Change Halogen to Xenon

C

cj10jeeper

Lifer
 Lichfield, England
OK - perhaps you think I should be answering not asking this one given all the mods I've done on headlamps but I need to check something for a project I'm helping someone with.

If upgrading a prefacelift model from halogen to xenon headlights does anything other than the headlight unit need changing? Sure the UK law really specifies headlamp washer units and autolevelling, but in terms of getting them working.

The connectors are for sure the same, but does the light switch unit have to be changed or heaven forbid LCM programming?
I know from my X5 they were a direct slot in replacement, but Z4 specific confirmation would be helpful
 
I know that a forum member has done this one before (Starscream ?). What I remember from it is that you have to make sure you get the 2005 headlight unit and not a facelift one as that was resulting in the lights flashing on and off. If you don't mind the orange indicators, you can obviously get the older units as well.
 
pvr said:
I know that a forum member has done this one before (Starscream ?). What I remember from it is that you have to make sure you get the 2005 headlight unit and not a facelift one as that was resulting in the lights flashing on and off. If you don't mind the orange indicators, you can obviously get the older units as well.
Click to expand...

OK - that's cool then as we will be using pre facelift Xenons. Of course on my project I already had xenons so missed this 'step' out
Thaks
 
Quoting GP20 here:
>>
I retrofitted OEM xenon's on my '04 3.0 and it was not worth the effort and money. If I were to do it again I would've Just gotten some xenon-looking bulbs and call it a day.

These are the parts you will need if you still want to retrofit OEM xenon's:

- headlights
- wirings
- levelling sensors
- new headlight module
- dealer programming

>>

Thread here:
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2067&p=30450&hilit=xenon+upgrade#p30450
 
I don't know if that was a post-facelift set of lights causing the problems though, so read with caution.
 
pvr said:
I know that a forum member has done this one before (Starscream ?). What I remember from it is that you have to make sure you get the 2005 headlight unit and not a facelift one as that was resulting in the lights flashing on and off. If you don't mind the orange indicators, you can obviously get the older units as well.
Click to expand...
Yup

and I wouldn't do it again, Too much work and a total PITA,

Soooooo glad my M came with them stock :thumbsup:
 
Starscream - was that because you had facelift lights or would the same issue exist if you picked up a set of older headlights?
 
pvr said:
Starscream - was that because you had facelift lights or would the same issue exist if you picked up a set of older headlights?
Click to expand...

That was to be my question of Starscream.

I can understand the issues for the facelift as the internals are wired differently. For instance the inner main beam is actually a 'dead' unit with just a backlit AE ring, while on pre facelift is a working halogen bulb. On the prefacelift the internal wirings are pretty much identical aside the Xenon connecting differently than a halogen
 
Yeah I used the face lift lights,

I would assume with the correct LCM for Xenons it "might" be plug and play for pre face life lights
 
Starscream said:
Yeah I used the face lift lights,

I would assume with the correct LCM for Xenons it "might" be plug and play for pre face life lights
Click to expand...

OK - that reassures me somewhat.
 
Do we have a BMW xenon retrofit manual floating around in our collective pool of knowledge?

I have one for the X5 and while it's full of things that are not really required it gives some good insights, wiring diagrams, etc.
 
BlackSapphireZ said:
aftermarket HID @ $150(last year) and working fine. looks good too :)
Click to expand...

Guys this has nothing to do with aftermarket lights and I agree if all that was required was Xenon thensuch solutions are way the best route in price and simplicity.

As part of assisting someone else to fit AE and clear indicators the lights will be converted to Xenon as that's what the donor lights are, so it's a case of making them work not aftermarket.
 
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