I also dropped a few quid on bulbs, although not quite as much as SJ. The candles in the 330 seemed a bit weak so got some GE Megalight 150% brighter jobs from Halfrauds as I was passing, because that's basically how lazy I am, and how little I plan ahead, and they're generally agreed to be not the very best, but better than Halfords own jobs and certainly better than your boggo dealer fit items.
Anyway, already long story slightly shorter, I put one of 'em in upside down thanks to BMWs weird captive socket arrangement thing. Noticed it was a bit off straight away but couldn't quite work out why. I mean, the tab is between the two posts on the holder, right....?
Yup, but the wrong set of tabs. Swap em around, and bang, nice clean light output again.
I swear to fuck, with this and the Mondeo, I think I'd have been better just banging an HID projector setup in it, at least then I'd
know it was going to be annoying.
Anyway, I know the trick now.
If you've never owned an E46, you literally just plug the bulb into this holder thing then use the tabs to lock that piece into the housing. Yes, you can put the bulbs in the wrong way and they'll light up.
Not a bad system once you, er, pay attention to it.
So yes, I'm an idiot, but I worked it out, so yay me.
Oh, also, I'm now regularly driving with the TC and DSC off because I'm familiar enough with the car to know when the DSC is kicking in and as (IIRC) RichB mentioned, it gets annoying, fast.