Alternative to an LCI headlights retrofit found on AliExpress... Thoughts?

[red_35is]

Found these and thought this could be me:



Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/400...earchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

Video: (Go 40 seconds in)

[youtube]r6waMjwBGsM[/youtube]

A better look:

 

[Silverstar]

I mentioned these before on another thread but being sold on some European website, still just the same product from China, I would worry about the fitment and durability especially considering what they will cost to import.

 

[red_35is]

I mentioned these before on another thread but being sold on some European website, still just the same product from China, I would worry about the fitment and durability especially considering what they will cost to import.

Just found the topic you have mentioned:
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1736658

I think these may be OEM headlight housing which have been modified so fitment should be ok? As for the lights being reliable; that's another matter all together. I buying from the EU store should waiver any customs charges. Still as mentioned in the other post, is is still a lot of money for unknown quality.

 

[Silverstar]

Yes that is the thread. There is nothing in the ad to say they are using genuine housing but modified. Seems to me to be a total replacement aftermarket part. So my doubts would be three fold, fitment, how well the xenon beam for low and high beam would work and finally the durability. Probably they will give you a 1 or 2 year warranty but from my experience these types of products from China you are lucky if they last past 3 to 5 years. It's an awful lot of money to risk on those 3 points. They do look good though!

 

[mcbutler]

Most of the parts on our Zeds are from China anyway, if you want these go ahead and buy them. If you buy them from the european dealer pay with PayPal if you are worried.
If they are good maybe we could organise a bulk purchase in the future..

 

[red_35is]

Most of the parts on our Zeds are from China anyway, if you want these go ahead and buy them. If you buy them from the european dealer pay with PayPal if you are worried.
If they are good maybe we could organise a bulk purchase in the future..

I contacted the EU seller and asked for a discount as there are no reviews, I said in return I will happily confirm fitment and quality. Maybe even make a YouTube vid? Still no harm in trying right? :scratchhead:

 

[enuff_zed]

Most of the parts on our Zeds are from China anyway, if you want these go ahead and buy them. If you buy them from the european dealer pay with PayPal if you are worried.
If they are good maybe we could organise a bulk purchase in the future..

I contacted the EU seller and asked for a discount as there are no reviews, I said in return I will happily confirm fitment and quality. Maybe even make a YouTube vid? Still no harm in trying right? :scratchhead:

If the seller could see the potential interest just on this forum, it would be worth their while entertaining you as a loss leader.
If they say nothing then I'd suspect they know they wouldn't stand up to expert scrutiny.
Good luck.

 

[Silverstar]

If the seller could see the potential interest just on this forum, it would be worth their while entertaining you as a loss leader.
If they say nothing then I'd suspect they know they wouldn't stand up to expert scrutiny.
Good luck.

With many years experience dealing with Chinese suppliers I very much doubt they will agree to that even if they do and let's say they sell it at cost my guess is that it will still cost you around 300 to 400 GBP taking into account shipping and import duties taxes etc. That is still a large amount to be risking on an unknown product.

 

[red_35is]

With many years experience dealing with Chinese suppliers I very much doubt they will agree to that even if they do and let's say they sell it at cost my guess is that it will still cost you around 300 to 400 GBP taking into account shipping and import duties taxes etc. That is still a large amount to be risking on an unknown product.

The EU ones are based in NL, and UK is still part of EU. Shipping is 20 Euro's (up to 30kg)

I would likely put them on credit card, if they are faulty or just poorly made, and don't want to entertain a return, I should be protected via my bank.

Someone will need to try them sooner or later... and it should be easy to swap back if needed.

 

[Zed Baron]

They do look cool 8)

 

[Silverstar]

With many years experience dealing with Chinese suppliers I very much doubt they will agree to that even if they do and let's say they sell it at cost my guess is that it will still cost you around 300 to 400 GBP taking into account shipping and import duties taxes etc. That is still a large amount to be risking on an unknown product.

The EU ones are based in NL, and UK is still part of EU. Shipping is 20 Euro's (up to 30kg)

I would likely put them on credit card, if they are faulty or just poorly made, and don't want to entertain a return, I should be protected via my bank.

Someone will need to try them sooner or later... and it should be easy to swap back if needed.

Yes I suppose if you buy from the supplier in NL but what happens if they go faulty after 3 years or so? Your credit card or bank I don't think will guarantee that.

 

[red_35is]

Yes I suppose if you buy from the supplier in NL but what happens if they go faulty after 3 years or so? Your credit card or bank I don't think will guarantee that.

Exactly why I would need to keep the originals, if they fail outside the 2 year warranty, I can just swap them back out.
Of course I will be out of pocket but that is the risk, and all depends if I can get any sort of discount.
An expensive risk... but on the other hand they could stay working fine throughout.

 

[red_35is]

Got a response:

We can supply the headlights, but they are now in production.
We don't have a leadtime at the moment.
But we can't give you discount on the headlight.
Also its only fitt car with LHD.


Well... that's the end of that, discount or not, they are designed for LHD only, I assume this has something to do with the direction of the beam? I might be talking rubbish though.

 

[ClumUK]

That's a shame about the LHD, they look great!

 

[Silverstar]

I assume this has something to do with the direction of the beam?

Yes this is probably correct, even though the headlights on our Zeds have a flat beam pattern they still deflect slightly to the left or right and there is a lever inside to adjust this. Probably these aftermarket ones are built with the beam deflection to the right.

In the US there are companies that will mod your own headlights, I have not seen anyone in Europe do that.

 

[red_35is]

Had another look on Google, there are companies out there that can customise E89 headlights.

In the US its OSS Designs. In the UK its NEM (never enough mods).

I'll just leave these photos here...

 

[Silverstar]

OSS Designs

Those look fantastic but $2000 just for the build? at least they give you 2 years warranty, looking at the NEM site they are cheaper and can customise to just the components you want but the warranty is just 30 days! doesn't indicate much confidence in their products.

 

[Marcoose]

Reviving this topic. These companies in America that paint the stock headlamp unit. I cannot find them. Does anybody have a name or link ? Thanks.

 

[Johnbmwz4]

Those headlights look fantastic. Shame they can’t do anything with the rear lights for the E89.

 

[Marcoose]

I’ve emailed OSS. They’re in North Carolina, on the other side of the country. They offer different ‘programmes’. I just want the unit painted black to match the car. It’d be nice to find a local shop. But then, it was cheaper to post the steering wheel to Devon and pay U.K. labour, than working with a shop in Silicon Valley. Let’s see what they say.