Snake-Eye LED Headlights — BMW X3 F25 & X4 F26
LCI-Shape Full LED Conversion for Xenon Cars — Pre-LCI to LCI Look — Switchable White / Yellow Arrow DRL — Auto-Leveling — No Coding — 2010–2018
BMW X3 F25 • X4 F26 • sDrive18d • xDrive20d • xDrive20i • xDrive28i • xDrive30d • xDrive35d • xDrive35i • M40i • Factory Xenon • EU Spec • 2010–2018
The 2014 X3 facelift gave the F25 a new face: headlights that run into the kidney grille, a wider, lower front. It's the generation of X3 that still looks current — and the X4 F26 launched wearing the same front end. These Snake-Eye headlights are built in that LCI shape, with a full-LED interior and the arrow-shaped DRL of BMW's newest cars, switchable between clean white and CSL yellow from the high-beam stalk.
For a facelift X3 or any X4, it's a direct swap. For a 2010–2014 pre-LCI X3, it's the conversion: fit an LCI-style front bumper and these headlights complete the facelift front end. Either way, the headlight plugs into the factory xenon harness — standard or adaptive — with no coding, and keeps automatic beam leveling.
Fits European-spec BMW X3 F25 (2010–2017) and X4 F26 (2014–2018) with factory xenon headlights, including adaptive xenon (AHL). It does not fit halogen or factory LED headlights, and US-market cars are not a plug-and-play fit — see below.
Quick Facts
| Fits | BMW X3 F25 (2010–2017) & X4 F26 (2014–2018) — EU-spec cars with factory xenon or adaptive xenon (AHL) headlights |
|---|---|
| Does not fit | Halogen headlights · factory LED / Adaptive LED headlights · US-market cars (not plug-and-play, may require coding — contact us first) |
| Bumper | LCI shape — X3 LCI (2014–2017) and X4: direct install · X3 pre-LCI (2010–2014): requires an LCI-style front bumper, sourced separately |
| Design | Snake-Eye arrow DRL — the vertical twin-blade signature of BMW's current generation |
| DRL | White (~6,000K) / Yellow (~3,000K) switchable — flash high beams 6× for Yellow, 5× for White |
| Light source | Full LED — low beam, high beam, DRL, indicators; nothing reused from the old lights |
| Leveling | Integrated automatic leveling motor |
| In the box | 2 complete headlight assemblies with all LED drivers and electronics installed |
| Coding | None on EU xenon cars, including adaptive xenon |
| Install | Front bumper removal, plug into the factory harness — 2–3 hours; pre-LCI conversion 3–4 hours with the bumper swap |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Step 1 — Which Car Are You Starting From?
Both take the same headlight. The difference is whether your bumper already has the facelift shape.
X3 Pre-LCI — Xenon
2010–2014
The pre-LCI to LCI conversion. Pair these headlights with an LCI-style front bumper; the harness plugs straight in.
X3 LCI & X4 — Xenon
X3 2014–2017 · X4 2014–2018
Your bumper already has the LCI shape. Direct swap — same housing outline, same harness plug.
Xenon only — standard or adaptiveThese are built for the factory xenon harness: bi-xenon (option 522) and adaptive xenon AHL (option 524) both plug in with no coding. Xenon cars show a clear projector lens with corona rings and, in Europe, headlight washer jets in the bumper. They do not fit halogen headlights (reflector bowl, visible bulb) or the factory LED and Adaptive LED headlights offered on the facelift. Our headlight identification guide covers the option codes, or send us your VIN.
Pre-LCI owners — the bumperThe facelift headlight meets the kidney grille where the original one didn't, so the pre-LCI bumper can't accommodate it. Fit an LCI-style front bumper (sourced separately) and the headlights complete the conversion. Most owners do bumper and headlights in one session — the bumper has to come off anyway.
US-market carsBMW wired the North American F25 and F26 differently, and this set is not a plug-and-play fit for them — installation may require coding. If your car was built for the US market, contact us with your VIN before ordering.
Not sure whether your X3 is pre-LCI, or which headlights it has?
Send us your VIN and we'll confirm in minutes. Contact us here →
DRL Color Switching
From the driver's seat with the high-beam stalk — no app, no remote, no switch in the engine bay. The headlight remembers your selection through ignition cycles.
Switch to Yellow: flash high beams 6×
Switch back to White: flash high beams 5×
Engineered to Stay on the Car
Xenon & Adaptive Xenon — Zero Coding
Built for the European xenon harness with the electronics configured for it — including the adaptive-light handshake on AHL cars, so there's no warning on the dash and nothing to code. No cable, no laptop session, no dealer visit. Pre-LCI or LCI, the plug is the same.
The LCI Shape — Facelift Front End
Shaped like the 2014 facelift headlight, meeting the kidney grille the way BMW drew it. On an LCI X3 or an X4 it drops straight in; on a pre-LCI X3 it's the headlight half of the facelift conversion, with an LCI-style bumper completing the look.
