HID check

[TDot]

How do I check if my M is already hid equipped, or if I have to buy the kit?

[Ilya]

Are your lights yellow or white? If yellow, non-HID. If white, HID.

Or post a pic and I'll tell you.

[TDot]

They are white so I guess they are HID, but they are not what i would call bright....flies in the face of what I expect from HID which is why I asked. I'll post a pic when I get chance. Is it simply that the stock hid aren't super bright and I should just swap them out? ...I assume all the HID conversions I've glanced across are for none HID Ms. Or are they like me, just stepping up their HIDs?

[Ilya]

No...HID conversion kits are for cars that don't have HID's.

It's possible your bulbs just need to be changed. They do 'wash out', etc. over time.

Non-HID:



HID:

[wingFeather]

Do the lights flash on, then quickly kind of "warm up" to full intensity? That is sometimes the quickest way to tell, other than removing the bulb for examination. Do not touch the bulb itself of course.

[White-Rush]

HID:

Sheez.... kind of an intimidating picture, sitting there in the dark..

[Ilya]

Hahahah yeah

[The Bodyguard]

HID:

Sheez.... kind of an intimidating picture, sitting there in the dark..

Lmao!!!!!

[SmoovC]

If you have the Journey Package (J01) or above, then you have HIDs. Tip: with the car on and the headlights on (against a garage wall or in the dark), turn the wheel to the right. If the right headlight moves, you have HIDs, along with adaptive lighting.

[TDot]

I do have adaptive lights, so I do have HID, thanks. I guess I have to swap them out for stronger 5K HID.

[Ilya]

I do have adaptive lights, so I do have HID, thanks. I guess I have to swap them out for stronger 5K HID.

Post a pic of your lights against a wall from like 5-6 car lengths. I will tell you if they look okay or not. If they look fine and you want stronger, you will need to upgrade your entire system to 55w. OEM HID's are all 35w.

35w 5k = 55w 6k (55w washes out the color a little so you have to get 1k higher than what you really want).

Just an FYI.

[wingFeather]

Perhaps the bulbs are used up. Stock M headlights are plenty bright.

[Captain Obvious]

I do have adaptive lights, so I do have HID, thanks. I guess I have to swap them out for stronger 5K HID.

5K is the color temperature (you can get different colors, from a yellow cast all the way to blue or purple), not the "brightness". For more light output (regardless of color), you need a system with higher wattage.

[TDot]

Someone confirmed I have HIDs. I'll get a pic over the weekend. Whats the process of increasing the wattage for the low beams? Is it troublesome/recommended/a waste?

[TDot]

Sorry it took so long


I can't find a wall to face 5-6 car lengths away with no other lighting around.

[Ilya]

You need to replace the ballasts with 55w ballasts.

[TDot]

Is it my ballasts are bad, or I have 35 and 55 will just make it brighter?