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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BMW 5-Series (F10) Forums Regional Forums UK 520D spec: LED frt indicators & headlamp wash?
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      03-17-2011, 03:40 AM   #1
Z4C_luvver
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520D spec: LED frt indicators & headlamp wash?

Hi out there.

Is the headlamp washer system standard on a 520D?

Also, I saw how someone put LED units into their indicator housings to replace the incandescent bulb, but looking at various 520's on the web, it doesn't seem clear whether LED is standard or an option in the UK.

Anyone?
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      03-17-2011, 03:53 AM   #2
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It's not standard, like everything, it is an option that no salesperson tells you about in full.

Crap angel eyes and yellow indicators with NO washers is standard.

Good angel eyes, LED indicators and washers are all in the xenon setup.

Don't be a dingbat like me, get the xenons !!!!!!
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      03-17-2011, 04:28 AM   #3
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Thanks for that. Aaah, too late for me. Mine's already half way down the line, I'm guessing.

Oh well, it's aftermarket bulbs for me!!!
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      03-17-2011, 03:01 PM   #4
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Visibility pack with xenons and all the other toys is awesome, I like the hi-beam assist best, no need to flick the dip/main beam switch on dark roads. So glad I included it.
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      03-17-2011, 03:45 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andyk500 View Post
Visibility pack with xenons and all the other toys is awesome, I like the hi-beam assist best, no need to flick the dip/main beam switch on dark roads. So glad I included it.
Yes, the auto-dip is very handy, but what really shines, so to speak, are the swivelling headlights. Up here in Scotland we're blessed with miles of unlit twisty country roads; it's fantastic to see around the corners before you get there - night driving is a real pleasure.
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      03-18-2011, 06:18 AM   #6
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So guys, tell me, what's the difference between crap and great angel eyes? A blue/white bulb? A LED bulb?

Is it just a bulb change or are there fundamental differences in the halo units?
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      03-18-2011, 08:28 AM   #7
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BIG difference in the entire unit !

The xenon setup has brilliant White angel eyes that are used as daytime driving lights ( light setting in the OFF position ).

You don't get this with the halogens. When the lights are in the OFF position, you don't get ANY daytime driving lights. The only way you can light up the angel eyes ( which are half brightness on halogen setup ) is to turn the sidelights on or the auto lights, but I assure you, the halogen angel eyes are rubbish until it is nearly night time !!

I wasn't made aware of this in any showroom i visited before buying the car and to be honest, I'm not very happy about it. You don't see Audi's driving around with half the brighness LED's on the front, it's their trademark, and the angel eyes are supposed to be BMW's trademark.

Big mistake from BMW.

Apart from the lights though, I absolutely love the car from top to toe. It's far better than the E92 that I have just got rid of. ( which had xenon angel eyes !!! )
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      03-18-2011, 08:32 AM   #8
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Sorry, to answer your question,

The crap angel eyes are White LED but not very bright.
Not sure if xenons are xenon or LED but they are really really bright.

I don't think you can simply change the bulb, I think it would be a complete headlamp change, and they are not cheap !!!
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      03-18-2011, 08:39 AM   #9
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I've seen other posts that talk of all sorts of error codes and melted plastics... I'm not sure what oem parts exist and how easily you could change the whole headlight cluster...
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      03-18-2011, 08:55 AM   #10
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[QUOTE=Adiparker;9155872]BIG difference in the entire unit !

. You don't see Audi's driving around with half the brighness LED's on the front, it's their trademark, and the angel eyes are supposed to be BMW's trademark.

Big mistake from BMW.





....erm actually you do...those chavvy LED running strips on Audis only come if you tick the Xenon box. If you dont you get 'yellow' halogen strips or bulb.

So exactly as the BMW......not a big mistake from BMW but I will agree with you that their options are quite confusing to decipher at times.
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      03-18-2011, 08:56 AM   #11
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Yep you need to be carefull with error codes and idrive displaying faults when you change bulbs, Had this a lot of times with my previous X5, more than happy with my F10 though,

I didnt have xenons this time as i bought a 5 month old ex demo that was very well spec'd up but no xenons and decided to save £10000 on buying a brand new one..The halo rings are a lot brighter white than on my previous X5 or the 3 Series loaner i had yesterday...

