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      08-15-2011, 01:29 AM   #89
J_Square
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So Lux lights works great? I am also looking to buy a set. Just plug and play right? no error message etc? I don't want to do ANY mods to the car since its a lease. Or should i just buy the mtec ones for $30...what do you think guys?
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      08-15-2011, 07:59 AM   #90
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I'm very interested too.. would love to see some better real world pictures (the one posted above wasn't great showing how it would look like)
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      08-15-2011, 09:40 AM   #91
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Quote:
Originally Posted by erichui View Post
I'm very interested too.. would love to see some better real world pictures (the one posted above wasn't great showing how it would look like)
If you don't like the look of the pic above then you should not buy it, you will not get the super bright look of the 2011 3 or X3 series models that have the factory version. This is how they look in DIRECT sunlight in the photo. The further distance you get from the car the better they look in my opinion. Night time is when you notice the brightness. If you want something super bright similar to the new 3 series, then I suggest the Alpine HIDs that Persian54 has on his DSB Z4.
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      08-15-2011, 10:57 AM   #92
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Quote:
Originally Posted by persian54 View Post
lol that looks like a photoshop (not saying it is)
picture looks like a cartoon kind of?
Its definately NOT a photoshop, lol : http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showpost...&postcount=109
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      08-15-2011, 11:22 AM   #93
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flpnout View Post
If you don't like the look of the pic above then you should not buy it, you will not get the super bright look of the 2011 3 or X3 series models that have the factory version. This is how they look in DIRECT sunlight in the photo. The further distance you get from the car the better they look in my opinion. Night time is when you notice the brightness. If you want something super bright similar to the new 3 series, then I suggest the Alpine HIDs that Persian54 has on his DSB Z4.
Here's a pic of my Alpine HID's. Even in bright sunlight, they are very bright.



Although one of the bulbs started to yellow, so I've had to send it back for replacement. (you can kind of see it here, with the passenger side more yellow than the driver side. But it got worse, after I took this photo.)
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      08-15-2011, 12:27 PM   #94
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck Tung View Post
Here's a pic of my Alpine HID's. Even in bright sunlight, they are very bright.



Although one of the bulbs started to yellow, so I've had to send it back for replacement. (you can kind of see it here, with the passenger side more yellow than the driver side. But it got worse, after I took this photo.)
these look very good, i keep seeing a lot of x5's with LED angel eyes, but what's holding me back is the way it looks with headlights on. seems like its way to cluttered. and center ring is way brighter.

urs looks even
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      08-15-2011, 01:01 PM   #95
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alpine hids do look good, but there is a big thread on other bmw boards about the, seemingly, very high failure rate. worse to me, is the failure rate straight out of the box (dead ballast after dead ballast, redesign, more dead ballast) etc. after going through months of that thread, i cannot purchase that product. it seems to me that it is not ready for general use.

Last edited by mikeinaustin; 08-16-2011 at 01:31 PM..
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      08-15-2011, 05:08 PM   #96
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZheHbKa View Post
these look very good, i keep seeing a lot of x5's with LED angel eyes, but what's holding me back is the way it looks with headlights on. seems like its way to cluttered. and center ring is way brighter.

urs looks even
It depends on the angle. From some angles the inner ring is brighter than the outer ring. Not a deal breaker for me.

Quote:
alpine hids do look good, but there is a big thread on other bmw boards about the, seemingly, very high failure rate. worse to me, is the failure rate straight out of the box (dead ballast after dead ballast, redesign, more dead ballast) etc. after going through months of that thread, i cannot purchase that product. it just seams it is is not ready for general use.
Yes this was a problem for me. When I first got the lights, the passenger side ballast would occasionally go out, while I was driving, and stay off until I restarted the car. Alex replaced it for free, but it looked pretty dumb driving around with one ring, while I was waiting for the replacement to arrive.
Now I've had to send back one bulb for replacement, so right now I'm driving around with one HID, and one OEM bulb.
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      08-16-2011, 01:08 AM   #97
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Although the Alpine HID look extremely bright, I'm pretty content with the LUX Angels, especially having a plug and play design. They are also bright enough to notice in bright sunlight. Here are a couple of faraway shots of my car with Lux (no photo shop). You can also check out a video with them on in my signature link. I've tried MTEC bright white 4350k and they don't even come close to LUX's brightness in direct sunlight.
Attached Images
  
