|
|
|
|
|
|
BMW Garage | BMW Meets | Register | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
|
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
>
2009 335, adaptive headlights, how to make them as bright as modern cars?
|
|
05-01-2019, 09:56 AM | #1 |
Major
640
Rep 1,245
Posts |
2009 335, adaptive headlights, how to make them as bright as modern cars?
The headlights on my 09 LCI with adaptive function work, everything does what it should except throw decent light. My wifes base model mk6 jetta with halogens easily puts more light on the road. These things are dim to the point of being dangerous in the rain.
How can I perk them up? I'm halfway sure its just the age of the original bulbs, as I know HID bulbs wear out over time. I'm tempted to put another stock set in, but dont want to fork out the cash and be disappointed with output still. Anyone throw me some ideas on how to make these things perform even close to what modern cars can do? Had a mazda6 rental with HIDs that put these to absolute shame. Was next to a tesla this morning and then a new fusion right in front of him, didn't even look like my headlights were on compared to theirs.
__________________
2009 335i xDrive AT / 177k+ miles
PSP 750ic / Fuel-It! Stage 1 / BMS CP / Sutphin Tuning / RFP E50 11.61 @ 117.5 New setup; Covid 19Ts on RFP 93 + ARM inlets, dp, VTT cp and PSP outlets |
05-01-2019, 02:33 PM | #2 | |
Private First Class
33
Rep 112
Posts
Drives: F10 M5 | E92 335i
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: New Jersey
|
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-01-2019, 03:29 PM | #3 | ||
Major
640
Rep 1,245
Posts |
Quote:
What's wrong with it? When there cars were new the lights were reportedly very bright.
__________________
2009 335i xDrive AT / 177k+ miles
PSP 750ic / Fuel-It! Stage 1 / BMS CP / Sutphin Tuning / RFP E50 11.61 @ 117.5 New setup; Covid 19Ts on RFP 93 + ARM inlets, dp, VTT cp and PSP outlets |
||
Appreciate
0
|
05-02-2019, 11:47 AM | #4 | |
New Member
3
Rep 10
Posts |
Quote:
Light output was poor, worse than halogens I had on it before the retrofit. When they've opened them up they've found that three things were wrong: - reflective coating in the projector burns off from heat - burned stuff from the reflector, dust and whatnot leaves residue on the projector lens - HID bulbs do age and need to be replaced. Open them up to check the condition of the reflective coating in projectors. Mine were okayish - slightly burned, but still functional, so I left them as they were with plans to change reflectors in two or three years. Changed the car instead, hehe. Cleaning the lenses up improved focus but didn't affect output much. Changing bulbs to Philips-something +150% made night and day difference. I believe cleaned lenses did play their part here, because simply changing bulbs on a X1 of a similar age and mileage didn't bring the same improvement. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-03-2019, 01:08 PM | #5 |
Captain
162
Rep 603
Posts |
Unless you are willing to to put in a bunch of money and/or time a bulb upgrade is your only option. Osram Nightbreaker Laser or Philips Extreme Vision 2 if you want the most light output. Philips White Vision Gen 2 if you still want good output and a whiter color temp. Swapping out my original bulbs to Philips WHV2 made a significant difference. Make no mistake, it's not up to modern LED or HID headlight standards, but it's much better than it was.
E90 headlight housings are a PITA. They are perma-sealed so they are a bear to get in to. There are no known drop-in clear lens solutions that work and changing out the entire projector is a pain due to the AHL swivel mechanism. |
Appreciate
0
|
05-06-2019, 06:32 AM | #6 |
Major
640
Rep 1,245
Posts |
Thank you for the info guys, I think i'm just going to roll the dice on some White Vision Gen 2 bulbs and see what just only that does for me.
As long as they are working properly I probably wont tear them apart, just want more light on the road for myself is all.
