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      03-22-2013, 03:00 PM   #1
dr_mikee
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Freshly installed H8 CREE DRLs

Hello all,

Just thought I'd share a pic from the H8 20W CREE bulbs i just received from eBay. It was an extremely easy plug and play install even for a newbie like me.
1) take off light housing cover
2) push current DRL bulb to the mid-line of the car and pull it out
3) Pull off car power source from old bulb and connect to the new relay
4) insert new bulb in to the original bulbs position while maintaining the T-positioning of the brackets (you'll know what I mean from the instructions that came with bulbs)
5) secure the relay power source outside of lighting enclosure (As per manual)
6) watch the headlights shine away

Excuse the dirty car =[ (pics taken in direct sunlight on a hill so maximum sun hitting them)

What you guys think?? for 79.00 bucks are they as good as the 240 lux ones??
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      03-23-2013, 02:10 PM   #2
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Make sure the power supply does not heat up too much, especially if you drive with the DRL on all the time. I am guessing from the wiring that you tucked it inside the headlight housing like the Lux? I personally got a set of used Lux and they look pretty similar. Although the Lux seem to have 4 LED chips as opposed to only 3 on yours.
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      03-23-2013, 06:06 PM   #3
dr_mikee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafale View Post
Make sure the power supply does not heat up too much, especially if you drive with the DRL on all the time. I am guessing from the wiring that you tucked it inside the headlight housing like the Lux? I personally got a set of used Lux and they look pretty similar. Although the Lux seem to have 4 LED chips as opposed to only 3 on yours.
I actually zip tied the power supply outside the lighting housing so overheating shouldn't be a problem..and these have 4 LED chips on them as well so I'm not too sure what the difference between the LUX ones there is?
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      03-23-2013, 07:00 PM   #4
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The Lux supposedly are super efficient so the power supplies do not get hot at all and can be inserted inside the light housing.
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      03-23-2013, 07:05 PM   #5
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This Ebay posting actually has some interesting comparisons
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MTEC-H8-12W-...8cd154&vxp=mtr
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      03-23-2013, 07:15 PM   #6
dr_mikee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafale View Post
This Ebay posting actually has some interesting comparisons
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MTEC-H8-12W-...8cd154&vxp=mtr
hmmm...maybe mtec is the way to go, although I read a review

http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthre...highlight=cree

and he has same ones I do and he used to have mtec, which he says are worse (pic comparison)
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      03-23-2013, 07:17 PM   #7
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The MTEC he is referring to are the regular halogen bulbs, not the LEDs.
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      03-23-2013, 07:28 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafale View Post
The MTEC he is referring to are the regular halogen bulbs, not the LEDs.
ahhh now it makes sense
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      03-25-2013, 06:27 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dr_mikee View Post
What you guys think?? for 79.00 bucks are they as good as the 240 lux ones??
I've owned both LUX and this type. See my comments in this thread:

http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showpost...8&postcount=10
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      03-25-2013, 08:00 PM   #10
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ok i just ordered mine. I have been procrastinating for months now.
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      03-26-2013, 06:03 AM   #11
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I was about to reply the same thing as Morfinx.

Please see my post here about almost the same lights:
http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showpost...0&postcount=38

You can also find a complete thread about it here:
http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=777704

After having them for months now, I can easily say that this is the best alternative (price/brightness) to those old yellow rings.
However, in good daylight and sunny day, I am a bit disappointed.
They are hardly noticeable compared to new BMW LED lights car.. and I always think this is what I would like on my Z4.


I have found another version on the web:
http://www.carid.com/2010-bmw-z4-hea...s-3124468.html

Did anyone try those lights and have pics? Are they brighter?
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      03-26-2013, 07:25 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SchweiZ4 View Post
I was about to reply the same thing as Morfinx.

Please see my post here about almost the same lights:
http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showpost...0&postcount=38

You can also find a complete thread about it here:
http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=777704

After having them for months now, I can easily say that this is the best alternative (price/brightness) to those old yellow rings.
However, in good daylight and sunny day, I am a bit disappointed.
They are hardly noticeable compared to new BMW LED lights car.. and I always think this is what I would like on my Z4.



