Improved Lighting / Brighter lights
- Thread starter PeteCowell
- Start date
I had a quick go a couple of nights ago at swapping the bulbs out. I must admit, it seems more difficult than I thought it would be. Do I replace the LH bulb for the LHS of the car and the RH bulb for the RHS of the car? Is there any danger of electrocution if I do this with the key out of the ignition? It all felt a bit cramped and awkward, and I chickened out after I had removed the headlamp cover.
I freely admit that I am a total novice at anything car related.....
I freely admit that I am a total novice at anything car related.....
If you got the rear covers off you did 99% of the job...
It's the outer bulb of each unit for the dipped.
Only danger is on Xenon (which of course you don't have if yuo're replacing bulbs with halogens) and if on it could be very dangerous and you should never work on them switched on. Normal halogens are safe but you shoudl not touch the bulb glass as fingerprints damage the glass.
It's the outer bulb of each unit for the dipped.
Only danger is on Xenon (which of course you don't have if yuo're replacing bulbs with halogens) and if on it could be very dangerous and you should never work on them switched on. Normal halogens are safe but you shoudl not touch the bulb glass as fingerprints damage the glass.
Do I screw it clockwise or anti clockwise to raise the beam. I have been following this thread and have bought the Phillips bulbs which I'll fit tomorrow while the wheels are off to change the discs. I just cant work out which direction the screw needs to be turned to raise the beama11y said:
RustyZ4 said:If you turn it and the beam goes down, its the wrong way
Genius
just my honest opinion in lighting systems in our cars
Xenons over halogen all the time. If you try Xenons you will never want to get halogens again. Its really that much better.
The easiest and cheapest way to improve your lighting is to replace your stock halogen bulbs with a higher output halogen bulb. Down side is you have to trade off longevity of the bulb with these high output bulbs. I have tried these high output bulbs and they do not last more than 2 years (any brand, philips, piaa, even generic china made ones)
For Xenon upgrades you can do the following:
1. retrofit the OEM BMW Xenon HL (costly)
2. retrofit any OEM HL from other vehicles and modify it in the Z4 HL housing (costs half the price but you need a tested installer)
In the Philippines, a lot of people try to do option #2 to their old non BMW cars. An example would be the link:
http://s3.zetaboards.com/HCP/topic/7112509/1/
Xenons over halogen all the time. If you try Xenons you will never want to get halogens again. Its really that much better.
The easiest and cheapest way to improve your lighting is to replace your stock halogen bulbs with a higher output halogen bulb. Down side is you have to trade off longevity of the bulb with these high output bulbs. I have tried these high output bulbs and they do not last more than 2 years (any brand, philips, piaa, even generic china made ones)
For Xenon upgrades you can do the following:
1. retrofit the OEM BMW Xenon HL (costly)
2. retrofit any OEM HL from other vehicles and modify it in the Z4 HL housing (costs half the price but you need a tested installer)
In the Philippines, a lot of people try to do option #2 to their old non BMW cars. An example would be the link:
http://s3.zetaboards.com/HCP/topic/7112509/1/
Hmmm, these newer 80/90% bulbs are quite recently, but even with old 80W rally ones, or the old 75% Osram Silverstar (or whatever they were), were fine and still are fine, in the 4 years they were in my last car.
2 years seems really low time duration... guess it depends how often you drive with them turned on though
Dave
2 years seems really low time duration... guess it depends how often you drive with them turned on though
Dave
Right, have now changed my bulbs to Philips X-treme power, can anyone advise of me of where the height adjuster is, believe it's in the engine bay and how much I just turn/adjust it ?
Thanks
Thanks
Since nobody's answered this I'll have a go (would be easier with a photo...):PeteCowell said:
there's very small, white plastic screw-like things on either side, just behind the headlamp units under the bonnet. Best thing is to face the car towards a wall or something so you can see the headlights shining on the way, then turn the screw accordingly. I'm sure it's clockwise to raise them but could be wrong! I went up 1.5 turns on mine and seems fine, MOT is next month so guess I'll find out if they're legal height then.
Picking up from a11y of the 2 screws one moves the light left right, the other up down. This adjustment has nothing to do with the reset cycle that the internals of the bam go through on start up.
Just remember exactly where the original position was in case you go wrong.
Best place to adjust is a multi storey car park as they seem to have lots of flat floor and square vertical walls, compared toe the average drive and garage.
