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Thread: E31 Headlights ( LED vs. HID's)

  1. #1
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    E31 Headlights ( LED vs. HID's)

    Is there anyone who has a set of LED's installed? Which bulb's are better LED's or HID's? Is the DIY installation difficult for either one?

  2. #2
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    I have these in the ftp and main beams - they are awful for dipped beams as they chuck the light all over the place:

    http://www.meeknet.co.uk/e31/timms_b...Main_Beams.htm
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


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  3. #3
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    One "?" :

    Where's you get the LEDs from and what is the part number?

    Tks
    -B

  4. #4
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    These are the ones I just installed.
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by blanz View Post
    These are the ones I just installed.
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    Hey blanz, can you post a dusk time picture of your installed lights? Did you replace lows and highs? or just low beams?
    Taylor in Carlsbad

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  6. #6
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    Interested to know too.
    Would like to use them for the FTP and pop-up high-beams if they are not too obtrusive to install...

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chillax View Post
    Where's you get the LEDs from and what is the part number?
    -B
    They are from Ebay - Neverland Lighting or something like that - but, they are Chinese and are available from all sorts of sellers - the important bit is you match the pictures to those on the advert as you must get the exact model for the FTP's as nothing else fits, and I've tried tens of the blooming things!
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


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  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Timm View Post
    They are from Ebay - Neverland Lighting or something like that - but, they are Chinese and are available from all sorts of sellers - the important bit is you match the pictures to those on the advert as you must get the exact model for the FTP's as nothing else fits, and I've tried tens of the blooming things!
    Timm, how are they as FTPs? Brighter and more visible than standard halogens?
    and, same question but for the main high-beams.

  9. #9
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    Lots of light - everywhere! The FTP's can cause confusion when flashing to let people out - they are a bit like a camera flash....
    Last edited by Timm; 05-22-2017 at 08:41 AM.
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


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  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Timm View Post
    Lots of light - everywhere! The FTP's can cause confusing when flashing to let people out - they are a bit like a camera flash....
    Ooh, perfect, I like the sound of that!
    I can't seem to find those exact ones on eBay (searched for "H1 LED"). The closest ones I found are longer than the one you found. Do you have a link to an item number by any chance?

  11. #11
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    For the FTP's you need H3's, and the exact one I specify - for the main beams you need H1 and there are loads of braided versions that fit.....
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


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  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Timm View Post
    For the FTP's you need H3's, and the exact one I specify - for the main beams you need H1 and there are loads of braided versions that fit.....
    Oh, sorry, you're right, they're H3 not H1.

    I've found these, they look like they're short but there are no dimensions:
    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-M-039...MakeTrack=true

  13. #13
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    They certainly look to be the right ones - but, as I have found out, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and see what you get!
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


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  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Timm View Post
    They certainly look to be the right ones - but, as I have found out, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and see what you get!
    Timm, do you have any photos of how much clearance there is inside the FTP assembly? Just to figure out how much length that one can get away with.

  15. #15
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    Have a lot at the 'How To' there's about 20mm behind the seating surface of the bulb:

    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


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  16. #16
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    But how is the lumens output when comparing HID system to LED?

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  17. #17
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    What Lumen output is claimed by the Xenon lights?
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


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  18. #18
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    Timm, a 35w, 4,300k, H1 bulb will put out about 3,200-3,400 lumens
    I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
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  19. #19
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    That's more than you will get out of the LED units which I estimate to be around 1800 Lumens - I found the datasheet for the Xenon:

    https://www.osram.com/appsinfo/pdc/p...pe_eCat&lid=EN
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


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  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Timm View Post
    That's more than you will get out of the LED units which I estimate to be around 1800 Lumens - I found the datasheet for the Xenon:

    https://www.osram.com/appsinfo/pdc/p...pe_eCat&lid=EN
    The problem with xenon/HID kits is that the light takes time to warm up to full brightness.

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  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by tangcla View Post
    The problem with xenon/HID kits is that the light takes time to warm up to full brightness.

    Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
    The real problem is the projectors were intended for the original halogens, so the only proper way to do it is with new projectors.

    Moutine had a post about this somewhere where he added a bi-xenon. Only thread I have seen were someone actually did it right outside of 8er.org.
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  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by toomanyparts View Post
    The real problem is the projectors were intended for the original halogens, so the only proper way to do it is with new projectors.

    Moutine had a post about this somewhere where he added a bi-xenon. Only thread I have seen were someone actually did it right outside of 8er.org.
    My point was in reference to being used as high beams.

    While the projectors aren't designed for halogens, the cut off is actually very crisp, at least on the euro headlights (I don't know whether the USA spec vehicles have different projectors, given you have different lighting assemblies it's possible).

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  23. #23
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    Yes, I think that's the point - the LED's are great fun for main-beams, but for the dipped beams the projectors can't fully control the spill of light, the same is probably true for the Xenon dipped beams - lots of light but not necessarily in the right direction.
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


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  24. #24
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    Currently (August 28) these LED lamps are on sale at Amazon using code K6QRX9 for $31.89. Normally they sell for $54.99.
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    Last edited by Carl1011; 08-30-2017 at 09:49 AM.

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by Carl1011 View Post
    Currently (August 28) these LED lamps are on sale at Amazon using code K6QRX9 for $31.89. Normally they sell for $54.99.
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    Are you using these lights in your car?

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