[CRS]

Hey guys,

I was just wondering a few things. I recently bought a 2009 323i and a friend recommended me this forum. I was looking to do a conversion from my halogens to xenons and this would require the entire headlight change (unless I just want to plug in HIDs and blind everyone).

So I have a few questions, I know that there are euro non adaptive headlights that are also xenon. The NA versions are pretty much all adaptive with xenon.

So my question is, will my car work with both headlight systems or would they both just work like the non-adaptives?

Question being, will they both operate the same or will they be different? Will my car even work the adaptives?

Thank you!

P.S. If anyone knows where I can get these for a good price, please let me know!

[yooooooo]

adaptives won't work.

search for ******* on this forum, he has many threads showing how its done.

[r888]

I was in the same situation as yours.

I kinda of shock that how the Halogen function in this days but was expected. My previous car has Xenon and it was like 3 times brighter...But when I go outside and see the headlights at night it wasn't that bad and yellowish.

Now I am still waiting for the MTECH for the high and low beams. My Lux angel eyes has arrived earlier. PM me later in the new year for pics I probably will have them installed when the MTECH arrives.

I would recommend just save yourself a 1k conversation and get some rims and rubbers in the summer.

Btw, is your 323i fender rolled? I don't know why mine was already done. Is this a bonus for 323i? let me know ...lol

[CRS]

Alright, so the general consensus is the get the non-adaptive LCI headlights aka the euro headlights. Sweet. Can you PM me the username? It seems to be censored.

Except they'll run me like 1.5k

And for r888, yes, they are rolled. hahaha summer is pretty far away. I would much rather have lights down than tires and rims. Let me know how everything goes and how long everything takes. Looks like a 3hr job.

[DnA Diesel]

335d's don't have adaptive headlights, so you could do a RealOEM.com search for the 335d bi-xenon assemblies. Probably pretty expensive, I was hit by another driver and the replacement of the left headlamp housing and bulb was around $3000 replacement.

[CRS]

Originally Posted by DnA Diesel

335d's don't have adaptive headlights, so you could do a RealOEM.com search for the 335d bi-xenon assemblies. Probably pretty expensive, I was hit by another driver and the replacement of the left headlamp housing and bulb was around $3000 replacement.

Yeah, it looks like it'll be an expensive upgrade.

I've been talking to a member with the username Sui and he has quoted me a good price. Anyone dealt with him before?

[Yvette]

I dont know about LCI ones but, I have been looking forward this setup for my e82...
too much hassle, too much time consuming, too much $$$, and throwing error
spending $1300-2000 wasn't worth it IMO.

[SGxi]

halogen to xenon will be expensive for lci... You will also have to deal with the led blinkers unless you get the pre facelift oem version otherwise you will get errors left and right ... You will need resistors for them to work properly

[DESI4life10]

I went through the conversion from halogen to xenon lights. Your best bet is to try and score some used xenon headlights and then put an hid kit for the xenon low beams.
i would recommend you look at hidcanada.com. They have a new system called RSX that has a built in CANBUS feature (so you don't get a bulb out warning).

With this kit, it makes your xenon lights a direct plug and play. Does your Lci Halogen has LEDs for the turn signal?

PM me and I can direct you to a guy at HIDcanada. I have there system installed and am pretty satisfied. Also they are a Canadian vendor with great customer service.

[r888]

Turn signal has Halogen orange bulb..no leds

LOL

[CRS]

So I think the general consensus after reading through hours of threads and abusing the hell out of the search function, it looks like I'll need to do this.

Order the LCI headlights (most likely going with Euro non-adaptives)
Send them to someone who can convert them so I can plug and play
And finally, do an install

Looks like 3 steps that will cost me an arm and a leg.

Anyone see something wrong with the logic? I am new so I can be EASILY mistaken. Anyone know any good shops/people to do the conversion (since I'll be running a lower wattage for the xenons than halogens + error free)?

Reference:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=299507

[SGxi]

Originally Posted by r888

Turn signal has Halogen orange bulb..no leds

LOL

Um, I believe the xenons does...

