Recommendations for ‘05 Xenon headlight upgrades?

[Projecte46m3]

I'm looking at doing this, and may be a good time to replace the lenses and seals. Has anyone had that done in addition to the retrofit by sending in those parts with the headlamps? Is aiming required after re-installation or is this also performed (at least to some nominal position)?

Yes, you can send in the lenses and seals to freshen things up. Yes, aiming is required after installation.

Lightwerkz G5-BRT Retrofit: Blue lenses match nicely on IB

[BlueBimmers]

I'm looking at doing this, and may be a good time to replace the lenses and seals. Has anyone had that done in addition to the retrofit by sending in those parts with the headlamps?

Belated response - I did not do it bc my lenses are in good shape. But FWIW eventually I'm going to do all new lenses, seals and the two trim pieces. The improvement is great and will have you wanting to refresh entirely. Also a good time to reinforce the bumper with some foam if you're showing too much gap beneath the headlights.

Lightwerkz G5-BRT Retrofit: Blue lenses match nicely on IB

Couldn't agree more! ;-)

[ll_capitano]

Hi guys,
Sorry for resurrecting this older thread. Just want to thank this community for existing, especially after the old m3forum disappeared. I've been a long-time lurker but have reached a point where I don't have a clear "safe" answer for my DIY projector project. I am in the middle of a G5-BRT project retrofit, but the one item I am concerned about is the wiring of the plug for the bi-xenon function/flap. There appear to be a lot of videos which show how to take apart the headlight and how to shave material off to fit projectors, but most appear to skip bringing up the wiring and if they mention it, they don't show it.

The new G5-BRT projector only takes 2 wires into it's plug while the OEM has 3 with its turquoise connector. Have you guys been wiring the 2-wire connection the same way as done performed in the DIY published by BuildJournal by splicing the green and black together? Or have you taken another route?

https://thebuildjournal.com/diy-install/bosch-e46-hid-projector-retrofit-with-g5-r-brackets/

I've been reading that some people mention that the 3 wires are as so: Ground, lower voltage, higher voltage. So, it makes it seem like all 3 have a potential purpose.

When I opened up the ballast wiring to trace back the wires, I saw that the projector 3 pin connector's green wire comes from the brown wire from the bigger "ballast xenon power" plug, and that the red wire comes from the "ballast bi-xenon" plug's red/brown/yellow striped cable which appears to be documented as being 0v off and 12v on. The remaining black wire for the 3 pin plug appears to originate from a bigger connector which goes to the ballast itself.


If anyone has a G5-BRT or similar 2-pin configuration, can you let me know how the wiring looks like on your end? If you had your retrofit done by Lightwerkz, I am curious about their method as well and the order of the wires in the 2-pin plug when facing the rear of the projector.

Thank you!

[dukeofchen]

Hi guys,
Sorry for resurrecting this older thread. Just want to thank this community for existing, especially after the old m3forum disappeared. I've been a long-time lurker but have reached a point where I don't have a clear "safe" answer for my DIY projector project. I am in the middle of a G5-BRT project retrofit, but the one item I am concerned about is the wiring of the plug for the bi-xenon function/flap. There appear to be a lot of videos which show how to take apart the headlight and how to shave material off to fit projectors, but most appear to skip bringing up the wiring and if they mention it, they don't show it.

The new G5-BRT projector only takes 2 wires into it's plug while the OEM has 3 with its turquoise connector. Have you guys been wiring the 2-wire connection the same way as done performed in the DIY published by BuildJournal by splicing the green and black together? Or have you taken another route?

https://thebuildjournal.com/diy-install/bosch-e46-hid-projector-retrofit-with-g5-r-brackets/

I've been reading that some people mention that the 3 wires are as so: Ground, lower voltage, higher voltage. So, it makes it seem like all 3 have a potential purpose.

When I opened up the ballast wiring to trace back the wires, I saw that the projector 3 pin connector's green wire comes from the brown wire from the bigger "ballast xenon power" plug, and that the red wire comes from the "ballast bi-xenon" plug's red/brown/yellow striped cable which appears to be documented as being 0v off and 12v on. The remaining black wire for the 3 pin plug appears to originate from a bigger connector which goes to the ballast itself.


If anyone has a G5-BRT or similar 2-pin configuration, can you let me know how the wiring looks like on your end? If you had your retrofit done by Lightwerkz, I am curious about their method as well and the order of the wires in the 2-pin plug when facing the rear of the projector.

