Running Toward the Light

Now doesn't that look puuuurdy! Very nice, Kat! I see the upgraded lights on the new coupes and new 5er quite a bit more on the road now and I like them. Starting to be on the fence about them but for now, I still consider the yellowish AEs with the jet black paint a classic look. If they ever burn out, it'll be time to think something like this though.

I'll be curious to hear how they'll hold up in the long run...

Originally Posted by cwinter

Now doesn't that look puuuurdy! Very nice, Kat! I see the upgraded lights on the new coupes and new 5er quite a bit more on the road now and I like them. Starting to be on the fence about them but for now, I still consider the yellowish AEs with the jet black paint a classic look. If they ever burn out, it'll be time to think something like this though.

I'll be curious to hear how they'll hold up in the long run...

Thanks, C-Dub. The Black with the OEM lights definitely has a distinctive classic look. In keeping with Furby's assessment of my car being 'platinum' I like the icy look with the gray.

In regard to your longevity question, I can't remember exactly where I read it, (maybe the 25+ pages of the thread over on M3 or E90Post), but if memory serves, the LEDs were quoted as having a 50,000 hour life span. When I do the arithmetic, even if I drove 4 hours a day every day that should last me about 34 years. The assemblies have a one year warranty.

Well....didn't you say you planned on keeping yours for a long time?

Nice work! Naturally, you will have to do the LCI LED taillight upgrade next.

What a comedy of errors today in getting these pics.

I headed out this morning with decent digital camera in hand, with the intent of going to my dealership across the road and getting a couple of photos of the LCI angel eyes directly compared with the LUX 8Hs. Around lunchtime I headed out, got to the dealership, found a sympathetic CA who was willing to pull a key and help me out. After some maneuvering and such, I got ready to take the photos and discovered that I'd forgotten the memory card for the camera. I grabbed my cell phone and not wanting to intrude any more on the CA's time quickly snapped the pic of the Mojave Brown coupe and my vert. After I got back to work, I discovered that he had all lights on and I just had the AE's on. Since it was already a bust, I took one more pic in my work parking lot with full lights on which given the bright sunlight is hopefully a decent comparitor to the LCI full lights on photo.

Thanks to the nice CA at Momentum BMW West who was willing to accomodate me. I'm sure he and his compatriots had a good laugh at the goofy woman who knew way too much techno lingo and kept referring to her 'vert as a Cabrio.

To my eye, the black and white comparo gives the best apples to apples view.
The distance estimates are key, because the closer you are to the LED's the worse they look.
So on with the comparison photos:

Mojave Brown LCI Coupe Full Lights (at 6 feet)



My Cabrio Full Lights: (at 10 feet)


My Cabrio AE's only at dealership (at 4-5 feet)


Black and white montage comparison

Well, I think yours look a tad brighter, but it's hard to know for sure. (Which means they're pretty damn good, eh?)

[QUOTE=Nordic_Kat;6138702]What a comedy of errors today in getting these pics.

Kat,
Sorry to hear about your ADHD...I can relate. Your pics (I hate to say this for the effort you put in) don't seem to be working. Your prior post said it all and showed a clear difference. I had previously suggested a night-time display of your lights against a wall (pre and post), but you may not have the "pre" now. All of this aside, you've nothing more to prove...your light mod is GREAT...you'll be the envy of the Houston E93 community. Looking forward to the rear fog light DIY (and the light switch DIY!!).

[QUOTE=pointandgo;6138728]

Originally Posted by Nordic_Kat

What a comedy of errors today in getting these pics.

Kat,
Sorry to hear about your ADHD...I can relate. Your pics (I hate to say this for the effort you put in) don't seem to be working. Your prior post said it all and showed a clear difference. I had previously suggested a night-time display of your lights against a wall (pre and post), but you may not have the "pre" now. All of this aside, you've nothing more to prove...your light mod is GREAT...you'll be the envy of the Houston E93 community. Looking forward to the rear fog light DIY (and the light switch DIY!!).

Yes, this set of pics is pretty much worthless but I've already established with my dealership that I'm cuckoo and I dare not go back and beg for more photos. The best I could do is hook up with another 'fester that has an LCI coupe or vert and we could take some comparo pics.

ps: I already posted about doing the rear foglight mod. Go do a search!

Originally Posted by ProfessorCook

Well, I think yours look a tad brighter, but it's hard to know for sure. (Which means they're pretty damn good, eh?)

Yes, they do look pretty good. I'm going to beg SO to help me do a test over the weekend. I'm going to hop in the MB and let him drive the E93 with him behind me. I've seen enough LCI DRLs in my side view mirror that I'll be able to make a pretty good assessment of how good these are.

