2007 X5 E70 converting Xenon highlights for Europe?

2007 X5 E70 converting Xenon highlights for Europe?

Author
Discussion

farbbm

Original Poster:

306 posts

190 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
I'm planning on to taking a trip to Europe and have just spoken to my dealer who assures me that my X5 doesn't need converting because of the beam pattern from the Xenon's, does that sound right? I must confess I did try and find the switches on the back of the headlights last year as per the owner manual but couldn't find them.

Can anyone advise either way, I don't fancy getting a fine for not converting them?

Maracus

4,237 posts

168 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
I've just got back from an 11 day trip, I used the stick on circular things for my F31 328i.

Origin Unknown

2,297 posts

169 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
Perfect timing OP, I came here to ask exactly the same question about the same car.

Origin Unknown

2,297 posts

169 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
RTFM it seems smile

Page 139 and 140, if your manual is the same as mine OP. Remove cover for low-beam headlight on each side and there is a switch to convert for driving on the right/left.

Zod

35,295 posts

258 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
Maracus said:
I've just got back from an 11 day trip, I used the stick on circular things for my F31 328i.
they don't work on xenons. They may even exacerbate the issue.


Maracus

4,237 posts

168 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
Zod said:
Maracus said:
I've just got back from an 11 day trip, I used the stick on circular things for my F31 328i.
they don't work on xenons. They may even exacerbate the issue.
Didn't realise that. No-one flashed me though and the headlights worked well.

HoHoHo

14,987 posts

250 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
I was thinking the same thing about my F10 M5 whilst driving through Europe as I'm doing now.

I was having a look through the iDrive before I left the UK and cleverly enough BMW now have an option to simply switch electronically between the left and right hand side of the road for lights so no more nasty tape or sticky things on headlamps.

Having a digital speed as well as a normal one and HUD, it's also one click to go the KPH on any digital output which is also a good safety feature.

Seems some modern gadgets in cars are useful yes

farbbm

Original Poster:

306 posts

190 months

Tuesday 4th August 2015
quotequote all
Right I've got home tonight for another feel around. But still couldn't find the switches as described in the handbook, however found a post and have copied the extract below which was most helpful. The switches as described are on the engine side of the unit and can only be found by feel althought they should be there after you've removed the low beam covers which can also be a pain to refit. They don't move much but I've adjusted mine and will check after dark to see if I notice a difference. Just don't try this if your attached to the skin on your hands and like oil on your face as I did trying to get a better look. Best of luck!

greymatter 05/03/2009, 17:30

Thanks for all your responses, some more helpful than others!

To update you on the situation, I am all sorted now.I went to another BMW Main dealer and they were much more sympathetic and professional. They have adjusted the headlights for me, for driving on the RH side of the road.

But it is a bit of a pig to do on the X5: the headlight assembly is very inaccessible and you cannot see much of anything, particularly when your hands are in the way. You have to do everything by feel.

For future readers information, there is a "switch" deep inside the headlight, on the engine side of each light. It is a silver switch, rather than the black "slider" shown in the handbook. It switches over with an audible click.

And to correct any possible mis-information: the adjustment does not swivel the headlamp or re-direct the light. It just moves a "foil" which flattens the beam.


Zod

35,295 posts

258 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
Maracus said:
I've just got back from an 11 day trip, I used the stick on circular things for my F31 328i.
they don't work on xenons. They may even exacerbate the issue.


Maracus

4,237 posts

168 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
Zod said:
Maracus said:
I've just got back from an 11 day trip, I used the stick on circular things for my F31 328i.
they don't work on xenons. They may even exacerbate the issue.
You've already stated this earlier in the thread!

Zod

35,295 posts

258 months

Friday 7th August 2015
quotequote all
Maracus said:
I've just got back from an 11 day trip, I used the stick on circular things for my F31 328i.
they don't work on xenons. They may even exacerbate the issue.