[Mike200]

I ordered a F31 335d at the end of September with a few options but missing some that would appear essential, after reading comments on this forum. That's the bad point about forums

Anyway I decided I would like LED lights or M sport brakes and can't decide which to go for.

Generally we don't use the car for long journeys at night on unlit roads, so would the LED's be an extravagance?

The M Sport brakes both look good and presumably have better stopping power with the larger disks. But are the standard brakes more than adequate?

Appreciate any comments from forum members who have experience of the choices.

[amsbmw]

Why dont you get the M sport plus pack? A must imo

[creepy coupe]

I've heard the LED's are not that much better than Xenons

[ciscopete822]

If I am not mistaken - if you ditch LEds you are left with not so cool looking halogens. I had 330d with standard brakes and there were more than capable. Couldn't live with halogens purely for looks tbh. If it was me I would go for LEDs

[kalo]

Led lights

[Daftasabrush]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

I've heard the LED's are not that much better than Xenons

IMO they're not as good as xenons

[Watsey]

^ M Sport Plus Pack.

If budget is a limiting factor :

Standard brakes are ok. M Sport look good and perform better but are they a must for your driving style or the look of the car that you'd like ?

You've potentially got more options for lights. Are halogens standard ? (forgive my ignorance - I've never specced a BMW with standard lights). You could replace the bulbs with brighter ones ? I understand that xenons are no longer an option, but they are very good for night driving. LEDs should be even better, especially if adaptive. If you don't do much night driving you may not get the full benefit.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Daftasabrush

IMO they're not as good as xenons

That's interesting as the are £1600 on the 4 series.

[Wills2]

LED lights the halogens look rubbish and are like candles in jars, you can always add the brakes as a dealer fit if you don't like the standard set up which is still a set of big mono block brembos IIRC.

As far as the M sport brakes are concerned they don't transform the braking performance or give you a lovely firm easy to modulate pedal either, but the LED lights will be a huge step on from the halogens.

[Drek]

Having gone from an E91 with Xenons to an F31 with LEDs I think the LEDs offer a brighter light with a slightly wider spread. However, the Adaptive system is astonishingly effective and smashes my old system into the long grass. Does it ultimately make a massive difference? Probably not, I can still drive quite safely at night in Mrs Drek's VW Polo with fixed halogen lights but I'd still opt for the LEDs every time.

[Tengocity]

I'd go lights over brakes any day of the week. If you don't like the lights then you're pretty much stuck with them, whereas if you really wanted to change the brakes at a later point then you'd be able to more easily i think. The reality is though that the standard brakes are totally fine and unless you're really drive the car hard regularly it won't make much difference.

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I'd go lights over brakes any day of the week. If you don't like the lights then you're pretty much stuck with them, whereas if you really wanted to change the brakes at a later point then you'd be able to more easily i think. The reality is though that the standard brakes are totally fine and unless you're really drive the car hard regularly it won't make much difference.

I suppose were all different but I found the standard brakes lacking. Although it might be due to the extra weight of the Xdrive?

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

I suppose were all different but I found the standard brakes lacking. Although it might be due to the extra weight of the Xdrive?

No, I find the even the M Soort brakes could be better and have already done lines and fluid and will upgrade pads next time... But how I use a car is not how most use there's and I try to put myself in others circumstances.
So in my head I consider that we all use lights and they are a benefit 100% of the time for everyone when it's dark.
The upgraded brakes don't give much more stopping power for an emergency stop, but they've much more cooling for repeated hard use I think- which is of limited use if it's just a family car.

[Mike200]

I changed down from E91 325d to a F30 320d and the brakes are poor on the 320d in comparison. The disks are smaller diameter and thinner on the 320, however the engine is almost as powerful as the 325d was (180bhp v 190bhp). No logic there other than penny pinching.

[Daftasabrush]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

That's interesting as the are £1600 on the 4 series.

Ahh I'm comparing pre LCI 3 series xenons with LCI LEDs. The LEDs don't light up the road as much as the xenons, but they do reflect more off signs. I think it's something to do with the colour temperature as they seem bright, but just don't light the road or edges as much as the xenons. Adaptive isn't as effective either.

[Drek]

Originally Posted by Daftasabrush

Adaptive isn't as effective either.

Unless I'm misunderstanding you this doesn't make any sense. The old system only had HBA and was just up, down and around bends. The new Adaptive system is qualitatively better in every way and is most definitely more effective.

[Daftasabrush]

Originally Posted by Drek

Unless I'm misunderstanding you this doesn't make any sense. The old system only had HBA and was just up, down and around bends. The new Adaptive system is qualitatively better in every way and is most definitely more effective.

You are misunderstanding me. The F30/F31 xenon adaptive is better than the F30/F31 LED adaptive. On the xenons, you get the full effect of the high power arc in the bulb because shutters get moved in the lamp to open up the full beam and shape it around cars. On the LEDS, individual LEDs light up but one LED is nowhere near as bright as one xenon (HID) arc so when the lights are on adaptive, lighting up the left kerb only in full beam, the xenon outputs the full power at the kerb whereas the LED outputs one LEDs worth of power which is not comparable in my experience.

[Drisser]

If xenons were std (and they should be) I would have the brakes because the LED lights are on a par with xenons and no better IMO.

However given halogens are the std fit, I would choose the LED lights over the brakes if I could have one or other. Either that or sell the dog and go for the M sport + pack :-)

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by Daftasabrush

Ahh I'm comparing pre LCI 3 series xenons with LCI LEDs. The LEDs don't light up the road as much as the xenons, but they do reflect more off signs. I think it's something to do with the colour temperature as they seem bright, but just don't light the road or edges as much as the xenons. Adaptive isn't as effective either.

Got ya

[itrocks4u]

Option 1 both. Option 2 definitely LED. It's not only the LED but a different Angel eye design as well. It differentiates the new gen from old. You can always upgrade to msport brakes at a later time or just have the regular painted blue.

[Zippeh]

My F30 320d had the halogens and I honestly hated them. I mean really really hated them. Couldn't see a thing.

My new 330d has Xenons and MSport brakes, and I can honestly say the Xenons have made much more of a difference to my driving experience than the brakes.

Lights any day (or night!)

[Drek]

Originally Posted by Daftasabrush

You are misunderstanding me. The F30/F31 xenon adaptive is better than the F30/F31 LED adaptive. On the xenons, you get the full effect of the high power arc in the bulb because shutters get moved in the lamp to open up the full beam and shape it around cars. On the LEDS, individual LEDs light up but one LED is nowhere near as bright as one xenon (HID) arc so when the lights are on adaptive, lighting up the left kerb only in full beam, the xenon outputs the full power at the kerb whereas the LED outputs one LEDs worth of power which is not comparable in my experience.

Got you. You're comparing F30 Xenons against F30 LEDS, I was comparing E90 Xenons against F30 LEDs. Thought it was a bit odd! (I have no experience of F30 Xenons).