What are the options for foglight upgrade on 2012 X5d?

[mastek]

Looking for something brighter that might also color match the HID light output for the low beams.

[smyles]

why, do you drive in fog often? or just for the looks and to annoy fellow motorists by blinding them?

[mastek]

What the....??
The foglight color output is yellow vs. the HID low beam color is white.. would just like to match.
And the fog lights point down and to the sides.. so I doubt blinding anyone would be an issue.

I thought this was an adult forum

[smyles]

Originally Posted by mastek

What the....??
The foglight color output is yellow vs. the HID low beam color is white.. would just like to match.
And the fog lights point down and to the sides.. so I doubt blinding anyone would be an issue.

I thought this was an adult forum

It is, thus the questions. LEDs will more or less match the xenons, but with inferior light output. Xenons will most likely blind other drivers, esp. if you choose cheaper options. In any case, most likely you'll have issues like flickering/error messages that coding may or may not resolve.

[335i_4D]

He's right.

If you opt for Xenon because you need the power, you have to be very careful when you cross another car.
Even if they point low and on the side, they'll nevertheless blind oncoming traffic.

If it's just for the look, use LED.

But I do think you may have to go see your dealer, it may throw bad lamp codes...

Don't forget that a BMW "owns" almost everything installed on it.
It may throw a code if you go to the bathroom without asking.

[1HOT BMR]

My experience has proven to me that softer yellowish light works much better in fog, and if you don't go around with your fog lights on all the time then what difference does it make?. I suggest you leave them as they came from the factory - they will be more effective when you really need them.

To answer your question: there are a couple of options I've read about but the people who have switched are not happy because of problems with the installation itself or the throwing of codes like someone already mentioned.

[NRG]

I installed Sylvania ZXE H11 not an exact match to xenons wasn't looking for one, but much whiter and brighter then stock Osram's. No codes and running fine for some time now. You can use any H11 bulb out there.

[mastek]

Originally Posted by NRG

I installed Sylvania ZXE H11 not an exact match to xenons wasn't looking for one, but much whiter and brighter then stock Osram's. No codes and running fine for some time now. You can use any H11 bulb out there.

Thanks -- I'll try that

BTW, I was not EVER going to install an HID ballast kit into a halogen non-projector housing ... thats what causes the "blinding" effect some of you were talking about. I think it should be illegal and I hate and recognize an HID retrofit kit in a non-projection housing right away and start @#$% when I do