BMW Adaptive Headlights or Adaptive LED Headlights

olearydc

Hi All

Someone in our family is buying a new 5 Series (wish it was me!)

They are looking at the options and asked what is the big difference between BMW Adaptive Headlights or Adaptive LED Headlights?

Would it be just the LED part (2000 difference). If yes, they wont go for it but hoping that Adaptive Headlights with Xenon lights are fully Adaptive. ie dipps main lights when needed and parts lights for oncoming traffic automatically if required

Does anyone have Xenon Adaptive Headlights and do they reckon it makes a difference and worth the extra cost

Cheers again

Regards
Dan

bazz26

I have the adaptive headlights in my 5 Series. It's a 2011 model so they are Xenon as LED wasn't available back then. They come with high beam assist and dynamic adjusting for cornering and oncoming traffic. I find them great so I'd imagine the revised LED ones in the LCI model would be even better.

olearydc

Cheers Baz

Thanks for that -
Believe they will get the same system you have (800 Euro Option) which looks to be the best call for them (Its a extra 1500 on top for the the LED version)

Xenon Adaptive Headlights look pretty decent -

Thanks again for your input

Regards
Dan

R.O.R

I *think* the Adaptive Xenon's will automatically dip when the sense cars, but the LED lights will actually change the light pattern so it doesn't blind the other cars, but still light up the rest of road.

That's the case with the Adaptive LED's I've ordered on a customer's Passat for Jan anyway - haven't checked BMW's but it's probably the same. Looks very swanky on the Youtube video's I found, but doubt it's worth the extra €1,500 over the adaptive Xenon system.

Voodoomelon

Yup same system on the BMWs. I'd pay the premium for the laser headlights, but not for LED.

carsfan

adaptive xenons on BMW now change the light patterns while maintaining high beam so as not to dazzle.
"high beam assistant" is what they now call the system that does the more simple dipping of the lights.
Both are good but adaptive is better. Don't think the LED system is worth the larger premium again.

robbie99

I've got the Adaptive Xenons on my 4 series which will be the same as the €800 Adaptive option on the 5 series and they are brilliant. The beam splits and you can see a square shadow box surrounding cars in front. This feature only works above 60kph and on unlit country roads.

I don't think the extra €1,400 to go with LED lights is worth it. I guess the LED lights must be a little brighter, but the Xenons are not at all dim. The main advantage for going with LED imho is that you get matching LED foglights. I hate seeing my fog lights look yellow in comparison to the bright Xenons when the cornering function comes on. But I'm going to replace the fog light bulbs much cheaper with ones with a more bluer tint to address this.

EDIT: Confirmation on what the current options can do are here - http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/discover-bmw/tech-hub.html

olearydc

Hi All

Perfect.Cheers for the Link

Your right, just talked with them now and they wont go with LED's but will go with the Adaptive Xenons

Will be strange to see that box around a car at night!

Cheers all for your input - -much appreciated

Regards
Dan

MetzgerMeister

Another owner here with the Adaptive Xenons. each headlight is fully independent of the other when it comes to the auto aspect. Not a hope I'd pay that much of a premium for LED's. I'd rather put that towards Sat-Nav.

Robbie - you'll need something from HERE for the fog lights. I'm getting these myself to match the main lights.

landmarkjohn

Even with High Beam Assist on BMW I find myself having to override the system on country roads where you (the driver) can see another car approaching the bend and use dip beam in anticipation rather than momentarily giving the approaching vehicle full beam. Same on motorway for trucks on the other side with the driver sitting high in the cab.

If there was an upgrade seat option (comfort seats) it would be money better spent, you use the seat all the time when driving.... well I do anyway ;-)

Also when you are out of warranty if the adaptive light goes wrong could be an arm and a leg to fix! And smartphone SATNAV beats anything I've used in a car.

robbie99

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Robbie - you'll need something from HERE for the fog lights. I'm getting these myself to match the main lights.

Thanks for that website! I'm going to order now. A warning though - that link is for the 80W/100W high performance bulbs. They'll throw an error on the dash and may also blow a fuse as they'll draw a lot more current than the 35W OEM fog light. I'll be ordering the H8 35W bulb here. It's the right wattage and its colour is 4350k which is close enough to the 4300k OEM Xenons.

newacc2015

LED technically last for ever. They just get gradually dimmer after tens of thousands of hours. Xenon are quite expensive to replace. So I would find out the cost of xenon's replacement. We used to have a Renault and it was €1000 to replace a single xenon bulb

Oafley Jones

newacc2015 wrote: »

LED technically last for ever. They just get gradually dimmer after tens of thousands of hours. Xenon are quite expensive to replace. So I would find out the cost of xenon's replacement. We used to have a Renault and it was €1000 to replace a single xenon bulb

Dafuq! They're no-where near that expensive. I paid over the odds (150 euro) at a main dealer last year.

Voodoomelon

landmarkjohn wrote: »

Also when you are out of warranty if the adaptive light goes wrong could be an arm and a leg to fix! And smartphone SATNAV beats anything I've used in a car.

Whatever about other items of equipment, BMWs adaptive headlights from 2002 have proved to be exceptionally reliable. It was relatively unproven technology with a fair few moving parts, but has shown itself to be very reliable over time.

