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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Cosmetic and Lighting Modifications (exterior/interior) > e90 Pre-LCI to LCI Headlights



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      08-23-2011, 12:38 PM   #1
Bobby Pynes
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e90 Pre-LCI to LCI Headlights

Good day to you all, thanks for taking a moment to read.

Has anyone come across any literature regarding swapping Pre-LCI halogens for LCI halogens on the e90? What would be involved in the swap? Would they be a direct replacement? Or would the hood/bumper need to be changed as well?

Thanks for reading!
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      08-23-2011, 03:36 PM   #2
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straight swap all you have to do is drop the front bumper pain in butt but they do look better ive changed the bulbs for the rings to led and they look good
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      08-25-2011, 05:11 AM   #3
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And regardless of whether or not you have the halogens or xenons on a pre-LCI, LCI's will be a direct swap?
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      08-25-2011, 07:50 AM   #4
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well, if you have halogens you have to code them
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      08-25-2011, 03:03 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bumere90 View Post
well, if you have halogens you have to code them
You have to code a pre-lci halogen to Lci halogen swap?
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      08-25-2011, 03:35 PM   #6
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No just halogen to xenon
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      08-25-2011, 04:23 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bchcky View Post
And regardless of whether or not you have the halogens or xenons on a pre-LCI, LCI's will be a direct swap?
1. If you have Pre-LCI Halogens and want to swap to LCI Halogens: Direct plug and play
2. If you have Pre-LCI Halogens and want to swap to LCI Xenons: Coding, parts, and rewiring. not cheap.
3. If you have Pre-LCI Xenons and want to swap to LCI Halogens: Coding for sure, I don't really know if you can even do (or why you would ever want) to do that.
4. If you have Pre-LCI Xenons and want to swap to LCI Xenons: Coding and parts. not cheap.
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      08-25-2011, 04:42 PM   #8
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Thanks rollingstone157! very informative
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      08-25-2011, 05:24 PM   #9
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This was literally a very very effective answer to a very stupid question. Thanks so much for being patient, and providing awesome feedback.
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      08-27-2011, 03:17 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rollinstone157 View Post
1. If you have Pre-LCI Halogens and want to swap to LCI Halogens: Direct plug and play
2. If you have Pre-LCI Halogens and want to swap to LCI Xenons: Coding, parts, and rewiring. not cheap.
3. If you have Pre-LCI Xenons and want to swap to LCI Halogens: Coding for sure, I don't really know if you can even do (or why you would ever want) to do that.
4. If you have Pre-LCI Xenons and want to swap to LCI Xenons: Coding and parts. not cheap.
Any recommended DIY threads for item 2? Thanks.
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      08-27-2011, 07:43 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by azuki84 View Post
Any recommended DIY threads for item 2? Thanks.
Found it:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...+Xenon+Pre-LCI
Talk to the guy who did it. If you want the American headlights with adaptive xenons and the cornering lights, you will certainly need more coding, more parts (a new footwell module, FRM-3 I believe it is called), and more moneys. But, I think the cornering lights do make a big difference, and having adaptive xenons also make a world of difference. It's really helped me a lot, I had to drive through the boonies for work this summer, and you really do notice a difference when the beams "turn" with the steering wheel.
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      09-30-2011, 12:07 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rollinstone157 View Post
1. If you have Pre-LCI Halogens and want to swap to LCI Halogens: Direct plug and play
2. If you have Pre-LCI Halogens and want to swap to LCI Xenons: Coding, parts, and rewiring. not cheap.
3. If you have Pre-LCI Xenons and want to swap to LCI Halogens: Coding for sure, I don't really know if you can even do (or why you would ever want) to do that.
4. If you have Pre-LCI Xenons and want to swap to LCI Xenons: Coding and parts. not cheap.
What about the 5th option: Pre-LCI Halogen to Pre-LCI Xenon (US spec)?

