[magamaga]

Hey guys, I received the "Xenon Bulbs" which should be described and called Xenon LEDS . To say the least, I started installing them last night and was disapointed to see that the lighting was very dim. I didn't like it and thought I would be getting very bright sophisticated interior bulbs with LEDS in them but these were just regular bulbs without xenon LEDS.
To say the least, my warm interior lights are back in their place and lighting up 10 times more than these Xenon (blue) bulbs I got in the mail. I just left Bimmian a voicemail to inquire what's the deal with these so called Xenon bulbs.

[JamieA]

Well sometimes you just gotta try these things to see if they work out. Sorry to hear that it wasn't all you wanted mate.

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by magamaga

Hey guys, I received the "Xenon Bulbs" which should be described and called Xenon LEDS . To say the least, I started installing them last night and was disapointed to see that the lighting was very dim. I didn't like it and thought I would be getting very bright sophisticated interior bulbs with LEDS in them but these were just regular bulbs without xenon LEDS.
To say the least, my warm interior lights are back in their place and lighting up 10 times more than these Xenon (blue) bulbs I got in the mail. I just left Bimmian a voicemail to inquire what's the deal with these so called Xenon bulbs.

You should've listened to me.

really, bimmian is not responsible for this at all.
"Xenon bulb" trend was around for a long time.

[3aficionado]

Ambient lighting in BMW's is done for a purpose. It allows the driver and passengers to see in the dark while not hindering the drivers ability to see at night.

If any of you are pilots then you know this very well. Red (and more recently green) are the only lights a pilot will use in the cockpit at night. BMW's red ambient lighting follows that convention.

I would think any bright xenon-like light used in the cabin at night would be a safety hazard. I haven't seen this in action... its just my 2 cents from reading about this extraordinarily bright xenon-like interior replacements.

[magamaga]

Well, I spoke to a guy at Bimmian.com and he offered a credit for other products on the site, but not a refund because he says he will not be able to resell them to other people, I don't know why but this is how he does it.
Anyhow, I expleained to him that these bulbs did not have any LEDS and that the light the put out is way too dim to even see inside the cabin. He just said "these are the ones we sell for the E90.
Though luck. Anyhow, anyone interested in some dim bulbs that follow the following weird and sales oriented description ? :

:mad:

An “Interior light replacement kit” consists of XENON charged bulbs that replace all interior lights including (were applicable / available): dome lights, rear courtesy lights, reading lights, vanity mirror lights, glove box lights, under-dash courtesy lights, trunk interior lights, license plate lights and under hood lights. Kit sizes vary depending on model of
vehicle.

Lux.sh was RIGHT!
http://www.bimmian.com/IXB/90/1

[magamaga]

He he, I think my results closed this thread!

[Compos Mentis]

Originally Posted by Squawks

It's not bullshit but indeed really is veritable. Bimmian had such mods forever. Whoops, now that I mentioned Bimmian, all these E90 fanatics will actually mod their rides with Bimmian mods! Oh, no! I'm supposed to be the only one with colored roundels!

Back to the main topic - the difference between "xenon" interior and the normal bulbs really isn't about "brighter" lighting although some may construe the modded lighting to be subjctively brighter. The disparity rests in the color of the bulb - while the stock OEM interior bulbs give off an incandescent/yellowish/amber light, the aftermarket interior bulbs give off a rather neutral, white/blue light. It adds a sense of customization for those repine for some.

[poldim]

Originally Posted by KenB

So, what you’re saying is that Ward was right and interior Xenons are about as cool as a Kito custom exhaust.

Precisely! I concurr.

[mykcheng]

Just put my bulbs in, and though they're not as bright, I'm pleased with them. Heck, it was a relatively cheap mod ($30) that I did on my own and wasn't hard at all (though, I still can't get that front dome off to change the reading lights). As for aviators using red or green lights in flight, they definitely do this to preserve their night vision. And green lights are only used if their cockpit is NVG compatible since you can't see a red light w/NVGs on. BUT, in a car, it makes very little difference when an incoming car is shining their lights at you. Any time you get light in your eyes other than red, blue, or green, it'll take at least 30 minutes to get your night vision back. So, unless you plan on driving w/your eyes closed anytime there's oncoming traffic, interior lighting on a car really makes little to no difference. AND, yes, this is as cool as a Kito custom exhaust.

[Lost Rider]

Originally Posted by mykcheng

Just put my bulbs in, and though they're not as bright, I'm pleased with them. Heck, it was a relatively cheap mod ($30) that I did on my own and wasn't hard at all (though, I still can't get that front dome off to change the reading lights). As for aviators using red or green lights in flight, they definitely do this to preserve their night vision. And green lights are only used if their cockpit is NVG compatible since you can't see a red light w/NVGs on. BUT, in a car, it makes very little difference when an incoming car is shining their lights at you. Any time you get light in your eyes other than red, blue, or green, it'll take at least 30 minutes to get your night vision back. So, unless you plan on driving w/your eyes closed anytime there's oncoming traffic, interior lighting on a car really makes little to no difference. AND, yes, this is as cool as a Kito custom exhaust.

how about some pics?

