Z4 OEM Xenon retrofitting possible?

[Icedev]

Hi, I've just been researching this for quite a while now

My current car has Halogen headlamps and lets be honest...halogen lights are quite bad compared to Xenon lights

I've been given original Xenon headlamps from a 2003 model (Mine is a 2003 as well) and I have the Hella Gen 4 Ballasts, ignitors and the D2S Xenon bulbs

I really don't care about the self leveling, seeing how a regular retrofit would be stationary anyway.

I've been told from another Z forum the following:

You'll need to get
- headlight module
- wirings
- levelling sensors
- a programming at the dealer afterwards

So, I can believe that I might need a programming probably because of the difference in power ( probably starting up the headlight faulty dashboard warning )

I don't think the leveling sensors are needed

I don't even know what a headlight module is and lastly, the wirings look fairly similar on both of the halogen and Xenon headlamps

Has anybody here done this conversion? Any info is welcome

Thanks in advance

 

[Wondermike]

The xenons were an option in the BMW accessory catalogue for ages, but they seem to have gone now in later versions.

Be interested to see if you can do it or not.

 

[GVfB]

the LCM needs to be reprogrammed to a 35W drain. Not only to avoid the light in the instrument cluster, but the xenon lights will flicker as the LCM goes into diagnostic mode.

No worries, the dealer can easily reprogram the unit.

 

[Icedev]

Thanks for that in-depth answer. I'll get them to reprogram the car when I receive the car

Btw, is there any chance of damage if I put the lights in before the reprogramming?

 

[pvr]

In the UK, the self leveling is by law requirement. Will you get troubles with your annual car check? (assuming you have that over there)?

 

[Icedev]

Well, since it will be an OEM retrofit and no wires lying under the bonnet that might indicate that it has been tampered with, I doubt it

They tend to do a less nit-picky inspection on non-modified cars

 

[GVfB]

Icedev - aren't you required by law to have a headlight washing system with the xenons?

 

[Icedev]

Yeah, but it usually passes the inspection. They mostly check on safety items such as steering, braking, tires and pretty much all the wear-out items

 

[Icedev]

Alrighty, the lights are in and working in key position 3.

However, when i start up the car it flickers and then eventually dies out. I went to the dealer and had him try to reprogram it to recognize the retrofit, the dealer however said that it might prove troublesome since he could only see the reprogramming option for a bi-xenon headlamp.

I was wondering if i should take a chance on the Bi-xenon and take the chance of losing the capability of using the off-road lights

I also recall seeing an extra feature in that configuration tool he used, called Progman and it was clearly marked Headlights. I dont remember him accessing that feature but perhaps that does contain the option for the single xenon headlamp I'm looking for

I doubt that you guys have any info on this matter since it's fairly specific but anything would help

Best regards
Óskar

 

[Z4 Racer 19]

I’m having the same issue with my car where I’ve fitted xenon lights and they flicker when the engine is started.

I swapped the headlights as whole units for original bmw xenon units. I thought the original ones were only bi-xenon?

Did you manage to sort the issue?

 

[DFR]

Old thread but I would like to know the outcome as well.

 

[Jakg]

I’m having the same issue with my car where I’ve fitted xenon lights and they flicker when the engine is started.

I swapped the headlights as whole units for original bmw xenon units. I thought the original ones were only bi-xenon?

Did you change the coding?

 

[Z4 Racer 19]

I’m having the same issue with my car where I’ve fitted xenon lights and they flicker when the engine is started.

I swapped the headlights as whole units for original bmw xenon units. I thought the original ones were only bi-xenon?

Did you change the coding?

I haven’t changed the coding at all. Which part would need coding, the voltage supply?

I wasn’t sure if a resistor was also needed? I’ve got one of these modules- see photo, and if you Google it, it says it’s a resistor for xenon lights. Does coding remove the need for this?

 

[mac27040]

this might help

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1S2_wQRg9HXLYWTbjrFE1ZBjI5RMQgZ6J

 

[mac27040]

in SSSv32 (progman) or ISTA P there is a retrofit xenons or facelift lights for coding