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      06-02-2008, 08:03 AM   #1
Esmallstii
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BRIGHTER ALTERNATIVE TO GP THUNDERS?

Just installed the 7500K GP Thunders over the weekend, and while I love the white color,..I dont love the fact that they aren't nearly as bright as the stock units as far as light output goes.
(Yes,..they are installed correctly. I double checked the bulb placement and made sure they are seated correctly)
Not complaining too much since they were pretty cheap, and an easy install, but......
Was Hoping there is another Manufacturer out there who makes a bulb with a better light output?
ANY SUGGESTIONS???:iono:
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      06-02-2008, 08:50 AM   #2
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Btw.. hadn't posted this yet, but I ordered another set of GP Thunders as one of mine blew already. I'm going to see about warranty replacement, but I'd rather have a spare bulb or two anyway.

I recall seeing a thread showing an LED based solution that was slightly more expensive that somebody found. It's in this forum, but I don;t know if anybody ordered them yet.



Btw, cleaned up the duplicate posts. Please do not post in multiple sub-forums.
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      06-02-2008, 09:51 AM   #3
Esmallstii
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Sorry about the multiple posts Larry.
Tried to delete the one in the exter. mod forum, but there was only an "edit" option, no Delete option.
Figured I would get more responses in the Gen discussion area.
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      06-02-2008, 01:02 PM   #4
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What the big deal with these GP Thunder bulbs? I know Hoen makes a "Xenon Match" bulb and they're typically regarded as good quality.
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      06-02-2008, 01:57 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx View Post
What the big deal with these GP Thunder bulbs? I know Hoen makes a "Xenon Match" bulb and they're typically regarded as good quality.
I just went with them because they a few others on the forum had, and didnt have any problems with them.
Im open to other bulbs as long as they fit and are brighter.
Looks like the Hoen bulbs are 35W(Same as GP Thunder), and cost twice as much. If they are brighter,..I dont mind dropping the xtra coin.
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      06-02-2008, 02:08 PM   #6
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The big deals is that they are white I guess.
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      06-02-2008, 02:23 PM   #7
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I think everyone went with GP thunder bulbs (as i did) because people have tried them and they work.. price is cheap and its used by others so why not.. there are many other bulbs that are H8 bulbs and work the same way.. my friend has Piaa bulbs but they are pretty expensive for the same bulbs but are made in japanese instead of I think the GP bulbs are made in Korea...
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      06-02-2008, 03:08 PM   #8
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I'm probably going with the Hoen's myself when the car gets here.

I put the Hoen Xenonmatch 9006 bulbs as fog replacements for my GTI, and they are Awesome! although rated 4500K, they are very white, match my Xenon lights perfectly, and are very strong.

here is a quick pic even though it was still daylight:

(left Hoen, right stock)
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      06-02-2008, 06:27 PM   #9
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the higher the temp rating, less light is put out. magic number seems to be around 5400k if i remember correctly. its also a more true white. But maybe this is dif. for halos, I am just reading this regarding to the xenons, but I dont think the temp rating should change it.
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      06-02-2008, 06:36 PM   #10
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I don't know much about this. But at the E9x meet last week, most had the bulb replacements, and 1 had the "$300 mod" (so I'm guessing it's that Angel iBright product sold by **********s). His was MUCH better than the other's.
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      06-02-2008, 08:07 PM   #11
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Pics of the Angel iBrights

I have the iBrights installed - and am happy with 'em - They are really daylight running bright - really - but are a significant $ investment as noted.

Attachment 7800


OEM LEFT RIGHT iBright ; Sunny day
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      06-02-2008, 10:03 PM   #12
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^how much? Where to buy?
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      06-02-2008, 11:36 PM   #13
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Now these look great. How much? $300? Right side as noted.

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      06-03-2008, 07:24 AM   #14
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LED Bulbs?

Ibrights look great,..but $300 is alot of stew for Halo bulbs.
I was doing some poking around, and got alot of hits for LED bulbs.
Looks like they are the "new" thing on the block. didnt see it listed for the 1er yet, and it does look different than the H8 bulbs that are stock. (Cost looks like it's about $170 pair)
LED RING BULBS

BMW LED RING BULBPIAA exclusive! This bulb and socket assembly replaces the stock unit to give the vehicle's headlamp ring a clean, white 6500 Kelvin brilliance. This upgrade changes the ring color from a incandescent yellow to a brilliant HID, matching the factory HID headlamps.
Twin Pack PN 19431
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      06-03-2008, 09:37 AM   #15
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I did alot of searching and it seams AngeliBright are the best. V3.0 series are said to be brighter then OEM and are white. Reg.$349, now $299 for the 1 series.

Unnitza Preditor Ice sounded good but a user on Bimmerfest said they suck.

