Bulb advice please (e46)

PaulKK

Hi all,
I'm currently considering getting some ccfl angel eyes for my E46. I intend on getting white coloured ones and wiring them in replacement of the sidelights.

However, I am concerned that the dips will look very yellow against the angel eyes.

I have seen a few 'white light' bulbs such as philips bluevision that seem to tick the box, they earned top marks in an autocar review, but I would like to hear from anyone using the above or who could reccomend a good alternative. I'd be interested to hear from those with the diamond vision type also. Just to note, I have had nightbreakers in the past but found them a bit yellow also.

I don't want to get a h.i.d kit, as I have reflector headlights and don't want to blind other traffic.

So just to be clear, best white light to match ccfl angel eyes, or at least not to be too yellow against them, but not compromising on beam spread in a halogen

Thanks for any suggestions,
Paul

Wheelnut

Just to be clear: your car does not have angel eyes at present? you want to install angel eyes instead of your present sidelights, so does that not entail fitting complete new headlights?

Eoin

Wheelnut wrote: »

Just to be clear: your car does not have angel eyes at present? you want to install angel eyes instead of your present sidelights, so does that not entail fitting complete new headlights?

The e46 never came with angel eyes as standard, so they're all aftermarket.

They're just rings that slot into the existing head light unit, and the original parking light bulbs are removed (and a resistor put in between the socket and the angel eyes).

@PaulKK - some people seem to swear by Osram Nightbreakers.

PaulKK

Wheelnut wrote: »

Just to be clear: your car does not have angel eyes at present? you want to install angel eyes instead of your present sidelights, so does that not entail fitting complete new headlights?

Exactly, as Eoin said, the E46 never came with angel eyes so they are an after market modification. I am concerned that they will not look right with standard "yellow" halogen bulbs in the dipped beam.

eoin wrote: »

@PaulKK - some people seem to swear by Osram Nightbreakers.

Yes, I have had them before, and while the output was good, the light still seemed "yellow" from them. I am aware that there is a new version of the nightbreakers out for the last year or so, so maybe these might have a whiter light?

Wheelnut

eoin wrote: »

They're just rings that slot into the existing head light unit...

Yes, I know what they are. I have them in a '09 320 but they are factory originals. I've never taken out the bulbs to see if they are anything special but they look like ordinary H7s to me and I have no problem with a contrast of colours.

I am also aware that ccfl rings are advertised singly but I was under the impression that the E46 headlights were a single unit with the lense bonded to the reflector. I therefore wondered if the rings could be retrofitted and that's what prompted my original question. Sorry if I'm very slightly off topic.

Gumbo

Wheelnut wrote: »

Yes, I know what they are. I have them in a '09 320 but they are factory originals. I've never taken out the bulbs to see if they are anything special but they look like ordinary H7s to me and I have no problem with a contrast of colours.

I am also aware that ccfl rings are advertised singly but I was under the impression that the E46 headlights were a single unit with the lense bonded to the reflector. I therefore wondered if the rings could be retrofitted and that's what prompted my original question. Sorry if I'm very slightly off topic.

the AE's on LCI E90's are OEM as the above poster but because they are OEM your H7 bulbs are the same as the AE bulbs, which are the crappy yellow looking colour.

in order to upgrade your bulbs , you should ideally do both to try and keep them similar.

the problem here is when your try upgrade tour OEM AE's and match the H7 bulb with some blue/xenon type, the reflector housing tends to scatter the bulbs light and it doesnt look great imo.


these get great reviews over on www.bmw-driver.net - http://umnitza.com/angel-eyes-umnitza-c-114_113.html?osCsid=5rhgubettnuu6npsn87sjb8il4
theres a few bulbs out there that are ok, but there hard to find. the nightbreakers as above get some goos reviews, but i think you'll be testing for ages and a trial and error scenario will occur until you find a set that your happy with.

OP are you doing it to a coupe or saloon? if coupe has it got the OEM projector headlights? or if its a saloon your faced with the reflector lights which are harder to match.

PaulKK

kceire wrote: »

OP are you doing it to a coupe or saloon? if coupe has it got the OEM projector headlights? or if its a saloon your faced with the reflector....

Hi kceire, its a facelift saloon, so reflectors. I'm on bmw-driver alright but thought it'd get more responses over here I've read the threads on it over there and seen some pics. Its actually kdevitts diy thread that encouraged me to go for them.

I like the look of the white ccfls, but I just want to avoid the crappy looking clash between the yellow standard halogen on the dips and white ccfl.

I dont mind if its not exactly the same but I would like to get something that would blend better if you know what I mean? Obviously the full beams dont matter as max light is what you want from them.

PaulKK

Wheelnut wrote: »

Yes, I know what they are. I have them in a '09 320 but they are factory originals. I've never taken out the bulbs to see if they are anything special but they look like ordinary H7s to me and I have no problem with a contrast of colours.

I am also aware that ccfl rings are advertised singly but I was under the impression that the E46 headlights were a single unit with the lense bonded to the reflector. I therefore wondered if the rings could be retrofitted and that's what prompted my original question. Sorry if I'm very slightly off topic.

On my car you can just unclip the lens from the front of the headlight. You then simply clip in the angel eyes and wire them to the sidelights.

I believe on some xenon ones you need to bake the lens to split it as it is bonded like you mentioned.

PaulKK

Just to update this. After some research I got Osram Cool Blue bulbs after.

Nice whiter light from them, noticeably so after changing from the old bulbs, and the sidelights look quite yellow against them.

I haven't fitted the CCFLs yet but I'm sure these will match in a lot better.


In short I would recommend the bulbs, only 15 quid delivered on ebay.