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      12-30-2015, 12:14 PM   #1
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128i Xenon Upgrade?

Whats all involved to go from H7 Halogen to B-Xenon? Plug and play?
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      12-30-2015, 12:24 PM   #2
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Have to rewire the harness. We have a groupbuy for pnp ballast headlights in the 128i section.
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      12-30-2015, 02:18 PM   #3
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This thread has all the information you need including BMW retrofit documentation attached as a PDF. It's a $1,000-1,500 undertaking.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=526378
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      12-30-2015, 04:44 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ubersteuer
This thread has all the information you need including BMW retrofit documentation attached as a PDF. It's a $1,000-1,500 undertaking.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=526378
In other words screw it
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      12-31-2015, 01:21 AM   #5
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I'm going to do it soon
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      12-31-2015, 10:34 AM   #6
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I did this last month with OEM Bi-xenons from the H7 equivalent,
its relatively easy in all honesty and you don't need to "rewire" the loom at all.

all cores you need are actually already there going to the FRM. you will need to add about a foot of ground wire for both left and right headlights to pick up the xenon ballast supplies.

i can put together a complete install build thread if you need?

this wiring diagram may also help you out.



dont forget about the coding sides of this retro fit, and the fact you will need both the self levelling units and upgraded FRM module
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      12-31-2015, 12:16 PM   #7
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You've got my interest.

So just to be clear, you went from halogens to OEM bixenons, right? I have LCI halogens and am going to retrofit OEM non-adaptive xenons and LCI HIGH tails.

Have you followed the BMW instructions? I guess you haven't bought the BMW retrofit kit - it comes with all the wires, sensors, xenon control units, D1S lamps and other things.

If you want to, make a thread. It's not for me only.
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      12-31-2015, 12:29 PM   #8
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exactly right,

i brought a set of second hand oem Bi-xenon head lights (non adaptive) from a pal off another forum.
i just couldn't see the point in buying a addon loom from BMW (which they apparently don't sell anymore) when all the cores you need are already at each head light to the FRM module.

all i done was swapped the cores over at the FRM plug to match that of the wiring diagram, add both the grounds which were a 20minute job and as long as you have changed the FRM to a unit which is meant for Bi xenons (usually notes a XE next to the FRM 2 or FRM 3 label)
they will work straight off the bat.

bare in mind you will need the level sensors (eBay) otherwise the headlights will only be at the lowest point for safety reasons so they don't dazzle on coming cars.

They will need wiring individually back to the FRM (3 core per level sensor can be done with flex)

Ohh and i done mine for under £200 when after i sold my Halogen headlights
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      12-31-2015, 05:47 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by driftben
exactly right,

i brought a set of second hand oem Bi-xenon head lights (non adaptive) from a pal off another forum.
i just couldn't see the point in buying a addon loom from BMW (which they apparently don't sell anymore) when all the cores you need are already at each head light to the FRM module.

all i done was swapped the cores over at the FRM plug to match that of the wiring diagram, add both the grounds which were a 20minute job and as long as you have changed the FRM to a unit which is meant for Bi xenons (usually notes a XE next to the FRM 2 or FRM 3 label)
they will work straight off the bat.

bare in mind you will need the level sensors (eBay) otherwise the headlights will only be at the lowest point for safety reasons so they don't dazzle on coming cars.

They will need wiring individually back to the FRM (3 core per level sensor can be done with flex)

Ohh and i done mine for under £200 when after i sold my Halogen headlights
Ok you have my attention...
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      01-01-2016, 05:43 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by driftben View Post
exactly right,

i brought a set of second hand oem Bi-xenon head lights (non adaptive) from a pal off another forum.
i just couldn't see the point in buying a addon loom from BMW (which they apparently don't sell anymore) when all the cores you need are already at each head light to the FRM module.

all i done was swapped the cores over at the FRM plug to match that of the wiring diagram, add both the grounds which were a 20minute job and as long as you have changed the FRM to a unit which is meant for Bi xenons (usually notes a XE next to the FRM 2 or FRM 3 label)
they will work straight off the bat.

bare in mind you will need the level sensors (eBay) otherwise the headlights will only be at the lowest point for safety reasons so they don't dazzle on coming cars.

