2004 HID Lights

stoaked · 05-13-2008, 02:51 PM

Hello,

I recently purchased a used 2004 BMW Z4 3.0i. I was told that this Z4 has the Sport, Cold Weather, and Premium Package and I am not sure if it has all that was said.

I bought some replacement D2S HID bulbs because I thought my BMW was equipped with the HID lights. In the add that I saw it said the car was equipped with Xenon lights. Is there a difference between the Xenon lights and HID lights? I went to put the new replacement light and found that I have the H7 light bulbs. Is there a way of connecting the D2S lights to the H7 wire harness?

What package did the HID lights come with on a 2004 BMW Z4 3.0i?

Thanks,

BimmerZealot · 05-13-2008, 03:49 PM

I believe xenon headlights is an option separate from any of the packages. Xenon and HID are the same thing, many people confuse the two. I'm guessing you bought your car from a 3rd party or a used car dealership? It sounds to me like your car did NOT come with HID from the factory and the owner before you added an aftermarket HID kit, that would explain the H7 bulbs (if they are H7 base HID bulbs).

I'm curious as to why you bought the replacement bulbs, did you want a different color for your headlights or did one of yours go out? Is your beam a yellowish color or is it closer to white? Either you have an aftermarket rebased H7 HID bulb kit or you dont have HID all together, a picture of the bulb or your headlight color will help me figure out what you need. Thanks

stoaked · 05-13-2008, 04:04 PM

Thanks for the quick reply. I purchased the new light bulbs because the color was too yellow. I do have the projector housing in the lights and I also get the HID cut off when I turn on the lights onto a flat surface.

I purchased the car from a dealer that told me there were Xenon lights installed. Did the Xenon lights come with a certain package on the 2004 models

I will get some pictures later tonight. But here is a picture of the lights in the daylight.

pbdm4k · 05-13-2008, 04:37 PM

You'll need a retrofit kit to install the HID's, something like the MTEC kit on ebay.

MMMazing07 · 05-13-2008, 04:47 PM

those dont look like bi-xenons i believe

stoaked · 05-13-2008, 04:50 PM

Do I need to get the full kit or can I just the get the ballast because I have already purchased the D2S bulbs?

BlackSapphireZ · 05-13-2008, 05:13 PM

D2s won't fit in your H7 housing different bulb base and holder

stoaked · 05-13-2008, 05:38 PM

Is this the kit everyone is getting to retrofit their headlights with the HID kit?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MTEC-...spagenameZWDVW

If i get these installed I will still have the high beams and fog lights right?

BimmerZealot · 05-13-2008, 05:54 PM

Even with halogens you will have the cut off and the and the projectors, they are specific to the projectors NOT the HIDs. Sounds like you only have H7 halogen which would mean the dealer was incorrect on their description. As mentioned above you will need a FULL HID kit to replace your halogen H7. Unfortunately you may need to either return the D2S bulbs or sell them because they wont fit. You need H7 based HID bulbs to match your projectors. Hope this helps.

stoaked · 05-13-2008, 06:02 PM

Ok yeah that is what I was think. I bought the bulbs off ebay and asked how I can return the bulbs and the company I bought the lights from has a H7 HID kit. I am not sure if this is a high quality kit. What do you all think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1-H7-...8050QQtcZphoto

Reach · 05-13-2008, 06:20 PM

You sure you're not confused and you're looking at your high-beam bulb?

stoaked · 05-13-2008, 06:21 PM

Yeah I made sure that I did not remove the High. I looked at the lights and I could still see the high beam light bulb in the housing when I pulled the low beam light out.

BimmerZealot · 05-13-2008, 07:05 PM

I cant comment on the eBay HID kit but I will say there are better options. Many of our fine sponsors carry full HID kits with warranty that are of much higher quality. PM me if you need a link.

Z4E36ACS · 05-13-2008, 07:27 PM

I was told by a friend that vdo hid is one of the best just like m tech so i tried it and it worked two years already without errors or relay....and the price was 200 dollars

MMMazing07 · 05-13-2008, 09:50 PM

pm tom at europeanautosource

im about to order DS2s from them

stoaked · 05-13-2008, 11:38 PM

MMMazing 07, thanks for the advice. I sent him a PM and I think I am going to order a kit from his website. Do you already have HID lights in your car or do you have halogen lights? I ask because of the type of bulbs you are getting. My car came with the halogen and I am going to get the H7 6000k kit.

BimmerZealot · 05-14-2008, 01:27 AM

MMMazing07 has factory HID, so he can replace his factory D2S bulbs to achieve the color of choice.

