HID XENON Conversion Kits

rjm8282

Member
Hi all,

I have read lots of forum discussions on Xenon lights. My question is, can I just buy a HID conversion kit, like the one below

http://www.bmtown.com/Z4.htm
 
Yes you can, I just have in mine and the beam pattern is fine. You dont need to spend that much though, I bought this Kit and it is a very good quality kit( ive had a few kits with previous cars). Ive always used these kits and never been stopped and never failed an MOT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220342503498&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
 
g14ash said:
Yes you can, I just have in mine and the beam pattern is fine. You dont need to spend that much though, I bought this Kit and it is a very good quality kit( ive had a few kits with previous cars). Ive always used these kits and never been stopped and never failed an MOT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220342503498&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

You got a picture of your car with the lights on?
 
Thanks G14ash,

It will be good to see what yours look like? I had an E46 Coupe before this and I swapped the headlights for some DEPO xenon and angel eyes and they were great! How did you get to your headlights? Did you go under the wheel arch and strip the plastic panels??
 
I've looked at these in the past but always dismissed them as I wasn't sure of the quality. Although I've got +80% Philips bulbs in my Z4 and have adjusted the beam height, I still think about doing one of these conversions. I'd probably go for the 4300k kit though for a whiter light - I just don't like the blue "ricer" look too much!

Can anyone tell me what's involved with fitting them? Cutting wires? Modifying anything?

I'd not want to go ahead and fit them, then not like them but be stuck with them.

Cheers
Ally
 
they are amazingly brighter, When I first bought mine I thought maybe i should have bought the 4300k instead of the 6000k I bought. But as they have worn in the seem to have got less "blue" and actually look quite good (but this might all be in my head). I may buy some 4300k Bulbs on their own to see what they are like.

There is no cutting of wires at all. You do however have to cut a hole in the removable access cover at the rear of the unit to fit the grommet into that feeds the wires from the bulb to the ballast. I made the mistake of cutting the hole slightly too big on one side and as a result it didnt create a seal and a bit of moisture got into the light. It only took 20mins to get rid of with a hairdryer but was still a pain, I went and bought a new access cover from BMW for £8 and did it properly and with the new rubber seal its been fine. I also bought two genuine bmw bulb clips to use as the ones you get with any set are never perfect, these were £1 each.

I actually bought two spare covers aswell incase i ever do put back to standard if I sell.
 
g14ash, thanks. Unfortunately only 400miles away from you, give you a fiver and a mars bar for your efforts if you stil want to help me though :lol:

A mate fitted a kit to his Clio R27 so I'll bug him if it looks complex, but I doubt it's beyond me (well, perhaps not...). Very very tempted given the price. I've seen his in the flesh but not sure what bulb colour he had and he's not answering his emails! I'll probably go 4300k, prefer white.
 
Hey G14ash,

How do you fancy a trip to Reading? Lol! Do you have those pics? I use to have 8000k on mine, a really blue colour, although I found the higher k you go the less distance the light covers. Probably do 6000k this time.
 
Hi,

This kit is cheaper, what do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-E46-E60-X5-Z4-ORIGINAL-HID-CONVERSION-KIT-H7-XENON_W0QQitemZ250478044255QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item3a51a7a45f&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_3141wt_941

Thanks,
 
I fitted some aftermarket xenons to my E39 523i.

I got them off eBay from China..!! I took a bit of a gamble and it paid off just fine. Installation was simple, plug and play, job done in under an hour including be being fussy about the ballast mounting place. They've been on there around a year now with no problems.

The seller on ebay was omg_so_cool_car. Very cheesy and naff, but faultless service. Here's a link: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/omg_so_cool_car/m.html?_dmd=1&_in_kw=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

I'm not connected in any way, I was just happy to save a fair few bob. :)
 
Think if I go for them I'll stick to HIDs Direct - they've got a good reputation on other forums too (from what I've seen). At £65 or so I'm sorely tempted by a set of the 4300k's.
 
You tempted too?!

I always thought of them as well chavvy, but I've since seen my mate's (Alan on CS) conversion on his Clio R27 and - although they're blue - they're very nice. He had 6000k though I believe.
 
a11y said:
You tempted too?!

I always thought of them as well chavvy, but I've since seen my mate's (Alan on CS) conversion on his Clio R27 and - although they're blue - they're very nice. He had 6000k though I believe.

I know Alan!

Everyone loves abit of the Alan! I am tempted. However, I don't want it looking PISH!

PM me your MSN buddy.

Si
 
You'll have problems finding somewhere to mount the ballasts. I did this back in the day during 2004 with some Hella ballasts and Ultinon 6k bulbs.

Further, the halogen lens is not desinged to throw out xenon light so be prepared to glare oncoming traffic! Nothing pisses me off more than some twit with an aftermarket HID kit in reflector (non-projector lens) headlight housings (I.E. old E46 prefacelift)- very dangerous at night and in the rain. In the Z4 it may not be so bad due to the projector style lens, that said there will still be dangerous glare that is thrown out as the lens cannot handle the xenon light being emitted properly.

IMO, if you intend to do this retrofit- atleast get the xenon projector lens as well but even then you wont have bi-xenons as with OEM.
 
DannyBoy said:
You'll have problems finding somewhere to mount the ballasts. I did this back in the day during 2004 with some Hella ballasts and Ultinon 6k bulbs.

Further, the halogen lens is not desinged to throw out xenon light so be prepared to glare oncoming traffic! Nothing pisses me off more than some twit with an aftermarket HID kit in reflector (non-projector lens) headlight housings (I.E. old E46 prefacelift)- very dangerous at night and in the rain. In the Z4 it may not be so bad due to the projector style lens, that said there will still be dangerous glare that is thrown out as the lens cannot handle the xenon light being emitted properly.

IMO, if you intend to do this retrofit- atleast get the xenon projector lens as well but even then you wont have bi-xenons as with OEM.

DannyBoy - you raise some good points.
I think the halogen lens and the xenon lens are actually identical. I know as I have several on the bench. Where it all goes wrong is that the housing on the back is different, so the depth of the bulb relative to the reflector is all wrong when you just substitute a xenon, so on kits so does not create a good beam pattern.

Spot on re the Bixenon as the Z4 actually uses a shutter that raises and lowers to cut off part of the beam, so you're not getting Bi, rather just simple low beam.
Ballast could be mounted under the unit as that's where OEM is fitted and you cn get the carrier cage as a spare part.

For sure as a cheap fix, not legal for many reasons, but often overlooked by MOT's they are OK.
 
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