LCI Headlight "lighting package" Upgrade from Xenon

[smoorebmw]

6 months ago I went through the fun process of buying an F10 M5 and top on my priority list was finding a 2014+ with the "lighting package". I came across an offer I couldn't refuse - 2013 with 6,800 miles with all the other options on my list, B&O, Black Piano Trim, white-dove leather, exe pkg.... So I pulled the trigger. Because I didn't find one with the "lighting package" one of the first things I went shopping for was a full LED headlight conversion. After some googling I come to find I'd need to fly a Russian and some unicorns into the States to complete the conversion - plus many thousands of $$$$...That not being an option I walked away defeated and accepted my fate. Well so I thought, then I get word that Umnitza (who I've done business with before for my e39 540i 10 years prior) had a plug and play solution for the F10 ( https://www.umnitza.com/browse-by-ca...ngel-eyes.html ) I figured it was to good too be true so I gave them a call and discussed this option with Matt (Owner). He assured me this route is a great way to go and I'd be more than happy with the outcome. He informed me that I would need to get my car coded because it would throw the "active headlight" fault and the "Left/Right Cornering light" fault due to the fact the after market LED lights are NOT active and will not move Left/Right when cornering. However, he went on to explain that the lights WILL activate a small LED light during turns to make up for the "active feature". Taking no chances I agreed to order the lights but under one condition that they'd do the install. I also emailed SFCODINGdotCOM to verify they could code out my faults after the install, Adrian (coder) confirmed. This last weekend I was able to make the trip from San Diego to San Francisco. I met with Matt first thing Monday morning and he completed the install.



here is the install video Umnitza put together the morning of my install.

He took about 2 hours to install but that was only because he wanted to make an install video along the way. I figure it could have been done in 45 min without the interruptions. Once completed and as promised my car threw codes



luckily for me my next stop was to SFCODING to fix the issue. I meet Adrian (coder) and 45 min later my cars is back with no fault lights. See below for the codes he adjusted.

LWR_AHL_TYP = ohne (removes adaptive feature)
FLC_AKTIV - to nicht aktiv (fixes cornering fault)


Review

(Let me start off by saying that my GF has the 2016 f80 M3 with the lighting package so I have lots of experience with the real thing.

I couldn't be happier with the final result!!! The look is nearly identical to the OEM lights with small minor changes that most of you wouldn't even be able to spot. Also I do NOT miss the active headlights because the LED light feature when turning is actually quite impressive. First let's look at the quality and detail of the light.

OEM



Umnitza After Market - nearly matches the real thing




Top View Installed (looks and fits like OEM - flush)



Looks A+!!!!!









Performance A++!!!
These lights are even brighter than Stock Xenons and to be honest they are brighter than my GF's M3 with lighting package. They are CRAZY BRIGHT!!! I think they need to be aimed down a bit to give a more flood like light towards the bottom left and right. I think I blinded many drivers on my 7 hour night drive home.



Brights - very BRIGHT and make everything look as if it was day



Daytime running light matches the stock LED lights with the white light bar at the top and the blinkers are amber when flashing



I highly recommend this upgrade! This car looks entirely different and the performance of the lights are WAYYY better than stock. I did experience some moisture in the lights after I first powered them up but it went away after a few hours, I believe it was due to some of the glue moisture it burnt off, it never returned after that. I have also completed my first high pressure car wash water test with no issues. I have more pics and can take more if you guys are interested. Give Matt a call at Umnitza ( www.umnitza.com ) If you decide to have them install the lights I also highly recommend using SFCODINGdotCOM I am in no way affiliated with either party.

-Stephen

[Eddybro]

Looks awesome!
Your car is identical to mine lol.

Pricing on these?

If you can let Matt know I would be interested in them.

Thank you.

[MpowerMike]

Maybe we can do a GroupBuy?

[naiza3k]

maybe we should get a groupbuy together for these lights, i'd be interested too if we can get it a deal! haha

[naiza3k]

Originally Posted by MpowerMike

Maybe we can do a GroupBuy?

Great minds think alike buddy!

[RPiM5]

Awesome writeup and explanation. I'll definitely be getting these in the future. Thanks!

[MpowerMike]

Is anybody able to setup us up with a GB ? Maybe someone can contact Matt from Unnitza.

[Eddybro]

@smoorebmw how long have you had them on your car? Have you washed the car since then?

Just want to make sure there aren't any sealing issues.

I just looked thru the forums about their products and there is some stuff that concerns me in regards to the light housing not being sealed completely, and Umnitza failing to resolve it.

Thank you.

[smoorebmw]

Originally Posted by Eddybro

@smoorebmw how long have you had them on your car? Have you washed the car since then?

Just want to make sure there aren't any sealing issues.

I just looked thru the forums about their products and there is some stuff that concerns me in regards to the light housing not being sealed completely, and Umnitza failing to resolve it.

Thank you.

I've only had these lights 4 days and have already completed 1 successful power wash. When I first powered up the lights I did notice some moisture in the lights, I think it was the glue heating up for the first time BUT within a few hours it was gone never to return. Trust me, this is a huge concern for me too!! But after holding the lights in my hands to seeing the quality of the material I feel pretty good about them. I can only speak from experience, I bought headlights 10 years ago from Umnitza and I didn't have 1 issue.

with that said, these lights (e39 540i - above) were built in Austria and the F10 lights are built in China. We have a 1 year warranty on the lights.

While I was getting my lights installed someone came in with water trapped in their fog light that Umnitza installed, they immediately went to work removing the old light to replace it. There were no questions asked. This is why I buy stuff on my credit card, if for some reason something happens and the business doesn't do the right thing I could do a chargeback up to 6 months. Matt seems like a stand up guy and I doubt we will have any issues if something were to happen. Again, I have no affiliation with Umnitza and can't guarantee anything. I am hanging onto my old lights just in case something happens.

[w@lterwhite]

[smoorebmw]

I took some pics next to my GF's M3 that has the lighting package for comparison. It's a bit hard to tell BUT believe me when I say my lights are way brighter than the LED M3 lights.









lowered the brightness (phone pic)

[bmwdinan5]

Great to hear Umnitza is great in person. I've only had issues with them over the last 10 years. Over charges. Faulty top end products that they wouldn't replace under warranty because the items were out of stock but they'd be happy to charge me for a new version, forgetting to credit me for items. Failing to send items overnight after I've paid for overnight. All of these multiple times.

- now I'm off my soap box

[sodaguy67]

Thanks for the excellent write up. I have been eyeing these headlights, but was afraid to pull the trigger. i to had problems with umnitza when i had there xfr's on e39 m5. i guess it makes a difference when you can go to them to have them installed instead of having them shipped across country.

i hope they work well for you, and enjoy them in good health.

[marmit2017]

Do they still auto level?

[M5Rick]

Don't want to be kill joy here but would BM warranty for electrics be affected by additions like this..

[A.dot]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Don't want to be kill joy here but would BM warranty for electrics be affected by additions like this..

Probably not...