Horrible light output

[midlandtech]

I have really bad light output from my xenons (my fogs have more light output) any ideas why? Bad xenons?


~Steve
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Johal E32]

burnt headlamp projectors....

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...ght=burnt+bowl

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...ght=burnt+bowl

[az3579]

You have ZKW projectors, which on the E46 are garbage. Bowls are made of plastic, which eventually burn out, causing little to no useable light output.

Only solutions are to either replace with brand new replacements, which will eventually do the same thing, or to swap the projectors one of a few possible solutions such as E90, E46 M3, or any of Lightwerkz' available projectors.

www.lightwerkz.net
Go here if you want it done for you.

[Johal E32]

Oh, I also hear the AL headlamps were in a few E46 facelift models and they did not suffer from this issue. Maybe you can source a set of those?

[az3579]

Oh, I also hear the AL headlamps were in a few E46 facelift models and they did not suffer from this issue. Maybe you can source a set of those?

That's the M3 option, the route Charlie and I took.
I just happened to get unlucky; my projector high beams don't work properly. FUBAR projectors.

[midlandtech]

You have ZKW projectors, which on the E46 are garbage. Bowls are made of plastic, which eventually burn out, causing little to no useable light output.

Only solutions are to either replace with brand new replacements, which will eventually do the same thing, or to swap the projectors one of a few possible solutions such as E90, E46 M3, or any of Lightwerkz' available projectors.

www.lightwerkz.net
Go here if you want it done for you.

thank you everyone for the help. Will any of the projectors from the above lightwerkz website fit our cars or is there a specific one that I need to buy

[cakM3]

Steve,

Steve (SNA77) sourced AL headlight assemblies from his indy shop and got a warranty with them so he replaced both headlight assemblies to restore his lighting. The route BP was describing is that I rebuilt my ZKW headlight assemblies by replacing the cheap ZKW plastic projector bowls with OEM ///M3 "AL" projector bowls, which required some work to get it done.

There are others who have gone the E90 projector bowl retrofit route....

Or you can go to Lightwerks and have FX-R projectors retrofitted into your ZKW headlight assemblies which will provide even better lighting...either way all previously mentioned methods will restore lighting to your ZHP.

At the time I retrofitted my ZKW headlight assemblies I was frustrated because there were no comprehensive DIYs out there showing how to do this from start to finish so I, with BP's, Steve (prowlerflyer), Chad44, and Dane's help, produced a retrofit DIY to help others in the same situation. If you have questions, feel free to ask

~Charlie

[nike001]

lol Steve. Don't take this the wrong way.. but seriously, where have you been?

This topic has been discussed endlessly here on the forums and I thought everyone and their mother knew of this problem

[danewilson77]

lol Steve. Don't take this the wrong way.. but seriously, where have you been?

This topic has been discussed endlessly here on the forums and I thought everyone and their mother knew of this problem

+1. Totally caught me off guard. He won't be offended. I have no idea how he missed it either.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[midlandtech]

lol Steve. Don't take this the wrong way.. but seriously, where have you been?

This topic has been discussed endlessly here on the forums and I thought everyone and their mother knew of this problem

I know it had but for some reason I had it in my head that this was a halogen only issue. Guess part of me was hoping that I wouldn't have to dismantle my headlights and rig up a solution. alas it looks like I will be spending a weekend with my work bench in the hopes that I can fix it.... on a side note why the hell are the direct replacements so damn expensive make no since to me

Thanks everyone for the help... and pardon my ignorance