My 10K bulbs look very dim on 03 325i

I got 10k bulbs on my projector headlights and they look very dim, as if the lights are pointing to the floor. I tried switching them to 8k bulbs, but it was the exact same situation, but only a different color. Any suggestions in why my lights seem as if they are pointing towards the floor? If I'm standing at a distance they seem very bright, but once behind the wheel, they are just dim and aiming at the floor. Please help out, thank you.

1. Please for the love of god remove those 10k bulbs. Your color temperature should be half that. You'll annoy everyone else on the road. Plus, you will see less with 10k bulbs - blue is one of the more difficult colors for our eyes to deal with (e.g. try looking at blue Christmas lights - you'll find them blurry no matter what you do)

2. If you have OE headlights and the headlights are pointed to the ground, chances are your auto-leveling sensor is busted. You'll need to get a new leveling sensor to fix it. Look on the front passenger side and the rear driver's side. If you see that the leveling sensor is broken or just hanging there, replace it. It will most likely fix your problem.

Yea, I'm planning on changing them. I can't see anything. I literally am driving with my fogs lights so I can see. Those are 10k but super bright. My headlights move themselves into places once the vehicle turns on. I'll have to figure out exactly what what the leveling sensor looks like. Thanks

Max 6k bulb temp, nothing higher.

Did you put retrofit HID in regular halogen projectors??

Also some of the projector bowls have problems with the reflective plating surface.

HID retrofits in halogen based projectors do not usually work out as well as you would like them to. Your light pattern may not be too good.

Should consider some FX-R retrofits into current housings if you want a decent light pattern.

Check out The Retrofit Source.

10k does not provide much USABLE light. Just an fyi. They may seem bright, but you won't be able to see crap with them. Wait until you drive in the rain.

more "k" less light. 4,300k. nothing more!

Ok, thanks, I'll drop down to 6k, ill check out that thread to figure out the lighting position. My friends ford runner has 10k and they are bright even behind the wheel. I just thought it was my ballast on the headlights.

Truly I don't know the type of bulbs i put in them. Just know they are HID's

Originally Posted by alexriv13

Truly I don't know the type of bulbs i put in them. Just know they are HID's

Not all HIDs are created equal. I recommend OEM Philips 4,300k (or equivalent OEM brand) ONLY for D2S headlight application. That along w/ OE or OE-quality projectors. They're only $100 for a pair

5000k is still tasteful with a slight tint to it. You need to adjust your headlights. That, or your leveling sensor arms broke. There is a sensor on one side of the front control arms and one of the rear trailing arms of the opposite side.

so 5k are good then? How exactly can I adjust the headlights? Most likely the sensor arms broke because the lights adjust themselves, but they are adjusting bad most likely.

Originally Posted by alexriv13

so 5k are good then? How exactly can I adjust the headlights? Most likely the sensor arms broke because the lights adjust themselves, but they are adjusting bad most likely.

There are adjuster screws you can turn to do up/down and left/right movements. Look up E46 bi-Xenon headlight adjustment.

Oh ok, perfect thank you

i have a 2002 325i with manuel seats, bought some 2000 3281 power seats and plug them in. what do i have to do to get power to them, by the way, both sets are heated. Does somebody out there have a wiring diagrahm, or know what wires i have to add where for these to power up? Thanks!

Aftermarket bulbs still suck. I ONLY recommend Philips or Sylvania.