__________________
2009 335i xDrive AT / 177k+ miles
PSP 750ic / Fuel-It! Stage 1 / BMS CP / Sutphin Tuning / RFP E50 11.61 @ 117.5 New setup; Covid 19Ts on RFP 93 + ARM inlets, dp, VTT cp and PSP outlets |
Appreciate
0
|
05-08-2019, 02:22 PM | #7 | |
Captain
433
Rep 600
Posts
Drives: TiAg e91, r53 Cooper S, e28 M5
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Santa Barbara/Modena
|
Quote:
My plan right now is to give the headlights a good polish and upgrade the bulbs. If I still think the output is lacking, I might crack them open and see if I can fit a lexus RX350 projectors with a sti clear lens on the stock adaptive bracket, and then do something along the lines of a Profile HiLED projector in the inside FTP spot. Code to AE for DRL instead of the inside flash to pass. and then the Profile HiLED should work as just a flash to pass. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-15-2019, 02:00 AM | #8 |
台灣人
36
Rep 386
Posts |
Check my post at #62, the first picture you can tell how foggy the lens is (my car is 2011 E90, 8 years). This build up on all glasses with moisture
|
Appreciate
2
type-dRew640.00 dakine_surf432.50 |
05-15-2019, 08:04 PM | #9 | |
Captain
433
Rep 600
Posts
Drives: TiAg e91, r53 Cooper S, e28 M5
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Santa Barbara/Modena
|
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-05-2019, 01:51 PM | #10 | |
Second Lieutenant
20
Rep 209
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
2008 335xi - JB5 ISO e50, VFSR catless DP, DCI, VFSR FMIC. Fuel it stage 1, VMR V710s. 407/446 rwhp/rwtq.
2004 Cobra - Basic bolt ons with a tune. 450rwhp/rwtq450. Port coming soon. 2013 X5 50i - muffler delete, xHP tune, ESS tune on the way. 2016 Mustang GT Roush Phase 2 with VMP 767 HP kit. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-05-2019, 02:19 PM | #11 | |
Captain
433
Rep 600
Posts
Drives: TiAg e91, r53 Cooper S, e28 M5
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Santa Barbara/Modena
|
Quote:
A lexus RX350 or LS projector will blow the OEM BMW units out of the water. Cutoff is like a laser beam, width is nearly 2 to 3 times of the BMW units. A polish only makes the headlight cover clear... that does not effect performance of the headlights, unless your headlights are crusty and faded (mine are not), its not gonna do anything. Brighter isn't always better... I want focus, clarity, cutoff, and width before I even think about upping the power. |
|
Appreciate
1
wdb4673.00 |
06-05-2019, 03:37 PM | #12 | |
Second Lieutenant
20
Rep 209
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
2008 335xi - JB5 ISO e50, VFSR catless DP, DCI, VFSR FMIC. Fuel it stage 1, VMR V710s. 407/446 rwhp/rwtq.
2004 Cobra - Basic bolt ons with a tune. 450rwhp/rwtq450. Port coming soon. 2013 X5 50i - muffler delete, xHP tune, ESS tune on the way. 2016 Mustang GT Roush Phase 2 with VMP 767 HP kit. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-05-2019, 04:45 PM | #13 | |
Captain
433
Rep 600
Posts
Drives: TiAg e91, r53 Cooper S, e28 M5
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Santa Barbara/Modena
|
Quote:
Honestly the US e90 adaptive projectors are among the poorest performing HID projectors I've seen (again I design LED projectors and chips for a living for many of the OEM manufacturers)... the tech in them when new in 2006 wasn't even cutting edge. The OEM xenon projector lenses use fresnel lenses, are normally semi-frosted and or have small lines embedded into the glass, along with a big oblong line across it. This is to help dim the beam and soften the output of your projectors for US DOT standards. You are not getting the full performance out of your projectors as you should. A clear lens will help but it need to be the correct focal point. As it stands STI-R clear lenses work the best on Pre-LCI and LCI sedans and the ZKW-R is best on coupes due to the focal points. But again this is still utilizing the stock projector which leaves much to be desired... RX350 would solve it all if an adapter plate can be made to attach it to the stock gimbal. I believe there are adapters that will allow you to stuff a Hella 5GR (which can be modded easily), but the EvoXR and RX350 are much better projectors. Now if we are just talking about refreshing the headlights to get it back to how it came from the factory, then its not just the headlight cover that needs a polish either... the actual projector lens will have residue on it from the years... especially if you have had a bulb burst. Opening them up and cleaning the lens, polishing the outer cover, and new bulbs will help get you back to factory performance... But again, factory e9x Adaptive headlights are pretty poor in the performance category. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-05-2019, 05:06 PM | #14 | |
Second Lieutenant
20
Rep 209
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-08-2019, 09:47 PM | #15 |
Captain
245
Rep 612
Posts |
They can be cleaned
My lights are bright as hell. BUT I just took them apart to convert them to LED halo rings and while they were apart I removed and cleaned haze off of the inside and outside of the magnifier lens and the silver reflector. They get a dirty haze on them that makes them dull. I could see a huge difference after cleaning. Just be very gentle with the reflectors. They are polished metal and use should clean them GENTLY with a dry microfiber cloth. What I also discovered was that one of my projector reflectors was kind of burnt and the silver on the inside had a brown spots on them. I talked to guy at a body shop and he gave me a BMW headlight from a totally different model but on the inside the actual reflector and Xenon bulb with magnifying lens was basically the same. The only difference was the part that retained the bulb was a different design but works fine because it still takes the same bulb. You can see the difference in brightness. I did also use a different "color bulb when I did the retrofit but you can still see one is lot brighter than the other. The beams are now much more defined and sharp too. That is how much cleaning the magnifier lens matters. The only problem is that it is not fun taking the lights apart.