They will need wiring individually back to the FRM (3 core per level sensor can be done with flex)

Ohh and i done mine for under £200 when after i sold my Halogen headlights
Thanks for the info.

What about the taillights? Any additional work? The official retrofit instructions show that you have to run the wiring from front to rear and from the sensors to the footwell module. Hmm.
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      01-03-2016, 01:01 PM   #11
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I shall put up a retro fit guide which involves everything except the rear lights BUT the rear lights only need a core from each rear light to the FRM (footwell module) which isn't a hard task at all.

as for the sensors front and back yep you will need to add the 3 cores per sensor back to the FRM as per my pervious post

ill include everything in the write up with pics of course....
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Last edited by driftben; 01-03-2016 at 01:40 PM..
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      01-04-2016, 08:51 PM   #12
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The write up would be appreciated! I started to piece together my retrofit only to discover the oem harness has been discontinued. I'm sure the harness wasn't anything special other than it had the correct connectors and was the proper length.
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      01-05-2016, 12:51 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ubersteuer View Post
The write up would be appreciated! I started to piece together my retrofit only to discover the oem harness has been discontinued. I'm sure the harness wasn't anything special other than it had the correct connectors and was the proper length.
Dealer told me the same.
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      01-05-2016, 02:29 PM   #14
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That is very true bmw told me the same as well so I used my engineering degree to my advantage.
Absolutely no need for a expensive loom from bmw, like I say everything is there for what you need going to the headlights. Level sensors need wiring but hey it's 3 cores each sensor so no big deal.
I'll put the guide together this weekend if that's ok guys. I'm working away at the minute 😉

I'll even give all part numbers of connectors and pins so it's stays all oem
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      01-05-2016, 02:48 PM   #15
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Thank you very much.
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      01-05-2016, 03:43 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by driftben View Post
That is very true bmw told me the same as well so I used my engineering degree to my advantage.
Absolutely no need for a expensive loom from bmw, like I say everything is there for what you need going to the headlights. Level sensors need wiring but hey it's 3 cores each sensor so no big deal.
I'll put the guide together this weekend if that's ok guys. I'm working away at the minute ��

I'll even give all part numbers of connectors and pins so it's stays all oem
Great work sir, I appreciate it! I've rewired a lot of components on other chassis, mainly e36, and worked for a BMW dealer when the e90/e92 were new but have zero experience with e82.

Much rather go off your experience as an engineer and someone who has successfully tackled the project rather than going at it blind.
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      01-13-2016, 12:05 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by driftben View Post
That is very true bmw told me the same as well so I used my engineering degree to my advantage.
Absolutely no need for a expensive loom from bmw, like I say everything is there for what you need going to the headlights. Level sensors need wiring but hey it's 3 cores each sensor so no big deal.
I'll put the guide together this weekend if that's ok guys. I'm working away at the minute 😉

I'll even give all part numbers of connectors and pins so it's stays all oem
Hoping you had some time to throw this together
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      01-13-2016, 02:27 PM   #18
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Sorry for the delay on this, I didn't have the best weekend.
I promise the write up will be complete by this month 😁
January sucks
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      01-13-2016, 03:11 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by driftben View Post
Sorry for the delay on this, I didn't have the best weekend.
I promise the write up will be complete by this month 😁
January sucks
No worries, you're doing us the favor! I'm somewhat waiting to order all my parts for the conversion until I can look over your documentation.

Thanks!!
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      01-13-2016, 04:08 PM   #20
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Ahh okey dokey, I don't want to hold you up.
I shall look into putting it together this weekend if that's ok 😊
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      01-13-2016, 06:12 PM   #21
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New owner here, and this was one of my first questions with my own 128. I saw a couple of assemblies from Helix/Depo that seemed to be a lot cheaper than the oem - can anyone confirm?
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      01-13-2016, 06:31 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tpizza01 View Post
New owner here, and this was one of my first questions with my own 128. I saw a couple of assemblies from Helix/Depo that seemed to be a lot cheaper than the oem - can anyone confirm?
Yeah they are but they look like shit (my opinion). If you want to do this stick with OEM headlights.
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