E46 Headlights
Discussion
Hi all,
The dipped beam on my E46 330cd (2005) is very weak and rather yellow, whilst the main is fine and lights up really well. I've looked at options for potentially upgrading from the current halogen projectors to LED or Bi Xenon, but am wondering could it simply be that either the reflectors are dirty, or the bulbs are tired or a combination of that and or something else.
Like I said I'm very happy with the main beam (which are halogen), it's only dipped that are very weak, so am wondering whether maybe a new set of higher output bulbs and maybe taking the headlights apart and cleaning the reflectors/projectors is the way to go?
Having double checked, I can see the main beam bulb and the reflectors are spotless, but clearly with the large dome part in the way you cannot see the dipped ones, does anyone know of any easy/quick way to be able to see (even if not doing anything about) if the projectors/reflectors in dipped are dirty/damaged?
The dipped beam on my E46 330cd (2005) is very weak and rather yellow, whilst the main is fine and lights up really well. I've looked at options for potentially upgrading from the current halogen projectors to LED or Bi Xenon, but am wondering could it simply be that either the reflectors are dirty, or the bulbs are tired or a combination of that and or something else.
Like I said I'm very happy with the main beam (which are halogen), it's only dipped that are very weak, so am wondering whether maybe a new set of higher output bulbs and maybe taking the headlights apart and cleaning the reflectors/projectors is the way to go?
Having double checked, I can see the main beam bulb and the reflectors are spotless, but clearly with the large dome part in the way you cannot see the dipped ones, does anyone know of any easy/quick way to be able to see (even if not doing anything about) if the projectors/reflectors in dipped are dirty/damaged?
Edited by RicoOS on Monday 9th December 13:18
RicoOS said:
Hi all,
The dipped beam on my E46 330cd (2005) is very weak and rather yellow, whilst the main is fine and lights up really well. I've looked at options for potentially upgrading from the current halogen projectors to LED or Bi Xenon, but am wondering could it simply be that either the reflectors are dirty, or the bulbs are tired or a combination of that and or something else.
Like I said I'm very happy with the main beam (which are halogen), it's only dipped that are very weak, so am wondering whether maybe a new set of higher output bulbs and maybe taking the headlights apart and cleaning the reflectors/projectors is the way to go?
Having double checked, I can see the main beam bulb and the reflectors are spotless, but clearly with the large dome part in the way you cannot see the dipped ones, does anyone know of any easy/quick way to be able to see (even if not doing anything about) if the projectors/reflectors in dipped are dirty/damaged?
Are your headlights xenon projectors or halogen projectors then?The dipped beam on my E46 330cd (2005) is very weak and rather yellow, whilst the main is fine and lights up really well. I've looked at options for potentially upgrading from the current halogen projectors to LED or Bi Xenon, but am wondering could it simply be that either the reflectors are dirty, or the bulbs are tired or a combination of that and or something else.
Like I said I'm very happy with the main beam (which are halogen), it's only dipped that are very weak, so am wondering whether maybe a new set of higher output bulbs and maybe taking the headlights apart and cleaning the reflectors/projectors is the way to go?
Having double checked, I can see the main beam bulb and the reflectors are spotless, but clearly with the large dome part in the way you cannot see the dipped ones, does anyone know of any easy/quick way to be able to see (even if not doing anything about) if the projectors/reflectors in dipped are dirty/damaged?
Edited by RicoOS on Monday 9th December 13:18
Yellowing bulbs is either crap bulbs or them getting old. So decent new ones will make a marked improvement
If they're halogen, the Osram Nightbreaker bulbs are hard to beat.
If xenon; again the Osram Nightbreaker Xenarc bulbs are good, but costly. I'm a huge fan of the Lunex 6000k xenon bulbs also. They're £25 a pair and made properly from quartz glass and not cheap eBay jobbies; last well and have a great light output/scatter/cut off etc
Worth looking into
99.9% sure they are Halogen. Sounds like maybe I need to just splash out on some decent bulbs then.
Have been told that LED's are possibly an option, but that it would be circa £125 for a pair. However then I've read that whilst they are great for the main beam, for dipped on Halogen projectors they can cause all kinds of problems with dazzling etc.
As such I'm thinking I will take your advice and see if that solves the problem.
Have been told that LED's are possibly an option, but that it would be circa £125 for a pair. However then I've read that whilst they are great for the main beam, for dipped on Halogen projectors they can cause all kinds of problems with dazzling etc.
As such I'm thinking I will take your advice and see if that solves the problem.
It is quite possible that the reflective coating at the back has burned through and lost its shine. You cannot see it from the front due to the thick projector lense being in the way and it's only visible if you put a tiny telescopic mirror from behind through the bulb hole - aim at 12 o'clock. Also it is possible that the projector itself has dust deposits (which can be wiped out using a long stick and some cotton pads attached to it - access through the opening for LHD beam conversion on the top of the headlight.
The problem with halogen bulbs in projector type headlight desighiis that the output is invariably poor due to the loss of light at the projector. The only way to bump it up is to replace it with a xenon bulb - on the cheap, provided your reflectors are OK, just get a H7 4300k kit, plenty available. Or upgrade to bi xenon projector. More info here:
retrofitlab.com
and go to headlight database menu on the top of the page - there is a dedicated sub section for E46 as this is the most converted car on the market.
If you do go for xenon, there is no need to buy resistor packs to keep the OBC diagnostics at bay - it's better to code your car so as to switch off the diagnostic check for the main beam bulbs.
