E91 330i Xenon Retrofit?

[OTB]

Just picked up a 330i Touring and has come with Halogen headlights, how easy is it to install Genuine Xenons to replace? Or is it not worth the faff.

Did this before on my E46 and was as simple as buying a used Xenon pair and just coding them in.


Cheers.

[Huskyman]

There was a retrofit kit for this, headlights, BCM module, wiring harness and two height sensors, one front and one rear with the respective harness. It also needs coding IIRC

[Court_S]

Assuming that its similar to the 1 series, it's decent chunk of work but more than doable at home. You'll need a new FRM to use xenons (again assuming its the same as the 1 series, it'll need to be an FRM2 or 3).

I guess the biggest hinderance will be the cost - having looked into it for my other half's 125i, the cost of the used parts are going up as more and more people look to retrofit xenons.

[E-bmw]

By the rules of the MOT Xenons must be washed & have self-levelling.

Whether the mot tester will see this or not could be a different matter, however if they do then it is a lot of work to do & then have to undo.

[naturalaspiration]

Depends if you want to go with OE or aftermarket route. With OE, if buying used check that xenon projectors haven't burned through - very likely if they were used as DRL.

With aftermrket you can retain H1 bulbs but it requires a bit of diy to fit the projectors inside the halogen headlights.

And if MOT requires headlight cleaning system, automatic leveling etc, just swap the bulbs back to H1 before MOT.

[pmorg4]

The easiest and cheapest way to do it using OE headlights involves retaining your manual levelling control and making some wiring changes so that you don't need a replacement FRM. Doing it "properly" would involve adding levelling sensors, running wiring to the front and rear axles from the FRM, and running new wiring from the FRM to the headlights for the xenon shutter, and replacing your FRM with an "XE" or "Max" version with the necessary hardware to control the xenon shutters.

Note that you don't need levelling or headlight washers to pass an MOT, only that if they are fitted they must work. The requirements for type approval and MOT are different, hence the confusion. The MOT tester's manual is openly published on the government website so you can check for yourself.

MOT said:

Vehicles with high intensity discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with a suspension or headlamp self-levelling system. If these systems have been fitted, they must work.

MOT said:

You must inspect vehicles first used on or after 1 September 2009 equipped with headlamp washers.

The only factor to consider that inoperative headlight washers will result in a minor fault with halogen headlights, whereas with HID headlights it will result in a major (i.e. fail). If headlight washers are not fitted (or the car is older than September 2009) then the headlight washer test is not relevant.

[pmorg4]

naturalaspiration said:

Depends if you want to go with OE or aftermarket route. With OE, if buying used check that xenon projectors haven't burned through - very likely if they were used as DRL.

On the E91 the HIDs are not used as DRLs. Default configuration for DRLs is to use the angel eyes, or they can alternatively be configured to use the halogen high beams on a lower voltage (controlled by the FRM using pulse width modulation).

[steveo3002]

options here https://retrofitlab.com/collections/bmw-3-e90-e91

[bodhi]

steveo3002 said:

options here https://retrofitlab.com/collections/bmw-3-e90-e91

Interesting, will these get through an MOT?

Just asking as I had a similar kit in my 125i and had to take the HID's out due to an "incompatible light source", even though the HID kit wasn't in the original reflector headlights, but aftermarket projector ones. Since then I've been left with halogen candles in jam jars, so if I can legally get the HID's back in I'll be interested.

[steveo3002]

bodhi said:

Interesting, will these get through an MOT?

Just asking as I had a similar kit in my 125i and had to take the HID's out due to an "incompatible light source", even though the HID kit wasn't in the original reflector headlights, but aftermarket projector ones. Since then I've been left with halogen candles in jam jars, so if I can legally get the HID's back in I'll be interested.

they cant take it apart to see whats inside so yeah should do , although doesnt necessarily comply with rules

so yeah but no lol

Edited by steveo3002 on Tuesday 1st March 10:33

[naturalaspiration]

Aftermarket headlight units without type approval stamps are an MOT fail. At least here on the continent. I have done a diy HID conversion on my E39 - removed old halogen projectors, installed bi xenon projectors and bought used OE ballasts and brackets. Can't distinguish from OE. No complaints at MOT.

[sortedcossie]

I have an E91 330d with halogens, and looked into this in depth a few years back - worked out it wasn't really feasible without quite a lot of faffing and cost. I've left them as they are.

[pmorg4]

Aside from any legalities and MOT questions, the biggest problem trying to retrofit projectors into E91 halogen headlights is that they are sealed with some kind of permanent sealant that needs to be cut out to get them opened (and the old sealant will need properly cleaned away if you have any hope of re-sealing them). It's going to be a lot of hassle, so you should bear that in mind when considering whether or not to just buy OE xenons.