Has to be Hyperwhite or HID

UK forum for general and technical discussion about the Z3 roadster
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Z3andZ4
Joined: Fri 27 Apr, 2012 01:25
Posts: 215

  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Has to be Hyperwhite or HID

Post by Z3andZ4 »

Gaza

You were once quoted wrt headlights above.

As an ignoramus I have a standard 3 l Sports which I am slightly improving.

How many and which lights do I need to move from yellow to white as I am clueless?

Anyone else feel free to chip in.

Tia
Neil
2001 Z3 3 litre Sport Roadster - titanium and special
2006 Z4M coupe - Interlagos and red
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q62 ... huiwqu.jpg
Mike Fishwick
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:27
Posts: 2093

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Daglan, France

Re: Has to be Hyperwhite or HID

Post by Mike Fishwick »

I presume thet by 'yellow' you men that the headlamps are no longer white.

Assumint this is the case, the first step is to check the voltage at the filaments, or better still the voltage drop between the jump start connection behind the RH strut mount, and each of the filaments. Also check the voltage drop between the earth point on the RH strut mount and the earth point of each bulb. This should be very small - typically 3 mV (millivolts).

If this is OK, the next step is to replace the bulbs with some decent modern type. Only buy the best bulbs by either Philips or Osram - forget anything else, as even bulbs with a prestige name are actually made by an anonymous factory in China or Eastern Europe, regardless of price. See my bit on headlamp bulbs in the Z3 Knowledgebase.

Suitable bulbs would be Philips BlueVision, or Osram NightBreakers etc. Avoid any bulb with a flange marked 'LL' as these are long l;ife types, where brightness is compromised in favour of life expectancy. I have been using Philips BlueVision in my lights for years, and find them to be excellent. Also remember that halogen bulbs which are used a lot have a life of about five years before the filaments begin to droop, and lose focus. Their light will therefore generate a lot of scatter, dazzling oncoming drivers.

Do not use HID or LED converter bulbs in your existing light units, as this will be a reason for MoT failure.
A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
Z3andZ4
Joined: Fri 27 Apr, 2012 01:25
Posts: 215

  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: Has to be Hyperwhite or HID

Post by Z3andZ4 »

Hi Mike

Thanks for this.

I just noticed how yellow the lights were ie old school, when my son borrowed my car and I saw it at night from the outside and compared it to the white lights on my 17 plate M240i. So yellow as in old. I suspect the power is ok, but it needs good quality replacement bulbs. So many thanks for your kind advice which I shall follow.

Do you happen to know which bulbs I actually need, how many and which product code?

I shall get what you suggested then.

Many thanks
Neil
2001 Z3 3 litre Sport Roadster - titanium and special
2006 Z4M coupe - Interlagos and red
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q62 ... huiwqu.jpg
Z3andZ4
Joined: Fri 27 Apr, 2012 01:25
Posts: 215

  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: Has to be Hyperwhite or HID

Post by Z3andZ4 »

Hi Mike

I have had a look and found H7’s on Amazon.

My son still has my car, so I cannot see it.

Do I need one set or two?

I’d like the inner lamps and outer lamps to match as well as the full beam and don’t quite know what I’m doing.

Many thanks
Neil
2001 Z3 3 litre Sport Roadster - titanium and special
2006 Z4M coupe - Interlagos and red
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q62 ... huiwqu.jpg
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Robert T
Site Admin
Joined: Mon 12 Jun, 2006 10:35
Posts: 10170

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Cheshire

Re: Has to be Hyperwhite or HID

Post by Robert T »

Hi Neil,

Sadly Gazza passed away 12 months ago, so he won't be able to answer.

Check what bulbs are fitted to your car - mine are HB3/9005 and HB4/9006.

My preference is for 100% brighter halogen bulbs, as retrofitting HID or LED is likely to cause problems come MOT time.

Cheers R.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

Arctic Silver '99 Z3 1.9 & Black '59 Frogeye 1275cc
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Mike Fishwick
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:27
Posts: 2093

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Daglan, France

Re: Has to be Hyperwhite or HID

Post by Mike Fishwick »

Do not just replace the dip bulbs, as although you use dipped beams more than the main beams, you may as well change all the headlamp bulbs, and enjoy decent lights, and carry the old bulbs as the spares you should carry anyway. With quota-hungry policemen a full set of bulbs is worth having. So many drivers think they can leave bulb replacement until the next service., but the police are starting to take notice. If you ever drive in Germany on one headlamp you can expect to be stopped for a good fine.

Your car is of the changeover period, where the earlier HB4 dip and HB3 main beam bulbs were replaced by H7 dip with the HB3 main. BMW tend to use up their old stock before introduction of a later type, so it is difficult to predict.

To check what you have, take the bulbs out of the RH headlamp unit, as these are easier to get at than the LH unit. Do not trust websites to find the correct bulbs for your car - you may as well put your faith in Haynes or Halfords etc! You cannot beat using your eyeballs. Forget about Amazon and look for a lighting specialist site.

Again - Philips and Osram are the only bulbs worth having, and are amongst the cheapest - do not entertain anything else! As a comparison, I once had a Golf GTi with Halfords 75 vwatt headlamp bulbs, decent sized cables and relays etc. When I fitted Philips Vision Plus bulbs the headlamps were just as powerful.
A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
Z3andZ4
Joined: Fri 27 Apr, 2012 01:25
Posts: 215

  Z3 roadster 3.0i

Re: Has to be Hyperwhite or HID

Post by Z3andZ4 »

Thank you once more, going to press the button on Phillips and get my son to check first and then fit them for me 😉😉😉
2001 Z3 3 litre Sport Roadster - titanium and special
2006 Z4M coupe - Interlagos and red
http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q62 ... huiwqu.jpg
AlVal
Joined: Fri 07 Jan, 2022 10:42
Posts: 2

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: Has to be Hyperwhite or HID

Post by AlVal »

Z3andZ4 wrote: Wed 23 Feb, 2022 19:12 Thank you once more, going to press the button on Phillips and get my son to check first and then fit them for me 😉😉😉
I bought osram nightbreaker laser 150 recently , they're not as white as i expected, colour temperature is on the yellowish side
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