Upgrading OEM lights, need a bit of clarification

[usinjin]

Hello all, please excuse my noob-ish questions. I'm still learning.

I've done much reading about all the different kits, retrofits, brands, xenon vs halogens, etc. Now I'd just like a bit of clarification to make sure I'm on the right track.

So I'd like to upgrade my ZKW lights. Their light output is quite poor, my bowls do seem pretty burnt. If I bought new projectors, would they come with their own bowls?

Regarding the term "retrofit"--does the term apply for any lights that aren't OEM?

I've heard good things about the FX-R's.

[anandoc]

Projectors = bowls. You would need to dremel the frame inside the headlight assembly in order to fit the FX-R projectors. Not too difficult but it needs some patience. However, the end results are totally worth all the dremeling. There are many DIYs online which guide you through the process of retrofitting the FX-Rs. I was a 'noob' at this 2 years ago but I followed the DIYs to complete the FX-R retrofit and it was not that hard.

Here are a few FX-R diys

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=760394

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=449574Page%201%20of%2029

The easier retrofit is to use the retro-quick kit as these ones require much less dremeling:
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/all-products/morimoto-retroquik-bmw-e46-zkw-repair.html

[Vas]

You can also purchase used AL brand headlights and replace them with your current ones.

Or send your current lights to Lightwerkz for a retrofit.

Or purchase new bowls that have been coated again.

All 3 options are valid and have been done by various members before

[anandoc]

You can also purchase used AL brand headlights and replace them with your current ones.

Or send your current lights to Lightwerkz for a retrofit.

Or purchase new bowls that have been coated again.

All 3 options are valid and have been done by various members before

Agreed. But the light output off the FX-Rs is much better compared to the AL projectors. Re-coating the existing ZKW bowls is not a solution but a temporary fix, since the bowls will eventually burn out again.

Sure, one can send their ZKW assembly to lightwerkz for the retrofit but whats the fun in that? I did the retrofit 2 years ago and its not hard at all. You just need some patience with a dremel tool and need to follow the DIY guides online. Oh and I had never touched a dremel tool prior to that and was a complete noob at BMWs or headlamp projector assembly DIYs.

[theothersawyer]

Fixing the headlights (did the The Retrofit Source Retro-Quik kit) was easily the single greatest thing I have done to the car!

[usinjin]

Thanks all for the information.


Projectors = bowls.

Okay, so when people say "burned bowls", they're talking about the innards of the projectors themselves, then? I was somehow under the impression there was a reflector behind them that was a separate piece. Very good.


You would need to dremel the frame inside the headlight assembly in order to fit the FX-R projectors. Not too difficult but it needs some patience. However, the end results are totally worth all the dremeling. There are many DIYs online which guide you through the process of retrofitting the FX-Rs. I was a 'noob' at this 2 years ago but I followed the DIYs to complete the FX-R retrofit and it was not that hard

Yeah, I was trying to figure out the difference was with the retro-quik kits and the retrofit. Is it just that the retro-quik kit involves less drilling?

If I wanted to do the retro-fit, my understanding is that I need the FX-R projectors and e46 shrouds, but can keep my current bezels?

[fredo]

You are the UT student, right ? Congrats on the ZHP ! I didn't realize until today you bought the one in Florida. :thumbsup

[usinjin]

You are the UT student, right ? Congrats on the ZHP ! I didn't realize until today you bought the one in Florida. :thumbsup

That's me! Yup, snagged the Florida one, almost on a whim. It spoke to me. :) Good to know there's a fellow Mafia member nearby. I'll have to post some pics!

[anandoc]

Thanks all for the information.



Okay, so when people say "burned bowls", they're talking about the innards of the projectors themselves, then? I was somehow under the impression there was a reflector behind them that was a separate piece. Very good.



Yeah, I was trying to figure out the difference was with the retro-quik kits and the retrofit. Is it just that the retro-quik kit involves less drilling?

If I wanted to do the retro-fit, my understanding is that I need the FX-R projectors and e46 shrouds, but can keep my current bezels?

Yup, you need the projectors and the E46 shrouds. The retro-quick is easier on the dremeling but if you are going to do it, I would highly recommend the FX-Rs. Crazy light output and I am talking better output than most newer cars on the road with my 10+ year old original 4300K bulbs.

[usinjin]

Yup, you need the projectors and the E46 shrouds. The retro-quick is easier on the dremeling but if you are going to do it, I would highly recommend the FX-Rs. Crazy light output and I am talking better output than most newer cars on the road with my 10+ year old original 4300K bulbs.

