Halogen > LED lighting upgrade

[PSUEng]

I can't answer for the OP, but I personally don't think the factory halogens are very good.

My car originally had halogen lights with stock 55w bulbs. The light output from them was (relatively) weak and uneven. You could hardly tell the lights were on when driving down a brightly lit street at night. I then swapped to 65w bulbs and the light output was brighter, but still noticeably uneven, especially to the sides. I then retrofitted the factory Xenons to the car, and the light was brighter, wider, and much more uniform.

The ability to see at night was totally worth the ~10lb penalty.

I see. So, 10lb to go to xenon? Wow. Well, I wonder if euro halogens are a solution; I've not studied that configuration. Too bad it's possible BMW had to fit US specific lamps to conform to archaic FMVSS rules for lights.

[tcp]

Not to stray off topic here, but why does OP want to perform this mod?
...
Actually curious to know.

I can't answer for the OP, but I personally don't think the factory halogens are very good.

My car originally had halogen lights with stock 55w bulbs. The light output from them was (relatively) weak and uneven. You could hardly tell the lights were on when driving down a brightly lit street at night. I then swapped to 65w bulbs and the light output was brighter, but still noticeably uneven, especially to the sides. I then retrofitted the factory Xenons to the car, and the light was brighter, wider, and much more uniform.

The ability to see at night was totally worth the ~10lb penalty.

[PSUEng]

Not to stray off topic here, but why does OP want to perform this mod? I have the factory xenons, and modern cars with factory LEDs and modern cars with projector headlamps with the PNP Chinese LED bulbs. I've noticed that, for me, these modern LED lights cause eye fatigue at night and I don't know if it's my car, or oncoming cars that cause this--or, my age. Anyway, back in the day, I had a MK3 GTI and I put the euro Hella headlamps in--they were halogen. Bright and threw a TON of light down the road. So my point is, does OP feel the factory halogens don't put enough light down the road,, or is it a light color preference remedied by LEDs? Actually curious to know.

[jylee05]

ended up putting off any LED type bulb for now. went with Philips Racing Vision GT200 halogen. noticeable improvement in road visibility. let's see how long they last 🤞. thx everyone for the input.


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[jylee05]

To fit the actual LED bulb into the E46 M3 halogen socket, I'm trying to figure out which adapter works best. The ones on ebay that are for e46 have some pretty bad reviews and I haven't seen any other solution out there to adapt the LEDs into the headlamp.

[ZiMMie]

Interestingly, these aren't listed as approved in Germany. Just the E90 and F30 3 series.

https://www.osram.de/am/night-breake...3__accordion_1

No Osram list is updated every 3months they E90 was added recently. It just a matter of time before the add the e46.

E.g. a golf 1 and golf 2 is approved.

[elbert]

They don't look like them unfortunately. I will stick to test approved products rather than that. Not to mention the price.

They are only 99€ here.

https://www.amazon.de/64210DWNB-OSRA...s%2C115&sr=8-3

It looks like you're right. The Morimoto uses the Osram PCB and LED but their own housings.
The bulbs you linked look like a good deal, and only €13 to ship to the US. Thanks!

[Tbonem3]

So do you put your car in the house so you can plug those bulbs into the 110 ac?

[discoelk]

They don't look like them unfortunately. I will stick to test approved products rather than that. Not to mention the price.

They are only 99€ here.

https://www.amazon.de/64210DWNB-OSRA...s%2C115&sr=8-3

Interestingly, these aren't listed as approved in Germany. Just the E90 and F30 3 series.

https://www.osram.de/am/night-breaker-led/index.jsp#_m603__accordion_1

[ZiMMie]

Morimoto is selling these Osrams in the US for "off-road use" (ie not street legal)
I'm actually thinking of getting some halogen housings and using these bulbs if/when my HID's die. They have a D2S version, but I'm not sure how well they would work with the bixenon housings.

https://www.morimotohid.com/morimoto...lbs?quantity=1

They don't look like them unfortunately. I will stick to test approved products rather than that. Not to mention the price.

They are only 99€ here.

https://www.amazon.de/64210DWNB-OSRA...s%2C115&sr=8-3

[ZiMMie]

ZiMMie did you install these in your M3? i think i could get these in the states from a vendor. did you need any adapters to go with the install?

No I don't. Some people use in e46 German Forum.
from want they say, its. Tight fight but it fits.

[Tbonem3]

Us halogen bois are ready to SHINE

[elbert]

there is nothing wrong with proper approved LED in Halogen housings.

Here in Germany, Philip has design and approved LED lights to be used in halogen housings. I have no idea if these are available in the US Market yet.

https://www-osram-de.translate.goog/..._x_tr_pto=wapp

Morimoto is selling these Osrams in the US for "off-road use" (ie not street legal)
I'm actually thinking of getting some halogen housings and using these bulbs if/when my HID's die. They have a D2S version, but I'm not sure how well they would work with the bixenon housings.

https://www.morimotohid.com/morimoto...lbs?quantity=1

[jylee05]

ZiMMie did you install these in your M3? i think i could get these in the states from a vendor. did you need any adapters to go with the install?

[Nate047]

And here I am thinking man it would be cool to have lightweight halogens lol