E39 2000 528i halogen headlights

[sc31]

Hi.
Have much loved 528i 2000 which has dire fogging in
both headlights.Clears only very occasionally.
Want to upgrade to decent halogen lights and need advice
whether need ballast etc plus what headlight sets
match my car / where to source them please?

[E-bmw]

Your car already has halogen headlights as a minimum.

[sc31]

Sorry. Want more modern non foggy ones to replace existing!

[d_a_n1979]

sc31 said:

Sorry. Want more modern non foggy ones to replace existing!

You can upgrade to facelift halogen Hella headlights, you'll need to get them with some of their wiring and the plugs though, as a few pugs are different (main or dipped beam and the indicators IIRC). So, off a 2001 upwards E39, with halogen projectors etc

However, pre-facelift cars, you're still able to swap out the lenses as they're clip off/clip on items.

Do some research on Google for this and you'll be able to find the lenses on eBay as well, I think

[g3org3y]

Osram Nightbreaker Laser bulbs. Just put these in my E46 330 with halogens and it's a night and day difference (no pun intended).

[sc31]

Thanks. I really want to replace the units as a whole
and not just the bulbs because of the fogging.

Want angel eye type upgrade.

[Aluminati]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E-39-5-SERIES-ORIGI...

Small loom adaption required, but not rocket science.

[d_a_n1979]

Aluminati said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E-39-5-SERIES-ORIGI...

Small loom adaption required, but not rocket science.

Are they yours, or have you just linked them?

Reason I’m asking, as stated in my post above, is ensuring that the adjusters are in one piece can be a minefield. That’s why I bought new Hella headlights from ECP when they had their 50% discount code (warranty & peace of mind included). But appreciate not everyone will want to spend c£500 on all new headlights etc

[sparks_190e]

The Halo rings on pre facelift E39's look naff. Try and source replacement lights that were made for your car.

[naturalaspiration]

It is fogging because of moisture ingress - most likely dirty or hardened gasket

http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E39-Sedan/Europe...

The prefacelift headlights are fully serviceable and all individual parts can be ordered separately. No such luck with facelift, especially if you buy brand new ones with permaseal. When the adjusters break, and they will opening them is practically impossible leading to people cutting holes to gain access and what not. Light output from a halogen facelift light is very poor. Converting to bi-xenon is the only way to get proper light out of it. Cheaply done with your existing units by fitting aftermarket bi-xenon projectors.

[Aluminati]

d_a_n1979 said:

Aluminati said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E-39-5-SERIES-ORIGI...

Small loom adaption required, but not rocket science.

Are they yours, or have you just linked them?

Reason I’m asking, as stated in my post above, is ensuring that the adjusters are in one piece can be a minefield. That’s why I bought new Hella headlights from ECP when they had their 50% discount code (warranty & peace of mind included). But appreciate not everyone will want to spend c£500 on all new headlights etc

Not mine, but remember when Hella used to do the kit with the different bottom bracket and loom extension.

[80quattro]

sc31 said:

Thanks. I really want to replace the units as a whole
and not just the bulbs because of the fogging.

Want angel eye type upgrade.

It is possible to machine polish the lenses instead of replacing them.

I have angel eye headlights with osram nightbreakers in my E39 facelift, and they work well.

[d_a_n1979]

80quattro said:

It is possible to machine polish the lenses instead of replacing them.

I have angel eye headlights with osram nightbreakers in my E39 facelift, and they work well.

IIRC they're a glass compound on the pre-facelift headlights, so they don't polish well

And as you've I've got OEM Hella halogen headlights with the OEM xenon ballasts and D2S Osram Nightbreaker or Lunex D2S 6000k bulbs and they're superb; they light up the road really well.

I ran them with H7 Osram nightbreaker bulbs too and again, zero issues and they lit up the dark country lanes that surround where I live very well

A lot of the time; people blame poor headlights when in fact it could be that their own eyesight isn't very good in the dark!