Baking Headlights remove black frame
 

I have done some searches - just looking for some specific and quick help from online members.. headlights are in the oven again!

i've removed the clear lense of the headlights using the bake method, now i'm trying to remove the waffles, and I assume I need to take off the black part that sits between the clear lense and the actual waffles and lights..

any help? should these come off with the lense? home page looks like a 5 series headlight - but it shoes the black part coming off with the lense.. HELP!!

There are torx screws behind the glue holding the frames. Remove them for easy access to the lenses clips. Make sure you remove it when the glue is still warm or you can damage the piece. Good luck!

thanks - assume its where the grooves are on the black piece - any idea on the torx size? less time getting a size is less time glue has to dry.

I forget the torx size, keep a set handy near you. Also, you can use a blow dryer to heat up the glue if needed. I'm on-the-go now using the iPhone to reply and it works great!

lol ya the iPhone is definitely the best phone for internet out there!! I got it, used the same torx as used for the 2 on the outside

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...e/IMG00159.jpg


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post some pics when your done!

rastaFarai are you installing angel eyes or just removing the waffles?
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...592AGAIN01.jpg

You might want to consider spraying the black internal waffle mounts silver. IMHO it looks a lot more classy on a silver car than the black.

Manufacturers also seem to have adopted a trend of black for lower end models and silver for the higher spec.

Any good plastic aeresol will do the trick and it only takes 10 minutes

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/DSCN0477.jpgny

Apologies for the out of focus shot here:

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/DSCN0464.jpg

CRAPPPPPP - now I wish I had sprayed mine the last time I had them apart - that looks awesome cj10!!!

Zerochief - excellent looking ride!! I really need some wheels and definitely getting the skid plate...

Havent received the AEs yet, headlights still apart.. that does look great!! I think I might spray them!! Can i get that at any auto store? the aerosol spray?

Strange, I think i have that exact same towel too CJ10, weird observation, LOL.

I have to get the chrome turn sig bulbs as well - jlevi right? Skit plate is a great idea, there's an unpainted one on ebay for $199 last I checked (its in my watched items). Deciding between that and the 4.6 kit...

what's the high beam light pattern like once you remove the waffle? more of a pencil beam?

I've heard the high beam pattern is like a spotlight. it's uncontrolled basically - could potentially be dangerous to oncoming drivers, but I never use high beams.

Definitely a spotlight - both point straight out in front to one point. Great for seeing the road directly in front of you or bright lighting the a-hole that just cut you off!!!

LOL!!! NICE!!

The AEs just arrived in the mail, so when I get home it's on to part 2!! I'm probably going to stop and get a can of spray for the black part of the headlights as well..

Hi guys lot of points int he posts since I last posted.

Silver paint - different brands in Europe but I used Plastikote plastic paint. Aeresol that is no surprise designed for plastic. 2 coats was ample

Beach towel LMAO. That was part of my clinical light assembly surgery I built - OK the kitchem table

Lenses - removal allows the beam to go anywhere. The frenzel lens is vital to collect and point it. Some people report it points up into hedges. Not a big issue really as you never use main when other drivers are approaching

Silver bulbs are vital to complete the clear look - I picked them up from Ebay - sorry no link to hand

rastaFarai - quick edit. The AE are very delicate... I suggest test, test and retest them. If they don't work do you really want to have to reopen the lens???

Hope this helps

will definitely test - and NOPE, i dont want to have to re-open. I have 2 sets of assemblies right now. I'm putting in XENONs, so thats the set i'm working with. But thanks on the advice on the AEs, I'll definitely be careful.

EDIT: AEs are at the post office :-( I bought the paint though, think I'll start painting it tonight.

Did the drivers side, will finish the other tomorrow when I get the AEs:


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LOL! I do that.:rofl: It even works during daylight.:thumbup:

Silver is looking good

BTW - when you cut out the amber corners did you keep a small (3") long lower silver lower 'eyebrow'. I think it adds to it if you recall where it was originally and then araldite it to the siver turn signal lens. Take care of the silver it will come off even if you rub it with a coarse cloth

Great job rastafarai:thumbup:

I think I know what you mean, it's still stuck to the corners if that's what you are talking about. I didnt want to break it... but it's all there. I got the AEs as well - so about to hook them up. The instructions suggest to keep the ballaast in the headlight assembly - any thoughts on that? Also I'd like to keep them on at all times - I have to run it to the battery or something? What have some of you done with them? I'll also test them when i get home before putting them in.

Hi,

Getting near to finished now....

OK you can test assemble the kit on the bench and hook it up to a 12v battery to test it. This is a good way to see what goes where.

