LED vs. Xenon

[Jim B]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

At least you guys in the US get the High Beam Assistant with the LEDs for $1900. In Canada $2000 only gets you the LED headlights. If you want the HBA, you need to shed an additional $1500 for the Technology package .

You Canadians have even MORE reason to stick with the xenon HID's.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Jim B

You Canadians have even MORE reason to stick with the xenon HID's.

I am a sucker for new tech, so I got the LEDs anyway

[m4pewpew]

So I just got my car and I have Xenon lights. To be honest, I'm not disappointed, and I don't regret not getting the LED lights. If you are shopping for an M3 or M4 and you're not very picky about lights, I think you will like the Xenon anyway. If you're not sure but have the extra money to spend without hesitation, LED then.

[bjams]

Can anyone confirm whether the HBA and Euro-style adaptive lighting works with the HID headlights?

I was going to go with HID but after seeing the demo videos of the adaptive, I can't really say no. I'm a lighting designer so not having the latest lighting toy just seemed weak sauce.

[Vigilant]

Originally Posted by m4pewpew

So I just got my car and I have Xenon lights. To be honest, I'm not disappointed, and I don't regret not getting the LED lights. If you are shopping for an M3 or M4 and you're not very picky about lights, I think you will like the Xenon anyway. If you're not sure but have the extra money to spend without hesitation, LED then.

Agree...adaptive xenon HIDs are more than adequate. No need for filling BMW's coffers to the tune of another $1500.

[BEMR]

No doubt Xenon's are reeeel cool, I know since I had them for 7 years, but if you've never had the LED's and spent a few thousand miles driving with them to truly know the difference it really makes no difference anyway.

Actually my mom is in her 70's, she loves her iPhone, and she loved rabbit ears on her TV with her dial type phone, she has no idea what 4k curved led TV is all about, nor 3700 choices of android networked cell phones, she's real happy where she's at, so what difference does it really matter.

[crashtestdummy81]

Originally Posted by benjaminroy

Can anyone confirm whether the HBA and Euro-style adaptive lighting works with the HID headlights?

I was going to go with HID but after seeing the demo videos of the adaptive, I can't really say no. I'm a lighting designer so not having the latest lighting toy just seemed weak sauce.

I have the xenons and have anti dazzle but you need to spec adaptive xenons and not just the static ones.
In UK adaptive xenons are a £360 option and include the high beam assistant for free (normally £150) a much better option than £1600 for LEDs

[justinstephen]

I wish the high beam assistant was available for the Xenons here in the US. Is there anyway to retrofit the kit? I know this was possible on the E90s.

[YMB-M3-J2]

you could probably retrofit parts from an F3x but seems like its a lot of work and probably not worth the cost.

[JDS]

I have a 2012 335i with adaptive xenon's and HBA, and just coded all the full anti-dazzle features, so they are available. What build do you have on your car?

[Ghetto2315]

This whole thread is basically about how LEDs vs Xenons look while you look at the car not while you're driving.

From a driver's stand point, can we all agree that Xenon vs LED the visibility are pretty much the same? I just ordered my M4 today and left out the LEDs but if you guys are telling me that with LEDs I'll be able to see better at night than the Xenons than I'll add the LEDs to my order. I don't care for what looks better while looking at my car...

[minn19]

Originally Posted by Ghetto2315

This whole thread is basically about how LEDs vs Xenons look while you look at the car not while you're driving.

From a driver's stand point, can we all agree that Xenon vs LED the visibility are pretty much the same? I just ordered my M4 today and left out the LEDs but if you guys are telling me that with LEDs I'll be able to see better at night than the Xenons than I'll add the LEDs to my order. I don't care for what looks better while looking at my car...

The LEDs do give a wider field of view and are brighter. But, it is not nearly as noticeable as it is between halogens and Xenons. As with anything, it is up to the individual if it is worth it or not.

I'm pretty sure I would leave them off of my next lease as I think the Xenons are still excellent. But, if you plan on keeping the car for a long time it might pay off to have the LEDs due to longevity and maintenance cost.

