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      04-30-2013, 03:38 AM   #1
AdamGarciaTX
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Has Anyone Retrofitted LCI Headlights?

Like the title states, I was wondering if anyone has retrofitted the 2013+ headlights with the LED angel eyes to a 2009-2012 model car.
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      04-30-2013, 06:26 AM   #2
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Not that I know of or have seen. These units are very expensive, around £1500 (well over $2000) per unit from the dealer. If you're happy to spend that money they're yours, personally they don't offer much more than non LCI with LED Halos so I'll save my cash, or keep an eye out for second hand units/crashed cars which may be a while yet as they're only just being delivered...
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      04-30-2013, 06:50 AM   #3
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I am interested in it but agreed, price might be back breaking.
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      04-30-2013, 06:52 AM   #4
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Agreed.
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      05-02-2013, 12:06 AM   #5
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For that kind of cost, might as well trade in for a new Z4...
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      05-02-2013, 06:43 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by morfinx View Post
For that kind of cost, might as well trade in for a new Z4...
cars must be cheap in the US where 2k= new car.
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      05-02-2013, 12:05 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VailM3 View Post
cars must be cheap in the US where 2k= new car.
I was being facetious Nevertheless, the price is bit too high just for the LED accents.
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      05-02-2013, 11:06 PM   #8
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Forgive my ignorance: Can one not simply replace the bulb with an LED?

We are planning on picking up a 2010 Z4 on Saturday and one of the first things I plan to do is swap out the yellow angel eyes to something that is bluish-white. I'd prefer LEDs for the brightness, but if it can't be done inexpensively, I suppose we'll settle for different halogen (H8?) bulbs.
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      05-03-2013, 12:42 AM   #9
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Its not only the brightness of the angel eyes that is the difference. The LCI headlights have an led band across the "brow", different design for the turn signals, LED angel eyes, and the projector housing seeming to be more clear plastic/acrylic based than the silver painted housing on the pre-LCI.

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      05-03-2013, 10:25 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hujan View Post
Forgive my ignorance: Can one not simply replace the bulb with an LED?

We are planning on picking up a 2010 Z4 on Saturday and one of the first things I plan to do is swap out the yellow angel eyes to something that is bluish-white. I'd prefer LEDs for the brightness, but if it can't be done inexpensively, I suppose we'll settle for different halogen (H8?) bulbs.
This can be done. That is to say, you can buy LED H8 bulbs and replace the halogen ones and get a bluish-white tint. However, even when you do that, it will not look like the 2014 LCI angel eyes because of the design itself. Haven't looked into it in much depth, but the pre-LCI AEs will have hot spots, namely the inner circle being brighter than the outer. Also, only at certain angles will it appear the brightess. The new LCI AEs, due to the design, will look just as bright at any angle.

So, long answer short, yes you can buy LED bulbs and put them into your 2010 Z4 for white/blue AEs. However, they will not look exactly like the LCI ones, even if you use HIDs (there will still be hotspots regardless).
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      05-13-2013, 10:33 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamGarciaTX
Like the title states, I was wondering if anyone has retrofitted the 2013+ headlights with the LED angel eyes to a 2009-2012 model car.
LCI is a MY14, and a completely different design/technology from the inside out. Cost efficient, just change the light bulbs !
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      05-14-2013, 03:58 AM   #12
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I still don't quite understand BMW's marketing blurb for the LCI headlights where they state an 'all new' '3D design'... weren't the previous ones 3D?
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      05-14-2013, 08:02 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ManiacGT View Post
Not that I know of or have seen. These units are very expensive, around £1500 (well over $2000) per unit from the dealer. If you're happy to spend that money they're yours, personally they don't offer much more than non LCI with LED Halos so I'll save my cash, or keep an eye out for second hand units/crashed cars which may be a while yet as they're only just being delivered...
+1 get LED bulbs at a fraction of the price
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      05-14-2013, 10:05 AM   #14
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Newbie question. Do the LED bulbs require a ballast? Can someone recommend an easy to install option?
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      05-14-2013, 07:05 PM   #15
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LED electric chips require Drivers vs ballasts for operation. Drivers run the LED at various amps to produce light output. The H8 LEDS run in the car are being run from a 12 volt DC source vs Line voltage 120-277 volt source and require a special step down driver converting the power from 120 volts to 12 volts. Look on Ebay for H8 LED for Angel eyes. There are some very good Lamps for $80-100 per set that are plug and play. Cree LEDs, (Cree is the led chip manufacturer) is a quality led chip.
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      05-15-2013, 03:21 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWZ4RIDER View Post
LED electric chips require Drivers vs ballasts for operation. Drivers run the LED at various amps to produce light output. The H8 LEDS run in the car are being run from a 12 volt DC source vs Line voltage 120-277 volt source and require a special step down driver converting the power from 120 volts to 12 volts. Look on Ebay for H8 LED for Angel eyes. There are some very good Lamps for $80-100 per set that are plug and play. Cree LEDs, (Cree is the led chip manufacturer) is a quality led chip.
Thanks!
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      10-05-2013, 04:41 AM   #17
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*Bump*

Has anyone done the retrofit yet? I found a guy offering 450$ per pre-LCI Headlight
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      10-05-2013, 10:16 AM   #18
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I've been wanting to try it, but wasn't able to find a source that is selling 2014 headlights...

Mind sharing the source? I may buy one to see if it's at all possible...
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      10-05-2013, 02:55 PM   #19
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I´ve found the partnumbers:

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...25&hg=63&fg=05

I simply googled it and found dozens of suppliers with online shops!

Left: 63127348953
Right: 63127348954


Cheers
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      10-05-2013, 03:36 PM   #20
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Which store gave you a quote of $450? I could only find ECSTuning and Turner BMW selling them, but for $1,200 per side! Not sure I'm willing to put down that kind of money to experiment with... $450 maybe
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      10-06-2013, 02:30 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CedarZ4 View Post
Which store gave you a quote of $450? I could only find ECSTuning and Turner BMW selling them, but for $1,200 per side! Not sure I'm willing to put down that kind of money to experiment with... $450 maybe
No you got me wrong, he wants to buy them for 450€ per side for my current Headlights, the new ones however are 925€ per side.

So I would have to pay 1000€ for the parts only.
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      10-06-2013, 05:17 AM   #22
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You'd pay out 1000 euros to get bright halos? Money to burn...
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