[smoorebmw]

I posted this in the f10 - m5 general board and thought you guys may want to see too.


6 months ago I went through the fun process of buying an F10 M5 and top on my priority list was finding a 2014+ with the "lighting package". I came across an offer I couldn't refuse - 2013 with 6,800 miles with all the other options on my list, B&O, Black Piano Trim, white-dove leather, exe pkg.... So I pulled the trigger. Because I didn't find one with the "lighting package" one of the first things I went shopping for was a full LED headlight conversion. After some googling I come to find I'd need to fly a Russian and some unicorns into the States to complete the conversion - plus many thousands of $$$$...That not being an option I walked away defeated and accepted my fate. Well so I thought, then I get word that Umnitza (who I've done business with before for my e39 540i 10 years prior) had a plug and play solution for the F10 ( https://www.umnitza.com/browse-by-ca...ngel-eyes.html ) I figured it was to good too be true so I gave them a call and discussed this option with Matt (Owner). He assured me this route is a great way to go and I'd be more than happy with the outcome. He informed me that I would need to get my car coded because it would throw the "active headlight" fault and the "Left/Right Cornering light" fault due to the fact the after market LED lights are NOT active and will not move Left/Right when cornering. However, he went on to explain that the lights WILL activate a small LED light during turns to make up for the "active feature". Taking no chances I agreed to order the lights but under one condition that they'd do the install. I also emailed SFCODINGdotCOM to verify they could code out my faults after the install, Adrian (coder) confirmed. This last weekend I was able to make the trip from San Diego to San Francisco. I met with Matt first thing Monday morning and he completed the install.



here is the install video Umnitza put together the morning of my install.

He took about 2 hours to install but that was only because he wanted to make an install video along the way. I figure it could have been done in 45 min without the interruptions. Once completed and as promised my car threw codes



luckily for me my next stop was to SFCODING to fix the issue. I meet Adrian (coder) and 45 min later my cars is back with no fault lights. See below for the codes he adjusted.

LWR_AHL_TYP = ohne (removes adaptive feature)
FLC_AKTIV - to nicht aktiv (fixes cornering fault)


Review

(Let me start off by saying that my GF has the 2016 f80 M3 with the lighting package so I have lots of experience with the real thing.

I couldn't be happier with the final result!!! The look is nearly identical to the OEM lights with small minor changes that most of you wouldn't even be able to spot. Also I do NOT miss the active headlights because the LED light feature when turning is actually quite impressive. First let's look at the quality and detail of the light.

OEM



Umnitza After Market - nearly matches the real thing




Top View Installed (looks and fits like OEM - flush)



Looks A+!!!!!









Performance A++!!!
These lights are even brighter than Stock Xenons and to be honest they are brighter than my GF's M3 with lighting package. They are CRAZY BRIGHT!!! I think they need to be aimed down a bit to give a more flood like light towards the bottom left and right. I think I blinded many drivers on my 7 hour night drive home.



Brights - very BRIGHT and make everything look as if it was day



Daytime running light matches the stock LED lights with the white light bar at the top and the blinkers are amber when flashing



I highly recommend this upgrade! This car looks entirely different and the performance of the lights are WAYYY better than stock. I did experience some moisture in the lights after I first powered them up but it went away after a few hours, I believe it was due to some of the glue moisture it burnt off, it never returned after that. I have also completed my first high pressure car wash water test with no issues. I have more pics and can take more if you guys are interested. Give Matt a call at Umnitza ( www.umnitza.com ) If you decide to have them install the lights I also highly recommend using SFCODINGdotCOM I am in no way affiliated with either party.

-Stephen

[Sedoy]

Great review! Just wondering why it took 45 min. to code for only 2 parameters? Did he code anything else?

[DigitalNav]

Holy cow... tempted... but that price...

[Bruno112]

No addiotional moduls?

[xxpanipuri]

Looks awesome. I have the led lights and that is my single favorite option on the car!

[smoorebmw]

Originally Posted by Bruno112

No addiotional moduls?

you switch out the current module from the Xenon to the new replacement light. They demonstrate this in the install video.

[DigitalNav]

I love on my Xenon when the lights turn when i turn the steering, Hows the workaround for this? How bright? Any video or pics?

[550Reasons]

Oh wow nice upgrade, looks great.
If you do the steering wheel and tail lights you basically got a LCI lol

[DigitalNav]

I spoke with them, $2100 including install. Not sure if its worth it at that price point... unless I could sell the ones on my car now for a nice return.

[smoorebmw]

Originally Posted by DigitalNav

I love on my Xenon when the lights turn when i turn the steering, Hows the workaround for this? How bright? Any video or pics?

The turning function is just a smaller led lighting up (see up close pic) it works great as far as functioning when the wheel turns BUT it's not ultra bright like the head lights or anything.

Originally Posted by DigitalNav

I spoke with them, $2100 including install. Not sure if its worth it at that price point... unless I could sell the ones on my car now for a nice return.

If I had this install video before my install I would have done it myself, it's really not hard at all. Remember you'll need to code out those faults $50 or so. It's def an investment and forking out that much on lights wasn't easy BUT I really really wanted LED's when I bought my car.

[smoorebmw]

Originally Posted by Sedoy

Great review! Just wondering why it took 45 min. to code for only 2 parameters? Did he code anything else?

Yes, I also coded more options into my car. It also took him some time to find the "Cornering" fault code but eventually found it.

