So can I just buy the FXR's from Lightwerkz for $135 and plop them in? I read this entire thread and I'm still a little confused... :blink
http://shop.lightwerkz.net/Morimoto-...rojectors-D2S#
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So can I just buy the FXR's from Lightwerkz for $135 and plop them in? I read this entire thread and I'm still a little confused... :blink
http://shop.lightwerkz.net/Morimoto-...rojectors-D2S#
No. There is dremeling to be done. The FX-R projector is WAY bigger than the OEM ones that come on E46'sQuote:
Originally Posted by ryankokesh
I can dremel. I think I'm just going to order these and be done with it.
So I basically just make the replacement look like the original, using a dremel?
Oh yeah, I forgot you're in a ZHP now.Quote:
Originally Posted by ryankokesh
Here are two good DIY's you can follow:
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=760394
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=772065
There is no 100% plug and play swap except for AL parts, and even that isn't cut and dry.
E90 bowls require some massaging, cutting, clipping to fit, and then you have the issue of the bulb holder.
FXR or any of lightwerkz stuff is a total non-oem retrofit that ultimately gets held in with JB weld. By far the best light quality, but it will take a lot of work to have the physical retrofit be quality.
Hmm, cool. Thanks for the links. I think this might be the route I go. I'll have to think about i...
What about the Depo 46s? Aren't they just drop in and go?
From my understanding (read: what follows is probably not correct) they are plug and play, but the light quality isn't as good for some reason, they aren't adjustable, and you loose the brights? And I think they're more than 2x as much $$.
I left depos out because I have never heard a single positive thing about them.
Or that.
I'm still waiting on fitting my FX-R's in.. but ATM I have AL's from an M3. I'll be taking those out and dropping in my FX-R's in a completely different housing. SO I'll have a full set of AL's that are true plug and play to any other 3er. That will be a nice way to go if you're looking for an easy way to get it done..
I might be interested in that... pm me with price details and when you'd be able to ship them. thanks!
Why would you get rid of the Al's....drop in, plug and play.....and get FX-R's? Is the light output that much more superior?Quote:
Originally Posted by nike001
Yes. Didn't you see my picture a few weeks ago? FX-R-top AL-bottom:Quote:
Originally Posted by danewilson77
http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/o...9/2b01c955.jpg
It's amazing..I wonder where all the leftover light is going in the AL system.....it's got to be going somewhere...either leaking somewhere else or by heat if the laws of physics apply. :)
I hate this thread and it is probably the most important one. I will be attempting the E90 retrofit this weekend. Oy.
Leaking should be fixable by some means. I would think heat would be a bulb issue? Do FX-R's use a new bulb or is this the old ZHP bulb? Can replacing the ZHP bulb achieve the same results with the E90 AL parts?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rovert
Depos are absolute shit. Don't buy them. Period.
Point taken :)
I'll be ordering the fx-r's tonight, and then promptly waiting for dalton to do his so he can help me :D
And then, I will drive at night!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
:rofl I was scared shitless to drive at night with my ZKW's. People thought I had halogens..and then they said that if they are halogens, that they were crappy. I also got quite a few "I thought BMW's were supposed to have good lights?"Quote:
Originally Posted by ryankokesh
A few months after getting my car I had to make a trip ~1hr away and while driving there and back in the rain/snow I was almost blind. I can vividly remember getting side-by-side with a late 80's Dodge Ram and almost crying because his lights were better than mine.
Yes. I did see your pic... From a few weeks ago. I read a lot of threads, and decided not to commit that post to memory.Quote:
Originally Posted by nike001
Just wanted fellas here to know the light output from the Al's were inferior.
HTC Thunderbolt+TT
Inferior, perhaps yes to the FX-R, but in no way are the AL's inferior when not comparing to something. They light friggin' AWESOME overall.Quote:
Originally Posted by danewilson77
e46 projectors are known for being just about the best when it comes to their depth and distance that they provide.Quote:
Originally Posted by az3579
Yes. That's what I meant. Of course. Inferior in this particular comparison.
HTC Thunderbolt+TT
Holy crap on a cracker, that difference is substantial. that's enough to make me consider cobbling some into my as yet unburned zkws....Quote:
Originally Posted by nike001
Lol... Cobbling.Quote:
Originally Posted by zj96sc
HTC Thunderbolt+TT
I need Projectors...
My pitted lenses and unleveled Halogen bowls is damn near worthless at night. Really considering shelling out the $500 for a retrofitted set. I had to back out at the end of last year, but I'm waiting on my tax return to get them.
If you've got halogens I'd jump on the FX-Rs in a heartbeat. I am seriously impressed with that picture nike posted.
I just don't like the dremel plus JB weld process for lighting....seems short lived and haphazard for something as safety critical and aim/alignment sensitive as lighting. That said, I think if you were really diligent and careful about it you could come up with something clean, professional, adjustable, and long lasting. If I had an extra set of lights (or very burned ZKWs or very bad shape halogens) I think I'd be willing to try it out.
Got the FX-R retrofit done :)
Re-installed the lights today.
I'm absolutely impressed with the results. I can actually see now, and they still have a nice cutoff.
Dropped them off at Lightwerkz (very close to me) yesterday, and got them back today.
Big thanks to Caesar over at Lightwerkz!
For sale: ZKW Projectors with lenses. Passengers side is a brand new bowl.
Posting these on eBay shortly.
http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/eee12c59.jpg
http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/a...y/f148cd3b.jpg
That cutoff is baller.
HTC Thunderbolt+TT
Thank you. It's very close to what the ZKW's (were supposed to) look like.
yeah, that is awesome lighting. I have an extra set of headlight assemblies and FX-R projectors that I will be sending to Caesar this summer for my retrofit :) Looks great :thumbsup
These are OEM AL Bi-Xenon projectors with OEM Ballasts and Ignitors
Attachment 3484
Attachment 3483
Attachment 3482
Attachment 3481
I do believe those with the facelift coupe xenons have the best lighting of all! My ZHP sedan has the TFX retrofit and my new coupe has the adaptive xenons, and they are not quite as wide but they make up for that with the overall intensity and brightness of the light.
A little bit off topic but I used to wonder how the facelift coupe (not the same as pre-facelift coupe, AL sedan xenon etc.) stacked up against the TFX, now I know.
Does anyone know what a full retrofit from Lightwerkz would cost about ?
I got an email from lightwerkz about a retrofit. Hang on let me dig it up.
LIGHTWERKZ: $365 for labor
LIGHTMODZ: $250
EDIT: I'll PM the rest of this to you since I have personal preferences when it comes to the 2 companies who PM'ed me back on hidplanet based on their responses.
PM received. I took apart my headlights Saturday (Sunday was raining all day) and found i have the burnt bowls too :'(
I would definitely recommend Lightwerkz. Super fast turn around time, great customer service, and it was an affordable retrofit.
E-mail Caesar and ask for a quote!
So I spoke with the NHTSA a while back about the burnt bowl issue, and they requested I take my car to the dealership to see what they had to say about it. Well, I finally got around to making an appointment for tomorrow, so maybe I'll be able to get some answers from someone. Not expecting anything really, but I did want to be able to get back to the nhtsa.
That said though, does anyone have any ideas about what I should say/ask? My bowls are actually burnt all the way through (as in you can see the light of day through them) so I'm kind of playing it as a potential fire hazard as well as the huge safety issue of not being able to see at night.
Any thoughts from the mafia think tank?
I think the fire hazard and inability to see far ahead is a great start. Another one is most cars will cast a shadow in front of your car at night making it even harder to see what's ahead.