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      03-01-2014, 07:40 PM   #1
jiggz
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Upgrading 2011 pre-LED Coronas

I see lots of options out there...Lux for example. How close in color & brightness do these come to the 2012 (or late 2011) OEM LED coronas? I hate super bright angel eyes but I like the blueish light output vs. the yellow.

Anybody got any input?
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      03-01-2014, 09:52 PM   #2
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Why is this forum so pathetic? My first two posts have over 150 views and not a single reply/post. My questions are not out of the ordinary, and I would think there'd be many forum members here who could provide some worthwhile input to my questions? Pretty disappointing... Is xoutpost.com better? Serious question.
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      03-01-2014, 10:25 PM   #3
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The search tool is your friend. There are about 300 threads in this forum about angel eyes. Insulting forum members is a strange way to seek input. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Look at the 2000 photos in the 300 threads and pick the one you like.
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      03-02-2014, 12:41 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by upstateX5M View Post
The search tool is your friend. There are about 300 threads in this forum about angel eyes. Insulting forum members is a strange way to seek input. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Look at the 2000 photos in the 300 threads and pick the one you like.
I've searched a ton....haven't found anywhere near 300 threads but have found a few, just nothing that answered my specific question. Sorry to come off snippy...just a little bummed at the lack of responses here. I'm typically on a 3 series forum which obviously has a lot more members = lot more responses. I'm just looking to avoid the aftermarket super bright angel eye look...just want the blueish color vs. OEM 2011 color
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      03-02-2014, 05:06 AM   #5
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I think the blueish color looks aftermarket, and not at all like the OEM LED angel eyes. The LED angel eyes have the bright white look you say you don't like. This may be why people are confused and not responding. Your best bet is probably the lux v4. You can adjust them to whatever color you like.
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      03-02-2014, 07:21 AM   #6
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I suggest tye dtec v7 led units from e92-lighting. Im happy with mine. Some pictures here.

http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=945980
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      03-02-2014, 10:12 AM   #7
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Thanks for the replies guys (and the DTEC v7's look nice!)....yes I didn't describe very well what I was looking for

I don't want blue - definitely bright white like the OEM LED's found on the 2012+ models. What I'm trying to avoid super bright light output. On the 3 series which I'm more familiar with, most of the angel eye options are not my taste - there's so much light output it looks to me like a blob of light emanating from the headlight unit. Don't want that.
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      03-02-2014, 10:14 AM   #8
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here is your blue...
http://www.bimmian.com/LHU/70
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      03-02-2014, 10:16 AM   #9
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Why not retrofit OE 2011.5 headlights? A few people including myself have done it. All the aftermarket solutions look exactly that, aftermarket. Its not the maufacturers fault, its because BMW designed the pre-lci headlight to have a brighter inner ring. No matter how bright the aftermarket guys make it, the inner ring is always brighter, and the light gets washed out as soon as you aren't looking at it dead on.

The LCI rings are evenly light, and cannot be matched by aftermarket.
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      03-03-2014, 05:33 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blue dragon View Post
Why not retrofit OE 2011.5 headlights? A few people including myself have done it. All the aftermarket solutions look exactly that, aftermarket. Its not the maufacturers fault, its because BMW designed the pre-lci headlight to have a brighter inner ring. No matter how bright the aftermarket guys make it, the inner ring is always brighter, and the light gets washed out as soon as you aren't looking at it dead on.

The LCI rings are evenly light, and cannot be matched by aftermarket.
Blue dragon, how different are the 2011.5 headlights over the early 2011?
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      03-03-2014, 05:36 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blue dragon View Post
Why not retrofit OE 2011.5 headlights? A few people including myself have done it. All the aftermarket solutions look exactly that, aftermarket. Its not the maufacturers fault, its because BMW designed the pre-lci headlight to have a brighter inner ring. No matter how bright the aftermarket guys make it, the inner ring is always brighter, and the light gets washed out as soon as you aren't looking at it dead on.

The LCI rings are evenly light, and cannot be matched by aftermarket.
Spot on and agree 100%. The design limits what an aftermarket bulb can do, whether it be halogen or LED. Retrofit is your best option.
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      03-03-2014, 05:36 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteMoss View Post
Blue dragon, how different are the 2011.5 headlights over the early 2011?
2011.5 are the same as 2012 - the updated LED coronas. 2011 and earlier have the yellowish color.

