All you wanted to know about the M3/M4 and 4 Series LED headlights

[LSM]

Originally Posted by B-1Pilot

Most people who tell you they are not worth it are defending their xenon purchase and/or lack of actually owning BMW LED headlights.

I own a 13 with xenons and a 14 with LEDs... I drive each a couple nights a week-- the xenons are great!... the LEDs are better. I will put LEDs on every future BMW i buy. Drive the back to back and its obvious.

I have LED's on my M6, had them on my Gran Coupe, had them on my CLS...They look better imo, but thats really it, they dont light better at all, my previous cars all had xenons. I guess with the options list that can increase price so quickly on this car, people will have to decide if 1900 more is worth it. To me it isnt

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

I was very enthusiastic about the LED headlights when I came back from the Mtl car show. I was pretty much set on ordering them despite the hefty $2000 price tag. Now, the more I watch 4 series videos and pictures, the less excited I become. Comparatively, the xenon still look very good, there's not that much difference in look . Further, based on the various reviews and feedback, the LEDs don't seem to provide a clear cut performance advantage over the xenon. Now I am back at being on the fence on that option

You are probably right that they are not worth it for most people. But, having just returned from the huge architectural lighting show in Frankfurt, I can tell you LEDs are replacing most other sources at a rapid rate, including HID/xenon. The are more efficient, compact and last longer. From an automotive perspective, those qualities are not overriding as much as they are in architecture. I'm getting them because they are the future (xenons in cars will be a few years will be like halogens are now) and I like the looks. Hopefully, we may be able to enable some of the NA banned features through coding.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

You are probably right that they are not worth it for most people. But, having just returned from the huge architectural lighting show in Frankfurt, I can tell you LEDs are replacing most other sources at a rapid rate, including HID/xenon. The are more efficient, compact and last longer. From an automotive perspective, those qualities are not overriding as much as they are in architecture. I'm getting them because they are the future (xenons in cars will be a few years will be like halogens are now) and I like the looks.

I am with you. The post you quoted is more than 2 months old. Since then, I spent a fair bit of time at the dealer going back and forth between two 4-series, one with LED the other with Xenon. In the end I found the LED better looking and more distinctive. They are on my order sheet, bling-bling .

[Powaup]

How much would it cost me to retrofit the LEDs? tried adding them on a week before production date but couldn't now I have to pay the price

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Powaup

How much would it cost me to retrofit the LEDs? tried adding them on a week before production date but couldn't now I have to pay the price

Several thousand. Whoo - post #7000!

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Several thousand. Whoo - post #7000!

Post whore

[Powaup]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Several thousand. Whoo - post #7000!

as in more than 2000? f*ck!

[K20A2_S]

Doest anyone have pictures of diffrence between the two? Side by side or similar lighting?

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by K20A2_S

Doest anyone have pictures of diffrence between the two? Side by side or similar lighting?

Post #13 here: http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...led+headlights

[1stm3f80]

If I got full LED lights front and rear I would have bought them. Passed this time around. Should be standard anyways.

[Damasconian]

Of all the options, this one is the most opulent. Not really needed, but nice to have if you enjoy checking option boxes. Im a sucker for LED's, consider my box checked.

[Zeroblade]

I want the LED's and I'd prob choose them anyway but I'm hesitant. I want the headlamps to last. Assuming at least the blubs BMW used are of decent quality I expect them to last a long time - since thats one of its selling points. Since all the other car makers are going LED crazy, I'm seeing a lot of newer cars with dead lights in NYC. Stuff like that makes me worry. My Mazda still has its orignal Xenon and fog blubs.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Zeroblade

I want the LED's and I'd prob choose them anyway but I'm hesitant. I want the headlamps to last. Assuming at least the blubs BMW used are of decent quality I expect them to last a long time - since thats one of its selling points. Since all the other car makers are going LED crazy, I'm seeing a lot of newer cars with dead lights in NYC. Stuff like that makes me worry. My Mazda still has its orignal Xenon and fog blubs.

LEDs are not bulbs but solid state devices. They typically have a much longer life than xenon (HID) bulbs - should last 50,000 hours or more, exceeding the life of the vehicle.

[filip75]

I just drove with high beam LEDs on an empty unlit highway at 90+mph and its incredible. Sometimes the reflection from the signs almost blinded me. Now, if I can activate the adaptive feature, that would be even better.