Alternative to Pre-Facelift Depo lights on Ebay for 600 bucks?

[Lowblock]

Ok, im curious, at what point did the lights become unopenable? there was only what 3 years of pre facelift? Mine is an 03 and I would like to add rings. They are factory HID so I just assumed I was getting the best headlight BMW put in it, are you saying that the projectors need to be swapped out? I bought a set of zkw's? for my e39 and I really dont see much of a difference between the X and the e39. If im putting in rings would it be wise to do anything else while I am in there?

[papasmurf]

The halogen rings suck. They use about 6 T5 bulbs per ring and it just looks spotty. +1 to baking and making your own.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by Lowblock

Ok, im curious, at what point did the lights become unopenable? there was only what 3 years of pre facelift? Mine is an 03 and I would like to add rings. They are factory HID so I just assumed I was getting the best headlight BMW put in it, are you saying that the projectors need to be swapped out? I bought a set of zkw's? for my e39 and I really dont see much of a difference between the X and the e39. If im putting in rings would it be wise to do anything else while I am in there?

mid to late 2002 I believe is when hella started using the permaseal so the conventional 10 mins at an oven and easy job prying them open with black goopy glue was over.

As far as I know the projector used in our headlights are great and not low quality although there is always something better on the market, I personally don't think I will swap them, I may try to swap to a clear lens at 25 bucks for ZKW-R, but my light output to my eyes looks good. Unless there is an affordable option to get superior projector light, and its easily swappable (literally bolt on and go), I would just keep what I have.

It would be wise if you are putting in rings, to perhaps remove the amber portion on the corner if you have sport package like me, or to remove the turn signal portion completely and perhaps spray the corner section matte silver, to me when the turn signal is removed completely on the pre-facelifts and left exposed chrome it screams that something is missing from the headlight.



I sent basically these exact questions to The Retrofit Source to see if they have any tips on opening these lights (their website says 220 for 20 mins and diligent prying techniques to open permaseal) as well as their professional opinion on what projectors plug and play and what type of upgrades you can do to our headlights to improve what we already have installed from the factory.


PS anyone know what size rings we need on our headlights? I know they are two different sizes for low and high beams.

[X5SND]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I sent basically these exact questions to The Retrofit Source to see if they have any tips on opening these lights (their website says 220 for 20 mins and diligent prying techniques to open permaseal) as well as their professional opinion on what projectors plug and play and what type of upgrades you can do to our headlights to improve what we already have installed from the factory.

Just keep in mind that that "20 mins at 220" is more of a blanket statement---and degree of difficulty is highly dependent on the housing design. To be clear, I'm in no way doubting what the guys over at TRS say, but if your housings use the same sealant as the facelifts, its not going to be that easy. They'll definitely be able to point you in the right direction as to the pros/cons and which projectors would fit your needs best though!

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Well if the Evo projectors you have are 150 with clear lens already and are a straight swap that isn't a bad idea, plus I'd get bi-xenon functionality right? I saw TRS sells 9005 male pigtails which connect to the 9006 connector of the bi-xenon solenoid, so in essence I could use those and have stock halogen high beam light up along with the bi-xenon function of the Evo projectors at the same time? Holy light Batman!

Definitely more interested in amber removal/corner light modification and seeing what upgrades I can do to the projector if I open them up than necessarily angel eyes. I would rather spend 150 on better projectors with bi-xenon function than 150 on angel eye rings if I had to choose between the two! (most seem like they are about that much if they are LED rings)

Right from the TRS website for EvoX: "Their bolt pattern is identical to older Hella 3" halogen, xenon, and bi-xenon projectors - so can be used as a direct bolt on upgrade to OEM or aftermarket housings that use these designs."

Yup, you could use the traditional highs with them....there's really no need though. While the Evot low-beams aren't as wide as say the FX-r's; the highs on the Evo's are second to none! Like I said previously in my upgrade thread, I really only did the angel eyes because I already had the housings open. The $150 is definitely worth the projector upgrade....the $160 I spend for the angel eyes (while they definitely look cool) isn't as easy to justify. Lol.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by X5SND

Just keep in mind that that "20 mins at 220" is more of a blanket statement---and degree of difficulty is highly dependent on the housing design. To be clear, I'm in no way doubting what the guys over at TRS say, but if your housings use the same sealant as the facelifts, its not going to be that easy. They'll definitely be able to point you in the right direction as to the pros/cons and which projectors would fit your needs best though!



Right from the TRS website for EvoX: "Their bolt pattern is identical to older Hella 3" halogen, xenon, and bi-xenon projectors - so can be used as a direct bolt on upgrade to OEM or aftermarket housings that use these designs."

Yup, you could use the traditional highs with them....there's really no need though. While the Evot low-beams aren't as wide as say the FX-r's; the highs on the Evo's are second to none! Like I said previously in my upgrade thread, I really only did the angel eyes because I already had the housings open. The $150 is definitely worth the projector upgrade....the $160 I spend for the angel eyes (while they definitely look cool) isn't as easy to justify. Lol.

so as long as I'm getting superior low beam capability and bi-xenon high beam capability, the Evo-X ones you used are straight plug and play, and unlike your facelifts, my ballasts are able to be reused as well? I also read you needed to use can-bus modules, do I need those? And will my auto-level headlight functioning still work upon startup?

I'm guessing the FX-R projectors don't replace the stock hella projectors directly correct? Will update with any tips the TRS guys get back to me on,

[danielsan]

Having had the FX-Rs retrod for a year now i have no complaints with them. The FX-R's are really overkill if you live in a built up area.
That said if the EVOX-Rs were avaliable in RHD i would swap them purely for the superior high beam.

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I'm guessing the FX-R projectors don't replace the stock hella projectors directly correct?

Correct, but all you need is a bracket made up to mount the FX-R's in, or zip ties if you're lazy like me.

[X5SND]

Originally Posted by danielsan

Correct, but all you need is a bracket made up to mount the FX-R's in, or zip ties if you're lazy like me.

An adapter bracket is would be a simple CAD & CNC venture....How did you mount the shroud though? Pics??