F10 M5 LED vs Xenons

F10 M5 LED vs Xenons

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Discussion

playNskillz

Original Poster:

128 posts

108 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Guys quick question do the LED lights look any different when on compared to the standard Xenon Adaptive lights? As in the daytime function?

forest172

687 posts

205 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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playNskillz said:
Guys quick question do the LED lights look any different when on compared to the standard Xenon Adaptive lights? As in the daytime function?
yes the led`s have flat bottomed circles

playNskillz

Original Poster:

128 posts

108 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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forest172 said:
yes the led`s have flat bottomed circles
Are they brighter to look at than the Xenon Adaptive lights

theboss

6,878 posts

218 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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playNskillz said:
forest172 said:
yes the led`s have flat bottomed circles
Are they brighter to look at than the Xenon Adaptive lights
And whiter. Expensive, arguably not worth it (given the Xenons allegedly do the fancy beam splitting too) yet I still wouldn't be without mine.

Not sure how effective the Xenons are, but there is something rather satisfying about cruising up behind the 40mph-in-NSL brigade at night and watching the beam split so they are driving around in a little island of darkness surrounded on both sides by crisp daylight, until you reach a short straight and second gear, that is.

playNskillz

Original Poster:

128 posts

108 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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theboss said:
And whiter. Expensive, arguably not worth it (given the Xenons allegedly do the fancy beam splitting too) yet I still wouldn't be without mine.

Not sure how effective the Xenons are, but there is something rather satisfying about cruising up behind the 40mph-in-NSL brigade at night and watching the beam split so they are driving around in a little island of darkness surrounded on both sides by crisp daylight, until you reach a short straight and second gear, that is.
I'm looking at a F10 M5 ticks all the boxes apart from the LED adaptive Lights. Which is something I really wanted. Are these easily upgraded afterwards? Is it a case of buying an fitting or do you have to mess about with programming etc?

theboss

6,878 posts

218 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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playNskillz said:
theboss said:
And whiter. Expensive, arguably not worth it (given the Xenons allegedly do the fancy beam splitting too) yet I still wouldn't be without mine.

Not sure how effective the Xenons are, but there is something rather satisfying about cruising up behind the 40mph-in-NSL brigade at night and watching the beam split so they are driving around in a little island of darkness surrounded on both sides by crisp daylight, until you reach a short straight and second gear, that is.
I'm looking at a F10 M5 ticks all the boxes apart from the LED adaptive Lights. Which is something I really wanted. Are these easily upgraded afterwards? Is it a case of buying an fitting or do you have to mess about with programming etc?
No idea if its possible - I imagine technically it can be done but might be very costly. The LED option only became available with the LCI facelift (2013?) so whether or not the car is LCI may also have a bearing on retrofitting potential.

playNskillz

Original Poster:

128 posts

108 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
theboss said:
No idea if its possible - I imagine technically it can be done but might be very costly. The LED option only became available with the LCI facelift (2013?) so whether or not the car is LCI may also have a bearing on retrofitting potential.
Yes it's a 2015 unregistered LCI, hopefully getting it next week!

theboss

6,878 posts

218 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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playNskillz said:
theboss said:
No idea if its possible - I imagine technically it can be done but might be very costly. The LED option only became available with the LCI facelift (2013?) so whether or not the car is LCI may also have a bearing on retrofitting potential.
Yes it's a 2015 unregistered LCI, hopefully getting it next week!
Don't let the lack of marginally better headlights detract from what is an epic new car - its trivial ultimately.

playNskillz

Original Poster:

128 posts

108 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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theboss said:
Don't let the lack of marginally better headlights detract from what is an epic new car - its trivial ultimately.
Yes I can't wait!! My E60 M5 is up for sale! I've just spend about 4k on it!! New clutch brakes etc! Need to get rid of soon as I'm stuck for space on my drive.

W8PMC

3,345 posts

237 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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As above, if it's an LCi car then it will have the fancy High Beam Assist & adaptive functionality as standard. I still don't see any major advantage of LED over Xenon as the standard advantages of LED's don't really apply in a car such as longer bulb life & lower power consumption. The fancy features apply to both Xenon & LED so the only advantage could perhaps be they're a touch brighter but let's be honest, the standard Xenons are hardly dull.

HoHoHo

14,980 posts

249 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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W8PMC said:
As above, if it's an LCi car then it will have the fancy High Beam Assist & adaptive functionality as standard. I still don't see any major advantage of LED over Xenon as the standard advantages of LED's don't really apply in a car such as longer bulb life & lower power consumption. The fancy features apply to both Xenon & LED so the only advantage could perhaps be they're a touch brighter but let's be honest, the standard Xenons are hardly dull.
Whilst I agree with you, my wife's zenons are noticeably brighter on her 120D M Sport!

IATM

3,778 posts

146 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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All I know is that the look bloody amazing, it is worth the price just for the looks

W8PMC

3,345 posts

237 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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HoHoHo said:
Whilst I agree with you, my wife's zenons are noticeably brighter on her 120D M Sport!
Any clouding in the headlamp on your M5 as mine are silly bright & would be surprised to encounter brighter Xenons (not saying it's not possible). My RS4 & R35 GT-R used to suffer with headlamp clouding & this reduced brightness, but never had it on my F10.

I've still not been brave enough to really use my HBA as although it looks really cool, it's technology that scares me a little.

Edited by W8PMC on Friday 26th June 11:44

HoHoHo

14,980 posts

249 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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W8PMC said:
HoHoHo said:
Whilst I agree with you, my wife's zenons are noticeably brighter on her 120D M Sport!
Any clouding in the headlamp on your M5 as mine are silly bright & would be surprised to encounter brighter Xenons (not saying it's not possible).
Don't think so and they're pretty good, hers are just better and more 'white'

W8PMC

3,345 posts

237 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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HoHoHo said:
Don't think so and they're pretty good, hers are just better and more 'white'
Wipe mud on her lenses;)

HoHoHo

14,980 posts

249 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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W8PMC said:
HoHoHo said:
Don't think so and they're pretty good, hers are just better and more 'white'
Wipe mud on her lenses;)
That'll be the answer then wobble

playNskillz

Original Poster:

128 posts

108 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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IATM said:
All I know is that the look bloody amazing, it is worth the price just for the looks
This is the main reason I would have wanted LEDs they look far better than the standard Xenons. I have found somewhere who can supply them which would go straight on. Not cheap tho...