Halogen to xenon

[Emir]

Hey guys this might be a really stupid question, and I’ve been trying to find an answer online but I can’t. My car came with halogen lights and I want to get xenons. If I buy a set of oem xenons are they just plug and play, or do I have to do some other stuff.

[papa_g]

Pretty sure they are supposed to have xenons... I bought some d2s osrams to replace the old ones my car had when I bought it. Phillips works too.
Are you talking about the projectors?

[az3579]

Its not exactly plug and play. There is some coding involved, and I do not think halogen cars came with connectors in the factory harness for things like autoleveling and the Bi-Xenon shutters. Plus, the car would have to get coded.
Pretty sure they are supposed to have xenons... I bought some d2s osrams to replace the old ones my car had when I bought it. Phillips works too.
Are you talking about the projectors?Xenons were still an option on all E46's.

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[Emir]

Its not exactly plug and play. There is some coding involved, and I do not think halogen cars came with connectors in the factory harness for things like autoleveling and the Bi-Xenon shutters. Plus, the car would have to get coded. Xenons were still an option on all E46's.

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Yea I figured it wouldn’t be just a straight swap. Do you know how hard doing the wiring is if I’m swapping the whole headlight?

[papa_g]

Xenons were still an option on all E46's.
Even on the ZHPs? strange

[az3579]

Even on the ZHPs? strange

Yup. It's pretty rare that ZHP doesn't have Xenons, but it's still a thing.

I think everything E90 onward gave the 3 series with the best motor (E90 330/335, F30 335/340) the premium lighting as standard.

[Overboost]

Yea I figured it wouldn’t be just a straight swap. Do you know how hard doing the wiring is if I’m swapping the whole headlight?

If you retrofit single beam Xenon (not BiXenon) the high beams will work with the center halogen lights just as they do now and will plug directly in and the only thing that will not work is the auto leveling. Auto leveling can also be retrofitted but it takes quite a bit of wiring from the front to the rear through the LCM itself and then ultimately to the level connectors on the headlight housings. If you get BiXenons, you will need to wire the high beam shutters from the LCM as well.

Depending on your LCM, you may need a different LCM that has the leveling circuitry so you will be on a LCM part number search to see if your LCM will work with all the work you put into the level sensors and wiring.

If you are OK with a manual level adjustment at the headlight adjustment screws and a set of standard single beam Xenons, you can have the Xenon headlights plug directly in and code the car for Xenon with BMW Scanner 1.4 or INPA in a matter of minutes. (Without coding they will turn on and operate but will randomly flash and shut off)

[az3579]

It's probably more worth just retrofitting Xenon projectors to the halogen set and doing the wiring so they act as a retrofitted Bi-Xenon setup.

[Emir]

If you retrofit single beam Xenon (not BiXenon) the high beams will work with the center halogen lights just as they do now and will plug directly in and the only thing that will not work is the auto leveling. Auto leveling can also be retrofitted but it takes quite a bit of wiring from the front to the rear through the LCM itself and then ultimately to the level connectors on the headlight housings. If you get BiXenons, you will need to wire the high beam shutters from the LCM as well.

Depending on your LCM, you may need a different LCM that has the leveling circuitry so you will be on a LCM part number search to see if your LCM will work with all the work you put into the level sensors and wiring.

If you are OK with a manual level adjustment at the headlight adjustment screws and a set of standard single beam Xenons, you can have the Xenon headlights plug directly in and code the car for Xenon with BMW Scanner 1.4 or INPA in a matter of minutes. (Without coding they will turn on and operate but will randomly flash and shut off)

I read online that all post face lift sedans came with bixenons. Because if that’s the case I can’t get oem ones then that would work. Or is what I read incorrect?

[Emir]

It's probably more worth just retrofitting Xenon projectors to the halogen set and doing the wiring so they act as a retrofitted Bi-Xenon setup.


Yea I’m thinking that might be my best bet

[fredo]

I read online that all post face lift sedans came with bixenons. Because if that’s the case I can’t get oem ones then that would work. Or is what I read incorrect?

I've seen some ZHP sedans without bixenons. Shawn (elcid86) can confirm.

[ELCID86]

I've seen some ZHP sedans without bixenons. Shawn (elcid86) can confirm.

Check. My first OB car had halogens. They worked fine for me (though I was shunned by some ;-)

[ELCID86]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190113/144c43c62f93a0e7ad5abd083da364f1.jpg

[Emir]

I've seen some ZHP sedans without bixenons. Shawn (elcid86) can confirm.

