e90 facelift headlights...Will they work in a US spec car?

Red.k · 03-04-2009, 09:44 AM

So I was at the BMW dealership in Hiedelberg today and they were advertising a set of e90 facelifted headlights for 599 euro, installed. When I asked my service advisor about them, he said "I think they might throw error codes because the US spec cars might be programed differently then German spec cars. And I think they are not legal in the states." The general feeling I got was that he didn't want to sell me the headlights because they MIGHT not work. And I dont care if they aren't legal in the states because my car isn't going to the states anytime soon.

So...does anyone know if the e90 facelifted headlights will work properly in a US spec car? Are there any mechanical differences between the headlights?

chinoxs203 · 03-04-2009, 10:55 AM

these referring the 09 LCI headlights

or do you mean these pre face lifted euro headlights?

i dont think there is any diff between the euro and US spec LCIs in regards to coloring any more?

Red.k · 03-04-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinoxs203

these referring the 09 LCI headlights

or do you mean these pre face lifted euro headlights?

i dont think there is any diff between the euro and US spec LCIs in regards to coloring any more?

I can't pull up the first link right now, and its not the second link. Here is a picture here of the lights:
http://www.bmwcoop.com/2008/09/09/20...an-dealerships

VTECaddict · 03-04-2009, 01:59 PM

halogen or xenon?

Red.k · 03-04-2009, 02:13 PM

After searching the forum more, i found this:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=182970

They are halogen and not Xenon, which is probably why they are so cheap. But it looks like they work on US spec cars.

micah · 03-04-2009, 02:13 PM

Is your question "will euro LCI headlights fit in my US LCI e90?" (probably, but not sure) or "will euro LCI headlights fit in my US pre-LCI e90?" (no, I don't think they physically can fit).

Based on your sig I am guessing the latter. I don't believe the headlight shape is exactly the same between LCI and pre LCI

Red.k · 03-04-2009, 02:24 PM

Not so much if it would fit (I assumed they would, Im sure the service advisor would have told me if they didn't) but if they would work properly in a US spec car. The SA seemed to think they wouldn't, but couldn't give me a definitive answer.
I was interested in the lights because they dont have the orange reflectors, but now that I know they are halogen and not xenon I dont want them.

one.miguel · 03-05-2009, 08:41 AM

Attached are pictures of the halogen vs. the xenon (taken from bmwusa.com website). Looks like the xenon has LEDs on the side.

Tagg67 · 03-05-2009, 08:48 AM

Check out Xq Zhu's post. He has them on his US spec car. Very nice photos on his post also.

KL2DC · 03-05-2009, 08:48 AM

The LCI halogens fit in pre-LCI E90s. Longtran did a retrofit on a member's E90.

Search or PM Longtran directly.

******* showed us there is a subtle difference between euro and US LCI xenon headlights (despite the abscence of amber in both). Not sure if the same applies for halogens. Search for more details.

KL2DC · 03-05-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tagg67

Check out Xq Zhu's post. He has them on his US spec car. Very nice photos on his post also.

Just saw that...nice install.

I have yet to see a xenon LCI headlight retrofit though, the halogens look almost like a straight up swap.

03-04-2009, 09:44 AM	#1
Red.k Enlisted Member 5 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Germany iTrader: (4)	e90 facelift headlights...Will they work in a US spec car? So I was at the BMW dealership in Hiedelberg today and they were advertising a set of e90 facelifted headlights for 599 euro, installed. When I asked my service advisor about them, he said "I think they might throw error codes because the US spec cars might be programed differently then German spec cars. And I think they are not legal in the states." The general feeling I got was that he didn't want to sell me the headlights because they MIGHT not work. And I dont care if they aren't legal in the states because my car isn't going to the states anytime soon. So...does anyone know if the e90 facelifted headlights will work properly in a US spec car? Are there any mechanical differences between the headlights?
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03-04-2009, 10:55 AM	#2
chinoxs203 Major 122 Rep 1,369 Posts Drives: 08 E92 335xi AW Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (7)	these referring the 09 LCI headlights or do you mean these pre face lifted euro headlights? i dont think there is any diff between the euro and US spec LCIs in regards to coloring any more? __________________ FOR SALE: Dropbox - please
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03-04-2009, 01:59 PM	#4
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 481 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	halogen or xenon?
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03-04-2009, 02:13 PM	#5
Red.k Enlisted Member 5 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Germany iTrader: (4)	After searching the forum more, i found this: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=182970 They are halogen and not Xenon, which is probably why they are so cheap. But it looks like they work on US spec cars.
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03-04-2009, 02:13 PM	#6
micah Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 290 Posts Drives: 2006 330i 6MT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (1)	Is your question "will euro LCI headlights fit in my US LCI e90?" (probably, but not sure) or "will euro LCI headlights fit in my US pre-LCI e90?" (no, I don't think they physically can fit). Based on your sig I am guessing the latter. I don't believe the headlight shape is exactly the same between LCI and pre LCI
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03-04-2009, 02:24 PM	#7
Red.k Enlisted Member 5 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Germany iTrader: (4)	Not so much if it would fit (I assumed they would, Im sure the service advisor would have told me if they didn't) but if they would work properly in a US spec car. The SA seemed to think they wouldn't, but couldn't give me a definitive answer. I was interested in the lights because they dont have the orange reflectors, but now that I know they are halogen and not xenon I dont want them.
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03-05-2009, 08:41 AM	#8
one.miguel Enlisted Member 0 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Sedan Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Germany iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 335i Sedan [0.00]	Attached are pictures of the halogen vs. the xenon (taken from bmwusa.com website). Looks like the xenon has LEDs on the side. Attached Images __________________ */ 2008 335i Sedan /* /* Options: TiAg, Black Leatherette, Aluminum Trim, 6 speed, Sports, Cold Package, PDC */ #include "euro_light_switch.h", "short_shift_knob.h","cdv_delete.h","blackline s.h"
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03-05-2009, 08:48 AM	#9
Tagg67 BMW4Life 36 Rep 233 Posts Drives: 2018 F30 340i X-Drive Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Florida iTrader: (5) Garage List 2008 328i Sedan [0.00]	e90 facelift headlights...Will they work in a US spec car? Check out Xq Zhu's post. He has them on his US spec car. Very nice photos on his post also.
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03-05-2009, 08:48 AM	#10
KL2DC Moderator 318 Rep 17,767 Posts Drives: F36 428i,E90 328i, E85 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: DC Metro iTrader: (23) Garage List 2015 F36 428i [0.00] 2011 E90 328i [0.00] 2006 E85 Z4 3.0i [0.00]	The LCI halogens fit in pre-LCI E90s. Longtran did a retrofit on a member's E90. Search or PM Longtran directly. ******* showed us there is a subtle difference between euro and US LCI xenon headlights (despite the abscence of amber in both). Not sure if the same applies for halogens. Search for more details. __________________ Official DC Metro Registry - Current, New & Prospective Area Members Roll Call!
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