Bi-Xenon Retrofit - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

AndyE · 12th July 2004, 05:30

I've upgraded my LE's headlamps by installing a set of bi-xenon projectors which I removed from a pair of Mercedes W211 (2003) E-class headlamps I bought on eBay. Hopefully this'll mean I can see in the dark without resorting to main beam.

Here are some pictures. So far I'm absolutely chuffed to bits. Especially good is the fact that I have taken great care to make sure it's all plug and go - therefore completely reversible later, if necessary.

E34 Xenon pics

This picture shows OS Halogen, NS Xenon:

No OBC warnings either, so the Check control either doesn't know, or doesn't care.

It took about two weeks to research, design and build the first headlamp (new housings were used) and about 40 minutes to build the second.

The rubber stuff you can see sealing around the headlamps in the pictures is 140/80-18 Motorcycle innertube.

The installation of the lamps was easy, they're only minutely longer than the halogens I removed, so no modifying the car. Removing the E34 centre grilles/nose panel was a bit of a pain.

I chose to replace the main beam lamps at the same time, the old ones were knackered with pitted glass and yellowing reflectors.

Total parts cost was just over £250.

With the bi-xenon feature, main beam looks like this:

Rob Levinson · 12th July 2004, 07:34

Nice work!

One question - are you getting any weird diffraction or diffusion effects by the original E34 lens covering the ellipsoid? That ellipsoid looks like it was meant to shine through a clear lens, not the segmented lens of the E34 headlight (which is designed to re-focus the original halogen within reflector light output, of course).

- Rob
(direct-current HID install into BMW E34 ellipsoids)

AndyE · 12th July 2004, 11:20

Rob

I see where you're coming from. I did think about this when I put them together, but I certainly haven't noticed that issue.

The only thing I can think is that the lenses are very similar in design - vertical lines on transparent lens above a ribbed lower lens:

If you look at the lamps straight on, that change in lens shape/texture appears just below half way down the ellipsoid in both lamps.

It's hard for me to photograph with my digital camera, but each lamp's light throw has a very sharp cutoff and a semi-circular beam underneath - sort of like this for each lamp:
_______
|...........\________
|........................|
\______________/

There doesn't seem to be any odd stray light, or any focussed hotspots.

Bader · 12th July 2004, 18:01

I particularly love the picture that has your feet in....do you moisturise them???

oh..and how much do you want to do a set for me???

Rob Levinson · 12th July 2004, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyE

Rob

I see where you're coming from. I did think about this when I put them together, but I certainly haven't noticed that issue.

The only thing I can think is that the lenses are very similar in design - vertical lines on transparent lens above a ribbed lower lens:

If you look at the lamps straight on, that change in lens shape/texture appears just below half way down the ellipsoid in both lamps.

There doesn't seem to be any odd stray light, or any focussed hotspots.

Got it. Couldn't tell from the Merc pics exactly where the vertical lines were in relation to the projector.

Looks like there would still be some effect from the wider vertical line lens elements in the E34 part, but if you are seeing that type of beam pattern with the sharp cut-off, then it can't be too far off.

Again, nice work!

- Rob

AndyE · 12th July 2004, 19:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bader

I particularly love the picture that has your feet in....do you moisturise them???

oh..and how much do you want to do a set for me???

HA HA

I don't really want to make another set, but I'll happily answer any questions so you can make your own...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Levinson

Again, nice work!

Cheers Rob! Much appreciated.

Bader · 12th July 2004, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyE

HA HA

I don't really want to make another set, but I'll happily answer any questions so you can make your own...

.

sweet.

the standard headlights are pretty pap...and i want to change my full beam light units anyway due to corrosion on the interior wall.

i find on very dark roads that the fogs on the m5 are excellent at giving extra peripheral vision..unfortunately they can also earn you a nice fine...i have to say i only ever use mine on roads with poor lighting or no extra lighting at all.

AndyE · 12th July 2004, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bader

the fogs on the m5 are excellent at giving extra peripheral vision..unfortunately they can also earn you a nice fine

Plus they make people think you're a nob...

I did consider just replacing the e34 lamps with new ones, but decided that wouldn't be good enough for me.

My main beam was fine, though. The main beam lamps are cheaper than the dippers at under £20 each.

I also spent around half an hour cleaning and polishing the chrome lamp rings to make them all shinyyy!

IvanDias · 13th July 2004, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyE

...The main beam lamps are cheaper than the dippers at under £20 each...

What? New, from BMW? Or am I being really dumb and missed something?

Ivan

AndyE · 13th July 2004, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanDias

What? New, from BMW? Or am I being really dumb and missed something?
Ivan

Ivan

I've just checked the site and they're actually £23.50+vat each. According to my invoice I paid £19.20 at the Hemel Hempstead branch - so I don't know how I managed to get a discount!

This is by purchasing OEM Hella lamps from www.gsfcarparts.com:

B94017 HEADLAMP UNIT-MAIN LH E34 INNER LH 23.50
B94016 HEADLAMP UNIT-MAIN RH E34 INNER RH 23.50

Exactly the same lamps are £47.50 at BMW...

Cheers,
Andy