This seems to be the cheapest and easiest way for a Pre-LCI halogen E90 to get xenon and angel eyes. Just how easy is it though?
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      12-05-2011, 10:35 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rollinstone157 View Post
1. If you have Pre-LCI Halogens and want to swap to LCI Halogens: Direct plug and play
2. If you have Pre-LCI Halogens and want to swap to LCI Xenons: Coding, parts, and rewiring. not cheap.
3. If you have Pre-LCI Xenons and want to swap to LCI Halogens: Coding for sure, I don't really know if you can even do (or why you would ever want) to do that.
4. If you have Pre-LCI Xenons and want to swap to LCI Xenons: Coding and parts. not cheap.
Any links to anyone completing the 4th option?
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      03-04-2012, 10:33 PM   #14
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Does 2011 e93 lci headlight work on a 2010 e92 335??
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      03-07-2012, 05:08 PM   #15
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The cheapest option is to buy aftermarket headlights. Around $600 for decent projector based headlights with LED halo's. Pretty crappy projector quality though, and you would want to upgrade that. So look at $800 for something good. Almost half the price and to OEM.

Look at it this way, iPad vs. Kindle Fire (Both do the same thing, but iPad is better for more, but is it worth it?). Just giving you your options.
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      03-16-2012, 04:51 PM   #16
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If you have a pre-LCI e90 with standard halogen headlights, you can upgrade to the LCI halogen headlights no questions asked. It's not complicated, you remove the old assemblies, drop in the new ones, plug and play. No error codes, no issues.
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      03-17-2012, 12:50 PM   #17
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hi i got an update i just tested my pre lci ahl xenon to the new lci ahl xenon with frm1. Everything is working and for so far know i don't need any programming. The only thing i can't test is the cornering, because my old cornering module is still on my old headlights and that is why i get an error message cornering lights failure.

So i think i can say if you have pre lci xenon or pre lci xenon ahl you can swap without coding to lci xenon or lci xenon ahl but don't forget the resistors for the led blinkers because the pre lci didnt had led's.
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      10-21-2014, 07:22 PM   #18
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Bringing this thread back from the dead. Haha. I have an 08 335i with xenons, I want lci xenons. What do I need? Thanks.
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      10-21-2014, 09:20 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wiskerbisskit View Post
Bringing this thread back from the dead. Haha. I have an 08 335i with xenons, I want lci xenons. What do I need? Thanks.
They are plug and play as long as they are both adaptive or both nonadaptive. The 3 LEDs in the top corner of the lci lights will need a wire ran to the frm from each headlight but its not really necessary.
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      10-21-2014, 09:24 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gltieu View Post
hi i got an update i just tested my pre lci ahl xenon to the new lci ahl xenon with frm1. Everything is working and for so far know i don't need any programming. The only thing i can't test is the cornering, because my old cornering module is still on my old headlights and that is why i get an error message cornering lights failure.

So i think i can say if you have pre lci xenon or pre lci xenon ahl you can swap without coding to lci xenon or lci xenon ahl but don't forget the resistors for the led blinkers because the pre lci didnt had led's.
Yes they function a little differently but they work fine other than the blinkers giving an error when going from prelci to lci.

Prelci xenons use the inner light when you flash your brights and lci uses the projector. On lci lights the inner light is blank unless they are adaptive. I don't think you can change between lci and prelci with frm1 but with frm2 or 3 you can.
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      10-21-2014, 09:59 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gltieu View Post
hi i got an update i just tested my pre lci ahl xenon to the new lci ahl xenon with frm1. Everything is working and for so far know i don't need any programming. The only thing i can't test is the cornering, because my old cornering module is still on my old headlights and that is why i get an error message cornering lights failure.

So i think i can say if you have pre lci xenon or pre lci xenon ahl you can swap without coding to lci xenon or lci xenon ahl but don't forget the resistors for the led blinkers because the pre lci didnt had led's.
I did this swap and it was direct replacement and I coded the error off. What does the resistor do? Was the resistor to help the blinker do its job properly?
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      07-13-2016, 09:02 AM   #22
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Hi i know this is an old post but just want to ask if 1. The lci halogens are also adaptive? The pre lci low beam have height controls. 2. Lets say i already got the lci headlights installed on my pre lci do i need any conversion done when i replaced my low high beam angel eye bulbs to leds? Any coding wiring needed? Thanks
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