[BhamDavid]

From my investigation of the lighting characteristics of LED vs xenon I believe the only advantages are:

1. The color of the LED is more like daylight. This might be an advantage from your eyes ability to see better at night or not. I haven't been able to tie this down as to being a real performance advantage.

2. The small size of the LED light source allows for more precise locating in the reflector. This will allow better light management which would allow a better light pattern. This would allow a brighter low beam without blinding other drivers. I also understand that the precise light source location allows for a much wider beam. I've ordered the LEDs for this reason alone. My area has a deer problem and if I can see one coming across my path earlier, I stand a better chance of a near-miss rather than a hit.

[Andrew115]

Originally Posted by Ghetto2315

This whole thread is basically about how LEDs vs Xenons look while you look at the car not while you're driving.

From a driver's stand point, can we all agree that Xenon vs LED the visibility are pretty much the same? I just ordered my M4 today and left out the LEDs but if you guys are telling me that with LEDs I'll be able to see better at night than the Xenons than I'll add the LEDs to my order. I don't care for what looks better while looking at my car...

Better is a subjective thing for us all here. Yes the LEDs can throw more light is it enough for to to pull the trigger.... That's your call.

I did and glad I got them. I had a friend with another f80 in my car at night he said they were definitely brighter than his. For me it's worth it my night vision isn't what it to be. they are also a little whiter maybe that's what we pick up as being a little brighter. Good luck, either way you can't go wrong.

On another note the xenon only use one if the lenses. The other is only there for show. The LEDs actually use both.

[YMB-M3-J2]

LED is certainly brighter than Xenon. I find it be a very notable difference. My f30 has xenon and my f80 has LED and there is no comparison.

[Ghetto2315]

Originally Posted by YMB_M4_j2

LED is certainly brighter than Xenon. I find it be a very notable difference. My f30 has xenon and my f80 has LED and there is no comparison.

What perspective? Looking at the car, in the driver seat, or both??

[Maxis]

Audi's big announcement at this year's CES was that it plans to bring laser headlights to a production vehicle.

Audi is showing off this technology in its Sport Quatto Laserlight concept. The concept uses LEDs for the low beams and then switches to laser diodes for the high beams.

Audi says the laser headlights can illuminate the road for 1640 feet and with three times the brightness of LEDs.

[erind]

Led + high beam assist + night driving =

[YMB-M3-J2]

Originally Posted by Ghetto2315

What perspective? Looking at the car, in the driver seat, or both??

I would have to say both. From the outside with the lights on the LED's are brighter, more "white" and evenly dispersed. From the inside they are significantly brighter much more white looking and light up the entire road surface very well. When I drive my F30 now I always say eww when the lights are on.
Also have an X4 with LED's and it also is much better than the F30.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by YMB_M4_j2

I would have to say both. From the outside with the lights on the LED's are brighter, more "white" and evenly dispersed. From the inside they are significantly brighter much more white looking and light up the entire road surface very well. When I drive my F30 now I always say eww when the lights are on.
Also have an X4 with LED's and it also is much better than the F30.

Funny, ever bodies perspective is different. My wife has a X1 with Xenons. I can definitely tell that the LEDs are brighter in my M3, but not by that much. I definitely wouldnt say they are eww.

[Lister]

Originally Posted by Carl L

It was useless on the E60 M5. Maybe the sensors have somehow improved, but if not it's a gimmick.

I had an earlier version on my e92 335i. They never worked properly. And we're always either on or off and rarely off in time.

It's a completely different story with my adaptive LED's on my f80. They split, move around the wake of cars and can selectively turn off left and right independently. Even if driving on two lane roads the light that is on the side facing the outer side of the road (left in my case as I'm in Oz) stays on and lights the boundary of the road, while keeping the other light off to void oncoming traffic.

Whereas before on my 335i I never put my intelligent high beams on, I have the adaptive LED's on the f80 on at every opportunity.

[Hawaii i8]

Auto high beams are awesome, one of the best features IMO... It's amazing how much better lights have become over the last few years. When I go back and drive my Son's 10 year old Ford Escape it's like going back to the (literally) dark ages! A guy lying on the bonnet holding a torch would be more illuminating