Yea they can come without bixenons. My car came with halogens. What I was trying to say is that I read that any post facelift car that came with xenons got bixenons. That they couldn’t come with single beam Xenons that overboost was talking about.

[Overboost]

Yea they can come without bixenons. My car came with halogens. What I was trying to say is that I read that any post facelift car that came with xenons got bixenons. That they couldn’t come with single beam Xenons that overboost was talking about.

Just for the record, I did not say they came with single beam Xenons. What I suggested is that may be the easiest solution for you to retrofit Xenon without all the correct wiring.

[Emir]

Just for the record, I did not say they came with single beam Xenons. What I suggested is that may be the easiest solution for you to retrofit Xenon without all the correct wiring.

Oh I’m sorry I misread what you wrote. I thought you said there was an oem single xenon headlight I could buy.

[az3579]

Oh I’m sorry I misread what you wrote. I thought you said there was an oem single xenon headlight I could buy.

You can't retrofit the single-Xenon headlights because they're pre-facelift, which is a different shape. Even retrofitting just the innards isn't sufficient; I'm not sure they'd fit properly, and even if they did, your housings don't have the opening on the bottom of the housing where the ballast should sit.

This is why a projector retrofit in your existing headlights is your best bet. You should still code them so that the car doesn't try to do bulb tests on the Xenons, which pulses them and significantly shortens their lifespan.

[Overboost]

If OP has a coupe you are correct, no single xenon option available. Facelifted LCI sedans came with several options.

E46 saloon/wagon Facelift (2001-2005)

AL Halogen H7
ZKW Halogen H7
AL Single xenon D2S
ZKW Bi-xenon D2S
AL Bi-xenon D2S

E46 coupe Facelift (2003-2006)

AL Halogen H7
AL Bi-xenon

[az3579]

If OP has a coupe you are correct, no single xenon option available. Facelifted LCI sedans came with several options.

E46 saloon/wagon Facelift (2001-2005)

AL Halogen H7
ZKW Halogen H7
AL Single xenon D2S
ZKW Bi-xenon D2S
AL Bi-xenon D2S


Facelifted sedans did not have Single Xenons in the US. Bi-Xenons replaced single Xenons for model year 2002, which is when the facelift occurred for sedans. So, it doesn't physically fit due to the design changes of the facelift.

[Overboost]

Mea culpa, I guess I was misinformed.

[az3579]

Mea culpa, I guess I was misinformed.

Yeah it would be a nice easy solution for the OP if it was indeed the case. :(

Honestly the retrofit is nice because it gives the option to use much better projectors than the stock ones. I'm currently "fixing" a pair of headlights on a car that had halogens originally and had Bi-Xenons retrofitted to those housings. It turns out that it's not that complicated of a setup. It's mostly plug and play when using the harnesses that come with the retrofit kit. I think the kit includes something for the CANBUS system so it shouldn't show headlights being out or behaving in any funky way. I think the hardest part would be to physically mount the projectors in the existing bowls, since it requires physical modification.

OP,
If you have another car to drive but don't feel like doing any physical modifications to your headlights yourself, you can always remove the headlights and ship them to a place such as Lightwerkz to do the retrofit for you. This is what I did with my car (though I brought them there myself since they're only an hour or so away) and it worked out well.

[Overboost]

34639 Lightwerkz is a very good operation. They do excellent work!

[Emir]

Yeah it would be a nice easy solution for the OP if it was indeed the case. :(

Honestly the retrofit is nice because it gives the option to use much better projectors than the stock ones. I'm currently "fixing" a pair of headlights on a car that had halogens originally and had Bi-Xenons retrofitted to those housings. It turns out that it's not that complicated of a setup. It's mostly plug and play when using the harnesses that come with the retrofit kit. I think the kit includes something for the CANBUS system so it shouldn't show headlights being out or behaving in any funky way. I think the hardest part would be to physically mount the projectors in the existing bowls, since it requires physical modification.

OP,
If you have another car to drive but don't feel like doing any physical modifications to your headlights yourself, you can always remove the headlights and ship them to a place such as Lightwerkz to do the retrofit for you. This is what I did with my car (though I brought them there myself since they're only an hour or so away) and it worked out well.

Yea I don’t have another car to drive and I need mine every day. That’s my biggest problem. I’m probably just gonna buy the parts, and wait until I have a free weekend and try to do it myself.

