Clear light and Angel Eye Conversion - The Project and Story
- Thread starter cj10jeeper
- Start date
OK i may be talking total rubbish here but i have done the same converstion as this http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21696 and i will be trying to fit my angle eyes from there rear of the light by stripping it apart from the inside again. I reakon that i will be able to squeeze the 80mm ring in through the inner ring of the head light. I know that i will find it alot harder to mount the ccfls as i will have limited acces through the back and also making it alot or trouble if one fails, cutting the light apart is a big worry for me and it will be my last resort. I also have 3 different types of the angel eyes all 80mm. The first is an encased l.e.d which just looked a little yellow and was off putting the other two are both ccfl and are nearly the same but one set is slightly thicker(talking 2-3mill). here is the links to where i sourced my ccfls/l.e.d http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Angel-Eye-Halo-CCFL-80mm-WHITE-rings-/180318264379?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item29fbce5c3b this is the one ill be using. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-White-80mm-CCFL-Angel-Eye-Halo-Ring-Car-Motorcycle-Light-Lamp-FC4-/250928854387?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a6c867573the slightly thinner set http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-SUPERIOR-QUALITY-80mm-BMW-Angel-Eyes-LED-Ring-Light-036-/320796256733?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4ab0f269dd the yellow in these is quite stong for my liking but at a guess they will probably be the brightest. Nothing tested as of yet but i will be starting soon i hope.
I quite like the look of the LEDs, maybe they will be brighter than CCFL, and the nive end on the cable makes it truely plug and play. Not sure how they would look when off, as you say, maybe a little yellow. Could you take a front on pic of the LED set?
I have the same as in the first link. I have not fitted them yet.
I have the same as in the first link. I have not fitted them yet.
Bradders75
Senior member
T2FFN said:
I've sourced the 85mm rings from here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-White-85mm-CCFL-Angel-Eye-Halo-Ring-Car-Motorcycle-Light-Lamp-FC5-/200678909170?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2eb96524f2
No additional inverters so I'm making an assumption that the existing ones I have for the 80mm rings will run them.
I'm planning to keep the covers on. I know the rings look cleaner without but I think they'll be much, much easier to glue neatly with the flat surface the covers offer on the rear. One thing that will really p*ss me off is if I can see a single blob of glue/silicone once I've finished.
If you keep the plastic covers then pull off the 6 metal plates that are glued on the back - this allows the angel to sit flush with against the light as so bond better
PS yes 80 and 85mm are required for a perfect fit - I found a glue gun was much easier than using an adhesive stick
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
PS yes 80 and 85mm are required for a perfect fit - I found a glue gun was much easier than using an adhesive stick
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Here is a picture of the l.e.d type angel eyes http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=544692 . As you can see they are on the yellow side when turned off, but seem to be very bright. Ill try to take some pics side by side of the rings turned on over the weekend. Dont hold me to it as ill be out enjoying myself if the weather says nice.
spr_bimmer
Member
ranski, are you not worry that the glue from the glue gun will melt in the hot sun and or with your xenons?
i had used a glue gun for something in a previous car and the bond did not hold through the summer.
although i figure there are different types of sticks you can use in these...
i had used a glue gun for something in a previous car and the bond did not hold through the summer.
although i figure there are different types of sticks you can use in these...
kevdix said:
Frankly I'd not try to build them from the rear given how easy it is to chop open the lights. The work is really on show, so needs to be perfect. In my case I used glass CCFL AE and there is no way as complete circles I would be able to squeeze them through the backing as they are really fragile and even if I did would be unable to drill the wire holes.
That said - good luck and hope it turns out well
A 1" cut off disk on a dremmel type cutter is all you need. Few spare blades and some goggles.
Do like the B&D tool but can't say if it's any good for this job.
Do like the B&D tool but can't say if it's any good for this job.
Yesterday my right hand side pre-facelift xenon headlight (with orange hockey stick) arrived from Germany. The intention of buying this was to chop open and take out the perspex headlight lens and mate this to a spare back unit that I already have.
However, to my surprise, even though the headlight is LHD, it still comes with the beam benders built in (i was under the impression that it was only UK headlights which had the beam benders). This is good because I can actually use this headlight on my car rather than having to chop open one of my perfectly good xenon headlights which are currently on my car.
Now, the question i have is....
Has anybody managed to chop open their headlight, and seal it back together using the same lens and back - Without having to use other donor parts from a spare headlight?
If so, where exactly did you cut the lens, and did you manage to get a good seal?
Many thanks.
Andrew.
However, to my surprise, even though the headlight is LHD, it still comes with the beam benders built in (i was under the impression that it was only UK headlights which had the beam benders). This is good because I can actually use this headlight on my car rather than having to chop open one of my perfectly good xenon headlights which are currently on my car.
Now, the question i have is....
Has anybody managed to chop open their headlight, and seal it back together using the same lens and back - Without having to use other donor parts from a spare headlight?
If so, where exactly did you cut the lens, and did you manage to get a good seal?
Many thanks.
Andrew.
andrewr said:
Interesting. By beam benders I assume you mean the cut off of the right 'flick' for EU driving?
In actual fact the beam is cut off by the mechanical flap rising and cutting off the lower left of the beam. Once inverted throught the lens this appears as the cut off the upper right producing a flat beam.
On EU cars this is reveresed so while you may have the lever it will cut off a left flick and thus give a flat beam. check it carefully. Not actually an MO fail in the UK but an advisory (I know as I had them on my X5 for a while)
US lights don't have the cut off and those I've chopped up have the mount point but no lever or shutter fitted.
Yes that's correct, I was meaning the right 'flick'.
I'm sure you will correct me, but as far as i'm aware for UK driving the right headlight is straight beam, and the left headlight has the left 'flick'.
the right 'LHD' headlight I have is able to have both striaght beam and right 'flick', so this would make it legal for UK in straight beam, and legal for EU with the right 'flick' enabled too? Or have I missed something?
My left headlight is a UK Xenon, the one you sold to me actually! So no problems with the beam alignment here.
Andrew.
I'm sure you will correct me, but as far as i'm aware for UK driving the right headlight is straight beam, and the left headlight has the left 'flick'.
the right 'LHD' headlight I have is able to have both striaght beam and right 'flick', so this would make it legal for UK in straight beam, and legal for EU with the right 'flick' enabled too? Or have I missed something?
My left headlight is a UK Xenon, the one you sold to me actually! So no problems with the beam alignment here.
Andrew.
Both headlights for uk driving have the left flick to highlight the pavement and hedgerow.
cj10jeeper said:
I see, thanks for explaining! Maybe i'll remove the flick mechanism from my UK headlight and transfer to the LHD one, i'd rather not have an advisory come MOT time however it might be too much hassle to do this and i'll just put up with it!
Andrew.
I don't believe it can be a fail. Was more an observation when tested that it didn't have it. Since in theory they can't adjust or change anything they never lookedo see that it's missing as opposed to just not set correctly.