[Reece]

I need new bulbs for my e90 and ive been hunting the forum for nearly an hour with no real conclusion.

So what im after is peoples opinions on the 2 different makes of bulbs of people that use/have used either bulb.

Pictures would be very handy aswel obviously in the dark, looking through old threads there in the daylight, wanting a white bright bulb with hopefuly not much blue tint at all.

Also will want sidelights to match if anyone can recommend.

Thanks
Reece

[bmwspeed01]

Originally Posted by Reece

I need new bulbs for my e90 and ive been hunting the forum for nearly an hour with no real conclusion.

So what im after is peoples opinions on the 2 different makes of bulbs of people that use/have used either bulb.

Pictures would be very handy aswel obviously in the dark, looking through old threads there in the daylight, wanting a white bright bulb with hopefuly not much blue tint at all.

Also will want sidelights to match if anyone can recommend.

Thanks
Reece

I think it was Auto Express who did a group test of the leading light bulbs and the Philips extreme vision bulbs came out on top. I changed all four bulbs on my E91 and they don't disappoint at all, very white bulb and no hint of blue.

[DMH-01]

I had the Philips bulbs on my E46 and they were spot on.

Philips do the Xtreme Vision sidelights as well...

http://www.powerbulbs.com/product/ph...-w5w-t10-4000k

Obviously not the cheapest bulbs but I got fed up of cheap bulbs off Ebay keep blowing. There's usually always a discount code for PowerBulbs anyway.

[bmwspeed01]

I got mine on amazon £19 for a pack of two so I bought two packs and replaced all four.

[golfmck1980]

I fitted osram a couple of years ago when i first got the car never had any problems with them

[Frobius]

I used Osram Nightbreakers on my old Freelander and they were ok but not amazing. For the E91 I fitted philips - they are easily the best halogen bulbs I've ever used. End of.

[bmwspeed01]

Originally Posted by Frobius

I used Osram Nightbreakers on my old Freelander and they were ok but not amazing. For the E91 I fitted philips - they are easily the best halogen bulbs I've ever used. End of.

Ditto

[Reece]

Looks like theres only 1 option then, thanks for all your replies, saves me wasting money trying cheap bulbs off ebay

[zltm089]

ha! Just saw this thread...

Are there any issues with using "after market" bulbs like Philips BlueVision Ultra H7 Headlight Bulbs (Twin Pack) or the Osram ones?

Are there any electronic or error codes?

I hope that it doesn't affect bmw warranty either?

Which brand is the most reliable and offer good brightness? I wouldn't might changing the oem yellow lights to something white and bright!

[BMW325iE90]

Originally Posted by zltm089

ha! Just saw this thread...

Are there any issues with using "after market" bulbs like Philips BlueVision Ultra H7 Headlight Bulbs (Twin Pack) or the Osram ones?

Are there any electronic or error codes?

I hope that it doesn't affect bmw warranty either?

Which brand is the most reliable and offer good brightness? I wouldn't might changing the oem yellow lights to something white and bright!

I have messed about with plenty of halogen bulbs and nothing even comes close to xenons. I would suggest a headlight conversion and xenon conversion.

See my thread.

[vexith]

+1 on the Phillips extreme. Had them put when i retrofitted lci halogen headlights and so far can't fault them.

[raj55]

I have tried a lot of different bulbs, like Osram Ralley 65W H7, Osram Night Breakers H7, Philips xtreme Vision H7 (my current bulb for one year) and I feel that there is not much of difference between the Osram NB and Philips xtreme Vision. The area where Philips wins is in, longer beam and better focussing with a clear cut off. Forget photographs since they do not say very much. Instead here is a subjective comparison of a very famous higher power bulb (osram ralley) vs Philips EV.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...ighlight=raj55

[E90F30er]

Is there a layman's guide to all the terms: halo rings, angel eyes, corona rings (BMW use this in E90 LCI brochure).

