[AllBlackBimmer]

Will be for a pre-lci 2008 Sedan.

OK, so I know the differences between the 2... V4 is more white, V3 is more blue...

... not sure if any of the actual construction changed or not? i.e. the heat sink or other parts?

...long story short, I am torn between which one to go with...

...on one hand V4 is newer, so that usually means better... and the pure white matches the headlights great I hear... they look good.

... V3 is a little more blue-ish, which i actually like better than pure white - but hate buying "old" products if there are nice upgrades when they came out with V4.... V3's are priced the same, so it's not like they dropped the price or anything.

I lean towards V4 because they are newer, I lean towards V3 because I like a hint of blue over pure white.

Thoughts? This is going to be my first upgrade of the summer

[Pete Schweaty]

I have V3 and wouldn't call them blue. They match the OEM xenon pretty well.

[AllBlackBimmer]

[QUOTE=Pete Schweaty;13816431]I have V3 and wouldn't call them blue. They match the OEM xenon pretty well.
QUOTE]

I wouldn't say they are blue either, car looks good by the way.. they are just a hint of blue-ISH as comapred to the V4 which I hear are pure white...

do they fade out a little from full brightness when the headlights go on?

[Pete Schweaty]

[QUOTE=AllBlackBimmer;13816856]

Originally Posted by Pete Schweaty

I have V3 and wouldn't call them blue. They match the OEM xenon pretty well.
QUOTE]

I wouldn't say they are blue either, car looks good by the way.. they are just a hint of blue-ISH as comapred to the V4 which I hear are pure white...

do they fade out a little from full brightness when the headlights go on?

Thanks!

Not that I have noticed. They seem to be the same brightness all the time.

[E92-Lighting]

MTEC V4's have brighter lumen output since its made with brighter CREE leds

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by E92-Lighting

MTEC V4's have brighter lumen output since its made with brighter CREE leds

are they "built" any differently?

... i get the V4's are brigther... and pure white, as opposed to the V3s that are more "blue-is" ...

is the sink sink in V4 different than V3?

I read one member on here comparing the 2 and he liked the bluwish in the V3 compared to his V4... so I am torn on which to buy

[AllBlackBimmer]

... Any plans on a 9watt bulb that is more blue than white, much like the v3s...? I like the slight blue hue the 3s have to them, but the v4s really are a lot brighter.

... I guess I should get my daytime running lights turned off by the dealer if I buy new AEs?

[Chrispy650]

You can turn the DRLs off yourself...from the menu

[BmerMeUp]

Sorry this probably won't help much, but here are my V3 (6W Cree - 738 lumens) shots. Between ordering them and installing them, the V4's (9W Cree - although Mtec site still says 6W...1063 lumens) came out.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=830926

Here is someone else's V4's (which DO appear brighter in sunlight, according to the pics and the statements):
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=758775

For 30% more dollars you get 30% more light.
And both bodies / heat syncs appear identical.
Not sure what 30% more light in real life looks like, however.


PS: FWIW, I don't see the "blue-ish" of the V3's. They are cooler-coloured, I agree, but I generally dislike the blue colouring and I didn't feel I got that from these. I was happy - if the V4's are even "less blue" then I'd probably like them 30% more. For $40 bucks, I'd say suck it up and just get the V4's ! Also, in a couple hours you'll probably get 30 more messages describing 18 different AE LED's which the posters will state with great enthusiasm are better than V4's, and each other's. Just pick one and give'er a go!!

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by BmerMeUp

Sorry this probably won't help much, but here are my V3 (6W Cree - 738 lumens) shots. Between ordering them and installing them, the V4's (9W Cree - although Mtec site still says 6W...1063 lumens) came out.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=830926

Here is someone else's V4's (which DO appear brighter in sunlight, according to the pics and the statements):
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=758775

For 30% more dollars you get 30% more light.
And both bodies / heat syncs appear identical.
Not sure what 30% more light in real life looks like, however.


