BMW M5 Forum

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-09-2025, 05:02 PM   #23
BlkGS
Brigadier General
BlkGS's Avatar
3863
Rep
3,043
Posts

Drives: BMW X5 M50i
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: FL

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
You misunderstand. ALL these bulbs are made by Chinese companies. They may slap a Phillips label on it, or an osram, or their own, but they're all Chinese bulbs.

If you're going to do anything short of a projector retrofit, just buy new nice Halogen bulbs. There is a ton of testing on YouTube showing that the halogen bulbs, when fresh, will outperform LEDs thrown in a reflector housing. Most people don't replace headlights bulbs until they totally stop lighting, but reality is Halogen bulbs have a lifespan, usually 1-3 years before they've degraded in output a lot. It's gradual, so nobody notices.

Buy new halogen bulbs from Sylvania or Phillips, nicer ones, and then do your research on a projector retrofit. It looks like your headlights are designed to have the front half removed, so it should be a cakewalk.
Appreciate 0
      01-26-2025, 11:09 PM   #24
Philm001
Enlisted Member
6
Rep
33
Posts

Drives: BMW 2004 X3
Join Date: May 2023
Location: Toledo Ohio

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlkGS View Post
You misunderstand. ALL these bulbs are made by Chinese companies. They may slap a Phillips label on it, or an osram, or their own, but they're all Chinese bulbs.

If you're going to do anything short of a projector retrofit, just buy new nice Halogen bulbs. There is a ton of testing on YouTube showing that the halogen bulbs, when fresh, will outperform LEDs thrown in a reflector housing. Most people don't replace headlights bulbs until they totally stop lighting, but reality is Halogen bulbs have a lifespan, usually 1-3 years before they've degraded in output a lot. It's gradual, so nobody notices.

Buy new halogen bulbs from Sylvania or Phillips, nicer ones, and then do your research on a projector retrofit. It looks like your headlights are designed to have the front half removed, so it should be a cakewalk.
Sorry for going dark. So I have been doing some research and it turns out that the 04 model did in fact have an upgrade option to get HID with the adaptive control which is niiiice. The HID has the projector built in

However, getting these suckers used is gonna set me back by at least $300 a piece. Some places, I will need to shell out 1k!!!!!

Anyone out there willing to throw me a bone?

In other news, I did end up getting LEDs for the fog lights. And I am very happy with that decision. Will see how long they will last.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
headlamp, led


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 04:54 PM.




m5:
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, 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