The Snake-Eye Arrow DRL
Two vertical arrow blades per headlight — the DRL graphic BMW now runs across its range — in white or CSL yellow at a flash of the stalk. The signature of a current BMW, on the X3 generation that still looks the part.
Auto-Leveling Retained
An integrated leveling motor adjusts beam height with vehicle load, exactly as your factory xenon units did. Tow, load the boot, carry five: the beam stays where it should.
Ships Complete — Nothing to Transfer
Every LED driver, DRL board, control module and the leveling motor are inside the housing. No D1S burners, no ballasts, no igniters to move across. Your factory headlights come off intact.
Full LED — Instant-On
Low beam, high beam, DRL and indicators are all LED, with full output the moment you turn the key and no bulbs to replace. The factory adaptive swivel of AHL units is replaced by a fixed, wide beam pattern.
2-Year Warranty
ABS housings with PMMA lenses, sealed against moisture at every joint. Every pair is bench-tested before shipping and covered for two years from delivery.
Installation
A headlight swap requiring front bumper removal. No wiring modifications, no coding. Allow 2–3 hours on an LCI X3 or X4; pre-LCI owners should allow 3–4 hours, since the LCI-style bumper goes on during reassembly.
- Remove the front bumper: the fasteners along the top edge under the hood, the screws inside the wheel arches, and the undertray clips. Disconnect the fog light, sensor and washer-jet connections before pulling the bumper forward.
- Unbolt the factory headlights and disconnect the main harness plug.
- Plug the new headlight into your factory xenon harness.
- Test before reassembly — low beam, high beam, arrow DRL, indicators, the 6×/5× color switch, and the leveling sweep when you switch the ignition on.
- Reinstall the bumper — the LCI-style bumper on pre-LCI cars — and set the baseline beam height with the adjusters; our headlight aiming guide covers the procedure. The auto-leveling works from that baseline.
Frequently Asked Questions
An LCI-style front bumper. The facelift headlight meets the kidney grille where the original didn't, so the pre-LCI bumper can't take it. With the LCI bumper on, these headlights complete the facelift front end — electrically they plug into your existing xenon harness as they are.
Yes. Same housing outline, same mounting points, same harness plug as your factory LCI xenon units. Bumper off, old headlights out, new ones in.
Yes. The X4 launched with the facelift front end, so it shares the LCI X3's headlights and bumper shape — a direct swap on any xenon X4, 2014–2018.
No. The headlights cover standard bi-xenon (522) and adaptive xenon (524) and handle the adaptive-light handshake on AHL cars, so there's no dashboard warning and nothing to code. The physical beam swivel is replaced by a fixed, wide beam pattern; auto-leveling is retained.
No. These are built for the xenon harness only; halogen cars use different wiring and aren't supported by this set.
No. The factory LED and Adaptive LED headlights use a different harness that this set doesn't support. Xenon cars only.
Not as a plug-and-play fit — BMW wired the North American cars differently, and installation may require coding. Contact us with your VIN before ordering and we'll tell you honestly what's involved.
From the driver's seat: flash the high beams 6× for CSL Yellow, 5× to return to White. The headlight remembers your selection through ignition cycles.
Yes. The leveling motor is integrated and adjusts beam height with load — the same behavior as your factory xenon headlights. You set the baseline once with the adjusters; the car handles the rest.
Nothing. LED drivers, DRL boards, control modules and the leveling motor are all inside the new housing. Your factory headlights stay fully intact.
No. The E83 (2004–2010) and G01 (2017+) use different headlights — we have separate listings for those generations.
Yes, if you're comfortable removing the front bumper on the F25. Standard hand tools, 2–3 hours — more on a pre-LCI car with the bumper swap — and no lift required.
Technical Specifications
| Light Source | Full LED — low beam, high beam, DRL, indicators |
|---|---|
| DRL Design | Snake-Eye / arrow — vertical twin-blade signature, switchable White (~6,000K) / Yellow (~3,000K) |
| DRL Switching | High-beam stalk — 6× Yellow, 5× White · selection remembered |
| Beam Leveling | Integrated automatic leveling motor |
| Housing Shape | LCI (facelift) — direct fit on X3 LCI and X4; pre-LCI X3 requires an LCI-style front bumper |
| Harness | EU-spec xenon — bi-xenon (522) and adaptive xenon AHL (524) |
| Coding | None (EU xenon cars) |
| Operating Voltage | 12V DC |
| Housing Material | ABS + PMMA Lens |
| Compatibility | BMW X3 F25 (2010–2017) · X4 F26 (2014–2018) · EU spec · factory xenon / adaptive xenon |
| Not Compatible | Halogen headlights · factory LED / Adaptive LED headlights · US-market cars (not plug-and-play) · X3 E83 · X3 G01 |
| Sold As | Pair (Left + Right), complete assemblies |
| Warranty | 2 Years |
