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-   -   Retrofit xenon (https://5series.net/forums/e60-discussion-2/retrofit-xenon-66286/)

chesney72 Nov 28, 2008 02:22 AM

Seen these on ebay and wonder if they can be inserted into std lights?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2008-BMW-E6...sQ5fAccessories

Anyone tried this?

John@Motorcepts Nov 28, 2008 05:19 AM

dunno if that'll work but a regular HID conversion would be the simplest and easiest way to go. Regular HID conversion without the projectors has been done many times. Sent u a PM

chesney72 Nov 28, 2008 07:28 AM


Originally Posted by brabusw209amg' post='733487' date='Nov 28 2008, 02:19 PM
dunno if that'll work but a regular HID conversion would be the simplest and easiest way to go. Regular HID conversion without the projectors has been done many times. Sent u a PM

Cheers for the reply.

I'm wanting to avoid putting HID's in non projector headlights as I did this to our VW golf (is that rabbit over in the US?) and the glare is quite strong and they are projector lights so I'd imagine putting them into no-projector lights would get me pulled by the police.

Also I the main purpose is to have xenon Full beam rather than dipped so I'd need some kind of OEM style dipped plus the shutter to give instant full beam. The HID kit I had a couple of years back took a few seconds to get to full power

John@Motorcepts Nov 28, 2008 11:20 AM


Originally Posted by chesney72' post='733525' date='Nov 28 2008, 11:28 AM
Cheers for the reply.

I'm wanting to avoid putting HID's in non projector headlights as I did this to our VW golf (is that rabbit over in the US?) and the glare is quite strong and they are projector lights so I'd imagine putting them into no-projector lights would get me pulled by the police.

Also I the main purpose is to have xenon Full beam rather than dipped so I'd need some kind of OEM style dipped plus the shutter to give instant full beam. The HID kit I had a couple of years back took a few seconds to get to full power


it's the rabbit in UK. if u want to do HID retrofit, get the LCI halogen conversions so u have the projector. then do HID conversions then it'll be almost perfect except for the auto levelling

Dandle Nov 28, 2008 11:44 AM


Originally Posted by brabusw209amg' post='733653' date='Nov 28 2008, 08:20 PM
it's the rabbit in UK.

It's a VW Golf in the UK and Rabbit in the US like the Chesney said.

Looking at that light unit it looks to me like its been cut out of a car at some point as there are what looks like short wires on the back of the light unit, so I wouldnt be so sure they would fit into a regular halogen unit with serious modifications. Your best bet is to try and source some second hand xenon light units from a breakers or ebay, unless you up for a challenge.

chesney72 Nov 28, 2008 02:34 PM


Originally Posted by Dandle' post='733670' date='Nov 28 2008, 08:44 PM
It's a VW Golf in the UK and Rabbit in the US like the Chesney said.

Looking at that light unit it looks to me like its been cut out of a car at some point as there are what looks like short wires on the back of the light unit, so I wouldnt be so sure they would fit into a regular halogen unit with serious modifications. Your best bet is to try and source some second hand xenon light units from a breakers or ebay, unless you up for a challenge.

Looking into doing this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140284399790&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm38.l1313%26_nkw%3D140284399790%2B%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1
Trouble is you need to get the lens off the headlight and these slot into the std halogen bulb socket and are secured from the back with a locking plate so you can be assured they are sitting level and are a tight fit.

Sounds ok and its claimed if you go for 4300k than you'll get OEM appearance as opposed to the dodgy blue tint which I think makes it look like a cheap afterthought!

Am I right in thinking that the xenon beam in this type of light relies on the projector rather than the reflector in the headlight. Or to put it another way are OEM xenon and OEM halogens headlight relfectors much the same with the halogens using the reflector in the headlight?

Or do OEM xenons low beam rely on a projector type headlight? So I'd need projector style lights to do this properly.

Dandle Nov 28, 2008 03:39 PM

Oem xenons use the projector lens for the dipped(low) beam and a halogen bulb in a normal reflector for the main(high) beam. Bi-xenon headlights use a single projector lens for both types of beam with a shutter in the projector changing the light direction.

The E60 headlight is a sealed unit so im not so sure you will be able to take it appart like they have done with the E46. The oem brightness is indeed 4300k.

chesney72 Nov 28, 2008 03:56 PM


Originally Posted by Dandle' post='733836' date='Nov 29 2008, 12:39 AM
Oem xenons use the projector lens for the dipped(low) beam and a halogen bulb in a normal reflector for the main(high) beam. Bi-xenon headlights use a single projector lens for both types of beam with a shutter in the projector changing the light direction.

The E60 headlight is a sealed unit so im not so sure you will be able to take it appart like they have done with the E46. The oem brightness is indeed 4300k.

Cheers Dandle.

I've heard this might be a problem. Some mk4 golf owners get a 2nd hand set of lights then basically melt the plastic to get the lens off and then break the glass on the others. Then fit the intact lenses back on once they do the mod :o

Would need to get cheap projectors to do this and haven't seen any. Only seen std reflector lights. I'm sure the BMW lenses are plastic too.

Will keep an eye out for full, proper OEM xenons with ballasts and bulbs.

Shame you can't get into e60/61 lights to do this cos it sounds like a decent mod.

chesney72 Nov 29, 2008 01:43 AM

Little update.

I've been talking to the dealer from the 2nd link and he's sure that the lenses come off with sensible use of a heat gun and that the projector for the xenon dipped beam is built into the unit and there's no need for projector headlights.

Before going any further though I've decided to try to remove a lense. If it can be done without melting anything then I'll get it off but from reading other posts on here I'm not confident it will come off. Wondering if the glue/bond is virtually the same melting point as the plastic!

AlexFW Nov 29, 2008 02:24 AM

An E60 shound't be ordered with sux alogen lights as factory. :barf:


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