To Xenon or Not?

[northernlight]

Having looked at an ever increasing number of X5's in my quest to buy (06 model), i have noticed that a fair number don't have xenon's. My last 3 cars have all had them and i'm not sure i'd want to go back to halogen.

If i get a halogen car are there any upgrade options that can easily take it to xenon? I don't really want to go down the DIY ebay ones route. And also i know about the self levelling xenon MOT thing, how does one get around that with an upgrade pack? Any idea on costs?

Thanks all

[Denis O]

Have a read through this. http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/https://xdr ... 6#msg43416 It's a long 1 but will give you all the gen you need.

Xenons would be my least concerning extra missing as they are so easy to retro fit on an X5 which has both self levelling and washers.

[X5Sport]

If you have to fit auto levelling then you might as well buy a car with them fitted.  The cost of 'upgrading' would most likely be horrendous.  At a guess (worst case) would be new light units of the right type plus the control gear.

Much easier to fit after-market HID kits and live with the adjustable levelling (standard on non-HID cars).....and find a friendly MOT place that doesn't look too hard.  Most would probably let you get away with it even now.

The MOT Manual only says something like auto-levelling (if fitted) must work.....or words to that effect.

Richard

[Horizon]

Northenlight, where are you in the country ?
I am in the Manchester area. I have just fitted 55W HIDS, there is a feeling that some MOT testers will fail cars fitted with HIDS. It is only a 5 minuite job to refit your original bulbs at MOT time if this becomes a problem. I love the increase in vision that my HIDS give me now. I hated the halogen lights, they were frightening on unlit country roads. If your not too far from me I can give you a demo.

[shadrack]

Or do what I did, if the rear panel on the light is removed the xenon bulb all wiring and balast can be fixed inside leaving only the standard bmw wiring on the outside and a completely oem look! Also mine was mot'd last weekend and it sailed through

[storminmike]

[quote="shadrack"]
Or do what I did, if the rear panel on the light is removed the xenon bulb all wiring and balast can be fixed inside leaving only the standard bmw wiring on the outside and a completely oem look! Also mine was mot'd last weekend and it sailed through
[/quote]

Not looked for while....is there really enough rome to shove the ballast in?

Ps...my external mounted ballast after market HID passed it's MOT 2 months ago

[JamieX5]

I think you may struggle going from having xenons to not having them. I have just done the same and had to buy a hid kit from eBay because the standard headlights I found very poor.

[kkodal78]

If you pull the headlight assembly out, there is a room for ballast on the bottom bracket which is plastic. That's where the OEM ballast goes.


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[storminmike]

[quote="kkodal78"]
If you pull the headlight assembly out, there is a room for ballast on the bottom bracket which is plastic. That's where the OEM ballast goes.


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[/quote]

I'll have nosey when it's light tommorow....cheers

[kkodal78]

I just upgraded to 75W kit but the ballasts that i received are larger than the space allocated for OEM ones so i just ordered 75w ballasts that are the same size as OEM ones. If you wait i can take pics of the brackets holding the  ballasts when i install them. Also once i get that sorted i am going to sell my OEM kit if anyone is interested.also have the oem headlight assemblies to go as well.


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[northernlight]

Thanks guys, some useful info there!

I currently have adaptive bi-xenons on my Audi and they are stunningly bright. I compared to an X5 I test drove with halogens by parking side by side at night in a poorly lit road and it was essentially night and day. So all else being equal I agree I would miss it a lot. Especially as it will be dark for the next 6 months!

I presume if I could find an oem set second hand on eBay they could be easily swapped? Would I need to swap the lighting bank switch on the dashboard as well to delete the manual levelling?

Thanks again.

[Raj]

Definitely xenon to answer the first question.

[quote="northernlight"]
Thanks guys, some useful info there!

I currently have adaptive bi-xenons on my Audi and they are stunningly bright. I compared to an X5 I test drove with halogens by parking side by side at night in a poorly lit road and it was essentially night and day. So all else being equal I agree I would miss it a lot. Especially as it will be dark for the next 6 months!

I presume if I could find an oem set second hand on eBay they could be easily swapped? Would I need to swap the lighting bank switch on the dashboard as well to delete the manual levelling?

Thanks again.
[/quote]

If you find one with oe xenons do the same test against your Audi and tbh you'll still not be overly impressed. I'm not with mine and that's going from other BMWs with factory xenons too. Personally if you find an X with halogens I'd just fit a 55w/75w hid kit. You'll have projector units anyway so with the kit it will still look oe and as standard they all come with headlight washers and rear self levelling anyway. You'll be fine at MOT time and as kkodal states just fit the ballasts in the oe locations to keep it stock looking under the bonnet.

[shadrack]

[quote="storminmike"]
[quote="shadrack"]
Or do what I did, if the rear panel on the light is removed the xenon bulb all wiring and balast can be fixed inside leaving only the standard bmw wiring on the outside and a completely oem look! Also mine was mot'd last weekend and it sailed through
[/quote]

Not looked for while....is there really enough rome to shove the ballast in?

Ps...my external mounted ballast after market HID passed it's MOT 2 months ago
[/quote]

[kkodal78]

[quote="shadrack"]
[quote="storminmike"]
[quote="shadrack"]
Or do what I did, if the rear panel on the light is removed the xenon bulb all wiring and balast can be fixed inside leaving only the standard bmw wiring on the outside and a completely oem look! Also mine was mot'd last weekend and it sailed through
[/quote]

Not looked for while....is there really enough rome to shove the ballast in?

Ps...my external mounted ballast after market HID passed it's MOT 2 months ago
[/quote]



[/quote]
Looks different than my oe xenon set up


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[shadrack]

i mean it looks totally standard from all places until you turn them on, so an mot tester wouldnt know their aftermarket