[SGxi]

Originally Posted by r888

Turn signal has Halogen orange bulb..no leds

LOL

Oh, look what I found???

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=310634

LCI Xenons came with LED blinkers...

LOL

[SGxi]

Originally Posted by r888

Turn signal has Halogen orange bulb..no leds

LOL

And somemore???

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198786

[CRS]

Originally Posted by SGxi

Oh, look what I found???

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=310634

LCI Xenons came with LED blinkers...

LOL

Yeah, you're right LCI xenons have LED blinkers but the lamer halogens have a bulb.

So both of you are technically right. You were just talking about different headlights/housings.

Can any confirm the steps I should take are correct?

Here is what I have:
http://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/att...1&d=1246679867

Here is what I want:
http://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/att...6&d=1246679793

[SGxi]

If you are replacing the entire housing, you will have to get everything taken care of to get rid of the errors. To do this the proper way, I believe you also need a footwell module and some other associated parts. It's not just the headlight units themselves.

Otherwise, the 2nd link I have here, the guy who sells those Xenons can get you a plug and play system without the whole retrofit required.

The adaptive units should work on non-adaptive cars, but there maybe errors. I know for sure if you put the non adaptive units on an adaptive car, it will throw errors. If it's the adaptive on non-adaptive, I think some members who did a retrofit reported no errors.

(PS I am not associated with the member)

[SGxi]

Originally Posted by CRS

So both of you are technically right. You were just talking about different headlights/housings.

Well, I'm sure r888 knows I am referring to the xenons and not the halogen on the 323, otherwise, he didn't read the post carefully enough.

[yooooooo]

your 3 steps are correct
CRS, i was considering this mod also.

pm'd

[CRS]

Originally Posted by SGxi

If you are replacing the entire housing, you will have to get everything taken care of to get rid of the errors. To do this the proper way, I believe you also need a footwell module and some other associated parts. It's not just the headlight units themselves.

Otherwise, the 2nd link I have here, the guy who sells those Xenons can get you a plug and play system without the whole retrofit required.

The adaptive units should work on non-adaptive cars, but there maybe errors. I know for sure if you put the non adaptive units on an adaptive car, it will throw errors. If it's the adaptive on non-adaptive, I think some members who did a retrofit reported no errors.

(PS I am not associated with the member)

Yeah except I would be getting the Euro spec ones that have non-adaptive xenons so it shouldn't technically have the same issues as the ones you have stated. I could be wrong.

I would need to still do a conversion since the wattage difference and possibly need to do something about the LED blinkers but I still need to look into that more. If anyone can explain to me the LED blinker difference between the halogens or this conversion, that would be great! Save me from hours of reading through threads.

So I think I have step 1 down. I know someone who can get me the headlight (euro spec and non-AHL) so now I'll need to look into someone who can do the conversion.

[mimiandi]

I am basically in the same situation as well. Have 2009 323i LCI. My initial thought was to upgrade to xenon if possible but just too much hassle with possible risk to getting errors and stuff after going through the forums for clues. I just ordered LUX 5.0 LCI for whiter/brighter color and I am going to leave it at that.

[SGxi]

Originally Posted by CRS

Yeah except I would be getting the Euro spec ones that have non-adaptive xenons so it shouldn't technically have the same issues as the ones you have stated. I could be wrong.

I would need to still do a conversion since the wattage difference and possibly need to do something about the LED blinkers but I still need to look into that more. If anyone can explain to me the LED blinker difference between the halogens or this conversion, that would be great! Save me from hours of reading through threads.

So I think I have step 1 down. I know someone who can get me the headlight (euro spec and non-AHL) so now I'll need to look into someone who can do the conversion.

Well, the non adaptive euros should work, and is a direct swap. I have euros on my pre-LCI car originally with xenon, and it's just direct plug and play.

Perhaps someone can work out a kit for you to install them properly. Rajat (DESI4LIFE) has installed a kit himself and he is pretty happy with it, you can also PM him too.

[CRS]

hahaha I have so many PMs going in and out. I feel like a total noob.

Thanks for all your help/support SGxi