Skylinehead

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Another owner here with the Adaptive Xenons. each headlight is fully independent of the other when it comes to the auto aspect. Not a hope I'd pay that much of a premium for LED's. I'd rather put that towards Sat-Nav.

Robbie - you'll need something from HERE for the fog lights. I'm getting these myself to match the main lights.

I'm surprised nav isn't standard on a car of that price category, is that the norm?

bazz26

NAV has been standard on the 5 Series since the LCI facelift in mid 2013. Also I think you can get led front fog lights as an option on some models, they are standard on the M Sport.

Headlight technology has really moved on in the last few years.

MetzgerMeister

Skylinehead wrote: »

I'm surprised nav isn't standard on a car of that price category, is that the norm?

Nope, still an option on the F30 anyway.

Robbie, I don't know what the hell I linked you to earlier on but the ones you have there are the exact ones I'm getting myself.

Bazz, unless you're talking about the MSport F10, the LED front fogs aren't standard on the F30 MSport. Mine are the auld yellow yokes!

bazz26

Yep, was talking about the F10 MM. Xenons are standard on the F10 these days too.

MetzgerMeister

I wonder would it be possible to install them into an F30 or would it be completely different wiring?

bazz26

I'm no expert but the looms could well be different alright, might be cheaper to fit a CAMBUS kit to fool the ECU of the lower voltage of the LEDs. I'm sure someone has done it on the interweb though.

MetzgerMeister

Ah funk that! Those H8's Robbie linked will the the finest

bazz26

Probably the easiest option.

MetzgerMeister

From my history and knowledge of Bimmers......yes :pac:

Special Circumstances

bazz26 wrote: »

I'm no expert but the looms could well be different alright, might be cheaper to fit a CAMBUS kit to fool the ECU of the lower voltage of the LEDs. I'm sure someone has done it on the interweb though.

Any oem quality LEDs would have current drivers rather than ebay "resistor wound around the leg of a led and a shunt to fool canbus" job.

carsfan

Sat Nav is now standard on all BMW models now since earlier this year I think.

MetzgerMeister

robbie99 wrote: »

Thanks for that website! I'm going to order now. A warning though - that link is for the 80W/100W high performance bulbs. They'll throw an error on the dash and may also blow a fuse as they'll draw a lot more current than the 35W OEM fog light. I'll be ordering the H8 35W bulb here. It's the right wattage and its colour is 4350k which is close enough to the 4300k OEM Xenons.

It's actually these I'm after - http://www.mteclightingusa.com/MTEC_4750K_H8_Cosmos_Blue_White_Bulbs_p/mt-471.htm

Hachiko

olearydc wrote: »

Hi All

Someone in our family is buying a new 5 Series (wish it was me!)

They are looking at the options and asked what is the big difference between BMW Adaptive Headlights or Adaptive LED Headlights?

Would it be just the LED part (2000 difference). If yes, they wont go for it but hoping that Adaptive Headlights with Xenon lights are fully Adaptive. ie dipps main lights when needed and parts lights for oncoming traffic automatically if required

Does anyone have Xenon Adaptive Headlights and do they reckon it makes a difference and worth the extra cost

Cheers again

Regards
Dan

adaptive lights explained here, yes they make a difference at night on country roads for sure

http://210.211.49.136/technology_explorer/intelligent_adaptive_front-lighting_system_AFS.asp?model=1_IS#active

Hachiko

newacc2015 wrote: »

LED technically last for ever. They just get gradually dimmer after tens of thousands of hours. Xenon are quite expensive to replace. So I would find out the cost of xenon's replacement. We used to have a Renault and it was €1000 to replace a single xenon bulb

nonsense, you could buy an entire renault for that price. You can get bulbs for modest prices on line

http://www.amazon.co.uk/XENARC-ORIGINAL-headlamp-66440-folding/dp/B0068M10PI

robbie99

Hachiko wrote: »

adaptive lights explained here, yes they make a difference at night on country roads for sure

http://210.211.49.136/technology_explorer/intelligent_adaptive_front-lighting_system_AFS.asp?model=1_IS#active

That link shows Lexus's Intelligent Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) where the lights simply swivel and point into the direction the car is traveling.

The BMW adaptive lights do that and much more. If you have your main beam on auto and a car comes towards you or you're following other cars, rather than simply dipping the beam, the BMW adaptive lights will leave the headlights on, but projector gimmickery will cast a shadow on the cars you'd otherwise be dazzling. This is a step up from simple "High beam Assist".

jamieh

My Dad got a new facelift 5 series last year & went for the Adaptive LED option. Think it was circa €2k but he still thinks it was worth every penny....there is a camera under the rearview mirror that scans for oncoming objects...it will then adjust the beam automatically. It's quite clever though in that it doesn't just dim all the lights if a car if coming against you, it will only dim on one side. It takes awhile to get used to but it's quite impressive.

Think this is the video that convinced him to go with the LED's:

MetzgerMeister

That's the exact same thing that the adaptive Xenon does.

landmarkjohn

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Whatever about other items of equipment, BMWs adaptive headlights from 2002 have proved to be exceptionally reliable. It was relatively unproven technology with a fair few moving parts, but has shown itself to be very reliable over time.

I only know of one failure, belonging to a work colleague, repaired under warranty on an E60.... Service Manager advised him it would have been a €2000 fix if he had to pay for it.