IKON Replica vs Pre LCI LED

[bholler]

Originally Posted by m3rxn

My adaptive LEDs on my 15 F82 was a $1900 option when I built my car in August 2014. I think they are beautiful and never planned to do this costly ICON " upgrade ". I just cranked up the brightness of DRL to 100% with coding and think they look badass !

Model year 2017 built September 2016

Cranking the brightness does make them look much better! I agree.

I always waffle on making this upgrade but would only ever consider OEM.

[heymarkv]

Pre-LCI LED headlights look great imo, I wouldn’t downgrade them to replica IKONs.

But to each their own.

[Tim_M56]

I can see the benefit of why many prefer going for Ikon replica headlights instead of keeping their Pre-LCI LED headlights. The biggest factor for me personally is I LOVE the black housings that the LCI IKON headlights give to the F8x platform, the chrome ages the car. Can't even get custom headlights done. I haven't found a custom set of Pre-LCI LEDs that look OEM-like.

[MTiz]

Originally Posted by Tim_M56

I can see the benefit of why many prefer going for Ikon replica headlights instead of keeping their Pre-LCI LED headlights. The biggest factor for me personally is I LOVE the black housings that the LCI IKON headlights give to the F8x platform, the chrome ages the car. Can't even get custom headlights done. I haven't found a custom set of Pre-LCI LEDs that look OEM-like.

Imo the pre-LCI headlights just look a lot more dated, while the LCI Ikon headlights give the F80/F82 M’s make these still look modern. And the DRL's are way more aggressive, so I 100% get it.

The reps are just really bad though. Maybe in a few more yr's they'll perfect it

[eshaananand]

Anyone looking for color changing DRL IKON headlights M3/M4 even let me know the retail stores online sell them for 2500+ USD but I got them and have them for $2000 CAD so roughly $1500 USD work great plug and play only require adaptive headlight coding just make sure you know your current headlight pin 6/8/9 if you have 10 pin in some adaptive pre lci headlights 9 pin will work, which I have on my car. Had them on my car for couple months now had no issues.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by dar2008

So I've taken a look at all the F8x Ms currently for sale on AutoTrader in the UK, and cross-referenced these with their factory build dates.

It looks like the end of February 2017 was the cross-over point between V1 and V2 ICONs. All F8x with option 552, from 28-Feb-2017 onwards have the V2s.

Here's an F82, built on 22-Feb-2017, with the V1 ICONs
Option 552: Adaptive LED Headlights


And here's an F82 factory built on 3-March-2017, now sporting the V2s
Option 552: Adaptive LED Headlights


Looking in more detail at the factory specs, 28-Feb-2017 coincided with LCI on the F82 (a handful of LCIs were built prior to that date, mostly for test / marketing purposes, but no Pre-LCIs were built after 27-Feb-2017).

Looking at the build dates for North America F8x, MY2018 is indeed the same crossover point, with the final Pre-LCI F82, a MY2017, built on 24-Feb-2017. All cars after that point were MY2018 and if they came with option 552, had the V2 ICONS.

This does my head in. IT'S NOT COMPLICATED, PEOPLE.

First off, US model years are different to European. The Yanks might get a 2018 model year car and call it "a 2018" even if the car was built in Feb 2017. Some cars also have their model years skipped, etc.

Secondly, the F80 consists of two vehicles, the F30 and F32 in the front area of the car.

So the F80 got its first refresh with the F30 LCI so visually on the outside, new tail lights/
Then with the F32 LCI, it got new headlights.

In super simple terms, F8x M3/M4:
2014-2017:
Adaptive bi-xenons (522)
Adaptive LEDs

2017-2020:
non-adaptive bi-LEDs (5A2)
Adaptive LEDs

There are officially no such things as IKON V1, IKON V2, IKONS or even BMW IKON Headlights or whatever the fuck.

BMW option codes have strictly set designation names which do not change, ever. See below. In brackets, I put the US-specific marketing terms they use in their Ordering Guides.