[spoonerDee]

Yea I’m thinking that might be my best bet

I did this and made a DIY on here (or at least on bimmerforums) it's simple and can even be done with D2S projectors. When I did it all they had was H1. You then have to code the car for xenon (not bixenon), wire tap the projectors shutters to the current high beams and you're done.

Then you have xenons, and 4 high beams. I love it, it's like daylight in front of my car.

[nextelbuddy]

just find pre face lift SINGLE xenon lights doesnt matter coupe sedan m3 etc etc... remove the front lens cover and swap in your face lift lens cover. thats the only difference fitment wise. the actual black headlight housing is the same between all e46 they only changed the lens covers which accommodates the change in hood shape and corner light attachment point.


even if you get bixenon headlights and your car lacks the connector in the body harness for the bixenon switch control, you can still code the LCM to act as single xenon where high beam activates the inner DRL high beam lights for highbeams when you push or pull on the stalk.

[joeybananaz18]

Yea I don’t have another car to drive and I need mine every day. That’s my biggest problem. I’m probably just gonna buy the parts, and wait until I have a free weekend and try to do it myself.

I’ve got a set of zkws listed for sale if you need them. Bowls are burnt but it might be a good base for a project.


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[sillieidiot]

just find pre face lift SINGLE xenon lights doesnt matter coupe sedan m3 etc etc... remove the front lens cover and swap in your face lift lens cover. thats the only difference fitment wise. the actual black headlight housing is the same between all e46 they only changed the lens covers which accommodates the change in hood shape and corner light attachment point.


even if you get bixenon headlights and your car lacks the connector in the body harness for the bixenon switch control, you can still code the LCM to act as single xenon where high beam activates the inner DRL high beam lights for highbeams when you push or pull on the stalk.

The mounting part for the corner lights will be different too. He would need to basically swap out the guts into his housing. The single xenons will have mounts for push in corners.

I'd just do the mini-h1 retro because it's easier. Otherwise you can go OE bixenons, flash the lcm, and then do the wiring for the bixenon function to work which isn't that much. it's just some long wires, a relay, and some connects that go into the back of your headlights.

[nextelbuddy]

The mounting part for the corner lights will be different too. He would need to basically swap out the guts into his housing. The single xenons will have mounts for push in corners.

I'd just do the mini-h1 retro because it's easier. Otherwise you can go OE bixenons, flash the lcm, and then do the wiring for the bixenon function to work which isn't that much. it's just some long wires, a relay, and some connects that go into the back of your headlights.

very true, totally spaced on that tidbit.. they never made facelight corner lights in snap in form lol.



yea i would totally go the route of bixenon headlights and just coding them to xenon instead of bixenon.

[tinuva]

I have done this twice (sort off) now. Here is what I did.

Vehicle 1: Pre-facelift 2001 330i with single xenons
This was car was in an accident, and I opted to fix it myself and at the same time I did a complete facelift on the front.
I bought AL bi-xenon headlight assembly from ebay. This was the whole headlight assembly from a car getting stripped.

Since this car had xenons, there is no manual leveling dial, and also I do have auto leveling sensors and wiring.
- coded as single xenons

This meant everything just worked as it had previously with single xenons.

I haven't done the wiring for bi-xenons, so for now it just uses the regular brights (inner lights) when turning on the brights. The shutter wiring and coding for bi-xenons I will do at a later time when I have more time on my hands.

Vehicle 2: Facelift 2002 330i with halogens
Bought AL bi-xenon headlights from ebay. This was the whole headlight assembly from a car getting stripped.

Since my car didn't have wiring for bi-xenon, and also didn't have the automatic leveling sensors, and the LCM module have a button for manual leveling, the coding was as follows:
- coded as halogens (so that manual leveling wheel keeps on working)
- Using PA Soft, matched the testing values from another vehicle that has single xenons in. The testing values (hex values) now allows the car to still test that the lights works, and also when starting the engine, the lights dont flicker (randomly flash). Without this coding, the lights would work if the engine is off, but as soon as you start it the lights would go bananas.

I haven't done the wiring for bi-xenons, so for now it just uses the regular brights (inner lights) when turning on the brights. The shutter wiring and coding for bi-xenons I will do at a later time when I have more time on my hands.


What some people do if you don't want to add wiring from the headlights all the way to the LCM for the bi-xenons, is they just connect a wire from the shutter to the bright's light wire, and then both the inner light and shutter go on when using the brights. I am not a fan of this option, but at least know about it as an option.