valkryie
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Hi Guys,
I received a few pm on the bosch projectors so I just post my experience here.
There are 2 bosch projectors - facelifted E46 and non facelifted E46.
The facelifted E46 cost about mid to high RM 5K while the non facelifted is around RM3.5-3.8K last I checked around 5-6 months ago. They come in black or titanium trimming for the facelifted projectors.
This price is for parts purchased from 3rd party parts vendor such as First Division or Bavarian Auto. If you buy from Auto Bavaria it will cost in the region of high 6K.
I installed the Bosch Xenon projector for my facelifted E46 so I just share my experience here.
Bosch Bi-Xenon Projectors BMW part number:-
63126910971 - Bi-xenon headlight left side
63126910972 - Bi-xenon headlight right side
The facelifted projectors are bi-xenon projectors. They are not to be confused with dual projectors. The bi-xenon is a projector capable of low/high beam projection using a single projector light. But since this is a retrofit you will only get low beam xenon projection. You will need to do further DIY wiring to fully unleash the bi-xenon capability of your projectors. Details of the extra wiring and necessary components are posted in another forum and you need to register yourself to access to the electric block diagram. Do this if you are well verse in electronics or have a degree in EE.
Also you will not get projector self levelling feature for the retrofit. To enable self levelling feature you will have to buy the mechanism and wiring. The mechanism involves placing sensors along the vehicle suspension so it may not be cheap.
Pros
1. Excellent built and finish quality - No water leaking problems with high quality plastic moulding
2. Excellent light throw - far,wide and even light throw. Being original equipment the light throw arc is correct - that is the arc is bias towards left side illuminating driving side of the road.
3. Well designed ballast. Ballast screwed in nicely and neatly underneath lamp assembly housing (compare to after market, which u need to hide the ballast somewhere) so it is plug and play installation.
4. Original D2S HID bulbs around 4300K or 4700K. This bulbs produces yellowish white beam with high lumens. The higher the kelvin temperature the lower the lumens. So those bluish/purplish bulb will give u very low brightness. Effectively useless during inclement weather.
5. Projector chrome housing finishing is much better and you get the word "xenon" on the projector instead of depo.
Cons
1. Very expensive compare to Taiwanese replicas
2. Original bulb is yellowish-white. Most people prefer whiter HID around the region of 6000K
3. No built-in angel eyes.
4. Light throw cannot be adjusted internally if you reset computer after installing projectors. Adjustable if you do not reset computer at the expense of a annoying warning light in your cockpit. Or you can do some bypass like what kat8186. This tricks the computer into thinking that everything is all right. I never tried it so I am not sure if it will work for Bosch projectors.
Light throw level only adjustable using a screwdriver by opening front bonet. But if the original adjustment is good enough you should not need to adjust frequently.
5. Small lights are yellow halogen so you get a white and yellow look when seen externally.
Hope this helps.
I received a few pm on the bosch projectors so I just post my experience here.
There are 2 bosch projectors - facelifted E46 and non facelifted E46.
The facelifted E46 cost about mid to high RM 5K while the non facelifted is around RM3.5-3.8K last I checked around 5-6 months ago. They come in black or titanium trimming for the facelifted projectors.
This price is for parts purchased from 3rd party parts vendor such as First Division or Bavarian Auto. If you buy from Auto Bavaria it will cost in the region of high 6K.
I installed the Bosch Xenon projector for my facelifted E46 so I just share my experience here.
Bosch Bi-Xenon Projectors BMW part number:-
63126910971 - Bi-xenon headlight left side
63126910972 - Bi-xenon headlight right side
The facelifted projectors are bi-xenon projectors. They are not to be confused with dual projectors. The bi-xenon is a projector capable of low/high beam projection using a single projector light. But since this is a retrofit you will only get low beam xenon projection. You will need to do further DIY wiring to fully unleash the bi-xenon capability of your projectors. Details of the extra wiring and necessary components are posted in another forum and you need to register yourself to access to the electric block diagram. Do this if you are well verse in electronics or have a degree in EE.
Also you will not get projector self levelling feature for the retrofit. To enable self levelling feature you will have to buy the mechanism and wiring. The mechanism involves placing sensors along the vehicle suspension so it may not be cheap.
Pros
1. Excellent built and finish quality - No water leaking problems with high quality plastic moulding
2. Excellent light throw - far,wide and even light throw. Being original equipment the light throw arc is correct - that is the arc is bias towards left side illuminating driving side of the road.
3. Well designed ballast. Ballast screwed in nicely and neatly underneath lamp assembly housing (compare to after market, which u need to hide the ballast somewhere) so it is plug and play installation.
4. Original D2S HID bulbs around 4300K or 4700K. This bulbs produces yellowish white beam with high lumens. The higher the kelvin temperature the lower the lumens. So those bluish/purplish bulb will give u very low brightness. Effectively useless during inclement weather.
5. Projector chrome housing finishing is much better and you get the word "xenon" on the projector instead of depo.
Cons
1. Very expensive compare to Taiwanese replicas
2. Original bulb is yellowish-white. Most people prefer whiter HID around the region of 6000K
3. No built-in angel eyes.
4. Light throw cannot be adjusted internally if you reset computer after installing projectors. Adjustable if you do not reset computer at the expense of a annoying warning light in your cockpit. Or you can do some bypass like what kat8186. This tricks the computer into thinking that everything is all right. I never tried it so I am not sure if it will work for Bosch projectors.
Light throw level only adjustable using a screwdriver by opening front bonet. But if the original adjustment is good enough you should not need to adjust frequently.
5. Small lights are yellow halogen so you get a white and yellow look when seen externally.
Hope this helps.
