Angel Eye Question

I know there's much info on this site regarding AE's, and I've searched this forum for the answer to this question but can't find it anywhere. Plenty of talk about Lux, MTech, GP Thunder etc, but I've not seen anyone who's used PIAA or Silverstar bulbs. Is there a reason why? I just replaced my fog bulbs with PIAA and very pleased with the color match to the headlights, but now the OEM AE's stand out as being even more yellow. Any reason I can't replace them with PIAA bulbs?

another question from me... Are CREE LED lights any good ?

Originally Posted by SilverX3

another question from me... Are CREE LED lights any good ?

CREE makes the LEDs (raw component), many others as well like Osram, Nichia etc
Then somene machine the heatsink and circuit to make the bulb, like LUX, ICE and lesser know makers.

Hard to say which one to go by, to me the lumen/candle output alone is not the most important since some headlamps has very poor fiber-optic (plastic ring inside) thus limiting the brightness regardless how many LEDs the bub has. I also look at cooler operating(don;t want to melt $1000 headlamp), fault code free, plu-n-play with capacitor so no flicker and potential radio reception interference etc.

Originally Posted by HPIA4v2

plu-n-play with capacitor so no flicker and potential radio reception interference etc.

My Plug-n-play set got from ebay flickered when starting or switching off the car

annoying

I purchased the LUX set and I am very pleased with them

Hondo

Originally Posted by hondo402000

I purchased the LUX set and I am very pleased with them

Hondo

That's when the LCM (light control module) sends pulse to check for blown bulbs. At start of the engine, a few pulses then once in a while when car is running (forgot the interval).
To kill the flicker when AE is off, you need to put 6700uF/16V electrolytic capacitor in parallell to the LED bulb. see diagram.

This circuit works on my X5, no more flicker when the AE is off.

I have the LUX as well - very pleased. NO flicker, white light.

Originally Posted by Princeton

I have the LUX as well - very pleased. NO flicker, white light.

Just to clarify, the flicker people refering to here is when the AE is off (not on).
the test would be to ask someone to start the car on your command, everything off then you go to the front of the car and tell that someone to start the car. Some LEDs bulb would flicker when the LCM sends testing pulse at this time.

When the AE is on none of them flicker.
Also if you have DRL (day time running light) enable, no flicker will be observe, well low beam and AE is always on anyway here.

Originally Posted by HPIA4v2

Just to clarify, the flicker people refering to here is when the AE is off (not on).
the test would be to ask someone to start the car on your command, everything off then you go to the front of the car and tell that someone to start the car. Some LEDs bulb would flicker when the LCM sends testing pulse at this time.

When the AE is on none of them flicker.
Also if you have DRL (day time running light) enable, no flicker will be observe, well low beam and AE is always on anyway here.

will flicker damage car electronics in the long run

Originally Posted by SilverX3

will flicker damage car electronics in the long run

NO.

The LCM sends low voltage pulses not the LED bulb.
It's for LCM(light control module that report to car computer) to see if any the OEM (incandescent) bulb is blown or good, since OEM bulb is not LED (less efficient) it won;t flicker when this small test voltage goes through it but LED is way more efficient even small test pulse will turn it on momentarily hence the flicker people notice when putting LED bulbs for angel-eye,

Again the test pulse that produce the flicker is always there you just can't see the effect with OEM incandescent bulbs.

Don't mean to scare people away from LED bulbs.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Rainman519

I know there's much info on this site regarding AE's, and I've searched this forum for the answer to this question but can't find it anywhere. Plenty of talk about Lux, MTech, GP Thunder etc, but I've not seen anyone who's used PIAA or Silverstar bulbs. Is there a reason why? I just replaced my fog bulbs with PIAA and very pleased with the color match to the headlights, but now the OEM AE's stand out as being even more yellow. Any reason I can't replace them with PIAA bulbs?

I replaced the H8 (35 watt) AE bulbs with the Silverstar H7 low beam (55 watts) bulbs. Needed a quick trim with a dremel on one flange (10 seconds or less for 2 bulbs) but now I have BRIGHT nearly white halos. Did this mod about a year ago with no ill effects.

Originally Posted by HPIA4v2

That's when the LCM (light control module) sends pulse to check for blown bulbs. At start of the engine, a few pulses then once in a while when car is running (forgot the interval).
To kill the flicker when AE is off, you need to put 6700uF/16V electrolytic capacitor in parallell to the LED bulb. see diagram.

This circuit works on my X5, no more flicker when the AE is off.

no need to do this when we already sell Flicker free angel eyes and much brighter than stock

Originally Posted by Princeton

I have the LUX as well - very pleased. NO flicker, white light.

lux flicker

I have never noticed a flicker with my LUX lights.

Appreciate the input 08 335i, but I'd rather not modify the light housing if I can avoid it. Seems SilverX3 hijacked my post and I still haven't gotten a response. Can anyone address my original question? Thanks.

Originally Posted by Rainman519

Appreciate the input 08 335i, but I'd rather not modify the light housing if I can avoid it. Seems SilverX3 hijacked my post and I still haven't gotten a response. Can anyone address my original question? Thanks.

LED is going down in price, I am buying eBay H8 20W AE that looks promising, will see when I got them tomorrow.