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      08-16-2011, 09:09 AM   #98
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I think it looks great as my X3 eyes are too bright. I am seriously considering this improvement and appreciate all of the pictures. We have many of your improvements (Stett, Eisenmann, Sport bumper, etc.).
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      09-02-2011, 09:59 PM   #99
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brisk3 View Post
the brand is MTEC
the temp is 4750k

i got it from ebay...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AUTHE...item5889fa122e
i got it too, a year ago. it is now as yellow as stock. looking for other options now....
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      09-02-2011, 10:27 PM   #100
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Here is another one that just came out in HID:
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      02-13-2012, 12:31 PM   #101
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Does anyone have a picture (or pictures) of how to install the regular MTEC bulbs? I see that you can unscrew a plastic cap, but I don't see what it is I'm swapping.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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      03-02-2012, 09:55 PM   #102
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Okay, so I've done enough reading on this and other forums and manufacturer sites to be dangerous. And I can't say I have any more direction as to what angel eye lighting to go with than before I knew what an angel eye even was!

Here's what I see as the pros and cons. Please tell me where I'm wrong and/or offer your own set of pros and cons.

MTEC halogen lights

Pros:
CHEAP! These are easily the most reasonable option out there.
Plug and Play. Easy installation.
If you want bright and true white light, these seem to do a good job
Possibly the brightest of all the options available for the E89

Cons:
The bright white seems to yellow after a year to the point where its color is indistinguishable from original stock lights. What's the point in getting them unless you want to buy new ones every year.

LUX LED lights

Pros:
Bright white!
Plug and play

Cons:
Expensive!
Probably the least brightest option.

Alpine HID

Pros:
Seems to be the brightest option.
Wonderfully clean white color!

Cons:
Not plug and play. Apparently slight chassis modification needs to be done.
Expensive to the tenth power! Almost cost as much as the car itself!

So after looking at all the pros and cons, it seems to me the MTECs are the best option if you don't want to give up an arm or leg. If money is no object go with the Alpine and have someone from a BMW dealership put it in for you when he/she is off work. Pay them with a six-pack. If the LUX where more reasonable, those would be a good choice. But with their price close to that of the Alpines, spend the extra bucks and get the Aplines.

Okay. So that's my ten cents. Where am I right? Where am I wrong? And please offer your own opinions.

Michael
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      03-03-2012, 05:52 AM   #103
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LUX are $245, Alpine seem to be on sale for $179. MTEC...dirt cheap.
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      03-03-2012, 12:24 PM   #104
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Any links to the MTec. Been wanting to try something and the MTec seems to be the best starting point if it is as cheap as most says.
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      03-03-2012, 12:52 PM   #105
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try eBay
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      03-03-2012, 12:56 PM   #106
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try eBay
Will do. Thanks!
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      03-03-2012, 01:05 PM   #107
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It is very cheap, went with the Super Whites for $26, $32 shipped. Well worth a shot.
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      03-03-2012, 01:27 PM   #108
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Well worth a shot.
Totally agree! Just ordered mine too.
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      03-03-2012, 01:45 PM   #109
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For 30$ a pair, still cheaper even with yearly replacement for a few years, if needed. Gonna give MTec a shot as well.
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      03-03-2012, 03:31 PM   #110
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I just ordered the Alpine HID's. To my eye, they look awesome, so much like the new OEM bulbs. I won't even have my car for another 6 weeks! I guess it gives me something to do in the meantime!
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