Of course the local MOT station can adjust them easily using their beam tester. I know mine failed :thumbsdown:
Just remember exactly where the original position was in case you go wrong.
Best place to adjust is a multi storey car park as they seem to have lots of flat floor and square vertical walls, compared toe the average drive and garage.
Of course the local MOT station can adjust them easily using their beam tester. I know mine failed :thumbsdown:
Thanks for the advice from fellow members, I've changed to Phillips Extreme bulbs, ( have to say it took 10 times longer than anticipated due to not having tiny 360 degree multi jointed appendages on the end of my arms which would work robotically in restricted spaces) but the net result was a good improvement over the standard set up. After much fiddling, I've eventually set the beam height to somewhere between ok under normal conditions and "stuff the oncoming traffic, I need to see where I'm going safely when pressing on a bit" . . . .selfish I know, but so far no panic flashes from oncoming traffic, and of course I can re -adjust on the fly so to speak. I know for certain that when I change the Z next time, for either new or nearly new (yes I think Z4's are brilliant) I'll make sure the car is specced with Xenons! Once again, thanks to a brilliant forum, and the contributions from fellow members.
docttor999
Member
Hi guys,
Just done a search regarding the above and thought I would drag this topic back! Just got my Zed this weekend!
Has anyone used these lights before: http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/H7-Philips-Diamond-Vision-Headlight-Bulbs.html?reviews=all
They are similar to the Phillips H7 but have a more white look which I would prefer to the yellow currently. Do the standard H7 Phillips upgrade improve the colour of the light?
Thanks
Just done a search regarding the above and thought I would drag this topic back! Just got my Zed this weekend!
Has anyone used these lights before: http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/H7-Philips-Diamond-Vision-Headlight-Bulbs.html?reviews=all
They are similar to the Phillips H7 but have a more white look which I would prefer to the yellow currently. Do the standard H7 Phillips upgrade improve the colour of the light?
Thanks
docttor999
Member
Changed the bulbs yesterday and I agree took longer than I thought, getting the back cover on was very fiddly with the metal bar to replace on the back of the headlight unit. I hope the seal is ok. I upgraded to a whiter light, the prob now is the sidelights do not match the new bulbs! Need to do it over again with a change of the whiter sidelights when I get time!
coronacreek
New member
Hey there,
With early dark night apon us again, I have decided to upgrade the crappy standard halogen bulbs in my 2007 Z4 2.0.
I am looking at buying from powerbulbs.com (free sidelights) and just about to order the "Philips X-treme Vision H7" when I saw "Philips Blue Vision Ultra H7 4000K". They are supposed to be very similar to Xenon bulbs. Here's the link,
Philips Blue Vision Ultra H7 4000K.
I was wondering if anyone has tried these. I know it has a blue effect which I don't mind.
Thanks,
Ray.
With early dark night apon us again, I have decided to upgrade the crappy standard halogen bulbs in my 2007 Z4 2.0.
I am looking at buying from powerbulbs.com (free sidelights) and just about to order the "Philips X-treme Vision H7" when I saw "Philips Blue Vision Ultra H7 4000K". They are supposed to be very similar to Xenon bulbs. Here's the link,
Philips Blue Vision Ultra H7 4000K.
I was wondering if anyone has tried these. I know it has a blue effect which I don't mind.
Thanks,
Ray.
incassable
Member
Hi Guys,
Just played around with my headlights because I don't see anything with it compared to my A3.
The A3 headlights cast a wide white beam while the Z4s cast a narrow rainbow colored beam !
I raised it a bit but it will obviously be still far from my A3 lights.
I've heard many bad things about the phillips bulbs (lifetime) so I just found these:
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B003479F6Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF
I will probably buy them.
Does any of you have pics of their beam against a wall ? I don't really get the purpose of this huge lens in front of the bulb. My A3 has "naked" bulbs and it's very neat.
Just played around with my headlights because I don't see anything with it compared to my A3.
The A3 headlights cast a wide white beam while the Z4s cast a narrow rainbow colored beam !
I raised it a bit but it will obviously be still far from my A3 lights.
I've heard many bad things about the phillips bulbs (lifetime) so I just found these:
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B003479F6Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF
I will probably buy them.
Does any of you have pics of their beam against a wall ? I don't really get the purpose of this huge lens in front of the bulb. My A3 has "naked" bulbs and it's very neat.