[ClarkeBurns]

Thanks a lot for putting this out. It's a huge help as I'm shopping for headlights.

[Anubis]

A few things I wanted to clarify:

1) OEM color temperature isn't really pure white. Pure white in most automotive applications is closer to 5000k then it is to 4300k. 4300-4500k is very very white, but it's on the yellow end, and does have a yellow tint to the overall output. It is the OEM color temperature because it's the brightest acceptable output. There's a reason that HID systems are 35W and halogens are by law limited to 55W. Headlights that are TOO bright are distracting and can cause problems for other drivers.

2) You said that the startup current draw from Hella Gen 3s was ~14-15A. It's more like 18-20A. That's right. 20A.

3) You said that an 8000k PnP HID kit will be barely better or no better than stock halogen H1 output from euro ellipsoids. I disagree. It's significantly worse. Trust me, when I've got my Osram Night Breakers in my Bosch halogens, the output will be on par with the output from my 55W 5000k PnP HID kit that was running in my ZKWs. It's not only about how bright the light is - it's about where it goes and how much it distracts you. PnP HID kits are super distracting. I couldn't stand mine, even properly aimed.

4) You also failed to mention the fact that running HIDs in your low beams only means that your stock high beams are going to look ridiculous and will not match in color temperature, which will distract you even more.

5) You failed to mention the fact that HIDs should never be run in high beams or fog lights (due to flashing high beams restarting the HIDs in the fogs too quickly and decreasing their lifespan and the horrible lifespan from flashing high beams with HIDs).

6) Brett removed all of the information related to his DIYs. It's not there anymore. His OBC-LBF fix only applied to 18-button OBCs and disabled the ENTIRE Check Control system. Simpler than disabling the LBF with wire-cutting, but it does prevent you from realizing when a brake light is out or when something that you can't see easily is messed up. Cutting the four wires is much less ghetto than disabling the entire Check Control system, IMO.

7) Nice videos overall, though. I enjoyed them.

Originally Posted by kramerbuccs24

cliff notes?

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=217994

[97_4dr_5spd_m3]

great job...

[kerph32]

wow, nice work. where was this 3 years ago??

High Def too

[97_4dr_5spd_m3]

actually I have a question....

what would be a solution for matching your Fogs to your headlights if you were to want to upgrade??

[dust4life]

through part 1, going to get some and blow through the rest

god i need to source some zkw's....

[mirus]

Thanks for posting those. I am definitely a noob that found that very useful. I think in the third video you said that plug and play can cause the car's central computer to report an error. I just wanted to clarify. Are you talking about plug and play HIDs, or plug and play halogen headlights, or both? I don't want to do the HIDs and I also don't want to get error messages and issues with my car's electrical system, so I want to make sure that if I go with DEPOs or ZKWs nothing will happen.

[Anubis]

Originally Posted by mirus

Thanks for posting those. I am definitely a noob that found that very useful. I think in the third video you said that plug and play can cause the car's central computer to report an error. I just wanted to clarify. Are you talking about plug and play HIDs, or plug and play halogen headlights, or both? I don't want to do the HIDs and I also don't want to get error messages and issues with my car's electrical system, so I want to make sure that if I go with DEPOs or ZKWs nothing will happen.

If you run ZKWs or DEPOs without HIDs, you will have no issues with electrical systems or error messages. When he says Plug and Play, he's referring to PnP HID kits.

[Diesel///M3]

So Anubis, are you saying that your PnP 55w 5000k kit was not preferable. I only ask because I was considering this same setup. I am also a noob at lighting, and value anyone's opinion on this that has expertise. What would be your personal favorite setup?

[Anubis]

Originally Posted by Diesel///M3

So Anubis, are you saying that your PnP 55w 5000k kit was not preferable. I only ask because I was considering this same setup. I am also a noob at lighting, and value anyone's opinion on this that has expertise. What would be your personal favorite setup?

I didn't like my HID kit. At all. There were too many hotspots, the upticks distracted me, and I felt like I couldn't see the road well. I also felt distracted.

My personal favorite setup would be a projector retrofit of some kind, FX35 bi-xenon or TSX. If you insist on HIDs, then consider that route. If not, you may want to look into modding your cutoff shield slightly (there's a link at the end of the HID lighting FAQ thread in my sig) so that the upticks are smaller. You'll still have hotspots, but at least the upticks won't distract you and dazzle other drivers.

Also, 55W HIDs are really going to be overkill. They're already bright enough at 35W. You might be able to avoid an Low Beam Faliure message if you go 55W (for some reason it happens less with 55W kits).

Just my opinions.