The problem with halogen bulbs in projector type headlight desighiis that the output is invariably poor due to the loss of light at the projector. The only way to bump it up is to replace it with a xenon bulb - on the cheap, provided your reflectors are OK, just get a H7 4300k kit, plenty available. Or upgrade to bi xenon projector. More info here:
retrofitlab.com
and go to headlight database menu on the top of the page - there is a dedicated sub section for E46 as this is the most converted car on the market.
If you do go for xenon, there is no need to buy resistor packs to keep the OBC diagnostics at bay - it's better to code your car so as to switch off the diagnostic check for the main beam bulbs.
Edited by naturalaspiration on Monday 9th December 16:28
and I live rural 
If you have halogen headlights you will have a roller beam height control next to the headlight switch. If you have Xenons then you won't have the roller control, as beam height is adjusted automatically using information from ride height sensors. Also the edge of the projector next to the lens has the word Xenon on it. You'll also have pop-out headlight washers on Xenon models. My E46 is a 2001 pre-facelift Xenon main/halogen high model so I don't know if it's different for the LCI headlights.
Personally I swear at the dicks who retrofit their halogen equipped cars with xenon or LED bulbs. If I were traffic police I'd slap a prohibition on every one I saw. It's pretty obvious at night!
Personally I swear at the dicks who retrofit their halogen equipped cars with xenon or LED bulbs. If I were traffic police I'd slap a prohibition on every one I saw. It's pretty obvious at night!
it was just a an opinion though not a knock TBH LunarOne said:
Personally I swear at the dicks who retrofit their halogen equipped cars with xenon or LED bulbs. If I were traffic police I'd slap a prohibition on every one I saw. It's pretty obvious at night!
Only if you fit non-screened HIDs into the reflector lenses. Volvo used to fit D2R (R stands for reflector) bulbs into reflector headlights and all was good. Conversely if you have projectors fitting HIDs causes no such issues as the cut-off line is laser sharp - above which there is proper darkness (no light scatter).
The best solution however is to fit a (new) dedicated HID (bixenon) projector.
naturalaspiration said:
g3org3y said:
Osram Nightbreaker Lasers. Best bulbs I've used to date. Big improvement on my E46 330Ci.
Many people seem to be reporting their lifespan not being longer than 9 months or so - what is your experience?So I’m new to the forum but have a similar question. I’ve got halogen projectors (not Xenon) and reflectors on an e46 320ci convertible.
I’m wanting a better light output.
Granted I’ve got cheap halogen bulbs in but it’s a matter of cost/performance for me as I’ve spent hundreds sorting out mechanicals so the base of the car is worth it.
Is it worth me upgrading the halogens in the projectors for £20-30 (as stated above for something like the Osram Nightbreakers) or something else?
I’ve read various threads on pages like e46 and pistolheads that state that upgrading to Xenons is illegal and it would be a fail on MOT as they’re not 1.) self levelling and 2.) didn’t have light washers in place.
Some actual clarity on this situation would massively help me. Thanks all
Tom
I’m wanting a better light output.
Granted I’ve got cheap halogen bulbs in but it’s a matter of cost/performance for me as I’ve spent hundreds sorting out mechanicals so the base of the car is worth it.
Is it worth me upgrading the halogens in the projectors for £20-30 (as stated above for something like the Osram Nightbreakers) or something else?
I’ve read various threads on pages like e46 and pistolheads that state that upgrading to Xenons is illegal and it would be a fail on MOT as they’re not 1.) self levelling and 2.) didn’t have light washers in place.
Some actual clarity on this situation would massively help me. Thanks all
Tom
E46 Tom said:
So I’m new to the forum but have a similar question. I’ve got halogen projectors (not Xenon) and reflectors on an e46 320ci convertible.
I’m wanting a better light output.
Granted I’ve got cheap halogen bulbs in but it’s a matter of cost/performance for me as I’ve spent hundreds sorting out mechanicals so the base of the car is worth it.
Is it worth me upgrading the halogens in the projectors for £20-30 (as stated above for something like the Osram Nightbreakers) or something else?
I’ve read various threads on pages like e46 and pistolheads that state that upgrading to Xenons is illegal and it would be a fail on MOT as they’re not 1.) self levelling and 2.) didn’t have light washers in place.
Some actual clarity on this situation would massively help me. Thanks all
Tom
Osram Nightbreaker or Philips Xtreme vision H7s are about as good as they get for H7 halogen bulbs. Both on Amazon c£20, so not expensive, but make a marked improvement I’m wanting a better light output.
Granted I’ve got cheap halogen bulbs in but it’s a matter of cost/performance for me as I’ve spent hundreds sorting out mechanicals so the base of the car is worth it.
Is it worth me upgrading the halogens in the projectors for £20-30 (as stated above for something like the Osram Nightbreakers) or something else?
I’ve read various threads on pages like e46 and pistolheads that state that upgrading to Xenons is illegal and it would be a fail on MOT as they’re not 1.) self levelling and 2.) didn’t have light washers in place.
Some actual clarity on this situation would massively help me. Thanks all
Tom
Re xenons. You can retrofit them and as long as they’re set up at an MOT station so the light beam/scatter/cut off meets necessary regs and is correct, they’ll be fine. You can only be failed on what you’ve mentioned (ie. auto levelling, washers etc) if they’re fitted & not working... If they’re not fitted, they cannot be checked...
Aftermarket HID kits are an MOT fail, so don’t bother going down that route
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