Retrofit- xenon projector upgrade review: SUPERB

bigwinn

bigwinn

Elite
 Lincoln UK
Site Supporter
Hi all

After seeing comments on another thread about retrofit kits to upgrade and improve the projectors in stock xenons, I ordered a set

I bought the projectors and new xenon bulbs from retrofitlab.com (£174) and paid the £16 shipping and import taxes (£58 cheers Brexit)

Very easy to fit- front wheel off, back of headlight off and swap the projectors out by undoing the 4 7mm bolts and a few connections.

Wow- I’m stunned by the difference

Z4 headlights have always been rubbish and xenons aren’t much better. These make the beam throw better, crisper and brighter.

Sadly one was damaged in transport but as I fitted one I can compare with the stock output. I’ll get some pictures up but this really is worth the money if you struggle with the candle in a jam jar oem set up

I’m not sure if it’s MoT compliance but if needed I will revert to stock

Highly recommended

Stuart
 
Best upgrade I’ve made to mine by far (even over the LSD). It’s been through one MOT fine with them in, so you should be okay.
 
Had you already tried cleaning the original projectors first to compare the light output?

Mine were much brighter once I'd got all the soot off them and polished the headlight lens.

Did you also stick to OE bulb temp 4300k, or did you go the a whiter/brighter looking temp?
 
mmm-five said:
Had you already tried cleaning the original projectors first to compare the light output?

Mine were much brighter once I'd got all the soot off them and polished the headlight lens.

Did you also stick to OE bulb temp 4300k, or did you go the a whiter/brighter looking temp?
Click to expand...
I have

The lens is not the problem- I’ll get a photo, it’s the projector that degrades or is poor and that can’t be polished
 
bigwinn said:
I have

The lens is not the problem- I’ll get a photo, it’s the projector that degrades or is poor and that can’t be polished
Click to expand...
Sorry, I meant I had both the external plastic lens/cover AND the internal glass projector lens cleaned/polished.

On the projector, you could use your finger to leave a 'clean' stripe in the black dust/soot that had been deposited onto the rear/flat part of the projector lens.

Of course it still may not cure the poor light output, but it may be a simpler/cheaper DIY thing to try first.

It reduces the light output due to both residue build up and due to messing up the refraction index of the lens, so that it's not focused properly.

Mine looked something like this (not my photo, or even from the same vehicle)...
ProjLens.png
 
@mmm-five i seem to recall trying to clean the lenses on a previous car and it making little difference

Here is a pic- existing reflector bowl versus the upgrade unit. No pun intended you can see why it’s night and day- the old reflectors are cr4p and no amount of polishing is going to sort that

IMG_2751.jpeg
IMG_2752.jpeg
 
I also had very good service from the company- I reported the issues with the part broken in transit, with no quibble I had the part to replace in my hand within 4 days.

Superb company to deal with
 
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