I believe it was March or April of 2011 when the new LED coronas came out. And most 2011 models were built before March/April 2011.
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      03-03-2014, 05:59 PM   #13
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What's the approximate cost to retrofit? Like the OP, I would want to make them match and not look like corny aftermarket ones.
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      03-03-2014, 06:06 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MileHiGolfer View Post
What's the approximate cost to retrofit? Like the OP, I would want to make them match and not look like corny aftermarket ones.
With retrofit, I'm assuming putting 2012 headlights in a 2011? That will depend on what you find on eBay. There is a thread on here from another member who successfully (probably the first one on this forum) to buy the lights on eBay, then retrofit them. But you need more than just the lights, so it all adds up to probably $2K or so after all said and done.
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      03-03-2014, 09:27 PM   #15
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2k for brighter angel eyes??!!?!!

I'm already struggling to spend $200 on two light bulbs with the thought: What can possibly be worth that much on a led bulb?

Am I the only one who thinks that is pretty ridiculous?

Before I found here the lux and dtec options, I found on eBay several 4-6k e70 creed LEDs with guaranteed no blinking or errors for ~$40.

What I read 4k is close to oem.

Does anyone run them?
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      03-03-2014, 09:33 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by Z@T View Post
2k for brighter angel eyes??!!?!!

I'm already struggling to spend $200 on two light bulbs with the thought: What can possibly be worth that much on a led bulb?

Am I the only one who thinks that is pretty ridiculous?

Before I found here the lux and dtec options, I found on eBay several 4-6k e70 creed LEDs with guaranteed no blinking or errors for ~$40.

What I read 4k is close to oem.

Does anyone run them?
I am tempted by these, although I know they won't be any brighter but just look a bit "HIDer" than the PIAA halogens I have now.

http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=943774
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      03-04-2014, 08:09 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P1et View Post
I am tempted by these, although I know they won't be any brighter but just look a bit "HIDer" than the PIAA halogens I have now.

http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=943774
Thanks for the link.

EAS - H8 High Intensity LED Angel Eye Upgrade for $150 is not too far from $220 for the Lux.

With the Lux, you can at least adjust the brightness.

Don't get me wrong. I'm wasting a lot of money on my cars but somehow I can't see myself spending $200 on a LED bulb.

I'll order one with OEM brightness from eBay to test.

I'll report back when tested.
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      03-04-2014, 08:16 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Z@T View Post
Thanks for the link.

EAS - H8 High Intensity LED Angel Eye Upgrade for $150 is not too far from $220 for the Lux.

With the Lux, you can at least adjust the brightness.

Don't get me wrong. I'm wasting a lot of money on my cars but somehow I can't see myself spending $200 on a LED bulb.

I'll order one with OEM brightness from eBay to test.

I'll report back when tested.
I think you can use the SAVE20 code to save a little with EAS. I haven't read much good stuff about LUX and $220 is frankly a rip off. You are not adjusting the brightness, you are just changing the color spectrum.

But you're right: you could be better off with some eBay bulbs, but I'd be worried about their ballasts, flickering, etc.

This is my wife's 135i:


I purchased the PIAA Precious White bulbs and it made a nice difference.
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      03-04-2014, 08:51 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P1et View Post
I think you can use the SAVE20 code to save a little with EAS. I haven't read much good stuff about LUX and $220 is frankly a rip off. You are not adjusting the brightness, you are just changing the color spectrum.

But you're right: you could be better off with some eBay bulbs, but I'd be worried about their ballasts, flickering, etc.

This is my wife's 135i:


I purchased the PIAA Precious White bulbs and it made a nice difference.
Makes a difference!

I didn't know you just can adjust the spectrum with the Lux. That would have been the only benefit with going with that product.
Learned something today.

From the Lux website:
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      03-04-2014, 09:51 AM   #20
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$2k, yikes, I'd just get a 2012 then! From the pics above, the 135 looks very cool but not factory, though it's obviously a modded car to start with so no biggie. On the (3?) pic above, looks like 5-6k is a nearly perfect match.

I guess you probably can't tell unless it's next to another one, but I've seen some driving around that look a bit odd. Who knows, might not end up with an E70 anyway.
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      03-04-2014, 10:30 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MileHiGolfer View Post
$2k, yikes, I'd just get a 2012 then! From the pics above, the 135 looks very cool but not factory, though it's obviously a modded car to start with so no biggie. On the (3?) pic above, looks like 5-6k is a nearly perfect match.

I guess you probably can't tell unless it's next to another one, but I've seen some driving around that look a bit odd. Who knows, might not end up with an E70 anyway.
The 135i never came with LED angel eyes, so yes, it looks aftermarket. It's actually (along with the black grilles) the only "mod" on the car. Probably will sell it later this year, so little point doing anything to it at this point...
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      03-04-2014, 11:51 AM   #22
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Gotcha - never driven one but I bet that's a blast!
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