Thanks for all your help! One last thing I forgot, do I need different ballasts from the stock ones I've got?

[anandoc]

Thanks for all your help! One last thing I forgot, do I need different ballasts from the stock ones I've got?

Nope. The ballasts, bulbs etc all stay the same. You just need the new projectors and shrouds - and a lot of patience :)

[usinjin]

Okay I lied. Thought of something else.

Say in the future I wanted to get a better set of HIDs, such as the Phillips 85122. Would I need new ballasts at this point, or are the OEMs still fine? (basically, why would you need new ballasts? To switch to 35w or 55w?)

[sillieidiot]

Projectors = bowls.

To clarify: Projects = bowls + lenses with lens holders.


Agreed. But the light output off the FX-Rs is much better compared to the AL projectors..

It depends on what you're going after tbh. For it's size the AL E46 projectors are very good. It's a projector that is made for speed. So you have light going farther down the road than to the sides. The FX-Rs have a very wide beam but doesn't project nearly as far. And most people love the sharp cutoff line, but it's actually just for show and really works against you because now you see a bright spot and a dark spot. It's actually better to have a soft cutoff, just doesn't look as nice.


Yup, you need the projectors and the E46 shrouds. The retro-quick is easier on the dremeling but if you are going to do it, I would highly recommend the FX-Rs. Crazy light output and I am talking better output than most newer cars on the road with my 10+ year old original 4300K bulbs.

He doesn't need the shrouds since he's dong the retrofit from his current ZKW xenon headlights. Did you do your retrofit with halogens? It's a lot harder to retrofit from an existing xenon headlight than with a halogen IMO. There's less material to work with.


Okay I lied. Thought of something else.

Say in the future I wanted to get a better set of HIDs, such as the Phillips 85122. Would I need new ballasts at this point, or are the OEMs still fine? (basically, why would you need new ballasts? To switch to 35w or 55w?)

You mean better set of bulbs. You can change the bulbs whenever you want as long as they are the D2S bulb size. It will work perfectly fine with whatever you have. You usually change the ballast when it's bad and that's about it. The only other times really to change it is if you want to do higher wattage (which doesn't get much brighter and will kill your projector bowls faster). Or you're doing some custom install and need more space, since getting an aftermarket HID kit is smaller than an OEM setup usually.

[usinjin]

Thanks for the info! I feel like there's a lot of conflicting info regarding benefits of AL vs aftermarket, I'll definitely bear your points in mind.

[Vas]

There is a used set of AL lights on ebay right now for $400 plus shipping.

[anandoc]

He doesn't need the shrouds since he's dong the retrofit from his current ZKW xenon headlights. Did you do your retrofit with halogens? It's a lot harder to retrofit from an existing xenon headlight than with a halogen IMO. There's less material to work with.


My car had ZKW HIDs too. The E46 shrouds that I received from trs had more material to work with than the OEM shrouds present in my ZKW assembly. For $30 a pair for the shrouds, it was well worth it especially since I did not have to cut up my original factory shrouds (since you cannot but them standalone).

[usinjin]

There is a used set of AL lights on ebay right now for $400 plus shipping.

Vas, is that for the entire assembly? Is there anyway I could just buy the projectors for the AL lights?

[Vas]

Vas, is that for the entire assembly? Is there anyway I could just buy the projectors for the AL lights?

Correct. 2 complete headlight assembly's that are AL ( not zkw )

[sillieidiot]

My car had ZKW HIDs too. The E46 shrouds that I received from trs had more material to work with than the OEM shrouds present in my ZKW assembly. For $30 a pair for the shrouds, it was well worth it especially since I did not have to cut up my original factory shrouds (since you cannot but them standalone).

Yeah I didn't have to cut up the shrouds at all. It fits on there, it's just you can't clip it in so you gotta glue it.


Vas, is that for the entire assembly? Is there anyway I could just buy the projectors for the AL lights?

Sure you can buy only the projectors if you wanted. But it's much easier if you just do the whole assemblies. I might have some projectors lying around that you could buy if you're interested.

[usinjin]

Yeah I didn't have to cut up the shrouds at all. It fits on there, it's just you can't clip it in so you gotta glue it.



Sure you can buy only the projectors if you wanted. But it's much easier if you just do the whole assemblies. I might have some projectors lying around that you could buy if you're interested.


I might be interested. I don't mind the extra work of fitting them in. If you find some, shoot me a PM :)