E39 Xenon Upgrade WITH auto-leveling? Hella Retrofit Kit vs Used OEM?

[joey93turbo]

Has anyone successfully retrofitted Xenon's with the auto-leveling system? I see most of the threads don't speak about the system and in my opinion it'd be nice to have.

I also want to know if it'd be cheaper and just as good to wait and find a pair of OEM Xenon's instead of the Hella retrofit kit. I really can't afford to spend $1300 on lights but I see OEM pairs go for alot cheaper on eBay. What all do I need to make sure they come with?

I understand I need a resistor pack to make sure I don't get the error. Is this something I can make myself or do I need to purchase it? I have a buddy who builds medical lasers and I'm sure this would be cake for him.

[Ken21]

you can make yourself a resistor pack if you know how to do it

and all you need is the xenon headlight housing,ballast,bulbs,AE wiring,some other wires and the auto-leveling sensor

i really want to do the auto-leveling retrofit too....

[bensonc]

It should be a piece of cake to build your own resister pack, check out the one I had here.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...43978531KMjSFN
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...43978531aUTUTo

[Dan]

auto-leveling isn't as simple as it sounds. there's sensor actually attached to the rear suspensions so... yeah... it's not like they use a leveler or anything. the sensor is on the rear and when it dips below a certain level, it'll adjust the lights. ie: when you load up the rear of the car, the lights would naturally point upward. once the rear suspension detects this, it'll adjust the lights down.

[killcrap]

dont forget the module that controls the lights LWR

[James@EurosportDesign]

auto-leveling isn't as simple as it sounds. there's sensor actually attached to the rear suspensions so... yeah... it's not like they use a leveler or anything. the sensor is on the rear and when it dips below a certain level, it'll adjust the lights. ie: when you load up the rear of the car, the lights would naturally point upward. once the rear suspension detects this, it'll adjust the lights down.

That's correct, if your BMW didn't come factory with auto leveling it's more complicated then you think. Even though all new Hella angel eye headlights (halogen & xenon) come with the auto leveling motor it will do you no good if your car isn't already equipped with auto leveling. In order to upgrade to auto leveling you would have to purchase an Axle Sensor Leveller Kit that has to be installed at your axles. If not, you would simply not use the auto leveler motor plug.

[Tony@Bekkers]

Exactly what Dan and James said. It is quite a bit more involved than most think.

[MJFX328]

You can get away without self-leveling as long as the lights are aimed correctly and your suspension is stiff.

[joey93turbo]

How difficult is it to retrofit autoleveling? Has anyone done it?

So what exactly do I need to complete this job? Housing, Bulbs, Ballasts, Resistor Packs, what else? If I get all this stuff will this job be plug and play or will I need to do some wiring?

[joey93turbo]

Anyone?

[MJFX328]

Anyone?

did you even read the thread? they've already explained that its very complicated.

[joey93turbo]

Sorry, I meant the last portion of my last post.

[sameh]

Hi, I made the conversion to Xenon , but as expected I get the "check low beam" Error. As such, I need help to build the resistor pack. I can see the photo's posted above but I don't really understand how to build these. Will this mean just adding a second set of normal bulbs to be connected in parallel to the Xenon controller ?

[mmcmelvin]

Hi all,

I just installed HID lighting system (Low Beam) and started coding for retrofiting xenon conversion option. After coded, my headlight vertical aim control manaully not functioning as before and front load sensor activated. Due to my car is not factory installed auto headlight level control, DIS detected error for front load sensor open circuit fault. Hence, any idea to deactivate front load sensor and auto headlight control LWR by NCS expertentool or others coding. please help !.

[jamesdc4]

*free tow for post #14*

[NNY528I]

Hi all,

I just installed HID lighting system (Low Beam) and started coding for retrofiting xenon conversion option. After coded, my headlight vertical aim control manaully not functioning as before and front load sensor activated. Due to my car is not factory installed auto headlight level control, DIS detected error for front load sensor open circuit fault. Hence, any idea to deactivate front load sensor and auto headlight control LWR by NCS expertentool or others coding. please help !.

say who what????


did you actually install the sensors and the wiring or did you just install the xenon headlights?

if just the headlights then you will not be able to control them at all you dont have the wiring to control them. Options include installing them in an equipped car to set the level or if an earlier light open it up and swap the adjuster motors for the fixed points from your halogens.

[NoTempoLimit]

My car (6/2000 528i) was originally equipped with pre-facelift (pre-AE) xenons, but they were removed for some reason. I has DEPO halogens now.

Build sheet says xenon equipped, plus the level sensors are present on the suspension, as are the high voltage stickers on the frame near the headlamp units.

But I have *no clue* how to integrate the wiring. And it's also confusing as to why everything seems to work fine with the halogen lights if the LKM thinks that the car should have the xenon units.

I do want to eventually convert back to xenon/hid, preferably with the angel eyes.

Any ideas?

[PlanMeca]

I understand you mean these lights?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/
eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170558950730

Clicking on it as hyperlink will not get you to the site, you can copy n paste it.

How to see if it is european light (e-code) or not? Can't contact the seller, cant send him questions, don't know what to do. Seems to be a good price for quality item. Could someone/anyone help me?

[champaign777]

i just retrofit faselift xenon into halogen car
I am interesting to know if somebody succeeded to retrofit auto-leveling ( LWR module ) as well
thanks

[BEAST 5]

some kits like the one on umnitza comes with everything look like the depos with angel eyes and everything best deal..

[new200guy]

auto-leveling isn't as simple as it sounds. there's sensor actually attached to the rear suspensions so... yeah... it's not like they use a leveler or anything. the sensor is on the rear and when it dips below a certain level, it'll adjust the lights. ie: when you load up the rear of the car, the lights would naturally point upward. once the rear suspension detects this, it'll adjust the lights down.

there is also a sensor on the front.

[Bmwe39528i1998]

I guess it's an old thread but I want to do this retrofit.
Bought this arm, seems to have everything needed.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/152745445382...mis&media=COPY

[ferreirafil]

I've just finished this retrofit on my 1999 E38 728i with brand new original parts from the dealership. I've found a guide from BMW that explains how to retrofit this with the auto-levelling system, step by step. The installation of the sensors on both axles is pretty straightforward. At the rear, you may also have to replace the right swing arm if you don't have a rear stabilizer bar as you won't have the support to attach the level sensor. This was my case, and to fix that I have soldered a piece of metal where the original support was supposed to be.


Apart from this, I had to create a brand new wiring harness to connect everything. With the help of the guide, I managed to lay the wires in the original place. For example, for the rear sensor, the wires go inside the boot through the spare wheel and then through the rear seats, then on the right side of the cabin all the way to the Lights module on the front right side of the car.


To connect all the wires to the Auto-Levelling module, I had the help of an electrician and everything was done back to OEM spec.


The coding itself was very easy. I used BMW ISTA-P which has a retrofit option already in place. After it's done, the ECU lists the Xenon headlights as an option fitted in the car. The coding also disables the manual adjustment of the headlights via the switch next to the steering wheel. The switch can be removed and replaced by a black plastic cover for the final touch.

I can't attach the file here so I'm sharing the link to the BMW guide I've followed:
https://mega.nz/file/SWxjRa5J#EBUo5C..._Dz5czA0wqWYuU

[Bmwe39528i1998]

That's awesome, thanks for sharing!
I'll be tackling this retrofit this winter.

[ferreirafil]

There's also a specific guide for the E39. I'll share the link as well.
https://mega.nz/file/HaI1xIrK#FXiFIA...ZTeixHXBPqT7Y8