522: Xenon Light (USA: Xenon headlights)
524: Adaptive Headlights (USA: Adaptive light control)
552: Adaptive LED Headlight (USA: Adaptive Full LED Lights)
5A2: LED Headlights
5AZ: BMW Laserlight (USA: Icon Adaptive LED Headlights with Laserlight)
5AC: High-Beam Assistant (USA: Automatic high beams)

Note: US/CAN never had glare-free BMW Selective Beam as part of 5AC High-Beam Assistant.

The name "Icon Adaptive LED" is just USA-only marketing speak and a forum myth.

Also, 5AZ Icon Adaptive LED Headlight was never available for F8x, therefore, no "ICONs" for F8x.

[dar2008]

Originally Posted by swagon

This does my head in. IT'S NOT COMPLICATED, PEOPLE.

First off, US model years are different to European. The Yanks might get a 2018 model year car and call it "a 2018" even if the car was built in Feb 2017. Some cars also have their model years skipped, etc.

Secondly, the F80 consists of two vehicles, the F30 and F32 in the front area of the car.

So the F80 got its first refresh with the F30 LCI so visually on the outside, new tail lights/
Then with the F32 LCI, it got new headlights.

In super simple terms, F8x M3/M4:
2014-2017:
Adaptive bi-xenons (522)
Adaptive LEDs

2017-2020:
non-adaptive bi-LEDs (5A2)
Adaptive LEDs

There are officially no such things as IKON V1, IKON V2, IKONS or even BMW IKON Headlights or whatever the fuck.

BMW option codes have strictly set designation names which do not change, ever. See below. In brackets, I put the US-specific marketing terms they use in their Ordering Guides.

522: Xenon Light (USA: Xenon headlights)
524: Adaptive Headlights (USA: Adaptive light control)
552: Adaptive LED Headlight (USA: Adaptive Full LED Lights)
5A2: LED Headlights
5AZ: BMW Laserlight (USA: Icon Adaptive LED Headlights with Laserlight)
5AC: High-Beam Assistant (USA: Automatic high beams)

Note: US/CAN never had glare-free BMW Selective Beam as part of 5AC High-Beam Assistant.

The name "Icon Adaptive LED" is just USA-only marketing speak and a forum myth.

Also, 5AZ Icon Adaptive LED Headlight was never available for F8x, therefore, no "ICONs" for F8x.

Fully aware how Model Year works for North America, and how it isn’t used at all in Europe and most other markets, hence I referenced Build Date, which should be universally understood.

The headlight design for Option 552 changed on all F8x with a Build Date from 28-Feb-2017 onwards (LCI on F82/F83), for all markets - that was the point I was making. It makes perfect sense to refer to Option 552 before that date as ‘v1’, and after that date as ‘v2’.

Thanks for the clarification re: Icons / Ikons not being a term BMW used on F8x, that’s helpful.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by dar2008

It makes perfect sense to refer to Option 552 before that date as ‘v1’, and after that date as ‘v2’.

What's wrong with the terms "pre-facelift/pre-LCI" and "facelift/LCI"?

"V2" implies, to me at least, only improved/slightly amended version, not - in this case - a whole new headlight.

[dar2008]

Originally Posted by swagon

What's wrong with the terms "pre-facelift/pre-LCI" and "facelift/LCI"?

"V2" implies, to me at least, only improved/slightly amended version, not - in this case - a whole new headlight.

Your suggestion works well for the F82 and F83, but doesn't quite fit for the F80 which received its facelift / LCI on all cars with a Build Date from 30 June 2015 onwards (for all markets), but kept the the older style of Option 552 headlights (where fitted) until the F82/F83 LCI came along nearly two years later.

That's probably why some refer to an "LCI2" on the F80, to align with the F82/F83 changes. But as you'll know, BMW only designate one official LCI per model, which is reflected in the VIN number:

F80
- Pre-LCI WBS3C9
- LCI WBS8M9

I think it's important to be able to distinguish between the two styles of Option 552 headlights, especially as many buyers are specifically looking for cars with the newer style.

