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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Cosmetic and Lighting Modifications (exterior/interior) > H7 LED Headlights UK



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      08-07-2022, 11:41 AM   #1
avi312singh
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H7 LED Headlights UK

Hi has anyone managed to get any LED headlights to replace low and high beam which will actually pass an MOT?

I have bought HID kits and LEDs in the past but have all failed MOTs... I have halogens at the moment with LED angel eyes, and the two turned on together with the white and yellow colour just look silly at the same time
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      08-08-2022, 04:18 PM   #2
Captain Buumer
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Keep halogen there and be happy they don't look silly and they function properly.

Well, there is a way to achieve your goal but it needs investment since you strive for HID & LED:

If you retrofit OEM HID system: full headlights that accept D1S bulb, auto leveling sensors, headlight washers.
This way you still pass the MOT, have greatly improved headlights but there is still a problem, we have high beam halogen H7 that is yellow and well ... silly?

Then swap out the OEM projector for something better - retrofitlab has some good ones. Can go HID or LED route - both excellent.

Make sure the bi-xenon function is activated and usable - this part is crucial in our plan.

And now you are ready for the journey to beat yellow.

Since the main beam is now powerful enough and focuses more light ahead that H7 halogen high beam barely makes any difference when used.
Essentially we ended up with OEM healights with improved clear lens projector.

Now you can swap H7 halogen with proper led, F5C for example that has true LED output equivalent of about 50+Watts. Not just theoretical specification of the led (marketing trick). The downside is that it has about 300...500 hours of usage until it literally burns hole into the LED because it is not possible to cool ~50W LED in headlight housing with tiny fan that is progressively heating up. Watercooling is only option but i don't think anyone would do that.
Some LEDs running on lower current will last longer but what's the point if they are worse than halogen H7 in sending concentrated usable light ahead. And eventually all LEDs will die that run over 20W with the "slim design".
OEM ones have chunks of metal to spread the heat & they still overheat eventually and die.

The high beam output is now greatly improved, it is LED and it's now NOT YELLOW.
Because LED never properly functions in halogen designed housing it spreads main light ahead but scatters some around it. It's like light cannons shooting ahead and blinding all drivers. But in night time driving, alone, in mostly country roads - this is preferred.
However the HID projectors have much more focused output now. If used wrong it is equally blinding.
So the main thing we gained is improved illumination to the sides of the road and slightly ahead also.

Because the main beam(HID) is that powerful (in bi-xenon mode) the added LED is not that noticeable (when looking towards headlights but definitely there). Usually what MOT does.
I have not had problems in MOT with this combination.
There is the talk about what is right or wrong but in this context however it's more of a when to use high beams, switching timing etc...
The low beams are properly aimed and high beams - well they put out more light.

So if you really want to improve lightning this is the road to take.
If it's just yellow color that you want to get rid of... there are some less yellow halogen bulbs to try out.
There is also halogen angel eyes to perfect the halogen look.

Still, the annoying drivers are who put HID or LED in low beams that is not projector - guaranteed blinding.
But that's not that bad compared to newer OEM LED systems that basically shoot a lazer into your eye if they set it to react slowly. The mirrors sometimes work slow.

Both cases flashing high beam once sends a message & the other case - automation speeds up the adjustment and hopefully driver sets reaction time back to normal or fast.

Last edited by Captain Buumer; 08-08-2022 at 04:58 PM..
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      08-10-2022, 05:22 PM   #3
avi312singh
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Buumer View Post
Keep halogen there and be happy they don't look silly and they function properly.

Well, there is a way to achieve your goal but it needs investment since you strive for HID & LED:

If you retrofit OEM HID system: full headlights that accept D1S bulb, auto leveling sensors, headlight washers.
This way you still pass the MOT, have greatly improved headlights but there is still a problem, we have high beam halogen H7 that is yellow and well ... silly?

Then swap out the OEM projector for something better - retrofitlab has some good ones. Can go HID or LED route - both excellent.

Make sure the bi-xenon function is activated and usable - this part is crucial in our plan.

And now you are ready for the journey to beat yellow.

Since the main beam is now powerful enough and focuses more light ahead that H7 halogen high beam barely makes any difference when used.
Essentially we ended up with OEM healights with improved clear lens projector.

Now you can swap H7 halogen with proper led, F5C for example that has true LED output equivalent of about 50+Watts. Not just theoretical specification of the led (marketing trick). The downside is that it has about 300...500 hours of usage until it literally burns hole into the LED because it is not possible to cool ~50W LED in headlight housing with tiny fan that is progressively heating up. Watercooling is only option but i don't think anyone would do that.
Some LEDs running on lower current will last longer but what's the point if they are worse than halogen H7 in sending concentrated usable light ahead. And eventually all LEDs will die that run over 20W with the "slim design".
OEM ones have chunks of metal to spread the heat & they still overheat eventually and die.

The high beam output is now greatly improved, it is LED and it's now NOT YELLOW.
Because LED never properly functions in halogen designed housing it spreads main light ahead but scatters some around it. It's like light cannons shooting ahead and blinding all drivers. But in night time driving, alone, in mostly country roads - this is preferred.
However the HID projectors have much more focused output now. If used wrong it is equally blinding.
So the main thing we gained is improved illumination to the sides of the road and slightly ahead also.

Because the main beam(HID) is that powerful (in bi-xenon mode) the added LED is not that noticeable (when looking towards headlights but definitely there). Usually what MOT does.
I have not had problems in MOT with this combination.
There is the talk about what is right or wrong but in this context however it's more of a when to use high beams, switching timing etc...
The low beams are properly aimed and high beams - well they put out more light.

So if you really want to improve lightning this is the road to take.
If it's just yellow color that you want to get rid of... there are some less yellow halogen bulbs to try out.
There is also halogen angel eyes to perfect the halogen look.

Still, the annoying drivers are who put HID or LED in low beams that is not projector - guaranteed blinding.
But that's not that bad compared to newer OEM LED systems that basically shoot a lazer into your eye if they set it to react slowly. The mirrors sometimes work slow.

Both cases flashing high beam once sends a message & the other case - automation speeds up the adjustment and hopefully driver sets reaction time back to normal or fast.
Wow.. thanks for the useful info - do you have an E90 atm? Could you send me the links of the parts you got for your setup... What colour do you have at the moment?
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