I have found another version on the web:
http://www.carid.com/2010-bmw-z4-hea...s-3124468.html

Did anyone try those lights and have pics? Are they brighter?
I saw those last ones in your link. Though there are ALOT of LEDs on that I dont think number has much to do with it as amps/whatts it can draw. A simple plug in like this I persume would be hardly any brighter than one with one or two LED per side as apposed to 3.
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      03-26-2013, 11:27 AM   #13
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with the 20W ones be careful of EMI and also be aware they are not fused at all. If something happens with the electronics they could melt / short out / or cause other serious problems as well. Just want to mention as well they do dim to 1/3 total brightness with the headlights are on
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      03-26-2013, 11:50 AM   #14
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The question is:
Do these features worth paying more than 3 times the price of products we can find on eBay?

The answer was "no" for me.
$100 why not, not $245.
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      03-26-2013, 12:29 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SchweiZ4 View Post
The question is:
Do these features worth paying more than 3 times the price of products we can find on eBay?

The answer was "no" for me.
$100 why not, not $245.
I agree, The only reason why I got the Lux is because I got them used for $150 from another forum member and even then I think it is a bit much. Would never have paid $245 for it.
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      03-26-2013, 12:51 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SchweiZ4 View Post
The question is:
Do these features worth paying more than 3 times the price of products we can find on eBay?

The answer was "no" for me.
$100 why not, not $245.
Good for You! Just as Russell Peters said, " Not Cheap. Thrifty!"
Now with the saved money you can consider exchanging those amber turn signals for LEDs to match your AEs, which come with thrown code on startup, but it cycles off with first use of each signal.
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Last edited by z4z4z4; 02-04-2015 at 01:39 AM..
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      03-26-2013, 01:00 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by z4z4z4 View Post
Good for You! Just as Russell Peters said, " Not Cheap. Thrifty!"
Now with the saved money you can consider exchanging those amber turn signals for LEDs to match your AEs, which come with thrown code on startup, but it cycles off with first use of each signal.
Ha! I did this too but my bulbs look a little bit better IMHO.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=271176205803

I also got these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-5W-high-po...729fe3&vxp=mtr
on my 35is so as to have them amber but for 1/10th of the price at the time. Not sure why the price skyrocketed.
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      03-26-2013, 01:08 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by z4z4z4 View Post
Good for You! Just as Russell Peters said, " Not Cheap. Thrifty!"
Now with the saved money you can consider exchanging those amber turn signals for LEDs to match your AEs, which come with thrown code on startup, but it cycles off with first use of each signal.
my amber turn signal is stuck so tight i for the life of me can not budge it to unscrew it from its housing. I tried earlier and it was simple put not going to move. Anyone have issue of this sticking shut?
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      03-26-2013, 01:14 PM   #19
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It is not easy. It took me a long time to figure it out. You only need to turn it counterclock wise by about 1/8 of a turn and it is pretty tight then you need to push it back and forth and wiggle it out. It will loosen eventually.
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      03-27-2013, 05:36 AM   #20
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Changing turning signals to white? ..
I always thought that turning signals were regulated by laws and must be orange and nothing else.

Rafale,
What is the difference between stock turning signals and this one below?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-5W-high-po...729fe3&vxp=mtr

Last edited by SchweiZ4; 03-27-2013 at 06:32 AM..
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      03-27-2013, 05:58 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rafale View Post
It is not easy. It took me a long time to figure it out. You only need to turn it counterclock wise by about 1/8 of a turn and it is pretty tight then you need to push it back and forth and wiggle it out. It will loosen eventually.
ill give it another shot as I was turning it counter clockwise, thinking that way to go.
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      03-27-2013, 09:16 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SchweiZ4 View Post
Changing turning signals to white? ..
I always thought that turning signals were regulated by laws and must be orange and nothing else.

Rafale,
What is the difference between stock turning signals and this one below?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-5W-high-po...729fe3&vxp=mtr

Ok I don't recommend these at this price... This is crazy. I paid about $30 for the pair from this same seller. I don't know what kool aid he drank to jack up the price like this. The differences are: No more egg yolk effect when the light is off and they are brighter. Also like all LEDs, they do not dimm. I had the incandescent on one side and the LED on the other and I could see the incandescent would dimm up and dimm down when the light turns on and off while the LED is instant on/off and is brighter.
When the car start you will also see them flicker a few seconds while the ECU is testing the presence of the bulbs.

In the US, the regulation stipulates the turn signal can be white or amber.
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