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LED Headlights Replacement

Discuss your latest mods or ideas, and anything to do with the BMW X5 (E53).
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aemirandas
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LED Headlights Replacement

Post by aemirandas » Tue Jul 11, 2017 9:06 pm

Hello Forum:

I own a X5 2006, and I want to replace the lights front and rear, with new LED Headlights.

Have you do the replacement successfully and, where did you buy the lights or how did you do?

I live in Panama

Thanks

Abdel

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X5Sport
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Re: LED Headlights Replacement

Post by X5Sport » Tue Jul 11, 2017 9:36 pm

For the UK the issue is that these lamps are not 'E' approved and therefore not for use on the public roads and because of that few drivers will risk it.  Your local rules may be more relaxed.

There are suppliers such as HIDS Direct who offer kits.  What you will have to look out for is the bulb check warnings so you either have to fit CAN bus compatible lamps, code out the bulb check or fit canbus error cancellation kits on each bulb connection.

HID kits (aka Xenon) are a better solution and plenty of folks on here have done that mod so have a search around  :)
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aemirandas
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Re: LED Headlights Replacement

Post by aemirandas » Tue Jul 11, 2017 9:47 pm

Thank you for your answer.
So, your recommend HID instead of LED.
Here in Panama there are no such a restriction with lights (yet)
But if more users are changing the regular lights to HID, I think it's better to considered to change them to LED
I will search to see if i can find someone who can give me more details

Thanks.

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Re: LED Headlights Replacement

Post by X5Sport » Tue Jul 11, 2017 10:00 pm

Lights other than headlights (so side/tail, brake, number plate, indicators etc) are no issue for LED - apart from the CANBUS warnings.

Angel eye conversions to LED are not as bright as the later E70 model X5.

LED headlights are relatively new technology as an aftermarket fit.  New cars are getting them from factory but they don't appear to use any of the 'standard' H-family (H1/2/3/4 etc) lamp bases.

BMW did offer a retrofit for later E70/71 models, but it was over £6,000 plus fitting!
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Alan Gunn
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Re: LED Headlights Replacement

Post by Alan Gunn » Wed Jul 12, 2017 5:48 am

Just put some HB3 LED's in my e53 main-beam and they look white.

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Re: LED Headlights Replacement

Post by Imy » Wed Jul 12, 2017 11:01 am

LED's will be the way forward. The heat coming from them is less and its a much more straight forward fit. you dont need to mess around with ballasts etc. Its just a bulb replacement.

They wont be as bright as HID but they wont consume as much power or flicker.

aemirandas
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Re: LED Headlights Replacement

Post by aemirandas » Wed Jul 12, 2017 2:42 pm

Hi everyone,

Where, over internet, I can buy Xenon Headlights or LED Headlights (Front and Rear) for my 2006 X5 and also all the replace pieces or parts, they need to be changed or replaced, in order to use it properly?

Thanks a lot
Abdel

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Re: LED Headlights Replacement

Post by Alan Gunn » Wed Jul 12, 2017 3:04 pm

[quote="aemirandas"]
Hi everyone,

Where, over internet, I can buy Xenon Headlights or LED Headlights (Front and Rear) for my 2006 X5 and also all the replace pieces or parts, they need to be changed or replaced, in order to use it properly?

Thanks a lot
Abdel
[/quote]
Amazon

aemirandas
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Re: LED Headlights Replacement

Post by aemirandas » Wed Jul 12, 2017 3:19 pm

Thank you
I will try to see if I can find someone on Amazon, which works properly on my E53 2006 X5, without any problem/issue/error

AM

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Re: LED Headlights Replacement

Post by X5Sport » Wed Jul 12, 2017 6:10 pm

HIDS Direct and lots of other UK sellers too.
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aemirandas
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Re: LED Headlights Replacement

Post by aemirandas » Wed Jul 12, 2017 8:40 pm

Thank you so much....

My final question or concern is:
I must replace the whole case or headlight (front and rear) to be able  to use HID Xenon or, it's enough to buy HID Kit and Xenon Bulbs and they should Fit in the original Headlight (Front and Rear) cases?

Thanks in advanced
Abdel

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Re: LED Headlights Replacement

Post by X5Sport » Wed Jul 12, 2017 9:25 pm

Depends upon the kit.  Some go straight into the bulb holders but others need some modification.  Have a search on here to see what others have done.

Rear lighting does not use HID so a straight bulb swap.
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Re: LED Headlights Replacement

Post by Imy » Thu Jul 13, 2017 7:35 am

They should be straight plug and play. Connect the plugs into the ballasts then the ballasts into the bulbs. So long as you buy the correct bulb ie. H1 h7 etc you should be good to go.

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