New Eyes

Z

Z4 Beemer

Senior member
 Glasgow
Most of you will know that the daytime running lights on the new Zed are pretty yellow in colour, especially when you see Audi's with their superwhite LED lights. The new 3 series coupe and 5 series both have LED rings and I wanted to try and achieve the same sort of look.

Picture from the whatcar.com video review:

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Knowing what was possible with a set of GP Thunder 8500K 35w H8 bulbs:

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See full thread here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2907122&postcount=97

I bought a set from ebay for $30.19 USD (£20.52)

When I fitted them (during the daytime in bright sunlight), I was far from impressed. The outer ring was very dim, although white looking, but they weren't putting out a lot of 'useable' light. In dull/overcast conditions they looked pretty amazing though. There was also a hint of blue in them, from some angles, which I wasn't too keen on. The daytime running lights run brighter than the normal side lights (same bulb, but it dims when you put on the side lights). No pictures of them, but I took them back out the car after a day and went back to the drawing board. :P

GP Thunder also do the same bulbs at 7500K and they have recently introduced a new 5800K bulb. The K value is the colour temperature and the higher you go, the 'blue-er' looking the light is, but the less usable the light is, when you stay at the same wattage. I was tempted to try the 7500K bulbs but didn't think they would be a big improvement over the 8500K's.

Eventually I decided to try the new 5800K bulbs, so ordered a set on ebay, from the same seller. :oops: :P Cost was $25.99 USD (£17.67)

The photos below don't do them justice, and I don't have any pics comparing them side by side, but I am really pleased. They are much whiter looking but still very bright. They are also very visible during the day in bright sunlight. :D

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If anyone wants my spare set of 8500K bulbs PM me! :)
 
Looks like an improvement over stock, which is a little too yellow - looks old, nice change :thumbsup:

Be good to see a wider shot of the front of the car :wink:
 
Z4 Beemer - a bit off topic but I was considering this for my wifes E92. Difficult to fit or plug and play?
 
PawnSacrifice, :poke: :D It's really difficult to capture the true colour of them on camera! When I was parking in Homebase this morning, I saw a reflection of them in the glass at the store entrance, and they looked pretty good to me.

Wondermike, Thanks - definitely pleased with them,

AlanJ, Very easy to fit. I've attached a few pics of the bulb below. The electrical connector from the car fits directly into them (only one way due to the shape). The connector has 2 catches and these hook onto the bulbs. I broke one of the hooks from the bulb (small black plastic bit - you can see it in the photo) when removing them from the car, :oops: but not really needed as they fit together quite firmly. The metal plate parts on the bulb are the bits that hold the bulb in the headlight unit, small twist is all it takes. 5 mins maximum to fit the new bulbs.

If you want to try my 8500K's, PM me and we can work something out. :D

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Very nice indeed/better than the yellow ish oem bulbs.
A good improvement :thumbsup:

Possibly a silly question(to some),but are your lights halogen or xenon?
Do u know if u can get these bulbs to suit the original z4 (circa 2005 model??)
 
AlanJ, Very easy to fit. I've attached a few pics of the bulb below. The electrical connector from the car fits directly into them (only one way due to the shape). The connector has 2 catches and these hook onto the bulbs. I broke one of the hooks from the bulb (small black plastic bit - you can see it in the photo) when removing them from the car, :oops: but not really needed as they fit together quite firmly. The metal plate parts on the bulb are the bits that hold the bulb in the headlight unit, small twist is all it takes. 5 mins maximum to fit the new bulbs.

If you want to try my 8500K's, PM me and we can work something out. :D

Z4B... thanks but I like the look of the ones you have gone for so may well give them a go. Thanks for the offer though. :thumbsup:
 
craig3.0, My headlights are xenon and the bulb for the sidelights / daytime running lights is an H8 connector. Not sure about the E85, but I'm sure someone can advise. You can get GP Thunders in a variety of different bulbs/connectors - website is here: http://www.gp-thunder.com/xenon_bulbs.htm The only thing you must do is keep the wattage the same, or else the car will complain of a faulty bulb.

I got my GP Thunders from ebay (USA) - the seller was: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Premierteknet

The first set arrived in about 9 working days, the second set in about 6 working days. Postage was more than the actual bulbs! :?

I might try the 8500K's again later on in the year for autumn/winter use, but in bright summer sunlight they were just too dim. I think the 5800K's are a good compromise. Website is here: http://www.gp-thunder.com/xenon_bulbs.htm

:thumbsup:
 
ksher, Yes, one bulb for each side, which lights up both rings. The bulb is for the daytime running lights and sidelights, although when then the sidelights are on the bulb is dimmed. Thinking about it, I never have the sidelights on by themselves... either the daytime running lights are on (majority of the time), or xenon's when its really dark, although the sidelights do come on when the xenon's are on I suppose. You just need to remove the circular cap in the engine bay to get into the headlight and then twist the bulb and pull it out. Its then a case of removing it from the electrical connector. Very easy - trust me, if it was difficult I wouldn't have attempted it!! :D

I've been really fascinated with them since fitting them a few days ago. :P I was sitting behind a Vauxhall Astra this morning and could see the reflection of them on a piece of chrome on the Astra's rear tailgate. IMO they look much whiter and cleaner. :D

I'll try and take a few better photos later, but its hard to really capture them at their best.
 
One thing I noticed on the new 3 Series I saw at the weekend that has the bright LED lights. From a distance they look like normal lights on as they are almost too bright and the light wipes out the angel eye look! The more amber angel look does look a little "meaner" in my opinion. :wink:
 
meaner? :? More like the flat battery look! :D :rofl:

I saw a new 3 coupe with the led lights recently. They actually only looked visible when looking at the car "straight on" and close up to the car. I'm sure the E89 will get them eventually.
 
When have they ever shown a menacing animal or monster coming at you in a darkened place that has bright shiny eyes? :wink: :P
 
T89 said:
Do you have any other pics from further away?


T
Click to expand...

Not at the moment. I'll see what I can do, but its difficult to capture the true colour/brightness of them... (for a novice photographer like me anyway!)
 
Here's some photos of my newly installed MTEC Cosmos Blue White H8's (4750k)

Got them via ebay for £14.50 from HID Direct (http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/hids-direct/)

BEFORE
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AFTER
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BEFORE
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AFTER
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LEFT NEW, RIGHT OLD
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NOTE this is with just SIDE LIGHTS ON not Daylight Running - the new one's are MUCH brighter when set to Daylight Running - I didn't realise that side light setting was much dimmer till it was too late and it was then nearly dark so the comparisons would have been wrong between the bulbs, and I wasn't re-installing the old one's to retest!

Money well spent IMHO.

David
 
What should be the difference between the daytime running lights and side lights (daytime running lights brighter?)?
 
ksher said:
What should be the difference between the daytime running lights and side lights (daytime running lights brighter?)?
Click to expand...
'Side lights' as we call them in the UK (not sure what they call them over the pond) are dimmer than the daylight running lights.

David
 
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