PS: FWIW, I don't see the "blue-ish" of the V3's. They are cooler-coloured, I agree, but I generally dislike the blue colouring and I didn't feel I got that from these. I was happy - if the V4's are even "less blue" then I'd probably like them 30% more. For $40 bucks, I'd say suck it up and just get the V4's ! Also, in a couple hours you'll probably get 30 more messages describing 18 different AE LED's which the posters will state with great enthusiasm are better than V4's, and each other's. Just pick one and give'er a go!!

I wouldn't call them blue, but blue-er than the v4s... Someone on here did a side by side shot at night that I saw.

Still torn which to buy, I like the color of the v3s almost better, but he v4 are brighter, and, c'mon they're newer too

Hmm..... They should do a price cut on the v3 and help persuade me

[BoogeyMan'sBMW]

I would go with v4s since they are the newer, updated ones. I believe they are slightly brighter. All I know is a friend of mine has them and they are great.

As for them getting dimmer when you turn the headlights out, you can have them coded to be on at 100% brightness at all times

[BmerMeUp]

Originally Posted by BoogeyMan'sBMW

... As for them getting dimmer when you turn the headlights out, you can have them coded to be on at 100% brightness at all times

Slight thread-jack, but I have heard this before and even tried coding it out on my car, but to be honest... I have never seen the AE brightness changing from lights on to off (LED or Halogen AE). Do you know if this is only on certain models? I'm in an E91 with Xenon.

[BoogeyMan'sBMW]

Originally Posted by BmerMeUp

Slight thread-jack, but I have heard this before and even tried coding it out on my car, but to be honest... I have never seen the AE brightness changing from lights on to off (LED or Halogen AE). Do you know if this is only on certain models? I'm in an E91 with Xenon.

Although it is common for the phenomena of dimming to occur, it is not impossible to have what you are saying. Did you purchase your car used? Maybe its already coded.

Im not sure if it would come already coded that way from factory, but it is possible due to the fact that very bmw is coded differently.

It may also be the fact that you can tell when you change it? You have halogens so its not gna be as clear as LED's but there should be a difference. I never looked into it but all i know is with LED bulbs, it looks badass when the rings are still distinctly visible over the xenons.

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by BoogeyMan'sBMW

I would go with v4s since they are the newer, updated ones. I believe they are slightly brighter. All I know is a friend of mine has them and they are great.

As for them getting dimmer when you turn the headlights out, you can have them coded to be on at 100% brightness at all times

Yea, i am ready to buy something ha, and am leaning to the v4s just because, newer is always better right?

... What else should I do my headlights? I will have the dealer turn off my daytime running lights, anything else?

....I actually would like to have the DRLs be on when my light switch is in the "off" position, but when I turn my parking lights on, have the DRLs go off, and the AEs and amber corners (and tails) all on..... This possible?

[BoogeyMan'sBMW]

Originally Posted by AllBlackBimmer

Yea, i am ready to buy something ha, and am leaning to the v4s just because, newer is always better right?

... What else should I do my headlights? I will have the dealer turn off my daytime running lights, anything else?

....I actually would like to have the DRLs be on when my light switch is in the "off" position, but when I turn my parking lights on, have the DRLs go off, and the AEs and amber corners (and tails) all on..... This possible?

You should get your coded for have your AE as your DRL. You can also code to have your fogs as part of the DRL as well.

[Cuba]

I have the V3 and they look great. Although I think one of the leds may have gone dim. One of the rings seems dimmer than the rest. hmm

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by BoogeyMan'sBMW

You should get your coded for have your AE as your DRL. You can also code to have your fogs as part of the DRL as well.

To be honest, I do not want my AE's as my DRL's... I know that is something a lot of people do and there are wiring harnesses out there to achieve this...

I actaully like the ability to turn them on and off as I please...

... I would stil like to keep my DRL's, but have them go out when I actually turn my parking (1 click to the right) or regular lights (full way to the right on with the switch)


... I do have the adaptive headlights, but I honestly rarely use them.... nor do I keep my light switch on that setting (aka 1 turn to the left)