E39 Dim Dipped Beam

[Bisonhead]

Trying saying that 3 times quickly!

Dipped beam seems very dull, to the extent that driving at 60mph in the dark requires a lot more concentration than it should.

Any experience or suggestions?

[M3Charlie]

BMW headlights in standard form are shocking! I have xenons on most of my cars but I'm in the process of fitting an HID kit to my E39 for the very reason you mention. I have put an HID kit off eBay on my E36 M3 and although not as good as the Xenons on my E92 M3 or 335d they are a marked improvement over the standard halogens and can be bought for about £60

[Fox-]

There are two key reasons why the light output on an E39 is poor.

1) Lense condition.

Over time the lenses get marked, pitted, scratched and generally become less and less clear. This has a big impact on the light spread on the road. If your car is a prefacelift you can replace the lenses. If it isn't you can't easily. It's either new headlights or try your luck at wet sanding.

2) Bulbs

The E39 has projector headlights so an obvious answer is to retrofit a HID kit.

[Bisonhead]

Thanks for the advice guys, think I'll replace the lenses and get hid. Just have to make sure I fit them properly!

[Fox-]

Is your car a prefacelift then?

[Bisonhead]

Yeah, it is

[Fox-]

Happy days then, easier than sorting the facelift lenses.

[Cam1177]

Apologies for the hijack - but I too am in a similar position with a postfaceift E39 sport that doesn't have HID or Xenons, and is very much in need of an upgrade. If I'm going down the HID upgrade. Is this the sort of thing I should be looking for http://xenonhid4u.co.uk/bmw-5-series-e39-hid-xenon... ?

Thanks

[M3Charlie]

yeh that sort of thing, however they are about £50-60 on ebay. The E39 requires bulb holders too unless you want to adapt your current ones. I will get some pics up over the weekend if you like

[Fox-]

M3Charlie said:

yeh that sort of thing, however they are about £50-60 on ebay. The E39 requires bulb holders too unless you want to adapt your current ones. I will get some pics up over the weekend if you like

You can adapt the current ones with a junior hacksaw

[BliarOut]

Don't you need self levelling to get HID's through the MOT?

[Fox-]

BliarOut said:

Don't you need self levelling to get HID's through the MOT?

If you have self levelling, it must work. If you do not have self levelling, there is no problem. The testing manual even acknowledges its almost impossible to test and the benefit of the doubt can be given.

[M3Charlie]

Ditto

[BliarOut]

Fox- said:

BliarOut said:

Don't you need self levelling to get HID's through the MOT?

If you have self levelling, it must work. If you do not have self levelling, there is no problem. The testing manual even acknowledges its almost impossible to test and the benefit of the doubt can be given.

I thought I read somewhere that it was changing?

Mine are rubbish but they've got condensation to deal with too

[M3Charlie]

They will become illegal if they aren't through projector lenses

[Fox-]

M3Charlie said:

They will become illegal if they aren't through projector lenses

Sadly this isn't true either. Infact I'm not sure where that particular idea has come from! It would arguably be a good idea, but it's not the case.

[M3Charlie]

Are you sure? With a projector lense the HID cant dazzle oncoming cars (provided the lights are adjusted correctly) this is what I had heard about 6 months ago from some MOT testers?

[Fox-]

M3Charlie said:

Are you sure? With a projector lense the HID cant dazzle oncoming cars (provided the lights are adjusted correctly) this is what I had heard about 6 months ago from some MOT testers?

You are correct in that projector lenses are far far better for HID's, however there is nothing banning or making HID's in reflectors an MOT fail bar the standard test for headlight alignment there have always been, sadly.

[M3Charlie]

Fair enough. So basically were all ok as we have BMWs anyway lol

[Cam1177]

M3Charlie said:

yeh that sort of thing, however they are about £50-60 on ebay. The E39 requires bulb holders too unless you want to adapt your current ones. I will get some pics up over the weekend if you like

That would be great if you could. Thx