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Angel Eyes Color - Pre LCI with LED bulbs

Specific discussion about the E89 2009 Z4 (sDrive35is, sDrive35i, sDrive30i, sDrive23i)
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Christopher72
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Angel Eyes Color - Pre LCI with LED bulbs

Post by Christopher72 » Thu Sep 07, 2023 3:29 am

In an attempt to bring lights to a bright LED instead of the aged filament bulbs, I installed no-name Amazon 6500k lights. DS1 and H11, if I remember correctly... and replaced the indicator lamp with an LED as well.

Taking color accurate pictures of headlight appears to be a talent that I haven't mastered. My question is, in the picture the left ring is definitely a different color white, yet both bulbs are rated 6500k. Would there be that much variance, or do I have another issue like discoloration/aging of the ring? Which of the bulbs is responsible for the angel eye rings... and why would they result in diff colors?

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2011 E89 Sdrive35i - Deep Sea Blue, Beige Kansas Leather
'fits in progress - PDC, Cameras, Comfort Access, Respray/Correction - all queued for poor weather.
(9) E46 convertibles; (1) E39 540i; (2) E36 Z3 roadsters; (1) Pre-prod E36 Z3- all gone

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Angel Eyes Color - Pre LCI with LED bulbs

Post by flybobbie » Thu Sep 07, 2023 7:39 am

I think 6500 k is looking direct at bulbs.
The halo rings rely on reflecting light into a light guide, pretty rubbish set up.
Need a bulb that also has a few leds on the end.
20211027_225628.jpg
20211027_225628.jpg (185.55 KiB) Viewed 748 times
On the left is the internal reflector, it has a angled mirror to reflect light from the concave reflector into the light guide.
The light is not even once it enters the guide.
Never get even light output in the guide so will see all sorts of odd colours.

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Angel Eyes Color - Pre LCI with LED bulbs

Post by B21 » Thu Sep 07, 2023 10:12 am

I went with Osram Night Breakers for the DS1 bulb ..yiu must avoid most LED alternatives as they don’t have a point source light at the correct location causing massive glare to oncoming drivers.

For the DRLs I fitted the brightest LED H8 that currently exists that fits in the unit..you can use these LEDs for this as the light is diffused around the light transmission structure anyway..
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We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…
A very modified Atacama Yellow 35is :thumbsup: Previously a slightly less modified Atacama Yellow 20i MSport :thumbsup:

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Angel Eyes Color - Pre LCI with LED bulbs

Post by Christopher72 » Thu Sep 07, 2023 11:51 am

flybobbie wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 7:39 am I fitted the brightest LED H8 that currently exists
Do you know what these may be in brand? And what's the functional diff between h8 and h11? I think both fit the fixture.

What a pain to replace the indicator lights though. Getting to the screws that secure the headlight housing was only after a litany of curses.
Christopher
2011 E89 Sdrive35i - Deep Sea Blue, Beige Kansas Leather
'fits in progress - PDC, Cameras, Comfort Access, Respray/Correction - all queued for poor weather.
(9) E46 convertibles; (1) E39 540i; (2) E36 Z3 roadsters; (1) Pre-prod E36 Z3- all gone

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Angel Eyes Color - Pre LCI with LED bulbs

Post by B21 » Thu Sep 07, 2023 12:05 pm

Christopher72 wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 11:51 am
flybobbie wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 7:39 am I fitted the brightest LED H8 that currently exists
Do you know what these may be in brand? And what's the functional diff between h8 and h11? I think both fit the fixture.

What a pain to replace the indicator lights though. Getting to the screws that secure the headlight housing was only after a litany of curses.
H11 bulb can fit a H8 socket with twiddling..not the other way around

https://lightninglab.org/blog/h8-vs-h11 ... ange-them/

I’d look on Amazon locally for some..I’ve used two with success can’t recall their names..
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…
A very modified Atacama Yellow 35is :thumbsup: Previously a slightly less modified Atacama Yellow 20i MSport :thumbsup:

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Angel Eyes Color - Pre LCI with LED bulbs

Post by BeardyJon » Thu Sep 07, 2023 12:50 pm

Christopher72 wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 11:51 am
flybobbie wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 7:39 am I fitted the brightest LED H8 that currently exists
Do you know what these may be in brand? And what's the functional diff between h8 and h11? I think both fit the fixture.

