Has anyone upgrade E85 halogens to LED?

[dwoodford1987]

So my other car that I use daily has full LED lights.

Quite simply they are awesome....

This however gives a slight issue when getting into the Z4 as it’s like walking down the street with a candle.

So firstly has anyone fitted LED bulbs.

And secondly are both dipped and full beam bulbs H7

Worst case it may be a Xenon upgrade but the legalities of this make me think otherwise.

Thanks

 

[Scooba_Steve]

LEDs are no more legal!

 

[chrisgreen]

Just raise the headlight level - its far too low as standard on the z4, makes a big difference and still passes MOT as long as you dont raise it too high

Aftermarket bulbs/ conversions just look a bit halfords.

 

[road warrior]

I have hid's on dip on mine , and sailed through my recent mot but i am looking at leds for main beam based on my mot man saying there are no hard fast rules on main beam. but if i do get round to it i will take some pics.
if the led can conform to the dip beam pattern there is no problem, but my research has led me to believe the cheap ones out there are rubbish - tests by people show that the only ones capable of a proper controlled beam are the type that have 2 or more led lights in a row. philips make good ones.

cheap like this for instance - one led
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nighteye-72W-9000LM-H7-LED-Canbus-error-free-Car-Headlight-KIT-6500K-Bulbs-White/153264455168?epid=28030580218&hash=item23af45fe00:g:L6IAAOSwyohbe5Ml

but these, latest gen2 with a price drop...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Philips-X-tremeUltinon-gen2-LED-H7-Car-Headlight-Bulbs-Twin-11972XUWX2/254034546194?epid=22027296975&hash=item3b25a38e12:g:0WUAAOSwuZVcHLZH&frcectupt=true

but, i have no idea what will happen in a reflector headlight.

 

[MrPT]

...my research has led me to believe...

NICE.

 

[road warrior]

...my research has led me to believe...

NICE.

the defence rests your honour..

 

[tomrdy]

I have LED H7 bulbs in my halo housing + projector lens. Works really good except MAKE SURE you get the 2 sides flat ones that only have opposing side of LEDs. Running these at the moment and so far can recommend (not for longeveity though as I have only used them for maybe a few weeks and can't vouch): https://www.aliexpress.com/item/HLXG-H7-Led-H4-With-Lumileds-Luxeon-ZES-Chips-Car-Headlight-Bulbs-H1-LED-H11-H8/32963507105.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.5ed54c4dPETb50

DO NOT under any circumstance get the 4 sided LED's. These do not work correctly as the unit itself is way too fat and creates a deadspot right where it should be the brightest.

I changed over to a set of 2 sides ones (thinner the better) and they have been fantastic both day and night. I previously ran Osram Nightbreaker Lasers and I feel that these new LEDs i got out perform them in distance and intensity as dipped beams.

 

[jamie_z4]

guys running LEDs how do you get on with the little metal tab which holds the standard halogen bulb in the dipped beam ? does it work on the LED one too?

 

[tomrdy]

guys running LEDs how do you get on with the little metal tab which holds the standard halogen bulb in the dipped beam ? does it work on the LED one too?

You'll need to order an adaptor clip. I just grabbed one off Ebay for a few bucks - though I needed to bend and twist it to get it to fit properly.

Somethign like this

 

[dwoodford1987]

LEDs are no more legal!

You don’t need washer jets for LED’s

 

[road warrior]

LEDs are no more legal!

You don’t need washer jets for LED’s

LEDs are no more legal!

You don’t need washer jets for LED’s

washer jets have always been a very stupid idea, literally a waste of water and now that they found their way into the statuary laws it's even worse.

 

[road warrior]

LEDs are no more legal!

sadly very true and bone of contention for us all. Whilst you might get it past an mot, a bored copper will have a field day

 

[Trav]

Some vehicles may be fitted with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps. It is not permitted to
convert existing halogen headlamp units for use with HID bulbs. If it is clear that such a conversion has
been carried out, rather than replacing the entire unit with one designed and approved for use with HID
bulbs, the headlamp should be rejected.

This is in the draft 2018 MOT from last May. I am not sure if it has been implemented yet.

 

[ben g]

Just raise the headlight level - its far too low as standard on the z4, makes a big difference and still passes MOT as long as you dont raise it too high

Aftermarket bulbs/ conversions just look a bit halfords.

Do what this guy says before anything else. It's completely free and will make a massive difference

I've had loads of different bulbs fitted in mine over the years. In the end, I stuck with some upgraded halogen bulbs (GE sport light ultra h7) and raised the headlamp beam level about the height of a brick (I used the front of my house as a guide) :lol:

I can see plenty now. OK it'll never be as good as xenons/led's, but it's much better than it was as standard.

At MOT time, I simply bring the level back down to 'standard' height. It takes about 30 seconds.