B10 Front Fog Light OEM or dealer part?

Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 1:32 pm

http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/mtec-ver-3 ... -7-series/

Get some of these - expensive but the best you can get.

BarryM · Post by **BarryM** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 2:45 pm

Metrics wrote:http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/mtec-ver-3 ... -7-series/

Get some of these - expensive but the best you can get.

You've had 2 recommendations for the MTECs now

brett · Post by **brett** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 6:24 pm

Hi mate no with the mtech bulbs in the fogs they are a great match
I also put in the mtech led halo bulbs they are not cheap but are a direcr fit and no bulb errors

Also apologies for not calling you by your name but in my defence I couldn't find it

PliSsK · Post by **PliSsK** » Sat Feb 18, 2017 5:27 pm

Here are what my fog lights look like. Left side I assume gets more of a hammering from splashes at the roadside etc. The right side needs cleaning to get the tar smears off it but otherwise the inside glass is not dirty at all and outside only has a few tiny stone chips marks on it up close. 50/50 on leaving the right one in. lol thanks Brett no prob

PliSsK · Post by **PliSsK** » Fri Feb 24, 2017 4:10 pm

I decided to buy the Astrum left fog light only. I noticed that it is actually a TYC fog light in a TYC box with an Astrum label stuck on it...I assume Astrum are like a UK reseller brand for TYC. It doesn't seem to be an OEM part but 'OE specification' and made in China. The part was near identical to the original BMW fog light with some minor differences in the tabs that connect the side cover to the fog light, so when fitting the original side cover one really had to force one side to slide in all the way. Once installed, you can't tell any difference between the original and the TYC/Astrum unless you put your face to the bumper lol. The main difference is in the how the new bulbs look compared to the original. I put new Mtec 3300K yellow/amber bulbs in on both sides and looks almost like the original but brighter and less of a 'pearl' effect (i.e. more blinding lol). Whilst the right fog light housing looks fine from the front it is pretty badly corroded at the back so it won't last that much longer I don't think. We'll see. Will give me a chance to keep an eye on this TYC left fog light.

Did anyone find it hard reinstalling the fog lights? It seems if you just screw them in without aligning them, they end up too far indented in the bumper.

I didn't have the right sized spanner so used piers or wrench and they were hard to use on the upper screw on the fog light.

Will post some pics.

PliSsK · Post by **PliSsK** » Tue Feb 28, 2017 6:30 pm

Here is the finished result featuring Mtec 3300K 35W fog light bulbs and Mtec 6W 7000K LED angel eyes. The 3300K bulbs have the same colour as the original halogen bulbs but a bit brighter.

Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Tue Feb 28, 2017 11:22 pm

Very nice.

We're the fog lights easy to change? Much dismantling required?

BarryM · Post by **BarryM** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 9:17 am

That looks good, I think you'll be pleased with the angel eyes and I might be following your lead with those fog light bulbs

PliSsK · Post by **PliSsK** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 11:48 am

Thanks! Well, ideally you'd use a trim removal tool to remove the black plastic trim. If you work yr way around the top part with the trim tool, it can be worked loose and pulled out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS5K_2ItTLs

Our fog lights have the same two screws in the same place. The lower screw is easy to remove.

I didn't have the right sized spanner so used piers or wrench and they were hard to use on the upper screw on the fog light.

It's a tight fit and once unscrewed, I had to push it into the bumper, turn it sideways and pull it out. Used masking tape top and bottom of the hole on the bumper or I'd have scratched it up. The bulb replacement is an unclip and then a turn of the bulb but if new fog lights just unclip and throw away. The corrosion seems to come on the back of the fog light unit and spreads under the seal where the bulb is and that's when they mist up and crinkle.

Did anyone find it hard reinstalling the fog lights? It seems if you just screw them in without aligning them, they end up too far indented in the bumper.

Hard to describe but I had to pull the fog light into position even if it wasn't lined up properly with the holes for the screws, then screw it in. If I pushed the fog light flat/flush against holes for the screws on the bumper, the whole fog light would be tilted by 30 degrees and indented. If this is occurring, unscrew and start again.

Here is the fog light I removed.

The angel eyes now look great, not really blue at all, but just pure white, which if funny for 7000K. However, whilst they don't make the xenon dipped lights look yellow, they do look a weird colour with the angel eyes on as well now, hard to describe, but it doesn't look great lol...this is in the daytime. It doesn't come out in the photos, they are overexposed relative to the lights. They didn't match before anyway so it's not a huge big deal.

When I first turned on the fog lights, I thought uh oh, should have gone for 5000K or 4150K, but after a brief period of getting used to it I now love them!

Metrics · Post by **Metrics** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 12:01 pm

PliSsK wrote: The angel eyes now look great, not really blue at all, but just pure white, which if funny for 7000K. However, whilst they don't make the xenon dipped lights look yellow, they do look a weird colour with the angel eyes on as well now, hard to describe, but it doesn't look great lol...this is in the daytime. It doesn't come out in the photos, they are overexposed relative to the lights. They didn't match before anyway so it's not a huge big deal.

Thanks for the help with fog light installation - I will do this on mine, hopefully this weekend.

Regarding the xenon bulb v angel eye - there is a reason for this, and you won't like answer, sorry!

The xenon bulbs you have are almost certainly the factory originals and they'll be past their best for sure.

Take a look at my thread - will explain all: http://thealpinaregister.com/forums/vie ... 8&start=15

brett · Post by **brett** » Wed Mar 01, 2017 11:22 pm

these are mine with the mtech bulbs(fog and halo and number plates

PliSsK · Post by **PliSsK** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 12:53 pm

Metrics wrote:Thanks for the help with fog light installation - I will do this on mine, hopefully this weekend. Regarding the xenon bulb v angel eye - there is a reason for this, and you won't like answer, sorry! The xenon bulbs you have are almost certainly the factory originals and they'll be past their best for sure. Take a look at my thread - will explain all: http://thealpinaregister.com/forums/vie ... 8&start=15

You are welcome. I hope your fog light install goes smoothly

I'll comment on your main restoration thread. Some great info there, thanks for posting and sharing.

PliSsK · Post by **PliSsK** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 1:02 pm

brett wrote:these are mine with the mtech bulbs(fog and halo and number plates

Your lights look great! From the pic it looks like the low beam Xenon and the angel eyes match perfectly. Do they look that seamless in the metal? You mentioned you were going to change the low beam bulbs - is this pic pre or post bulb upgrade? Mine look a bit greenish and a distinctly different colour to the LED angel eyes in the metal although it was near impossible to capture that difference with my camera without merging 2 photos together which I may try later.

Just out of interest, what colour temp are those Mtec fog light bulbs?

brett · Post by **brett** » Fri Mar 03, 2017 9:17 pm

Hi mate I haven't changed the low beam yet , to busy with work and preparing for the emma finals in Austria in 2 weeks , they do look seemless and the mtech bulbs are I believe 4300k but white not yellow I looked for where I purchased the from but cant remember ! Bloody old age !!

PliSsK · Post by **PliSsK** » Tue Apr 25, 2017 7:36 pm

Deleted post, ooops...will post some pics when I get the right light installed.