Thank you!

I followed BuildJournal's DIY to a T when I did my G5-R's, been running it for about 2 years with no issues.

If I'm understanding your post correctly and the BRT's have the same wiring scheme, you should be good to go.

[nuc1]

Hi guys,
Sorry for resurrecting this older thread. Just want to thank this community for existing, especially after the old m3forum disappeared. I've been a long-time lurker but have reached a point where I don't have a clear "safe" answer for my DIY projector project. I am in the middle of a G5-BRT project retrofit, but the one item I am concerned about is the wiring of the plug for the bi-xenon function/flap. There appear to be a lot of videos which show how to take apart the headlight and how to shave material off to fit projectors, but most appear to skip bringing up the wiring and if they mention it, they don't show it.

The new G5-BRT projector only takes 2 wires into it's plug while the OEM has 3 with its turquoise connector. Have you guys been wiring the 2-wire connection the same way as done performed in the DIY published by BuildJournal by splicing the green and black together? Or have you taken another route?

https://thebuildjournal.com/diy-install/bosch-e46-hid-projector-retrofit-with-g5-r-brackets/

I've been reading that some people mention that the 3 wires are as so: Ground, lower voltage, higher voltage. So, it makes it seem like all 3 have a potential purpose.

When I opened up the ballast wiring to trace back the wires, I saw that the projector 3 pin connector's green wire comes from the brown wire from the bigger "ballast xenon power" plug, and that the red wire comes from the "ballast bi-xenon" plug's red/brown/yellow striped cable which appears to be documented as being 0v off and 12v on. The remaining black wire for the 3 pin plug appears to originate from a bigger connector which goes to the ballast itself.


If anyone has a G5-BRT or similar 2-pin configuration, can you let me know how the wiring looks like on your end? If you had your retrofit done by Lightwerkz, I am curious about their method as well and the order of the wires in the 2-pin plug when facing the rear of the projector.

Thank you!

Just did this with RX350 projectors retrofitted into brand new headlights. No issues

Mike

[ll_capitano]

Thank you dukeofchen and nuc1.

Glad to hear that everything went well and that the instructions were reliable. That makes me feel pretty good about trying to finish this DIY over the coming weekend.

Overall, the process isn't too bad and it's a good time to replace the seals and lenses too.

[dukeofchen]

Thank you dukeofchen and nuc1.

Glad to hear that everything went well and that the instructions were reliable. That makes me feel pretty good about trying to finish this DIY over the coming weekend.

Overall, the process isn't too bad and it's a good time to replace the seals and lenses too.

Best of luck! And take the time to test fit, check the beam against a wall, and get the projector as perfectly aligned as you can before buttoning everything up, shaving down the bowl was the worst part for me. My right one is slightly tilted and the combination of low ride height and sharp cutoff pattern exaggerates any deviation big time.

[cobra]

I can't say I've ever felt the need to upgrade the stock headlights on this car. They're pretty great. For high beams, I did the little coding hack so I get halogen + HID highs and it's almost too bright.

[nuc1]

I can't say I've ever felt the need to upgrade the stock headlights on this car. They're pretty great. For high beams, I did the little coding hack so I get halogen + HID highs and it's almost too bright.

No such thing as too bright on backwoods middle-of-nowhere VA roads.

Mike

[cobra]

No such thing as too bright on backwoods middle-of-nowhere VA roads.

Mike

My experience has been that it can be too bright when there is a reflective sign shining it back at me.

[P Swayz]

Is there a significant difference between the G5-BRT retrofit and the fxr projectors I had lightwerkz put in years ago?

[nuc1]

My experience has been that it can be too bright when there is a reflective sign shining it back at me.

Not a lot of signs where I'm at although I agree on the reflective ones. Most get mowed over by the excellent VA drivers lol.

Mike

[ll_capitano]

Best of luck! And take the time to test fit, check the beam against a wall, and get the projector as perfectly aligned as you can before buttoning everything up, shaving down the bowl was the worst part for me. My right one is slightly tilted and the combination of low ride height and sharp cutoff pattern exaggerates any deviation big time.

Thanks Duke! I did a quite a bit of test fits and additional shaving today for the first headlight, but adjusting for the cutoff tilt is the most painful part for sure.

I will put it back on the car tomorrow and do the final calibration before I take off the other and start the teardown process again.
Overall, the cutoff is quite pronounced and sexy. The blue hue of the G5-BRT is also a neat touch.