You can always go with GP Thunder for dirt cheap if you just want whiter with similar brightness as OEM. I have Osram (european market version so I ordered in through eBayer from UK) as fog on my X5, not bad but I have Orion AE on my X5 so the fog lights are droned by my AE in terms of white and brightness. That's why not many people stick too long for incandescent bulbs anymore, especially the LED now has come down in price.

GL.

Originally Posted by Rainman519

Appreciate the input 08 335i, but I'd rather not modify the light housing if I can avoid it. Seems SilverX3 hijacked my post and I still haven't gotten a response. Can anyone address my original question? Thanks.

Sorry rainman

Originally Posted by Rainman519

Appreciate the input 08 335i, but I'd rather not modify the light housing if I can avoid it. Seems SilverX3 hijacked my post and I still haven't gotten a response. Can anyone address my original question? Thanks.

You don't modify the housing, you trim the bulb. 1 of the 3 tangs is wider then the one on the stock H8 bulbs.

After the trim, you have 4000 k lights 20 watts brighter that fit JUST LIKE the orginal H8 bulb.

And I did address your question regarding Silverstar (Sylvania/Osram) bulbs.

ah... I remember this... Just like front indicator light bulb, BMW OEM is $30, you can buy universal bulb at KMart for $5 for two

then get a finger file to trim one of the bulb pin the it fits perfectly into the bulb housing / case

No problem SilverX3 and I guess you did address part of the issue 08335i. I guess what I'm wondering is whether or not a PIAA/Silverstar H8 bulb could be a direct repalcement for the OEMs with the brightness being increased in the daytime.

Originally Posted by HPIA4v2

LED is going down in price, I am buying eBay H8 20W AE that looks promising, will see when I got them tomorrow.

You can always go with GP Thunder for dirt cheap if you just want whiter with similar brightness as OEM. I have Osram (european market version so I ordered in through eBayer from UK) as fog on my X5, not bad but I have Orion AE on my X5 so the fog lights are droned by my AE in terms of white and brightness. That's why not many people stick too long for incandescent bulbs anymore, especially the LED now has come down in price.

GL.

we have about 10 or so LED solutions for the angel eyes, all made with different types of CREE chipsets.

Originally Posted by Rainman519

No problem SilverX3 and I guess you did address part of the issue 08335i. I guess what I'm wondering is whether or not a PIAA/Silverstar H8 bulb could be a direct repalcement for the OEMs with the brightness being increased in the daytime.

An H8 is an H8 .... it's a standard, just like a 194 and 1157 bulbs, and because it's a fog/aux. bulb, you're going to have to look hard and long to find a bulb 'brighter' then 35 watts or 'whiter' then 3400K. And if you find one, you're going to have to order it and pay accordingly. The H7 bulbs, because they're termed as 'headlight, low beam' can be found almost anywhere at prices from $20 to about $60 per pair. I'm a firm believer in being able to get 'common' components quickly and locally. And I don't mind a little 'engineering' to get the results I want. When my fog lights need replacing, I'll do the same thing, go to my local auto parts store, buy a pair of Sylvania SilverStar ZXE H7 bulbs for $65, trim the tang and enjoy the increased light output.

Your choice, play follow the leader or do something different.

Originally Posted by 08 335Ci

An H8 is an H8 .... it's a standard, just like a 194 and 1157 bulbs, and because it's a fog/aux. bulb, you're going to have to look hard and long to find a bulb 'brighter' then 35 watts or 'whiter' then 3400K. And if you find one, you're going to have to order it and pay accordingly. The H7 bulbs, because they're termed as 'headlight, low beam' can be found almost anywhere at prices from $20 to about $60 per pair. I'm a firm believer in being able to get 'common' components quickly and locally. And I don't mind a little 'engineering' to get the results I want. When my fog lights need replacing, I'll do the same thing, go to my local auto parts store, buy a pair of Sylvania SilverStar ZXE H7 bulbs for $65, trim the tang and enjoy the increased light output.

Your choice, play follow the leader or do something different.

Don't want to sound like a party pooper, but puting H7 (55W or higher) onto H8 (35w max) will increase temp inside the headlamps. I heard someone melt the headlamp assembly going all out trying to make the angel-eye super bright, yep filing off the bayonet wing on H7 bulbs.

I just not going to risk that, Like I said on eBay someone is selling H8 20W LED for a pair for $80 shipped. These LED is more efficient prooducing light with less heat. Remember 20W is dissipated heat not a measurement of light output. 55W incandescent bulb may produce less light than 20W LED bulb. you need to talk about Lumen/Candle as measurement unit to find out which bulbs is brighter not wattage.

Originally Posted by HPIA4v2

Don't want to sound like a party pooper, but puting H7 (55W or higher) onto H8 (35w max) will increase temp inside the headlamps. I heard someone melt the headlamp assembly going all out trying to make the angel-eye super bright, yep filing off the bayonet wing on H7 bulbs.

I just not going to risk that, Like I said on eBay someone is selling H8 20W LED for a pair for $80 shipped. These LED is more efficient prooducing light with less heat. Remember 20W is dissipated heat not a measurement of light output. 55W incandescent bulb may produce less light than 20W LED bulb. you need to talk about Lumen/Candle as measurement unit to find out which bulbs is brighter not wattage.

we have LED angel eyes that produces over 1000 lumens