Reach · 05-14-2008, 09:54 AM

<rant>

Be warned,

Replacing your D2S bulbs with bulbs of a higher kelvin rating is extremely unsafe. You're reducing your light output significantly with each step up. Even moving to a true 6k bulb reduces up to 18% of your light output. Not to mention that cheap aftermarket bulbs tend to have even less lumens! It is dangerous for you, it is distracting to others, and if you live in a nanny state, you increase your chance of getting pulled over for 'blue' headlights.

I know a lot of people go ahead and do this anyway, but I just wanted to express my personal distaste at this mod.

</rant> I'll try not to nuisance too much now.

pbdm4k · 05-14-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reach

<rant>

Be warned,

Replacing your D2S bulbs with bulbs of a higher kelvin rating is extremely unsafe. You're reducing your light output significantly with each step up. Even moving to a true 6k bulb reduces up to 18% of your light output. Not to mention that cheap aftermarket bulbs tend to have even less lumens! It is dangerous for you, it is distracting to others, and if you live in a nanny state, you increase your chance of getting pulled over for 'blue' headlights.

I know a lot of people go ahead and do this anyway, but I just wanted to express my personal distaste at this mod.

</rant> I'll try not to nuisance too much now.

I wouldn't go higher than 6000k, 4300k will offer you the most brightness and range, 6000k would make it a little more white while only marginally reducing your range, however it will still be an improvement over halogens. Any higher temperature, the loss in light just becomes useless and no longer effective.

MMMazing07 · 05-14-2008, 10:45 AM

yes i have factory HID I ordered a 6k DS2 bulb.

If your bulb size is H7 then i would assume you order the H7 kit with which ever color you prefer (4300k, 6000k, 8000k) Tom should be able to sqare you away. As some said before me dont go above 6k. I know a guy with 10000k and it just plain ricy. Not to mention the low light output.

