B10 Front Fog Light OEM or dealer part?

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B10 Front Fog Light OEM or dealer part?

Post by PliSsK » Wed Feb 15, 2017 2:57 pm

The nearside front fog light on my E39 B10 V8 from 2001 has condensation on the inside and the reflector behind the bulb is all crinkled. I watched a great tutorial on yt from E39 Source so it looks easy to replace. I spotted the correct part on OEMBMW is the E39 M5 circular fog light, 63177894017 (L) and 63177894018 (R) and are likely to be expensive from the stealer. Has anyone fitted third party front fog lights to their B10 and if so which ones would you recommend please? The car has Xenon headlights so I may well fit different bulbs when I get the new light(s) so it matches the headlights (not that I use them that much lol ;-) Any input is appreciated.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=63_0517
2001 E39 B10 V8 Saloon, Facelift, Alpina Blue Metallic, 18" wheels, No. 068/1

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Post by BarryM » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:39 pm

I'd get a quote from BMW and go from there, mine are still ok but if you want them to function as foglights then don't go for a light to match the xenons.
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Post by PliSsK » Wed Feb 15, 2017 3:58 pm

BarryM wrote:I'd get a quote from BMW and go from there, mine are still ok but if you want them to function as foglights then don't go for a light to match the xenons.
Hi Barry, why does the colour of the bulb affect the fog light's ability to function as a fog light (assuming the brightness is the same)?
2001 E39 B10 V8 Saloon, Facelift, Alpina Blue Metallic, 18" wheels, No. 068/1

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Post by Metrics » Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:24 pm

Hi PliSsK

Be careful, the fogs are not M5, but are E39 SE spec (not Sport version either)

The fogs also vary pre v post facelift, as yours is a 2001 I'd guess it's a facelift?

I bought a pair of Astrum (sp?) lamps, great quality and very reasonably priced:

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/BMW_5 ... 105&000469

Not fitted them yet, so cannot comment on anything apart from how they look in the box!
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Post by PliSsK » Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:41 pm

Thanks for the reply Metrics.

Ok these must be the babies. Stealer will confirm.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=63_0648

63176900221
63176900222

The SE ones are rectangular, the M-Sport are oval.

Would be interested to hear how you get on with your pair during the install and afterwards. Thanks for the heads up. No harm in replacing the plastic surround as I guess it could look a little faded otherwise.
2001 E39 B10 V8 Saloon, Facelift, Alpina Blue Metallic, 18" wheels, No. 068/1

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Post by Metrics » Wed Feb 15, 2017 4:52 pm

Yes, those look like them.

There's a number of options:

Oval - M5
Rectangular - prefacelift
Sphrerical - facelift (the ones we have)

Will update once I get some time to fit mine.
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Post by PliSsK » Wed Feb 15, 2017 5:03 pm

Thanks! Sorry I meant to say yes my car is a facelift.

I see that the oval M5 M-Tech fog light does not come with the plastic side cover like the round facelift fog light, but it should be possible to use the existing cover from the old fog lamp and transfer it to the M5 light. From a quick glance, both type of fog light seem to have the same exterior dimensions and shape even though the actual glass is a different shape in the middle. Purism also dictates putting the same type back on which is a factor and the round fog lights look pretty good anyway tbh.

Astrum is indeed the correct spelling of the brand, Euro Car Parts and others sell the same item on an auction site for a few pennies cheaper at the moment if anyone else is reading this in the future and wants to go the OEM route. Cheers.
2001 E39 B10 V8 Saloon, Facelift, Alpina Blue Metallic, 18" wheels, No. 068/1

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Post by brett » Wed Feb 15, 2017 9:53 pm

I did mine last year with the astrum from eurocar parts about £25 apiece at the time ,paired them wih a pair of mtec fog light bulbs about £20. Absolutely over the moon with the lights and the output, and at the price if they corrode, i will just get another pair
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Post by Metrics » Wed Feb 15, 2017 11:32 pm

Brett, I take it the Mtec bulbs match the Xenons?
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Post by BarryM » Thu Feb 16, 2017 12:50 am

PliSsK wrote:Hi Barry, why does the colour of the bulb affect the fog light's ability to function as a fog light (assuming the brightness is the same)?
Well in fog a white light tends to reflect back more than a yellower light which is why fog lights are not usually bright white in colour.
Most people don't use fog lights as fog lights anyway so it's up to you but just thought I'd point out how they work best for the job they were designed to do.
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Post by PliSsK » Thu Feb 16, 2017 3:04 pm

Dealer's parts dept confirmed as best they could that these are the correct part numbers for the facelift E39 B10. £121.04 each.

63176900221
63176900222

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpa ... Id=63_0648

I saw some Hella fog lights going for around £70 which are a reputable brand. Then we have the Astrum or others ranging from £15-25, but I'm assuming if Euro Car Parts stock them, then the Astrum are the best of the rest.

Will give some thought to the lighting solution. BTW is 4350k the same temperature as the BMW xenon headlights? I'm guessing it is.
2001 E39 B10 V8 Saloon, Facelift, Alpina Blue Metallic, 18" wheels, No. 068/1

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Post by Charles » Thu Feb 16, 2017 5:03 pm

PliSsK wrote:Will give some thought to the lighting solution. BTW is 4350k the same temperature as the BMW xenon headlights? I'm guessing it is.
The BMW OEM xenon bulb temperature is about 4300K,which is a pure white and the most efficient temperature for the amount of light actually transmitted, or so I read ...
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Post by brett » Thu Feb 16, 2017 8:56 pm

Hi Azim

correct the lights match the xenon , although they are the original bulbs and the next job on the list

I will post some pics over the weekend
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Post by PliSsK » Fri Feb 17, 2017 12:09 pm

BarryM wrote:Well in fog a white light tends to reflect back more than a yellower light which is why fog lights are not usually bright white in colour.
Most people don't use fog lights as fog lights anyway so it's up to you but just thought I'd point out how they work best for the job they were designed to do.
Have you seen that ever quoted article that shows evidence from (halogen?) fog lights only make a marginal difference when used with dipped or full beam compared with dipped or full beam alone? When I had my E36, I used fog lights in really bad fog a few times, and perhaps the fog wasn't quite bad enough as it almost wasn't worthwhile. I would imagine with brighter fog lights in the same end of the spectrum would work better which has me pondering on fitting 3000K xenon filled Mtec bulbs which will be hugely brighter than the original halogen bulbs.
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Post by PliSsK » Fri Feb 17, 2017 1:16 pm

brett wrote:Hi Azim

correct the lights match the xenon , although they are the original bulbs and the next job on the list

I will post some pics over the weekend
Brett, have you or are you planning to molest your angel eyes bulbs with LEDs lol and if so, are you coordinating the temp. of the LEDs to your fog light bulbs?
2001 E39 B10 V8 Saloon, Facelift, Alpina Blue Metallic, 18" wheels, No. 068/1

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