Headlight bulbs: LED discussion

[goltho]

I've been experimenting with improving my headlights after repairing my chafed wiring & fitting a very clean (and inexpensive) pair of replacement headlights which happened to float past my eyes. I'm very aware of the consequences of dazzle and will not entertain anything which comes close, just to preempt any input on that subject. What I would like to know though is other members' technical experiences with fitting LEDs and also with using them.

I tried 80w 5000k halogens on both beams for a week which were probably only a 15% brightness improvement although much better in terms of a whiter light. I dislike anything whiter (bluer...) than 5000k and they were good in that respect.

I've stuck to looking at compact direct-fit LED bulbs and got hold of two sets of Philips Ultinon Access to try (H7s and H9s) this week. They have no built-in load resistance so the mains rapidly flickered about ten times when the ignition was turned on, presumably due to the car polling them for failure. Oddly though, the dips did not flicker but they did show on the dash as having failed before they were turned on. Once they were turned on, the failure error disappeared. The mains never showed error messages but they did occasionally give one flicker of their own accord with no lights turned on (I presume due to continued polling?).

So I then got hold of canbus decoders for both sets of bulbs as per the pic below and fitted them temporarily to check. This time - with the resistors connected - both mains and dips flickered at ignition-on. I forgot to check the error status.

I'm not surprised at the flickering without resistors but I don't know why it would continue with them fitted, if anyone can shed light on that?

Obviously I'm also interested in what LEDs you might have successfully fitted and use. Thanks.

Dougie.

[suzublu]

I had these in the main beam at first, then some Phillips which were miles better.

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[goltho]

Originally Posted by suzublu

I had these in the main beam at first, then some Phillips which were miles better. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8b52a60856.jpg

So not the direct-fit type. How do they fit into the lamp? Were the Philips the same as these and did you have any flicker issues? One of my main non-understandings is why the ballast resistors didn't work.

Dougie.

[suzublu]

I think I still have the others in the shed Dougie, if I can find them you can have them 😎
Direct fit h11 into the light unit, never had a problem with them. Took them out for the mot and never refitted

[goltho]

Originally Posted by suzublu

I think I still have the others in the shed Dougie, if I can find them you can have them 😎 Direct fit h11 into the light unit, never had a problem with them.

That's amazing. By others, you mean the Sealights? My main beams are H9s which are almost the same connector fitment as H11s apart from an extra plastic bar running vertically between the two male pins. I altered the halogen H11s to fit as there are no H9s available > 55w. LED H9s are plentiful though.

Which Philips did you replace them with, and did you do the H7 dip beams too?

Dougie.

[suzublu]

Originally Posted by goltho

That's amazing. By others, you mean the Sealights? My main beams are H9s which are almost the same connector fitment as H11s apart from an extra plastic bar running vertically between the two male pins. I altered the halogen H11s to fit as there are no H9s available > 55w. LED H9s are plentiful though.



Which Philips did you replace them with, and did you do the H7 dip beams too?



Dougie.

No, my dips are xenons, I think I told you how to cut down the middle plastic to make them fit. 😁

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[hogweed]

This may be completely irrelevant, but a few years ago I replaced the fluorescent strips in my garage with LED equivalents, and they flicker madly for a few seconds when turned on - but only when it's very cold

[goltho]

Originally Posted by suzublu

I think I told you how to cut down the middle plastic to make them fit. 😁

Oh yeah, you did! See, I'm an expert now too. I've PMd you.

Dougie.

[goltho]

Originally Posted by hogweed

This may be completely irrelevant, but a few years ago I replaced the fluorescent strips in my garage with LED equivalents, and they flicker madly for a few seconds when turned on - but only when it's very cold

Thanks. The flickering issue isn't a temperature thing but is being caused by the lack of resistance in the bulb which the car believes is due to a failed bulb. Nothing's checking your garage light in that way (hopefully!). I also sometimes get weirdness on my workshop LED strips when it's cold.

Dougie.

[Jamiewelch]

Use BMW Scanner 1.4 and disable hot and cold checks will stop the flickering. Also means you won't to have any fire risk resistors.