2010 F11 520d woeful lights / has my headlamp got cataracts

[blackscooby]

Hello,

My 2010 F11 520d has absolutely horrendous lights. Maybe I've noticed it more cos everything else has crazy lights nowadays, but driving at night on unlit motorways where the cats eyes barely work and the white lines are horrendous is uncomfortable !

I thinking sections of the A14 and M6 here.

Looking at the headlamps the lens on dipped beam looks like it has cataracts, the lens looks cloudy.

Surely that's not right ??

Also I think my headlamp outers could do with a polish, they look quite chipped.

Can these things be taken apart and rebuilt if they are cloudy ??
Doesn't look to be any moisture / fogging of the outer in either lamp, but the dipped look the same on each.

Thanks
BS

[bigdom]

It looks like you have Xenon headlights, time for some new bulbs. Osram night breakers will do the trick, should be a D1S, but check first. Its easier to remove headlights to change them.

The headlights dont look that bad, im assuming original bulbs, they have approx 3000hrs life.

[Jakg]

bigdom said:

It looks like you have Xenon headlights, time for some new bulbs. Osram night breakers will do the trick, should be a D1S, but check first. Its easier to remove headlights to change them.

I would agree - had 2011 X5 with original D1S bulbs and they were a joke. New Osram (just regular ones) did the trick.

EDIT - in case not clear, they get dimmer with age.

[blackscooby]

Thanks,
It currently has these fitted
Philips RacingVision +150% H7 headlight bulb

Bought back in 2020, I get what you've suggested as they're so pants it's not funny.
Wait - no mine are traditional halogen H7 and nothing fancy.

Thanks
BS

Edited by blackscooby on Saturday 8th November 18:21

[bigdom]

Yeah, I think you're a bit stuffed then. Prior to Xenon coming along then LED, any BMW i have owned since the mid 90's, the headlights were pretty st.