So on balance, V1 and V2 seems about right, but I have removed the word "Icons" from the V2 description in the app



(F80 and F83 data will be added soon)

[ApexEight]

Originally Posted by eshaananand

Anyone looking for color changing DRL IKON headlights M3/M4 even let me know the retail stores online sell them for 2500+ USD but I got them and have them for $2000 CAD so roughly $1500 USD work great plug and play only require adaptive headlight coding just make sure you know your current headlight pin 6/8/9 if you have 10 pin in some adaptive pre lci headlights 9 pin will work, which I have on my car. Had them on my car for couple months now had no issues.

These are the same as what's on Alibaba?

[ApexEight]

Alibaba has updated "V2" IKONs now. Modules on top like OEM. West Coast Euros wants 2k for them lol. They come out to about 1k shipped. Tempting

[M3 SRRY]

Originally Posted by dar2008

Your car has Option 552, Adaptive LED Headlights, also known as IKONS.

It was made on 3-Aug-2016, so an early MY2017 example.

There are IKONs V1 and IKONs V2 (released at some point during LCI). Both V1 and V2 had the same option number, 552, on the build sheet, so it's impossible to tell from the spec list which version is fitted. It would be great if we can narrow it down to a specific date or range of dates, when V2 started to be fitted.

I'm guessing from your response, yours must be IKONs V1?

Is the blinker on these units an led or still a bulb? Does it look any better than the 522 option?

[Slow M3]

I dropped $3.5k on a OEM euro set. Am I dumb for that? Yea. Would I do it again? Fuck yeah! Wouldn’t have it any other way.

[TimmyTurbos]

Buy once, cry once brother! I'm with you!

[MTiz]

Originally Posted by swagon

There are officially no such things as IKON V1, IKON V2, IKONS or even BMW IKON Headlights or whatever the fuck.

The name "Icon Adaptive LED" is just USA-only marketing speak and a forum myth.

Also, 5AZ Icon Adaptive LED Headlight was never available for F8x, therefore, no "ICONs" for F8x.

Semantics. It's the same visual style of lights as the actual Icon Laser lights (5AZ) and everyone calls them Icons so that's what they are. Saying Adaptive LED's over and over would be grating, and calling them icons distinguishes them from the 2015-2017 adaptive's that came on cars. No need to be aggressive.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by MTiz

Semantics. It's the same visual style of lights as the actual Icon Laser lights (5AZ) and everyone calls them Icons so that's what they are. Saying Adaptive LED's over and over would be grating, and calling them icons distinguishes them from the 2015-2017 adaptive's that came on cars. No need to be aggressive.

I've got the 'tism

[dar2008]

Originally Posted by swagon

The name "Icon Adaptive LED" is just USA-only marketing speak and a forum myth.
.

From the official BMW F80 M3 CS brochure

[swagon]

Originally Posted by dar2008

From the official BMW F80 M3 CS brochure

Oh ok. That's the only mention of that that I've seen in F8x and F3x materials.

[Slow M3]

I went from pre-LCI LED to LCI. While I love the look of the pre-LCI and the fact it stays true to the original halo/angel eye look, I think the LCI makes the front end look more aggressive

plus Dodge hell cats or whatever they’re called has kinda ruined the halo look with their poor knock off.

[NSX2M4]

When someone says the word Alibaba and quality in the same sentence...
Priceless.

[9M71]

Originally Posted by Slow M3

I went from pre-LCI LED to LCI. While I love the look of the pre-LCI and the fact it stays true to the original halo/angel eye look, I think the LCI makes the front end look more aggressive

plus Dodge hell cats or whatever they’re called has kinda ruined the halo look with their poor knock off.

Are these the v1 or v2 version?

[Slow M3]

Originally Posted by 9M71

Are these the v1 or v2 version?

Not sure. I know it’s the euro version with built in anti-dazzle. How would I be able to check if it’s v1 or 2?