What a pain to replace the indicator lights though. Getting to the screws that secure the headlight housing was only after a litany of curses.
I went with these ones and they do a good job. Bright, white, non-flickering. https://www.novsights.com/products/h11- ... ight-bulbs
2012 E89 sDrive20i M Sport Celtic Tuning Stage 3 Remap
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Angel Eyes Color - Pre LCI with LED bulbs

Post by Silverstar » Thu Sep 07, 2023 11:19 pm

For the DRLs Novsight on Amazon are the ones I used too although I am pretty sure the car comes with H8 bulbs as standard not H11? And yes the inner and outer rings are slightly different in colour tone but this due to the design of the DRL light tube and nothing to do with the bulbs so no way to rectify it.
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Angel Eyes Color - Pre LCI with LED bulbs

Post by SwissTone » Fri Sep 08, 2023 3:54 pm

flybobbie wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 7:39 am I think 6500 k is looking direct at bulbs.
The halo rings rely on reflecting light into a light guide, pretty rubbish set up.
Need a bulb that also has a few leds on the end.
20211027_225628.jpg
On the left is the internal reflector, it has a angled mirror to reflect light from the concave reflector into the light guide.
The light is not even once it enters the guide.
Never get even light output in the guide so will see all sorts of odd colours.
Hi Flybobbie, I see you've been at your lens in this photo. How "easy" was the removal, I get the cutting bit but the bonding they use looks like a b*tch to remove.
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Angel Eyes Color - Pre LCI with LED bulbs

Post by flybobbie » Fri Sep 08, 2023 5:56 pm

SwissTone wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 3:54 pm
flybobbie wrote: Thu Sep 07, 2023 7:39 am I think 6500 k is looking direct at bulbs.
The halo rings rely on reflecting light into a light guide, pretty rubbish set up.
Need a bulb that also has a few leds on the end.
20211027_225628.jpg
On the left is the internal reflector, it has a angled mirror to reflect light from the concave reflector into the light guide.
The light is not even once it enters the guide.
Never get even light output in the guide so will see all sorts of odd colours.
Hi Flybobbie, I see you've been at your lens in this photo. How "easy" was the removal, I get the cutting bit but the bonding they use looks like a b*tch to remove.
Yes real pain and hard to get resealed.
I took apart to replace front lens, but then fitted some led halos scrapping the old light guides and bulbs.

Those Novasights interesting, i bought some for my Berlingo main headlights, they never worked right.
Would get stuck on main beams, yet fitted to motorbike worked fine.

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Angel Eyes Color - Pre LCI with LED bulbs

Post by Christopher72 » Fri Sep 08, 2023 6:10 pm

flybobbie wrote: Fri Sep 08, 2023 5:56 pm I took apart to replace front lens, but then fitted some led halos scrapping the old light guides and bulbs.
Are you happy with the result (Would you do it again?). Significant enough difference in the LED rings?

My lenses (and windshield) are pitted from their former life on the California and South Carolina coasts. Its visible in the picture at the beginning of this thread. I was thinking it may be worth trying to sand the headlight lenses past the pits, repolishing and resealing the plastic with a clear coat instead of replacing it. Would like your thoughts on the joy associated with your path.
Christopher
2011 E89 Sdrive35i - Deep Sea Blue, Beige Kansas Leather
'fits in progress - PDC, Cameras, Comfort Access, Respray/Correction - all queued for poor weather.
(9) E46 convertibles; (1) E39 540i; (2) E36 Z3 roadsters; (1) Pre-prod E36 Z3- all gone

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Angel Eyes Color - Pre LCI with LED bulbs

Post by simnew » Sun Sep 10, 2023 10:56 pm

Make sure you check the reflector of the projector unit itself. Mine were misty and looked like someone with cataracts.
Given you have the unit apart I would consider re polishing this. I replaced both headlights at considerable cost with OEM versions from Hella.

Much better light but £1100 poorer. X

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