|
Appreciate
1
type-dRew640.00 |
06-11-2019, 08:10 AM | #16 | |
Second Lieutenant
20
Rep 209
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
2008 335xi - JB5 ISO e50, VFSR catless DP, DCI, VFSR FMIC. Fuel it stage 1, VMR V710s. 407/446 rwhp/rwtq.
2004 Cobra - Basic bolt ons with a tune. 450rwhp/rwtq450. Port coming soon. 2013 X5 50i - muffler delete, xHP tune, ESS tune on the way. 2016 Mustang GT Roush Phase 2 with VMP 767 HP kit. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-11-2019, 09:44 AM | #17 | |
Captain
245
Rep 612
Posts |
Quote:
I used some LED halos from Amazon $68.99 you can specify E92, E90, F30 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 These plastic shields from eBay to block the top of the headlight. $27.99 (overpriced, just use vinyl outside the light, it's easier anyway). I put them inside but there was still light escaping high up so I added a carbon fiber vinyl tape outside that matched my hood. https://www.ebay.com/itm/ABS-HEADLIG...72.m2749.l2649 I used these for the white outline of the headlight that turns yellow and gradually goes to one side from Amazon $19.99 https://www.amazon.com/CARLITS-Flexi.../dp/B07K7F7KRS I got some "Dumdum" sealant. It is the black tar like goo that seals the headlights in the same way the factory did. Use this! The light company used it for a reason, because it seals well and lasts but use plenty of it! It was about $35.00 at Napa auto parts and I have enough for the rest of my life now. It was about $152.00 for both headlights. I also replaced on lens that was pretty pitted for about $60 and sanded and polished the other one. Probably better to just buy the lenses. Polishing takes a while and you won't get out deep pits or scratches if you have them. Video of headlight blinking below. Halos don't flash, it was just the video rate that made it look that way. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ARP...ew?usp=sharing |
|
Appreciate
1
type-dRew640.00 |
06-11-2019, 11:15 AM | #18 | |
Second Lieutenant
20
Rep 209
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
2008 335xi - JB5 ISO e50, VFSR catless DP, DCI, VFSR FMIC. Fuel it stage 1, VMR V710s. 407/446 rwhp/rwtq.
2004 Cobra - Basic bolt ons with a tune. 450rwhp/rwtq450. Port coming soon. 2013 X5 50i - muffler delete, xHP tune, ESS tune on the way. 2016 Mustang GT Roush Phase 2 with VMP 767 HP kit. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-11-2019, 12:21 PM | #20 |
Major
640
Rep 1,245
Posts |
Mine are an absolute joke, I was next to a base model 325 at night yesterday in the early evening. His brown yellow halogens lit up the road better than mine
__________________
2009 335i xDrive AT / 177k+ miles
PSP 750ic / Fuel-It! Stage 1 / BMS CP / Sutphin Tuning / RFP E50 11.61 @ 117.5 New setup; Covid 19Ts on RFP 93 + ARM inlets, dp, VTT cp and PSP outlets |
Appreciate
0
|
06-11-2019, 12:26 PM | #21 | |
Major General
2595
Rep 6,227
Posts |
Quote:
But I can see in front of me and it's clean light. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-11-2019, 06:15 PM | #22 |
Captain
245
Rep 612
Posts |
LCI headlights are no better than 2007 pre-LCi headlights or maybe even older. My replacement reflector came from a much newer 2016 4 series. They still use the same D1S bulb, inside the same type of housing with an active shutter and the same 3" magnifier lens. What happens is the older lights develop a haze on the inside and outside of the magnifier lens. Add to that the older plastic lens that may be yellow and have lots of pits and scratches. Take a focus beam flashlight and smear a light coat of Vaseline on the lens. It will be horribly dim and unfocused. The same thing happens with our headlights. I can honestly say that cleaning my lenses inside and out was the best thing I have ever done. Clean optics is WAY more important with Xenon lights than halogen ones. The focal point of the light is very critical. Your light is coming from a very small area so that dirt ore haze matters a lot more.
|
Appreciate
0
|
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|