Last edited by cliveywolves; 03-18-2011 at 09:09 AM.. Reason: text
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      03-19-2011, 05:50 AM   #12
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Here are a few photos of the arse end of a light unit. I'm guessing the hatch for the Angel Eye light units is the oval-ish one at the bottom.

If you look in the 2nd and 3rd photos and look past the main reflector towards the 'front' of the light unit, it looks like you can see the base of the AE units (the white 'L' shaped item). In the 3rd photo there seems to be wires inside the block that the oval port covers.

Has anyone removed this cover and peered inside?
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      03-31-2011, 01:59 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt01 View Post
I've seen other posts that talk of all sorts of error codes and melted plastics... I'm not sure what oem parts exist and how easily you could change the whole headlight cluster...
On a slightly different off-topic tangent , I like many others have the (crap) halogen lights. I recently replaced all 4 bulbs for dip and main beam with Osram Nightbreaker Plus bulbs (H7 55w) - there is a definite difference with these bulbs!

Night time driving is much better - but nowhere near as good as with Xenons. Still for £15 a pair you can't go wrong. A mere £30 sorts out the dipped and main beams with no danger of error codes or melted plastics.

By the way, the standard OEM dipped/main bulbs are Osram (but *not* Nightbreaker Plus), the Nightbreaker Plus bulbs give a much whiter light (and are less embarrassing, lol).
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      04-05-2011, 04:02 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sundance View Post
On a slightly different off-topic tangent , I like many others have the (crap) halogen lights. I recently replaced all 4 bulbs for dip and main beam with Osram Nightbreaker Plus bulbs (H7 55w) - there is a definite difference with these bulbs!

Night time driving is much better - but nowhere near as good as with Xenons. Still for £15 a pair you can't go wrong. A mere £30 sorts out the dipped and main beams with no danger of error codes or melted plastics.

By the way, the standard OEM dipped/main bulbs are Osram (but *not* Nightbreaker Plus), the Nightbreaker Plus bulbs give a much whiter light (and are less embarrassing, lol).
Hi ,

Easy to change bulbs on your F10 ? It was a mare on my previous X5 E70 used to rip your hands to bits , I think I'll give these a go for £30.
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      04-06-2011, 04:16 AM   #15
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so how easy is it to change the bulbs? Looks like you have to get at them through the wheel arch - looking at the manual
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      04-07-2011, 04:07 PM   #16
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Absolute fooking nightmare to replace the bulbs, especially the dipped beams. And yes, they are accessed through the wheel arches.

Still a worthwhile mod to do though...
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      04-08-2011, 03:44 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sundance View Post
Absolute fooking nightmare to replace the bulbs, especially the dipped beams. And yes, they are accessed through the wheel arches.

Still a worthwhile mod to do though...

hA hA... knew it would be all new BMW's are a nightmare

how long did it take you to change them all ??
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      04-10-2011, 03:28 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cliveywolves View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by sundance View Post
Absolute fooking nightmare to replace the bulbs, especially the dipped beams. And yes, they are accessed through the wheel arches.

Still a worthwhile mod to do though...

hA hA... knew it would be all new BMW's are a nightmare

how long did it take you to change them all ??
About an hour of frustration and grazing knuckles. I am sure the main dealers have special tools for this, or maybe they just have the 'knack'...
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      04-12-2011, 07:49 PM   #19
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Does anyone know if it is possible to retro fit a xenon unit onto a car which came out with halogen from the factory
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      04-13-2011, 03:00 AM   #20
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+1

I want to know too !!!!
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      04-21-2011, 12:39 AM   #21
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In the UK I believe if you retrofit Xenons you need to have a self leveling mechanism and wash wipers for the lights themselves.

Lots of discussion on pistonheads forums about this.

Police are cracking down on 'aftermarket' HID kits as well so some of their legality is being drawn into question.
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      04-21-2011, 09:11 AM   #22
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Can you not just buy the official xenon full headlamps from BMW and fit them in place of halogens ?
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