Headlight bulb question

ljkiter · 07-18-2011, 08:21 AM

I have a 2003 2.5 and it has what looks like projector lense but the color output is yellow. Can anyone tell me more about what types of bulb I have? I looked at realoem and see that there is a bi-xenon and a hid for my model.

I want to get 5k bulbs for the lowbeam.
Any info on upgrading fog lights to HID as well?

ljkiter · 07-21-2011, 06:58 AM

any1?

rsutoratosu · 07-21-2011, 10:22 AM

You probably have halogen projectors. I dont think a HID bulb would fit. You would need to get one of those kits but because bulb length are differnet, it may throw off the light.

ANUSTART · 07-21-2011, 11:43 AM

You could contact DDM Tuning (google it) and they may be able to give you some info on how to do the HID mod. I have used their kits before with mixed results. Two were great, the third burned out after less than a year. They do have a good warrantee though. Just never replaced it.

If you have regular halogens the bulbs are H7s for low and high beam. H11 for your fogs.

Good luck.

acpro999 · 07-21-2011, 02:27 PM

On my 2003 3.0 non HID I replaced the low beam with PIAA Extreme white and I'm very happy with the result. (i hate all those silly blue and purple bulbs out there) And for my fogs I used PIAA Plasma yellow with excellent results as well and they look cool too. I only wish they made an application for my Jeep Grand Cherokee.

MetMan · 07-21-2011, 02:44 PM

I converted my halogen to xenon and I'm very pleased with the results. Haven't heard much good about those plug and play kits. I bought xenon projectors, bulbs and ballast / igniters from theretrofitsource.com and was very happy with their customer service. Pm me if you have any questions.

AirOpsMgr · 07-21-2011, 05:27 PM

I recently changed out my halogen H7 bulbs (projector low-beams on my 06' 3.0i) to 5000K 35w HID with a kit for about $110 and had both lights done in about 45 minutes (after deciding where I wanted to mount the slim-line ballasts and wiring).

Everything was plug and play, the only thing I had to modify was the OEM bulb holder, due to the fact that the HID kit had a larger wire harness that wouldn't fit through the bulb holder. Although not as crisp as the nice BMW Bi-xenons, my projectors still focus the HID beam well and the cut-off line is just as pronounced as the halogens were - I see clearly at night and don't get flashed by on-coming traffic, so they seem to do the trick.

The company I bought from also makes the same 5000K 35W hid kit for the fog lights (H11) - but I haven't tried it yet, so can't tell you how well it works.

hope that helps

07-18-2011, 08:21 AM	#1
ljkiter Second Lieutenant 56 Rep 243 Posts Drives: z4 35i manual Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	Headlight bulb question I have a 2003 2.5 and it has what looks like projector lense but the color output is yellow. Can anyone tell me more about what types of bulb I have? I looked at realoem and see that there is a bi-xenon and a hid for my model. I want to get 5k bulbs for the lowbeam. Any info on upgrading fog lights to HID as well? Last edited by ljkiter; 07-18-2011 at 08:29 AM..
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07-21-2011, 06:58 AM	#2
ljkiter Second Lieutenant 56 Rep 243 Posts Drives: z4 35i manual Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	any1?
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07-21-2011, 10:22 AM	#3
rsutoratosu Captain 114 Rep 779 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	You probably have halogen projectors. I dont think a HID bulb would fit. You would need to get one of those kits but because bulb length are differnet, it may throw off the light. __________________ -Roranji
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07-21-2011, 11:43 AM	#4
ANUSTART Captain 35 Rep 956 Posts Drives: Z4 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: IL iTrader: (0)	You could contact DDM Tuning (google it) and they may be able to give you some info on how to do the HID mod. I have used their kits before with mixed results. Two were great, the third burned out after less than a year. They do have a good warrantee though. Just never replaced it. If you have regular halogens the bulbs are H7s for low and high beam. H11 for your fogs. Good luck.
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07-21-2011, 02:27 PM	#5
acpro999 New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: '04 Z4 3.0i Merlot/dream red Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: S. Hero, VT iTrader: (0)	On my 2003 3.0 non HID I replaced the low beam with PIAA Extreme white and I'm very happy with the result. (i hate all those silly blue and purple bulbs out there) And for my fogs I used PIAA Plasma yellow with excellent results as well and they look cool too. I only wish they made an application for my Jeep Grand Cherokee.
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07-21-2011, 02:44 PM	#6
MetMan Second Lieutenant 14 Rep 237 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 3.0i, 2033 X5 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Houston iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [1.00] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [0.00]	I converted my halogen to xenon and I'm very pleased with the results. Haven't heard much good about those plug and play kits. I bought xenon projectors, bulbs and ballast / igniters from theretrofitsource.com and was very happy with their customer service. Pm me if you have any questions. __________________
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07-21-2011, 05:27 PM	#7
AirOpsMgr Private First Class 12 Rep 151 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: McDonough, GA iTrader: (0)	I recently changed out my halogen H7 bulbs (projector low-beams on my 06' 3.0i) to 5000K 35w HID with a kit for about $110 and had both lights done in about 45 minutes (after deciding where I wanted to mount the slim-line ballasts and wiring). Everything was plug and play, the only thing I had to modify was the OEM bulb holder, due to the fact that the HID kit had a larger wire harness that wouldn't fit through the bulb holder. Although not as crisp as the nice BMW Bi-xenons, my projectors still focus the HID beam well and the cut-off line is just as pronounced as the halogens were - I see clearly at night and don't get flashed by on-coming traffic, so they seem to do the trick. The company I bought from also makes the same 5000K 35W hid kit for the fog lights (H11) - but I haven't tried it yet, so can't tell you how well it works. hope that helps Last edited by AirOpsMgr; 07-21-2011 at 05:33 PM..
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