DSX already fussed at me for taking pics of my dashboard while driving (and I don't blame him), so my thought is we go find a huge unpopulated parking lot for a photo session.

Those photos will probably be the best testament to how good the LUX 8H's really are compared to LCI.

[QUOTE=Nordic_Kat;6138744]

Originally Posted by pointandgo

Yes, this set of pics is pretty much worthless but I've already established with my dealership that I'm cuckoo and I dare not go back and beg for more photos. The best I could do is hook up with another 'fester that has an LCI coupe or vert and we could take some comparo pics.

ps: I already posted about doing the rear foglight mod. Go do a search!

Search Nah-tsi!

K, LOL about the memory card. I did that once too often, usually after downloading pics and leaving the card in the computer slot, so I taped an extra card to the outside of my camera. I need mental crutches like that.
Good job on your angel eye conversion. We're going to lose you to the dark side, I know it.

Originally Posted by Nordic_Kat

There is another system OSS which requires you send your headlight units to Florida for retrofitting.

Includes disabling lasers fitted to the adaptive lighting system. Teaches a good lesson to those rude, aggressive drivers.

That's what I have.
.

Congratulations, Kat. The Lux look very good and dare I say just as bright as the OE leds on the coupe at the dealership. Look forward to your "side view mirror" test and will probably jump on the Lux bandwagon as I prefer the "white" look to the stock "amber" look on my black '11 E90. Based on not being available now until July 8, looks like I'll have a little wait for the purchase.

I just went with the GP Thunder bulbs. 26 dollars, bright white and look great

GP Thunders (8500K) H8 (halos) and H3 (cornering). Total cost was about $50. Install about 20 minutes. I chose not to do the fog lights as the install takes a while and I don't have ready available resources here in Germany.

Adequate alternative. I went the same route, although I never even considered changing the cornering lights to GPs as well. The only time seen is when the wheel is turned, turn signal is activated or the vehicle is in rev. Anywho do you have pics with them activated?

I will try to get one today, I wanted it to match the rings

Originally Posted by chrisk03

Congratulations, Kat. The Lux look very good and dare I say just as bright as the OE leds on the coupe at the dealership. Look forward to your "side view mirror" test and will probably jump on the Lux bandwagon as I prefer the "white" look to the stock "amber" look on my black '11 E90. Based on not being available now until July 8, looks like I'll have a little wait for the purchase.

Here are the results of the "side vew mirror test".
The first photo is just that - pointing the camera into the mirror. The second is for a distance gauge. Very nice of the high school to have the parking spots so well marked.





All in all I am very happy with the LUX decision and hope this helps other 'festers in the decision making process.

Congrats Kat! They look great

THAT parking lot would be fun in the snow, lol.

Originally Posted by Nordic_Kat

Here are the results of the "side vew mirror test".
The first photo is just that - pointing the camera into the mirror. The second is for a distance gauge. Very nice of the high school to have the parking spots so well marked.





All in all I am very happy with the LUX decision and hope this helps other 'festers in the decision making process.

The car! She is staring at me! She looks angry! I am scared.

A bit of a hijack here, but has anyone had good/bad experience with Racing Dash (RDASH) angel eyes?

I installed them into my 07 E91 Wagon. After ~ 2 months, I'm getting intermittent light bulb errors on the driver side. Yes, it's the driver side angel eye that goes on and of intermittently.

Your replies are appreciated.

Thanks!

[QUOTE=Nordic_Kat;6138744]

Originally Posted by pointandgo

Yes, this set of pics is pretty much worthless but I've already established with my dealership that I'm cuckoo and I dare not go back and beg for more photos. The best I could do is hook up with another 'fester that has an LCI coupe or vert and we could take some comparo pics.

ps: I already posted about doing the rear foglight mod. Go do a search!

Happy to help if you want to use mine as a comparo.

I just ordered Lux H8 V3 a few minutes ago!!!

I can't wait till I get them in.
I should have them monday and If I can Ill take some pictures!!!

Originally Posted by Nordic_Kat

[T]he closer you are to the LED's the worse they look.

Now, that's an interesting statement! I admit, I haven't really warmed to the LED coronas yet. Not sure if it's because I have seen so few that they still look "wrong" to me, or because Audi has poisoned the well with their profusion of garish LED eyeliners around here. Your remark reminded me that the few I've noticed have been practically on top of me--now I'll be on the lookout to see whether I like them better from a distance.

Regardless: Nice work, well done and I have to say, it does look good in the photos!