[Stück]

They certainly look good, but I'd be highly concerned about longevity. I've installed enough Umnitza lighting products on friends and customers cars over the years to be very wear of product they sell.

Time and time again I have seen problems will water tightness, and I've seen problems with rubber breaking down and turning gummy, falling apart after a few years.

What happens when the LED driver modules proprietary to these headlamps fail? Have you verified there is a reliable supply chain to get repair parts in the future?

I don't think these would work with LCI cars, the headlamp module you need to switch over is a different size, pinout.

[Bayerish Reisenden]

So for a 2012 F10 with bixenon it is totally plug&play ? I've only to code the car to remove the fault code ?

[Nelson@BimmerTech]

Originally Posted by DigitalNav

I spoke with them, $2100 including install. Not sure if its worth it at that price point... unless I could sell the ones on my car now for a nice return.

OEM LED headlight retrofit is about $6000-$7000 for just parts.

[Sedoy]

Originally Posted by smoorebmw

...
Performance A++!!!
These lights are even brighter than Stock Xenons and to be honest they are brighter than my GF's M3 with lighting package. They are CRAZY BRIGHT!!! I think they need to be aimed down a bit to give a more flood like light towards the bottom left and right. I think I blinded many drivers on my 7 hour night drive home
...

If you could compare your GF's M3 LEDs vs. yours somewhere about 45 ft. from a white wall at night that would be awesome. It would greatly help many fellows to make a decision as they are not cheap. Here is an example how HIDPlanet normally does the comparison:

Originally Posted by smoorebmw

...
Performance A++!!!
These lights are even brighter than Stock Xenons and to be honest they are brighter than my GF's M3 with lighting package. They are CRAZY BRIGHT!!! I think they need to be aimed down a bit to give a more flood like light towards the bottom left and right. I think I blinded many drivers on my 7 hour night drive home

[DigitalNav]

Originally Posted by Nelson@BimmerTech

OEM LED headlight retrofit is about $6000-$7000 for just parts.

very true... just a steep price.

Was curious to see a better comparison picture side by side of brightness. Not going to light I wish the XENONS aimed a bit higher. I have to use my highbeams a lot.

[Stück]

Originally Posted by DigitalNav

I wish the XENONS aimed a bit higher. I have to use my highbeams a lot.

You know you can manually aim them higher with a 6mm allen key right? Flip up the trap door in the engine bay trim and the adjustment knob is right there on top, white in color. Turn it one way to raise, the other to lower.

[DigitalNav]

Originally Posted by Stück

You know you can manually aim them higher with a 6mm allen key right? Flip up the trap door in the engine bay trim and the adjustment knob is right there on top, white in color. Turn it one way to raise, the other to lower.

What the.... il ldo this tomorrow.

[Bayerish Reisenden]

Hi here,

So according to the video, these headlights have the same plug, so there is nothing to do on the hard side. You have only to move the electonic board from the old headlights to the new headlights.
And you need to do this coding :
LWR_AHL_TYP = ohne (removes adaptive feature)
FLC_AKTIV - to nicht aktiv (fixes cornering fault)

that requires nothing else ?

[SilverRevlis]

Originally Posted by Stück

You know you can manually aim them higher with a 6mm allen key right? Flip up the trap door in the engine bay trim and the adjustment knob is right there on top, white in color. Turn it one way to raise, the other to lower.

I will be also doing this tonight!!

[smoorebmw]

Originally Posted by Stück

They certainly look good, but I'd be highly concerned about longevity. I've installed enough Umnitza lighting products on friends and customers cars over the years to be very wear of product they sell.

Time and time again I have seen problems will water tightness, and I've seen problems with rubber breaking down and turning gummy, falling apart after a few years.

What happens when the LED driver modules proprietary to these headlamps fail? Have you verified there is a reliable supply chain to get repair parts in the future?

I don't think these would work with LCI cars, the headlamp module you need to switch over is a different size, pinout.

I share your concern....I have a 1 year warranty and it helps me sleep a little better.

Originally Posted by Sedoy

If you could compare your GF's M3 LEDs vs. yours somewhere about 45 ft. from a white wall at night that would be awesome. It would greatly help many fellows to make a decision as they are not cheap. Here is an example how HIDPlanet normally does the comparison:

Maybe I'll take some shots later today.

Originally Posted by DigitalNav

very true... just a steep price.

Was curious to see a better comparison picture side by side of brightness. Not going to light I wish the XENONS aimed a bit higher. I have to use my highbeams a lot.

See pic below, took this last night and I was comparing to every light i went past and NOTHING held a candle (forgive the expression) to these lights.

Originally Posted by Bayerish Reisenden

Hi here,

So according to the video, these headlights have the same plug, so there is nothing to do on the hard side. You have only to move the electonic board from the old headlights to the new headlights.
And you need to do this coding :
LWR_AHL_TYP = ohne (removes adaptive feature)
FLC_AKTIV - to nicht aktiv (fixes cornering fault)

that requires nothing else ?

That is correct, fairly simple switch and I'm loving my lights.

[S1ammin]

The adjustment for headlight level on my 2013 535 M-Sport must be different than you guys. Mine is the plastic round knob the looks like the rook chess piece. I turn it by hand, clockwise to lower the lights, counter-clockwise to raise them.

The adjustment that requires the allen wrench, to my understanding, aims them left and right. I turned one of them at least 15 turns but could not notice any effect but it's probably because I was in my garage. But for sure, at least on my car, it is the rook looking knob itself, not the allen screw in the middle of it that adjusts my up/down of the headlights.