Aftermarket LED headlights for xenon cars?

CSN327 · 04-05-2022, 12:10 AM

Hi all,

My ballast and adaptive control unit on the right headlight failed yet again after a car wash (probably already knew it when the machine just started spraying it.....) and I'm fed up with the terrible lights, as they were already barely usable even before failing. So, instead of going through another round of getting some cheap control unit, I'd like to get rid of them with some aftermarket LED unit, but it seems that many of them were only for the cars with halogen lights. Is there any good recommendations for the xenon cars? Would prefer something similar with the original angel eye.

Papa Popov · 04-06-2022, 07:09 AM

The "designed for halogen" bit on most LEDs is just marketing. LEDs ideally (and only legally allowed in IIRC) used in projectors. When used in reflectors the beam pattern gets whack and it's like staring at the surface of the sun for oncoming traffic. Some LEDs are "designed for halogen" by using a specific beam pattern to tame the effect.

I run Morimoto 2stroke 3.0s and am very happy with them. They're "designed for halogen" but work just fine in projectors.

04-05-2022, 12:10 AM	#1
CSN327 Enlisted Member 5 Rep 37 Posts Drives: E87 120i, E82 135i, E85 Z4 M Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: San Jose iTrader: (0)	Aftermarket LED headlights for xenon cars? Hi all, My ballast and adaptive control unit on the right headlight failed yet again after a car wash (probably already knew it when the machine just started spraying it.....) and I'm fed up with the terrible lights, as they were already barely usable even before failing. So, instead of going through another round of getting some cheap control unit, I'd like to get rid of them with some aftermarket LED unit, but it seems that many of them were only for the cars with halogen lights. Is there any good recommendations for the xenon cars? Would prefer something similar with the original angel eye.
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04-06-2022, 07:09 AM	#2
Papa Popov Lieutenant 315 Rep 474 Posts Drives: 2009 128i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 128i Coupe [0.00]	The "designed for halogen" bit on most LEDs is just marketing. LEDs ideally (and only legally allowed in IIRC) used in projectors. When used in reflectors the beam pattern gets whack and it's like staring at the surface of the sun for oncoming traffic. Some LEDs are "designed for halogen" by using a specific beam pattern to tame the effect. I run Morimoto 2stroke 3.0s and am very happy with them. They're "designed for halogen" but work just fine in projectors.
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