Aftermarket indie shops in my area are open to it but have advised it is not cost effective at all and I'm better off just riding it out and getting the Coronas next time since when all is said and done it would be close to three grand.

I plan on swapping the stock bulbs with the BMW 'performance bulbs' when I bring it for service just for slightly better projection. This is a $65 minor upgrade

[JBH320]

Originally Posted by Kafkaesque320

Not sure how prices etc. compare Aus vs. US but I asked the dealer about doing this to my 320 as well as a few reputable shops in the area and no one will touch it. Aftermarket indie shops in my area are open to it but have advised it is not cost effective at all and I'm better off just riding it out and getting the Coronas next time since when all is said and done it would be close to three grand.

I plan on swapping the stock bulbs with the BMW 'performance bulbs' when I bring it for service just for slightly better projection. This is a $65 minor upgrade

Do you know how much better performance these BMW bulbs will provide you.

[Hypnotic]

Angel Eyes kit just seen. Don't know if this is any good.
Cheers
Gary

http://www.alibaba.com/product-detai...485514039.html

[MarkyMarkOz]

JBH320, I have done a HID upgrade and am very pleased with the result. I was very concerend about the comments like Ichiro makes above and so did allot of home work. What I found was a quality kit (normal rules apply - you get what you pay for) that minimised all the concerns and the only thing I had to do was adjust the manual headlight tilt on the dash down 2 clicks from normal so as to ensure oncoming traffic was not adversely affected. Most of the negative comments about the upgrade are 'generic' comments, however what is found on the F30 is that the reflector handles the HID bulbs very well. With that said it will never be the same as a focused reflector, but it is certainly nowhere like the fear, uncertainty and doubt comments out there. You might get a bad result with 8K HID in a commodore, but 6k HID in a F30 using a quality tested kit do work very well.

[JBH320]

Originally Posted by Hypnotic

Angel Eyes kit just seen. Don't know if this is any good.
Cheers
Gary

http://www.alibaba.com/product-detai...485514039.html

Thanks for the info.

Do you know if these are easy to install ?

[JBH320]

Originally Posted by MarkyMarkOz

JBH320, I have done a HID upgrade and am very pleased with the result. I was very concerend about the comments like Ichiro makes above and so did allot of home work. What I found was a quality kit (normal rules apply - you get what you pay for) that minimised all the concerns and the only thing I had to do was adjust the manual headlight tilt on the dash down 2 clicks from normal so as to ensure oncoming traffic was not adversely affected. Most of the negative comments about the upgrade are 'generic' comments, however what is found on the F30 is that the reflector handles the HID bulbs very well. With that said it will never be the same as a focused reflector, but it is certainly nowhere like the fear, uncertainty and doubt comments out there. You might get a bad result with 8K HID in a commodore, but 6k HID in a F30 using a quality tested kit do work very well.

Thanks MMO.