3 Series aftermarket Ipod interface/Xenons

Nocturne_sa · 20 Dec 2009 at 11:31

A colleague at work is looking to get these fitted on his E90 M Sport 09 LCI. He's planning on getting it done by M Style and wanted to find out a few things:

1) M Style feedback. How is the service etc? Any other recommendations?

2) Does fitting the Ipod interface require the dash to be removed or is just the glove box. He obviously doesn't want creaking/cracking noises due to poor refits. Will it work exactly the same as having a factory fitted usb interface with the ipod converter?

3) Xenons; There are a few options on the M Style website and not sure what to go for? there is the Xenon conversion and also angel eyes conversion..what's the difference? Do these include the bulbs or is that a separate purchase?

Thanks!

Wicksta · 20 Dec 2009 at 11:36

Xenons and angel eyes are two different things - you can have both. Angel eyes are the round sidelights you see on modern BMWs:

whereas xenons are a 'better' technology for your main headlights and give off a brighter and (normally) whiter light than normal halogen bulbs.

[TW]Fox · 20 Dec 2009 at 11:40

You cannot retrofit Xenons easily to an E90 as they dont have projector headlights so the beam angle will be wrong and it will look awfully *****. Pre LCI cars certainly dont have projectors unless you have factory Xenons and i dont think LCI changed this.

NickXX · 20 Dec 2009 at 11:43

You can fit HID kits in the e46 for less than £100, I assume it's the same for the e90.

Dr Who · 20 Dec 2009 at 11:55

[TW]Fox;15562912 said:
You cannot retrofit Xenons easily to an E90 as they dont have projector headlights so the beam angle will be wrong and it will look awfully *****. Pre LCI cars certainly dont have projectors unless you have factory Xenons and i dont think LCI changed this.

Breakers yard?

Disco Boy · 20 Dec 2009 at 12:37

Dr Who said:
Breakers yard?

Broken E90s aren't going to be in abundance hough are they?

Nocturne_sa · 20 Dec 2009 at 12:44

If its not possible to retro fit xenons then why are M style advertising it on their website..the description says that the kit is specially designed to remove bulb warnings on the dash.

I am however concerned that it could result in a MOT failure due to the lack of heated washers.

[TW]Fox · 20 Dec 2009 at 12:55

Its possible but its not very good, blinds other road users and makes you look like a chav. Probably fail the MOT as well - HIDs in reflectors are just bad news.

Big-Mac-Please · 20 Dec 2009 at 12:56

Get yourself over to E90 Post theres pages on Xenon retrofit there. The pre and post LCI E90 Halogens are not projector headlights so theres no point fitting an aftermarket HID kit like M Style are offering because the light will scatter everywhere!

It is possible to retro fit the BMW Xenons but your looking at £1k+ and a lot of hard work! His LCI halogens with have angel eyes as standard

Disco Boy · 20 Dec 2009 at 13:00

It's these (4th down) i take it?

No they don't include bulbs, the bulbs cost £135 9also on that page)
As said they are also going into reflector lights, and as such are an MOT fail, make you look like a chav, blind other road users etc. etc. etc.

Tell him to stay away, if he wants to improve the light that his lights get just get better bulbs, for example Osram Nightbreakers.

Nocturne_sa · 20 Dec 2009 at 13:12

Thansk for the advice guys..but what about the ipod interface?

@Disco Boy- thanks! Will the Osram Nightbreakers make a massive difference..how are these in comparison to the xenons?

Disco Boy · 20 Dec 2009 at 13:18

They're not as good as xenons, they are better than OEM bulbs, how much better depends upon how good the OEM bulbs are.

What are his complaints about his OEM bulbs? Not bright enough? Too yellow? Nightbreakers give a nice white light, and are a bit brighter than OEM.

Or does he just want xenons so he HAZ XENONZ Y0. If that is the case then there's no hope for him and he won't be impressed by nightbreakers.

Dr Who · 20 Dec 2009 at 13:41

Disco Boy said:
Broken E90s aren't going to be in abundance hough are they?

Plenty of them on ebay so a request on partfinder should net what's needed

Nocturne_sa · 20 Dec 2009 at 13:44

Dr Who said:
Plenty of them on ebay so a request on partfinder should net what's needed

So if he can find the headlight unit with xenons, will it just be a case of plug and play or will other accessories be required?

Dr Who · 20 Dec 2009 at 13:45

I would imagine he will need the ballasts as well

dale1uk · 20 Dec 2009 at 13:51

May also want to look at the Philips X-Treme bulbs, they are meant to better than the Nightbreakers if going down the non HID option

NickXX · 20 Dec 2009 at 14:35

[TW]Fox;15563381 said:
Its possible but its not very good, blinds other road users and makes you look like a chav. Probably fail the MOT as well - HIDs in reflectors are just bad news.

I got through 3 MOTs with mine, shouldn't be a problem if you get them aligned.

What about your HIDs? They're not self levelling are they? If not, then every time you drive over a hill you project the full HID beam into the eyes of oncoming drivers...

Disco Boy · 20 Dec 2009 at 14:36

NickXX said:
What about your HIDs? They're not self levelling are they? If not, then every time you drive over a hill you project the full HID beam into the eyes of oncoming drivers...

That's not what self levellers in OEM xenons do, they don't act fast enough.

NickXX · 20 Dec 2009 at 14:38

Disco Boy said:
That's not what self levellers in OEM xenons do, they don't act fast enough.

They do, which is why you see them stepping down on cars coming towards you over hills.

Dr Who · 20 Dec 2009 at 14:52

NickXX said:
They do, which is why you see them stepping down on cars coming towards you over hills.

Not what they are for tho, the self levelling is to adjust the beam angle for load.

2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.