2011 w/ M sport package. How can you tell if it is LCI?

[1bbp]

Looking at the two pictures in the LCI - NON LCI thread those are both X5 without M sport. With M sport the fogs would be in the lower grill. Unless fogs in lower grill means LCI?

Help

Thanks
1bbp

[smyles]

2011 are all LCI

[1bbp]

Originally Posted by smyles

2011 are all LCI

Thanks, that makes my searching easier.

[rennis]

Originally Posted by 1bbp

Thanks, that makes my searching easier.

You can tell an early 2011 from a later 2011 by the halos. If they're LED/bright white, it's a later production 2011.

[1bbp]

Originally Posted by rennis

You can tell an early 2011 from a later 2011 by the halos. If they're LED/bright white, it's a later production 2011.

Problem is that most for sale ads don't have the lights on.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by rennis

You can tell an early 2011 from a later 2011 by the halos. If they're LED/bright white, it's a later production 2011.

No.. Some LCI had yellow/amber halos.. I think the first 6 months of production or so..
And then they changed it to White LEDs.

Easiest way to tell the difference is the front bumper. The narrower front lower grills on each side are PRE- LCI and the bigger opening grills are LCI.

You can also check by the rear bumpers if the bumpers are color painted match with the body of the car then it is LCI. If it is all black then it is Pre-LCI.

[Kzang]

And the difference in M sport versions.

[rennis]

Originally Posted by Kzang

No.. Some LCI had yellow/amber halos.. I think the first 6 months of production or so..
And then they changed it to White LEDs.

Uhhh...that's exactly what I said, just in reverse order.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by rennis

Uhhh...that's exactly what I said, just in reverse order.

Yes, sorry I re-read your post and I mis-read it.
Thanks

[Draper]

If you have the VIN, you can lookup the production date here.
http://bmwvin.com

[1bbp]

Originally Posted by jzbm3

If you have the VIN, you can lookup the production date here.
http://bmwvin.com

when did they start with the white led?

[Draper]

Originally Posted by 1bbp

when did they start with the white led?

I believe it was around Spring 2011.

[1bbp]

Originally Posted by jzbm3

I believe it was around Spring 2011.

Can't find any made in 2011. Everything I've looked at is 2010 build

[Draper]

Originally Posted by 1bbp

Can't find any made in 2011. Everything I've looked at is 2010 build

That's to be expected. A normal 3 year lease for a 2010 build is up now, or soon. Used late-2011 models won't be widely available for another few months.

[1bbp]

Originally Posted by jzbm3

That's to be expected. A normal 3 year lease for a 2010 build is up now, or soon. Used late-2011 models won't be widely available for another few months.

I guess I'll sit back and watch for a few months and see what happens. While I would like a new car now. I don't need it.

[Draper]

Originally Posted by 1bbp

I guess I'll sit back and watch for a few months and see what happens. While I would like a new car now. I don't need it.

The LED coronas weren't a deal-breaker for me. I just added some LUX H8s, and the difference is close to negligible.

[1bbp]

Originally Posted by jzbm3

The LED coronas weren't a deal-breaker for me. I just added some LUX H8s, and the difference is close to negligible.

Are the LEDs the only difference?

How much was the upgrade?

[Draper]

Originally Posted by 1bbp

Are the LEDs the only difference?

How much was the upgrade?

Yes, the LED coronas came standard on late-2011 and later models, before that they were an optional add-on.

LUX bulbs run $225 a set.
http://luxangeleyes.com/products/lux-h8-v4

[1bbp]

Originally Posted by jzbm3

Yes, the LED coronas came standard on late-2011 and later models, before that they were an optional add-on.

LUX bulbs run $225 a set.
http://luxangeleyes.com/products/lux-h8-v4

Wow easy and cheap. I didn't expect that. With no other differences I'm back on the hunt.

[P1]

Originally Posted by 1bbp

Wow easy and cheap. I didn't expect that. With no other differences I'm back on the hunt.

It will not look the same whatsoever. There is nothing on the market today that can replicate the LED lights that the late build 2011s or later came with. The problem with LUX and other like them is that the inside corona is bright, but the outside corona is much dimmer. Some brands, the outside corona cannot even be seen, especially not in daylight. This is not the fault of the LED bulbs, but it's just a design limitation.

My suggestion? Just look until you find a 2011 with the OEM LEDs or a 2012,especially since you said you don't really need one now.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by P1et

It will not look the same whatsoever. There is nothing on the market today that can replicate the LED lights that the late build 2011s or later came with. The problem with LUX and other like them is that the inside corona is bright, but the outside corona is much dimmer. Some brands, the outside corona cannot even be seen, especially not in daylight. This is not the fault of the LED bulbs, but it's just a design limitation.

My suggestion? Just look until you find a 2011 with the OEM LEDs or a 2012,especially since you said you don't really need one now.

+1

But to the OP, why in the world does a small cosmetic difference such as halo / angel eyes make or break a X5 for you? Its a small factor.

[Draper]

Originally Posted by P1et

It will not look the same whatsoever. There is nothing on the market today that can replicate the LED lights that the late build 2011s or later came with. The problem with LUX and other like them is that the inside corona is bright, but the outside corona is much dimmer. Some brands, the outside corona cannot even be seen, especially not in daylight. This is not the fault of the LED bulbs, but it's just a design limitation.

My suggestion? Just look until you find a 2011 with the OEM LEDs or a 2012,especially since you said you don't really need one now.

For record I never said they would be the same.

LUX will replace the yellow amber light with a bright white light. Are they quite as bright as the OEM led coronas? Maybe not, but it gets you away from the dated yellow look which I think is what the OP is after. I had them on my M3 and in reality they are pretty good.

For me, there were some deal breaker options (adaptive drive, multi-contour seats, premium sound) but the led-corona lights was not one of them.