The Long Awaited: The Myth, The Legend, The Douchebaggery

[SlimKlim]

Bro.

Projector housing:



vs. Halogen housing.



Look on the previous page, I have detailed photos of taking them apart. They're definitely projector housings.

[RawrImAMonster]

Bro.

Projector housing:

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vs. Halogen housing.

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Look on the previous page, I have detailed photos of taking them apart. They're definitely projector housings.

They are halogen projectors, not xenon projectors. There is a difference. Mostly with the beam pattern.

The picture on the top is a halogen projector and the picture on the bottom is a halogen reflector.

[navin]

^what this guy said

Housing doesn't matter -- it's all about the type of projector you use. Ran into the same problem with my 4runner which has halogen projectors. I could have modd'd the piece inside the projector, but that required opening up the headlight -- why it went with the retrofit projector.

[RawrImAMonster]

This thread has pictures of the different beam patterns. The Xenon projectors are way wider and have a more even light distribution.

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[SlimKlim]

Yeah I went and educated myself after posting that. I haven't had issues with hot spots or the beams not being wide enough, the only thing that has bothered me about these lights is the angled cut-offs. Althought that makes more sense if it was designed to be used with an H1 halogen bulb though.

At any rate, I'm happy with the end result of the halogen projectors with modified cutoffs for a car that I drive at night very, very, very infrequently. Definitely not worth the additional cost to go to an HID projector.

EDIT:

Yeah I have hot spots like this in the center of the beam:



But modifying the cutoff means I no longer have those blinding upticks to the right. If it was a daily I'd care, but for how I use this car I'm happy with my solution. Dropping mad money on fancy lights is pretty far down my list of priorities.

[navin]

The link to ECS or whatever was priced at $190.. the TRS retro kit was around $150, then you have to add on the HID's, etc. I wouldn't re-do what you have already, just make Jake do it

[SlimKlim]

My lenses are pitted pretty badly and the plastic housings of the lights are about to complete their shuffle off this mortal coil. I don't think they'd survive being opened up again. I dream of one day getting the car resprayed and doing all new exterior seals and trim to bring it back to showroom quality. When (if) that ever happens another $400 for new glass and proper HID housings will be a drop in the bucket. If you want to be really pimpy you can get ZKW bi-xenons for it, but the retrofit looks like a pain in the dick.

[D_Eclipse9916]

The link to ECS or whatever was priced at $190.. the TRS retro kit was around $150, then you have to add on the HID's, etc. I wouldn't re-do what you have already, just make Jake do it

Or.....realize because track car.

Jake should stick with USDM OEM housings because:

A) lighter
B) Free
C) Cheap to replace because everyone goes to EDM style housings (I got my last 2 sets of OEM headlights free)

[SlimKlim]

Yeah Jake has an extra set of the plastic US OEM ones already. Probably best to keep it that way in case he keeps bumping into stuff. If Jake's track rat gets any lighting mods it should be a 4" hole saw through the driver's side high beam housing for MOAR RAM AIR.

(One high beam is good enough to get you home from the track on a dark Sunday night right?)

[navin]

meh, driving to and from the track I'd like to have some nicey lights to light up the road. But yeah, wouldn't be a high priority... I'm just trying to spend everyone's moneyz!

edit: you're probably right Joey... I'm just a stunna

[Jake]

Yeah Jake has an extra set of the plastic US OEM ones already. Probably best to keep it that way in case he keeps bumping into stuff. If Jake's track rat gets any lighting mods it should be a 4" hole saw through the driver's side high beam housing for MOAR RAM AIR.

(One high beam is good enough to get you home from the track on a dark Sunday night right?)

It ain't good enough for state inspection :roll: And hey, the goal is to not bump into moar things.

But yeah, Navin, I don't think you seriously realize how few fucks I give about having icy-hot-stunna headlights. The USDM lights are awful plastic and manage to light up the road "fine" enough. It's money I can spend on other things, like bushings, that actually matter. And as DJ said, the standard lights are cheap as hell to replace if I do manage to crack or destroy one.

[Senor_Taylor]

WAIT WHAT

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[ScottyB]

:lol:

yeah that happened a couple weeks ago. many lols.

[Senor_Taylor]

Pretty sick. I shit myself when I saw it,

Well, no, I didn't, but I thought it was cool.

Was the closeup on the MM sticker on part of the deal?

[SlimKlim]

Nah I didn't give him any ultimatums, pretty sure the FRS guy demanded he leave his "LOL EURO" plate unblurred and mention his upgraded head unit though.

[SlimKlim]

Just made an appointment to take her in and visit Uncle Jarred and Cory at my shop for the alignment, a crude headlight adjustment and to set my shocks to stiff. (I broke the shit out of an allen key trying to get the rear top nut off and decided to be lazy) I also get to borrow a modded E55 while she's under the knife. IT'S SO CLOSE.

[Senor_Taylor]

[SlimKlim]

8)





Got it aligned and had the headlights adjusted. RRT put the final nail in the coffin on trying to make these tires fit. It's prohibitively expensive to make the front fit without rubbing. I still can't believe I was stupid enough to order the wrong tire size. :oops:

It's driveable on the street as long as I'm careful, but I need to change the setup before I can auto-x or I'll ruin the front fenders. They are a perfect size for non-M E46s, so I'll throw up a WTT soon.

I figure I might get lucky and do an even swap for a good set of 17s, or I could sell them outright and jackstand the car while I find another set. OR I could try to sell the tires with <1k on them and buy 35 profiles, but these wheels are heavy and it would be more expensive.

[*insertusernamehere*]

Very nice very nice. I like. The yellow is really nice too. I think I might like all the BMW colors....I'm iffy on the red's

[Senor_Taylor]

Well, at least it looks good!