EAS LED Angel eyes are another model said to be 2-3X brighter then OEM and 7000k white for $139. I don't know anything about them.

Autoperfect on eBay has 6000k Diamond bulbs for the 1 series at $95.

The iBright sound like the best, I don't know. If they last at least a couple years then $300 isn't that bad. IF they are at least as bright as OEM and are white not yellow.

I have tried other cheaper brands on other cars and had problems with them blowing after a month or 2. I would rather spend more for quality. Its a bitch to replace the bulbs.
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      06-03-2008, 10:56 AM   #16
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Sylvania Silverstars should look great. I used them years back on my previous car and they were much whiter than standard halogen bulbs and gave the same, if not more light output.

http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd...ce/Silverstar/
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      06-03-2008, 09:42 PM   #17
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It should be noted that even though these are the Angel iBrights they are NOT the custom aluminum made ones shown on their website; they are replacement H8 bulbs as shown below: -

Attachment 7847

I did look into LED replacements and made the choice to stick with a filament bulb for three reasons; General opinion of LED H8 replacements are that they are not as bright as OEM, LED replacements throw ‘bulb out codes’ because (ironically) they don’t draw enough power and the solution to that can be to wire a ballast resistor (think small electric heater/ fire hazard) inline.


There are a lot of choices out there for the earlier (pre-headlight upgrade) BMW models, there is just more space to work with – The 2008 model’s with the H8 bulbs (My 1er for example) are more limited in high performance choices. I was getting confused when I started to look into.

Pretty sure for example that the Umnitza’s will not work in a new 1 series, neither will the EAS LEDs (but the SuperWhite Xenon Halogen H8’s will)

I was in on a group buy and ordered the wrong model from Angel iBright – Credit to them an email later and I was hooked up with the iBright Betas (The Halogen H8’s pictured) with a production unit that shipped shortly after.

Is a filament bulb worth over $50 ? The thunders are around $15 – Your call.
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      06-03-2008, 10:16 PM   #18
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I've talked to Tom@EAS and he guarantees no code for the MYCARR led kit(even for the e82s). Straight plug and play and both rings are evenly light up. All the pictures with gp thunders show the inner ring significantly brighter. Is the kit worth $139? I think it is if it works as great as they advertise. They also include lifetime warranty...
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      06-04-2008, 10:01 AM   #19
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Hey Slick - From the website;

2001-2003 5-series, including M5
2003-2006 X5
2004+ 5-series, including M5
2005+ 6-series, including M6
2002+ 7-series
2004+ 1-series

It looks as if the MYCARR LED kit is for the earlier (pre-2008) models, pre headlight redesign. I don't think it would work for me ('08 E82) it would for others.

I would caution anyone looking into this to be sure which kit/ bulb/ led/ CCFL ring is compatible with their particular BMW series based on both model & year – Check your manual or take the lamp out of your headlight housing and have a look.

From my research -

If you have a pre '08 with a lamp that looks like :-

Attachment 7872

most of the LED replacement kits are compatable such as

Attachment 7875 ICE

Attachment 7873 iBright

Attachment 7874 EAS

are for you (lower quality stuff in my opinion not shown)



If you have a '08 (H8 Lamp) that looks like :-

Attachment 7876

you've really got to stick with the halogen replacements such as

Attachment 7878 thunders


Attachment 7877 H8 Angels

or equivalents.

General testing from folks with the H8 LED replacements has not been good – I am of the opinion that you simply cannot stuff 35W worth of LED power into a small H8 housing.

Hope this helps everyone – Now back to work for me ;-)
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      06-04-2008, 10:15 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slick_One View Post
I've talked to Tom@EAS and he guarantees no code for the MYCARR led kit(even for the e82s). Straight plug and play and both rings are evenly light up. All the pictures with gp thunders show the inner ring significantly brighter. Is the kit worth $139? I think it is if it works as great as they advertise. They also include lifetime warranty...
The rings themselves are designed to have the inner rings be brighter, as that's where the daytime running lights (and "city lights" in Europe) normally are. I think Tom might be mistaken on having a different bulb overcome the design of the corona rings.
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      06-04-2008, 11:52 AM   #21
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I have seen some upgrades for the pre ’08 models state they use fiber optic light guides to direct light differently to the two rings - I guess you could overcome any differential between them by pumping more light down the normally dimmer one.
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      06-04-2008, 04:24 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by larryn View Post
The rings themselves are designed to have the inner rings be brighter, as that's where the daytime running lights (and "city lights" in Europe) normally are. I think Tom might be mistaken on having a different bulb overcome the design of the corona rings.
If you take a look at stock e90/e92 headlights, the inner rings are also brighter. But then take a look at LED modified ones and both rings are equally bright.

I noticed that e92's also use the H8 AE bulbs. Does this mean whatever kit that works for them can work for us?
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