HID: OEM vs. Kit

forzam · 05-20-2007, 09:11 PM

Hello,

I want to upgrade my halogen headlamps on my 2004 325Ci to HID. Does anyone know if the halogen projectors/housing units are the same as the Xenon? The reason I ask is that I am concerned about using a HID kit in my current "halogen projectors." I don't want to create glare and I want the best results possible.

Two complete OEM HID headlamp units cost about $1300, while the HID Kit for both sides is $260.

Thanks

curious_george · 05-20-2007, 09:40 PM

No - they are not the same (halogens do not use projectors on the E46). I think the best route would be the P46 units - they are all-in-one replacements. Those kits you speak of will produce glare and not light the road correctly. The P46 units are cheaper than the factory units, but still more expensive than these "kits". This is not a place for a cheap solution though.

forzam · 05-20-2007, 10:23 PM

I am fairly certain I have projectors now with H7 halogen bulbs. There is clearly a lense for the low beams, yet a reflector for the high beams. On the headlamp unit, it also says H7 or D2S.

I just want to be sure that the housing is the same one if the car were originally built with HID Xenons (not adaptive).

Edison@JleviSW · 05-20-2007, 10:36 PM

Facelift coupes have projectors whether you have halogens or xenons. All you need is one of our HID Kits that you can retrofit into your stock housings. You have a couple of options, our premium ProLumen HID kit or our more affordable Piccolo HID kit, both would be H7.

ProLumen HID Kit

Piccolo HID Kit

forzam · 05-20-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick@Jlevi SW

Facelift coupes have projectors whether you have halogens or xenons. All you need is one of our HID Kits that you can retrofit into your stock housings. You have a couple of options, our premium ProLumen HID kit or our more affordable Piccolo HID kit, both would be H7.

But is the lense, the alignment, and everything else for the stock halogens the same that would be used if the car were OEM equiped with xenons? Are there "halogen projectors" vs. xenon projectors?

curious_george · 05-20-2007, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick@Jlevi SW

Facelift coupes have projectors whether you have halogens or xenons. All you need is one of our HID Kits that you can retrofit into your stock housings. You have a couple of options, our premium ProLumen HID kit or our more affordable Piccolo HID kit, both would be H7.

ProLumen HID Kit

Piccolo HID Kit

ah...forgot about the facelifted coupes!

Edison@JleviSW · 05-20-2007, 11:57 PM

The housings are different but you can still run an HID kit in the halogen projector. It is not like running an HID kit in reflector based halogen housings, the projectors provide enough of a cut off to prevent glare as long as you aim them correctly.

robin325ci · 05-21-2007, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick@Jlevi SW

The housings are different but you can still run an HID kit in the halogen projector. It is not like running an HID kit in reflector based halogen housings, the projectors provide enough of a cut off to prevent glare as long as you aim them correctly.

we installed HIDs on my brother's mazda3 which comes stock with halogen bulbs on projectors. the beam pattern was excellent, and the cutoff was sharp. and no, they don't glare oncoming traffic

05-20-2007, 09:11 PM	#1
forzam Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: East Coast Posts: 369 My Ride: 04 325Ci View My Garage	HID: OEM vs. Kit Hello, I want to upgrade my halogen headlamps on my 2004 325Ci to HID. Does anyone know if the halogen projectors/housing units are the same as the Xenon? The reason I ask is that I am concerned about using a HID kit in my current "halogen projectors." I don't want to create glare and I want the best results possible. Two complete OEM HID headlamp units cost about $1300, while the HID Kit for both sides is $260. Thanks Last edited by forzam; 05-20-2007 at 09:17 PM.

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05-20-2007, 09:40 PM	#2
curious_george Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 1,262 My Ride: '02 325i ZSP View My Garage	No - they are not the same (halogens do not use projectors on the E46). I think the best route would be the P46 units - they are all-in-one replacements. Those kits you speak of will produce glare and not light the road correctly. The P46 units are cheaper than the factory units, but still more expensive than these "kits". This is not a place for a cheap solution though.

05-20-2007, 10:23 PM	#3
forzam Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: East Coast Posts: 369 My Ride: 04 325Ci View My Garage	I am fairly certain I have projectors now with H7 halogen bulbs. There is clearly a lense for the low beams, yet a reflector for the high beams. On the headlamp unit, it also says H7 or D2S. I just want to be sure that the housing is the same one if the car were originally built with HID Xenons (not adaptive).

05-20-2007, 10:36 PM	#4
Edison@JleviSW 1.888.JLEVISW Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Santa Clara Posts: 28,337 My Ride: BMW Duh View My Garage	Facelift coupes have projectors whether you have halogens or xenons. All you need is one of our HID Kits that you can retrofit into your stock housings. You have a couple of options, our premium ProLumen HID kit or our more affordable Piccolo HID kit, both would be H7. ProLumen HID Kit Piccolo HID Kit

05-20-2007, 11:57 PM	#7
Edison@JleviSW 1.888.JLEVISW Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Santa Clara Posts: 28,337 My Ride: BMW Duh View My Garage	The housings are different but you can still run an HID kit in the halogen projector. It is not like running an HID kit in reflector based halogen housings, the projectors provide enough of a cut off to prevent glare as long as you aim them correctly.