03-08 BMW Z4 HALO PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS FOR HID BLACK 04

Hi folks, have a bunch of questions about these lights. I do much prefer the look of the OEM white Z4 headlights. But unfortunately my bank account likes these lights better.

Now on to the questions. These are for the Xenon/HID version of the headlamps:

1 - I understand the top 'eyebrow' light is just a regular bulb with a diffuser strip. Is this bulb orange and can be changed to 'white' or a 'LED white'? Since it's a parking light / not a turn signal, my local law would allow this to be white instead of orange. (the turn signals would have to be orange though)

2 - how many bulbs are used for the turn signals? It looks like there are 3 'sections' to the headlamps. Are there 3 bulbs in there, or just one? Is there orange reflectors in the turn signals, or is just the orange bulb refracting in the photos making it look like there are orange turn reflectors?

3 - Where is the 'LED' dot light on the headlamp? I can't see it in the photos. Is it like a candlelight on other BMW's and Jaguars?

4 - I believe I read that these have auto levelling motors. Has this been confirmed?

5 - Is the layout the same as on OEM bi-xenons? (inner light is flash-to-pass + daytime running light, outer lights are both low beam & a motor to change the light pattern to a high beam) Or do these lights use one light for low beam, and the second bulb turns on for the high beam?

The chrome version looks 'too chrome' I think. The OEM headlamps on the 3.0i models is more of a matte-silver look.
 
I'll go out on a limb here and say they look horrible.

The hockey stick indicator part apes the same shape on the side of the car running up from the door onto the rear wheel arch, and the side sill shape as it curves up to meet the rear wing.

In isolation they look 'flash', but as a cohesive design feature they just look out of place and wrong.

The only nice modded lights I've seen are the halo's on facelift lights.

At times I consider the orange on my old lights looks a bit dated, but then at the same time they are a splash of colour to emphasise the curvy design elements that are repeated around the car.


Tinker at your own risk. For every person that likes them, another won't... so just keep the old ones for resale time imo :D

Dave
 
a11y said:
Not that this comment helps, but do these lights not connect to the height adjustment switch? i.e. the manual height adjustment dial inside the car will no longer be functional? Just trying to understand these lights better.
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I didn't know Z4's had a manual height adjustment switch? Where is it? Or perhaps it was an option not available in all markets? I had a height adjustment switch on my e36... but thought the Z4 was 'auto levelling'?
 
If you have xenons it is auto, but halogen in the uk at least, are manual.

The adjuster dial is a neighbouring copy of the interior lighting brightness thumb wheel on the light control module.

Dave
 
Thanks Dave.

You know I just realized now that these aftermarket lights are supposed to look like the e90/e92 facelifted headlights?

2010 328i headlight:
4-door-sports-wagon-328i-rwd-headlight_100254618_l.jpg

Aftermarket Z4 headlights:
460x460_PRO-YD-BMWZ403-HL-BK.jpg
 
Actually, now I see them compared to the 2010 3 series lamps, these aftermarket units look better and make more sense than when seen in isolation.
 
Actually, you know what IMP? Now that I search online, this seems to be BMW's current design language. A better comparison would be the e89 (2010+ Z4) headlights.

6733_st0640_043.jpg
 
The thing is, the E85 is almost a decade old design language. Mixing styles is, in my view, as bad as the "Lexus lights" fad... we are now seeing Audi's LED strips being bastardised and misused elsewhere.

I really like things like what CJ did on his car, facelift clear indicators and then CFL halo's, as they came in around 2001 on the facelift E39, so they don't look out of place on an 03 design E85...

OK, beauty and taste are in the eye of the beholder, but there is a reason why designers exist, because they do a good job of aesthetics and cohesive solid branding and imagery... in my view, you should work with the existing design language, not just pick a more modern one of the shelf.
Whoever designed those lamp units could have worked WITH the existing E85 light design, but instead they just copied the latest BMW design... ignoring the fact the latest BMW's look totally different to the genesis of the BMW Bangle flame look, and specifically the very cohesive E85 design language with repeated curves and lines from small to large scales across the car.

I'm oot :D

Dave
 
well, i just bought a pair on ebay, buy it now for 85 quid, one brand new, one used- sold as a pair by ebay shop rather than individual - gotta be worth a punt at this price :)
 
imp75 said:
well, i just bought a pair on ebay, buy it now for 85 quid, one brand new, one used- sold as a pair by ebay shop rather than individual - gotta be worth a punt at this price :)
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Lucky bugger! I've called off my search for headlights and even stopped my ebay search notifications. Oh well!
 
From a rainy day meet earlier this year in Toronto.
Someone had the chrome headlights on their imola red. Better than expected on his car at least..

DSC00437.jpg


5.jpg


And this doesn't relate to the thread... but I just like the M Coupe Pic.

DSC00422.jpg
 
i got black ones but, agree that the silver inner looks better than expected on photo above :)
 
You can fit them to a car that has OEM Xenons as far as I know, but the problem lies in that these lights are not Xenon, and you loose the automatic positioning for them...so some people don't like that....
 
I fitted these today, photos etc tomorrow. It's wine time for now.

Only couple things to note; the bulb checker light is now on on dashboard,and when I put main lights on, they don't work! I'm hoping I just damaged my old bulbs. I have new osram night breaker on order so will check when they turn up in a day it two.


Anyone who fitted these before can you confirm you just put bulbs into main lamp and secured with the wire clip/fasteners or am I missing something obvious?

When I took the oem headlights off there where two connection plugs to the headlights, a big one that connects to new lamp and a small 4 pin (female) that I just had to tape up as had nothing to connect it to. What was the small plug for?

On the whole they look far better than the tango lamps! Just gotta figure out the main beam :(
 
As I mentioned above your post, the small 4 pin wire is for the automatic positioning, so no, you will not have anything to hook it up to.
 
Just ordered the black ones for my e85... Im hoping it'll be a simple old ones out, new ones in job but from reading this topic a little it doesnt seem the case?? didnt have this issue with my rear lights :)
 
I think these are the type that I had fitted by M Style last year in my zed.

I went for the chrome ones.
IMG_4034v1_zps2d184926.jpg

So, verdict is that the Angel Eyes are pants. Nothing like bright enough. I haven't tried to get inside the housing to see if they can be upgraded yet, but am mighty tempted to......the light reflects off the chrome a lot too, but I can live with that.

Cheers.
 
As some may remember, I was able to get a brand new set for only $75. They also have the chrome housing, but with lightly smoked lens, the better combination offered in these headlights IMO.

Since the car is still in winter storage, I'll get some daylight pics to share in early April.
 
powerontap said:
As some may remember, I was able to get a brand new set for only $75. They also have the chrome housing, but with lightly smoked lens, the better combination offered in these headlights IMO.

Since the car is still in winter storage, I'll get some daylight pics to share in early April.
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can you get pics yet interested to see what smoked looks like. also wondered if they are legal in the UK
 
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