[FastAttackNick]

I am apparently completely retarded. I tried this - and failed to get any of the damn covers off. Our cars are made completely of plastic parts held together with "little tabs." I'm convinced that I will snap all of my "little tabs" off and the wheels will fall of the car. My zeal for mod-ing has been killed.

[Papi330i]

Just so you guys know, be careful with these aftermarket xenon-like interior lights. I did this on my e46, and it looks great. However... beware of MELTING. The rectangle shaped bulbs melted every plastic fixture they were in and/or near. Of course, maybe Bimmiam has fixed this with the e90 ones. But make sure they're the same wattage/amperage or whatever. If I remember, all bulbs have that marked. So check!!!

[cntlaw]

i only heard low current LED interior lights made by Japanese companies which save 10 times battery power

[poldim]

Originally Posted by cntlaw

i only heard low current LED interior lights made by Japanese companies which save 10 times battery power

Come again?

[D-Rock]

yeah they are really nice

[knonenone11]

not to bump, but i just installed a set i got from some guy on here

overall i would recommend them for the 30$ range, but not the 65-70 that they sell on the site itself....

the 4 individual reading lights are impossible to remove, and i am going to have to try to get off the license plate one again

[emmanuelhs]

I installed some LEDs type 194 in the interior (front and rear dome, and both reading lights) that I bought from superbrightleds.com and they work perfectly fine without the key but when i put them in the slot they only last like for 15seconds and turn off. Does anyone know why this happens?
Even if I turn them manually on (pressing the buttom in the middle of the front dome or the reading lights) they last like for 15seconds and turn off. But when the key is not in it, it lasts forever..

[rikuF10]

Guys,

Actually, our stock bulbs in the Reading light are a 6W xenon bulbs. According to the TIS, the dome lights and the reading lights are all 6W Xenon bulbs.

Me and RD SPORT (anothter member here)....we started our Interior LED projects about a week ago. RD SPORT is an expert in taking out the interior lights modules now!

When we took the bulbs out, what we find is the following....and also I ran it with a DC power supply to read its load:

Dome light = 5W 420mA (eventhough the TIS said it should be a 6W Xenon)
Reading light = 5W Xenon 420mA
Footwell = 5W 340 mA
Door entrance lights = 3W (didn't test this one)

A surprise to us is that the 5W Dome light bulbs takes the same current as the 6W Xenon.

Rd and I test the lights with LED bulbs from 3 different brand

PIAA TERA 6500K .....70mA
Raybrig 8 LED ..........50mA
Polarg Super LED.......30mA

From the above number, the PIAA is much brighter.....in real life, I feel it is even brighter than the stock bulb.

We have encounter some problems with the lights turned off in about 5 seconds.

Right now, we are using the PIAA TERA in the dome because it is bright enough for the whole interior......and Raybrig 8LED in the footwell. Another 6LED plate in the door entrance. All the interior lights work normal if we have the stock 6W xenon bulbs in the readings. Anything with a lower consumption will cause it to go wierd.

We are settled at this setting for now.....and working on going full LED....

[951's 330i]

[QUOTE=bmw330e90;105598]

Originally Posted by mds82

bmw330e90 can you write up a small DIY?
I took some pictures today.
Regular head screwdriver from the car tool kit works fine.

-To remove center (rear) dome light simply grab the edge of the console as shown at the picture and pull it down at 45 degree angle.

-To remove front dome light you need to push 2 clips behind the reading lights. You can also find more pictures how to remove the front dome light here:dome

-To remove the light inside the trunk just push the screwdriver (1) and pull the light down (2)

-To remove plate number light, first insert screwdriver in to the opening on the left and push all light to the right, same time try to pull left side of the light

-To remove Vanity light just insert screwdriver and pull it down
Follow the same procedure for rest of the lights

I can not get the damn front dome one off. Can anyone help? Located in Socal, Corona

[JeepJeep]

Originally Posted by 951's 330i

I can not get the damn front dome one off. Can anyone help? Located in Socal, Corona

Try the DIY section next time please, you might get more help than a 3 year old dead thread

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...8&postcount=28

Here's a link to what you wanted (I think).

[Jawadc]

In order to get the 4 small reading lights for the front and rear I suggest getting a decently thin flat nose plier now cover the top and sides of the ridged tips with electrical tape (just once around) and then use that to grab the bulbs and shimmy and yank them out. I've done it tons of times on mine and my friends cars. With this method the bulbs don't get scratched and probably wont break unless you use too much strength... well good luck.

[ac328]

I think he means LED's.... I did my entire interior with LED's and looks great. PM me if interested and I can tell you where to get it. I tried PIAA's and they were too dim. I found someone that sells high quality LED's. Even the ones in the rear footwell on coupe.