E39 Facelift Xenon Headlights

[Peter-E36]

I swore I’d leave the e39 as is as it’s supposed to be the family car and not a project... but can’t help but wonder if there’s a good pair to be gotten out there... not looking to spend huge money but if there’s a reasonably priced pair I’ll have it. I’m aware I’ll need a levelling sensor and arm, and a blanking plate for the dash. Anything else? I have the intensive headlight washer system already.

[Dave]

I swore I’d leave the e39 as is as it’s supposed to be the family car and not a project... but can’t help but wonder if there’s a good pair to be gotten out there... not looking to spend huge money but if there’s a reasonably priced pair I’ll have it. I’m aware I’ll need a levelling sensor and arm, and a blanking plate for the dash. Anything else? I have the intensive headlight washer system already.

At this stage you're better off buying the lamps new. Everything you look at is gonna be in rough order.

Alternatively, new standard lamps are not too expensive, and with decent bulbs throw out very good light.


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[Peter-E36]

The ones on the car are in great condition actually, I just fancy xenons. Although after spending 100 euro on a xenon bulb and ~ 150 for the levelling sensor on the Z4 - I should be grateful they're halogen

[Dave]

The ones on the car are in great condition actually, I just fancy xenons. Although after spending 100 euro on a xenon bulb and ~ 150 for the levelling sensor on the Z4 - I should be grateful they're halogen

I don't think I would have a vehicle without gas discharge lamps or LED's.

No matter how you cut it, it won't be cheap.

The lens on the lamp at this stage will be tired and if the adjusters aren't broken, the will be soon.

Lamps vary wildly in price. A lamp with ballasts and ignitors will be €300 - €500.

New lamps are about €800 I think but you'll need ballasts and ignitors which are easily found on eBay.

You could try doing what I always wanted to do and retrofit a third party bi xenon projector


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[Mivecrx]

The ones on the car are in great condition actually, I just fancy xenons. Although after spending 100 euro on a xenon bulb and ~ 150 for the levelling sensor on the Z4 - I should be grateful they're halogen

Are they not projector lights anyway? Just put in a decent HID kit. You’ll have to remove for the nct, you’ll have to do the same with factory ones if you don’t have washers fitted anyway.

[Dave]

Are they not projector lights anyway? Just put in a decent HID kit. You’ll have to remove for the nct, you’ll have to do the same with factory ones if you don’t have washers fitted anyway.

The projectors in the factory xenon lamps are different to the halogen lamps


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[Valdelisbmw]

The projectors in the factory xenon lamps are different to the halogen lamps


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more correct would be to say , not all -non xenon lights can have xenons .there is lamps which can have xenons ,even if they came from factory as normal halogen light . I did same swap on my E39 ,bought special holders from UK ,and got original ballasts and xenon bulbs and all work perfect .

[Dave]

more correct would be to say , not all -non xenon lights can have xenons .there is lamps which can have xenons ,even if they came from factory as normal halogen light . I did same swap on my E39 ,bought special holders from UK ,and got original ballasts and xenon bulbs and all work perfect .

I've heard that before but never seen it. I had a HID kit in the 525 and obviously factory xenons in the M5 and they had very different light output.


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[JohnH]

I’d try a HID first. I put one into my Dads e39 and found them great, esp for the cost. I had planned to do the same to the 530 but didn’t get around to it.

[Peter-E36]

more correct would be to say , not all -non xenon lights can have xenons .there is lamps which can have xenons ,even if they came from factory as normal halogen light . I did same swap on my E39 ,bought special holders from UK ,and got original ballasts and xenon bulbs and all work perfect .

I’d try a HID first. I put one into my Dads e39 and found them great, esp for the cost. I had planned to do the same to the 530 but didn’t get around to it.

Good stuff

Did you do the levelling sensor as well / blanked the headlight level switch in the dash? Any links to the ones you've used if you remember?

Presume you had no issues with NCT?