25w Cree Led has just arrive. Guess what?

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by X5SND

I wonder if, in addition to cold monitoring, you were to reduce the pwm values for the ae bulbs if it would translate to led's lasting longer. The shortened lifespan could be very well related to the CM ---as per your theory--- but the heat buildup while on sounds to me like they're being overdriven.

...hopefully TerminatorX5 comes across this as he's the resident PWM expert!

It is always the drivers side the burns out. It is always the drivers side that has cold monitoring. Pass side, does not have cold monitoring on it from the factory. It does not matter who or where you got the bulb from. My Umnitza ones burnt in same place. There was another member that also had umnitza, and same thing. Only difference is that Umnitza has replaced 2 sets for me for free, with their life time warranty.

There have been a ton of people killing the drivers side AE when they switch to LED. The only thing that is different from pass side AE, is that from the factory, the drivers side have cold monitoring on.

Also, it is very hard to see the cold monitoring flicker. The only way I was able to confirm it, is by starting the car in garage, with a mirror taped to my garage door. It is also very faint, but when a mirror in a pitch black garage is facing you, you can clearly see the cold monitor flicker, on the driver side only. That flickering is what is abusing the damn bulb / circuitry every time you start the car.

Ever since I turned off the cold monitoring, my bulbs have not had an issue.

[TerminatorX5]

Denis is right, the Cold Monitoring has something to do with the burnout - I can't put my finger on the electrical reasoning for this but somehow the circuitry does not take it lightly to the pulses generated by the LCM and it somehow passes the full voltage to the LEDs and thus, burning the LED.

chris, was your cold monitoring on or off?

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

It is always the drivers side the burns out. It is always the drivers side that has cold monitoring. Pass side, does not have cold monitoring on it from the factory. It does not matter who or where you got the bulb from. My Umnitza ones burnt in same place. There was another member that also had umnitza, and same thing. Only difference is that Umnitza has replaced 2 sets for me for free, with their life time warranty.

There have been a ton of people killing the drivers side AE when they switch to LED. The only thing that is different from pass side AE, is that from the factory, the drivers side have cold monitoring on.

Also, it is very hard to see the cold monitoring flicker. The only way I was able to confirm it, is by starting the car in garage, with a mirror taped to my garage door. It is also very faint, but when a mirror in a pitch black garage is facing you, you can clearly see the cold monitor flicker, on the driver side only. That flickering is what is abusing the damn bulb / circuitry every time you start the car.

Ever since I turned off the cold monitoring, my bulbs have not had an issue.

Well, at least my old angeliBrights are still going strong after 4.5yrs so I guess I got some value out of the $300 I spent LOL

[X5SND]

@Slick--- Yeah, CM definitely sounds to be the culprit. I just assumed it was both sides that would burn out (randomly).

Originally Posted by TwinsPoppa

Well, at least my old angeliBrights are still going strong after 4.5yrs so I guess I got some value out of the $300 I spent LOL

Good god....for that price I would hope so too!! lol.

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by X5SND

@Slick--- Yeah, CM definitely sounds to be the culprit. I just assumed it was both sides that would burn out (randomly).



Good god....for that price I would hope so too!! lol.

If you want to play, you have to pay - sometimes.

[pap smear]

my driver side bulb went out today

[umnitza]

New VXX now available - doesn't have the issue with poor drivers.
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-related-...tml#post936402

[Kev]

Hi, I have been looking at two options for replacing my 5w white AE bulbs (one stopped working just recently after 2 years)

These seem to be the 25W ones referred to in this post,

BMW E83 X3 E53 X5 25W CREE LED Angel Eyes Halo Rings Upgrade Bulbs Marker Kit | eBay

But having read some of the problems, you guys were having, and the note in the listing for these guys, I wondered if it's possible that the 20W ones have been redesigned to avoid some of the problems?

"Please note these have replaced our 25w model (4 LEDs each unit 12.5w each) These new 20w models have 1 x 10W CREE LED chip in each with side directional light output. Far brighter to look at and more reliable with no extra ballast resistors to plug in"

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20W-10W-CREE-Angel-eye-LED-upgrade-units-BMW-X5-E53-02-07-6000K-2013-MODEL-/370773895267?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM& fits=Car+Make%3ABMW%7CModel%3AX5&hash=item5653d8a8 63#ht_2423wt_1399

What do you reckon guys? Or are they just the older ones, and the text is there to attract buyers awar from the 25W models?

Thanks for any experiences with these ... Cheers. Kev.

[Clockwork]

kev, I'd say give it a shot.
I have the 25w and they are no brighter than the 5w. I'd return them if the postage wasn't so high.

[X5SND]

Originally Posted by Kev

Hi, I have been looking at two options for replacing my 5w white AE bulbs (one stopped working just recently after 2 years)

These seem to be the 25W ones referred to in this post,

BMW E83 X3 E53 X5 25W CREE LED Angel Eyes Halo Rings Upgrade Bulbs Marker Kit | eBay

But having read some of the problems, you guys were having, and the note in the listing for these guys, I wondered if it's possible that the 20W ones have been redesigned to avoid some of the problems?

"Please note these have replaced our 25w model (4 LEDs each unit 12.5w each) These new 20w models have 1 x 10W CREE LED chip in each with side directional light output. Far brighter to look at and more reliable with no extra ballast resistors to plug in"

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20W-10W-CREE-Angel-eye-LED-upgrade-units-BMW-X5-E53-02-07-6000K-2013-MODEL-/370773895267?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM& fits=Car+Make%3ABMW%7CModel%3AX5&hash=item5653d8a8 63#ht_2423wt_1399

What do you reckon guys? Or are they just the older ones, and the text is there to attract buyers awar from the 25W models?

Thanks for any experiences with these ... Cheers. Kev.

IMO, at this point it's pretty definitive that whatever the claim as to the brightness, the limiting factor in our rings is the design of the optics. Regardless of the claim, if you're looking for a result that gets you a daytime visible set of AE's, the bottom line is that you will end up disappointed.