I saw a black e60 on the road today, as it approached from behind. I noticed that he had the inner lens, dim DRLs. So I'm thinking it's a pre-LCI 5er. I let him pass, and noticed that he had the LCI, 5-tube tail lights, as well as a "528 xi" badge on the back. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a good look at the fog lights due to the snow on the grill.

I usually identify the pre-LCIs as the "frowning" lower valence.

So what's up with this ride? I thought that all the LCIs had the halo DRLs? Or is this a pre-LCI with an LCI tail light mod and 528 badge? Isn't the 528 the LCI replacement for the 525? Did any of them come with the inner lens DRL vs. the halos?

 

I think all 528i's are all LCI's

 

So did some 528s come with the old-style, inner lens DRLs vs. the halos?

That's what I found odd.

 

I am not sure...

 

I think the Halo DRLs came in 2009. 2008 was the first year of LCI and I am pretty sure that the DRLs were not Halo at that time.

 

Isn't this forum (and all the mods done by the participants) a clear indicator that you can't trust what came out of the factory. A lot of people here seem to play around with their angel eyes, DRLs, and LCI taillights.

 

I understand.

I didn't think that the e60 LCI "cornering lights", or the inner circular lens, could be "converted" to DRLs. The inboard lights on previous 5ers (like the e39) used to be the high beams, and then were dumbed down to DRLs.

The only answers here are that

A) Early versions of the e60 LCI, (or maybe just the 528) didn't have the halo DRLs. (Was Adaptive headlight an option at some point?)

If Adaptive Headlights were an "option" on the 528 LCI, then that would explain it, as I don't believe the non-adaptive headlights have the "cornering lights". They are flash to pass, I believe, which I would actually like much better than the cornering lights.

The guy had a pre-LCI e60 and did a tail light LCI mod and rebadged the car as a 528 xi. (I doubt this, judging from the occupant)

 

I have a 2008 535i and my DRL are the halos. I haven't made any mods to my car as of yet so this was the delivery setup.

Correct me if Im wrong but wasn't the DRL a setting in the idrive that was only dealer accessable?

 

Just went to the BMWNA website to configure a 528xi. The Xenon headlights are a $900 option, not standard. Likley the owner didn't get the option and got the old style headlights with the inner lights being the DRLs...

 

Thanks. I should have thought of that. I was stuck on thinking it was an early '08 MY deal, and wouldn't be able to get the specs on the website.

Now I can sleep.

Interesting that the Xenons are an option on the 528. Did you notice if the halogens were still Adaptive?