05-13-2008, 02:51 PM	#1
stoaked New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2004 BMW Z4 3.0 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Statesville, NC iTrader: (0)	2004 HID Lights Hello, I recently purchased a used 2004 BMW Z4 3.0i. I was told that this Z4 has the Sport, Cold Weather, and Premium Package and I am not sure if it has all that was said. I bought some replacement D2S HID bulbs because I thought my BMW was equipped with the HID lights. In the add that I saw it said the car was equipped with Xenon lights. Is there a difference between the Xenon lights and HID lights? I went to put the new replacement light and found that I have the H7 light bulbs. Is there a way of connecting the D2S lights to the H7 wire harness? What package did the HID lights come with on a 2004 BMW Z4 3.0i? Thanks,
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05-13-2008, 03:49 PM	#2
BimmerZealot Major 61 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 xDrive30i Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego, California iTrader: (2)	I believe xenon headlights is an option separate from any of the packages. Xenon and HID are the same thing, many people confuse the two. I'm guessing you bought your car from a 3rd party or a used car dealership? It sounds to me like your car did NOT come with HID from the factory and the owner before you added an aftermarket HID kit, that would explain the H7 bulbs (if they are H7 base HID bulbs). I'm curious as to why you bought the replacement bulbs, did you want a different color for your headlights or did one of yours go out? Is your beam a yellowish color or is it closer to white? Either you have an aftermarket rebased H7 HID bulb kit or you dont have HID all together, a picture of the bulb or your headlight color will help me figure out what you need. Thanks
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-13-2008, 04:04 PM	#3
stoaked New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2004 BMW Z4 3.0 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Statesville, NC iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the quick reply. I purchased the new light bulbs because the color was too yellow. I do have the projector housing in the lights and I also get the HID cut off when I turn on the lights onto a flat surface. I purchased the car from a dealer that told me there were Xenon lights installed. Did the Xenon lights come with a certain package on the 2004 models I will get some pictures later tonight. But here is a picture of the lights in the daylight.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-13-2008, 04:37 PM	#4
pbdm4k Lieutenant Colonel 74 Rep 1,689 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: May 2007 Location: North of the Border iTrader: (3)	You'll need a retrofit kit to install the HID's, something like the MTEC kit on ebay. __________________ 2010 BMW 335d "Ha! She wants the D." 2006 VW Jetta 2.5 Once upon a time... '03 VW GTI, '99 Audi A4 1.8TQ, '00 VW Jetta 1.85T, '09 BMW 335i xDrive, '04 BMW Z4 3.0i, '01 Audi TT 1.8T, '04 Volvo S80 2.5T
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05-13-2008, 04:47 PM	#5
MMMazing07 More than you can afford pal....ferrari 181 Rep 1,471 Posts Drives: Z4M Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	those dont look like bi-xenons i believe
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05-13-2008, 04:50 PM	#6
stoaked New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2004 BMW Z4 3.0 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Statesville, NC iTrader: (0)	Do I need to get the full kit or can I just the get the ballast because I have already purchased the D2S bulbs?
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05-13-2008, 05:13 PM	#7
BlackSapphireZ Major 97 Rep 1,191 Posts Drives: 22 GLE 53 Coupe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ladson, SC iTrader: (0)	D2s won't fit in your H7 housing different bulb base and holder __________________ 2022 GLE 53 Coupe
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05-13-2008, 05:38 PM	#8
stoaked New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2004 BMW Z4 3.0 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Statesville, NC iTrader: (0)	Is this the kit everyone is getting to retrofit their headlights with the HID kit? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MTEC-...spagenameZWDVW If i get these installed I will still have the high beams and fog lights right?
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05-13-2008, 05:54 PM	#9
BimmerZealot Major 61 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 xDrive30i Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego, California iTrader: (2)	Even with halogens you will have the cut off and the and the projectors, they are specific to the projectors NOT the HIDs. Sounds like you only have H7 halogen which would mean the dealer was incorrect on their description. As mentioned above you will need a FULL HID kit to replace your halogen H7. Unfortunately you may need to either return the D2S bulbs or sell them because they wont fit. You need H7 based HID bulbs to match your projectors. Hope this helps.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-13-2008, 06:02 PM	#10
stoaked New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2004 BMW Z4 3.0 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Statesville, NC iTrader: (0)	Ok yeah that is what I was think. I bought the bulbs off ebay and asked how I can return the bulbs and the company I bought the lights from has a H7 HID kit. I am not sure if this is a high quality kit. What do you all think? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1-H7-...8050QQtcZphoto
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-13-2008, 06:20 PM	#11
Reach gone baby gone 382 Rep 1,052 Posts Drives: 2016 F80 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Location, Location. iTrader: (0)	You sure you're not confused and you're looking at your high-beam bulb?
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05-13-2008, 06:21 PM	#12
stoaked New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2004 BMW Z4 3.0 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Statesville, NC iTrader: (0)	Yeah I made sure that I did not remove the High. I looked at the lights and I could still see the high beam light bulb in the housing when I pulled the low beam light out.
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05-13-2008, 07:05 PM	#13
BimmerZealot Major 61 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 xDrive30i Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego, California iTrader: (2)	I cant comment on the eBay HID kit but I will say there are better options. Many of our fine sponsors carry full HID kits with warranty that are of much higher quality. PM me if you need a link.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-13-2008, 07:27 PM	#14
Z4E36ACS Private First Class 10 Rep 113 Posts Drives: Z4 Hardtop/E36 ACS Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Burbank iTrader: (-1)	I was told by a friend that vdo hid is one of the best just like m tech so i tried it and it worked two years already without errors or relay....and the price was 200 dollars
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05-13-2008, 09:50 PM	#15
MMMazing07 More than you can afford pal....ferrari 181 Rep 1,471 Posts Drives: Z4M Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	pm tom at europeanautosource im about to order DS2s from them
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05-13-2008, 11:38 PM	#16
stoaked New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2004 BMW Z4 3.0 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Statesville, NC iTrader: (0)	MMMazing 07, thanks for the advice. I sent him a PM and I think I am going to order a kit from his website. Do you already have HID lights in your car or do you have halogen lights? I ask because of the type of bulbs you are getting. My car came with the halogen and I am going to get the H7 6000k kit.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-14-2008, 01:27 AM	#17
BimmerZealot Major 61 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 xDrive30i Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego, California iTrader: (2)	MMMazing07 has factory HID, so he can replace his factory D2S bulbs to achieve the color of choice.
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05-14-2008, 09:54 AM	#18
Reach gone baby gone 382 Rep 1,052 Posts Drives: 2016 F80 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Location, Location. iTrader: (0)	<rant> Be warned, Replacing your D2S bulbs with bulbs of a higher kelvin rating is extremely unsafe. You're reducing your light output significantly with each step up. Even moving to a true 6k bulb reduces up to 18% of your light output. Not to mention that cheap aftermarket bulbs tend to have even less lumens! It is dangerous for you, it is distracting to others, and if you live in a nanny state, you increase your chance of getting pulled over for 'blue' headlights. I know a lot of people go ahead and do this anyway, but I just wanted to express my personal distaste at this mod. </rant> I'll try not to nuisance too much now.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-14-2008, 10:45 AM	#20
MMMazing07 More than you can afford pal....ferrari 181 Rep 1,471 Posts Drives: Z4M Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	yes i have factory HID I ordered a 6k DS2 bulb. If your bulb size is H7 then i would assume you order the H7 kit with which ever color you prefer (4300k, 6000k, 8000k) Tom should be able to sqare you away. As some said before me dont go above 6k. I know a guy with 10000k and it just plain ricy. Not to mention the low light output.
	Appreciate 0 Quote