For standard halogens the difference
between pre-LCI and LCI is the daytime "yellowy" corona rings and the headlight cover?

Are HID H7s a waste of money might as well get Extreme Vision?

http://www.powerbulbs.com/product/ph...-w5w-t10-4000k

Philips X-treme Vision LED W5W T10 4000K Bright White (Twin Pack)

The sidelights / parking lights aren't road legal so why would you buy them?

I can just get 2 Extreme Vision H7s for my dipped as I rarely use the main beam H7s - nothing wrong having OEM main beams but Extreme Vision dipped?

BMW Specialist will fit a pair for £10 - is this a good price? I'm not comfortable with the procedure in the manual but will watch him and learn! I could learn from YouTube though?

[Reece]

Originally Posted by BMW325iE90

I have messed about with plenty of halogen bulbs and nothing even comes close to xenons. I would suggest a headlight conversion and xenon conversion.

See my thread.

Nothing ever will compare but when the headlights alone cost £750 then you need ballasts,coding etc it works out about £1200+ for headlights its quite expensive

[Reece]

Originally Posted by zltm089

ha! Just saw this thread...

Are there any issues with using "after market" bulbs like Philips BlueVision Ultra H7 Headlight Bulbs (Twin Pack) or the Osram ones?

Are there any electronic or error codes?

I hope that it doesn't affect bmw warranty either?

Which brand is the most reliable and offer good brightness? I wouldn't might changing the oem yellow lights to something white and bright!

No error codes and it wont affect your warranty

[Digitalize]

If you're considering paying for someone to fit your bulbs, I wonder what you do when a door is sticky or a drawer won't open in your house.

Manual days through the wheel arch, but if you've got smallish hands it can be done through the bay. Either way have the bonnet up for extra light.

No ones going to check if you're sidelights are road legal, as long as they're white/yellow it's fine.

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by Digitalize

If you're considering paying for someone to fit your bulbs, I wonder what you do when a door is sticky or a drawer won't open in your house.

Manual days through the wheel arch, but if you've got smallish hands it can be done through the bay. Either way have the bonnet up for extra light.

No ones going to check if you're sidelights are road legal, as long as they're white/yellow it's fine.

Yeah, I'm definitely not good at DIY. Tried it once, not my thing. So yes, will be taking the car to my local specialist. Will do my oil, air filter, brake fluid service earlier too.

Luckily for me, never had a sticky door!

[raj55]

Originally Posted by zltm089

Yeah, I'm definitely not good at DIY. Tried it once, not my thing. So yes, will be taking the car to my local specialist. Will do my oil, air filter, brake fluid service earlier too.

Luckily for me, never had a sticky door!

take your car to the Halfords and they will change the bulbs for you. Just buy one of their good H7 brands.

[BMW325iE90]

Originally Posted by Reece

Nothing ever will compare but when the headlights alone cost £750 then you need ballasts,coding etc it works out about £1200+ for headlights its quite expensive

Meh, got my headlights done all in for about £350 including a xenon conversion. Check out my thread.

[raj55]

Originally Posted by Reece

I need new bulbs for my e90 and ive been hunting the forum for nearly an hour with no real conclusion.


Pictures would be very handy aswel obviously in the dark, looking through old threads there in the daylight, wanting a white bright bulb with hopefuly not much blue tint at all.


Thanks
Reece

Pictures are not always the best way to go but if you insist here is a site from a motor magazine that has published photos of light from 14 different H7 bulbs on the road, each photo is a pair of infra red light capture photo and a ordinary photo. Just click on the images. The most popular bulb output are shown.

http://www.sicurauto.it/viewphoto/co...-test/158.html

[Reece]

Originally Posted by BMW325iE90

Meh, got my headlights done all in for about 350 including a xenon conversion. Check out my thread.

Have you got a link to the thread as im on my phone so cant get any info up

[zltm089]

so just for clarification, if i only change the bulbs to phillips extreme white, my DRL will be white and not yellow?