I actually kept the inverters outside of the headlamps and bonded them to a flat surface on the headlight. My logic was that the CCFL are guaranteed for like 20,000 or 50,000 hours but not the inverters and it keeps them out of the heat. If anything went wrong I could easily fit another inverter just by lifting the hood.

In the UK our headlights have small bulbs in the inner lights (really intended as markers when parking in the dark, but largely obsolete) so I substituted the wiring on those for the AE. I think you have to do something different connecting to running lights or fog lights so cannot advise.

Good luck

:iagree: I love my bat spots! They really light up a dark road!

so i'm running the AEs on the headlight that i've just painted, using epoxy etc, everything that i've read so far, but got to thinking, where do i run the wires out of the assembly? drill holes etc? advice pls!!!! for the lows and highs - any ideas.. i dunno if it's just me but i think there needs to be a full write up on what to do for this stuff, from the min u bake or blow dry your headlight assemblies :-)

I drilled a hole and found some great grommets at OSH. They angle downward 90 degrees (similar to the breather oem breather tubes). Then I sealed them with RTV silicone. I also snugged up a zip tie around the lengthy grommet, so that there is some stain relief on the wires. The connection to the rings is quite delicate, as you know. If I need to remove the headlights or work in that area of the vehicle in the future, I wanted to make sure those wires don't get accidently tugged. The way mine are now, you could hang the headlight assembly from the AE leads, but I'm not going to try it! :rolleyes:

Many others have just cut a slit in the existing large rubber seal, fed the wires through and filled the cut with RTV - but no strain relief doing it that way.

Sounds like another trip to the auto parts store! I think I'll do the drilling and the grommets, no rush because it's my second set light assembly, and i need to get something for one of hte headlights to hold the xenon ballast and the cover for the xenon bulb area (that the ballast gromet attaches to) - BMW said i would have to pre order, so still have some time. moving back to NYC permenantly second week in feb so would like ot get it done while i'm still in the warmth!

All i need now is the wiring harness, I believe one of the members here sold some..

I did similar to Zerochief, making specific holes, not simply forcing them out of an existing connection. All sealed up with black RTV

BTW- I'm not sure if you are keeping the lenses as I chose to. If you do don't forget to notch the housing (now silver on yours...) See my earleir photo. this allows the lenses to sit flush and not pinch the AE wires.

C U in NYC:bmw:

Yup!! Back to NY - a lot of ppl on this board in NY too.. should have a meet..

HALOS WORK:
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...e/IMG00165.jpg

FINAL PRODUCT (almost.. next picture explains whats missing)
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...e/IMG00168.jpg

NEED THE HELLA XENON LIGHT COVER, AND THE BRACKET FOR THE BALLASTS (DRIVER'S SIDE IF ANYONE HAS SPARES)

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...e/IMG00169.jpg

Hey - they are looking really good - great job.

I could offer you the spares you need but, being in the UK shipping is impractical. You should find them locally easy enough. The mounting bracket is a standard BMW part for a few $'s

Yeah, I'm going to check some junkyards on the weekend - dealer said it has to be ordered - since there's no part # that I can see, its hard explaining to him what I need (this parts guy never understands what i describe, maybe its me.. maybe its him - he gets my vote).

Hopefully done soon!!

HiDon't you have them on the bottom of your existing light units? I did on my non xenons before I conveted to xenon and they already had the depression to hold the ballast. As far as I'm aware they are all the same and are key to holding the light to the body.I'd check before going out to buy more.

Yah I was going to check it out, if that's the case all i'll need is the Hella xenon bulb cover and the placement piece..

thanks!!

So i do have them on the bottom of my existing unit.. i'm on the home stretch.. all i'm missing is that HELLA cover for the drivers side light. I also havent hooked up the AE ballasts, I dont know if i'll have enough wire to hook them up to the AE leads and tap the fogs. I'd also rather buy the harness to connect them to ECU so they are always on.. and with remote trigger.. does anyone sell those by themselves?

I cant think of a place to hook them up where they are secure and also be able to tap the fogs.. and figure dont want to tap the fogs if i'm going to eventually hook them up to ECU for always on.

OK, so I have installed! AEs still not gonna work. But looks pretty good i think. sorry for the bad pics - using the Curve, wife has my digi, will hopefully take some good ones tomorrow..

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/g...e/IMG00177.jpg

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Hey - they are looking great. :thumbup: :thumbup:

So are you glad you took the step back and sprayed the inners solver??? Personally I think they look awesome on a Silver X

Hooking up the AE - can't help you there as I mentioned before UK wiring is different and we have another circuit to tap for small parking lights.

Looking good!! What was your method of testing out the AEs before insatlling them?

Also how did you mount your AE rings to the headlight? 3m double side tape?

JayX5 - I wold not use 3m tape. I did initially and the heat of the lamp loosened it off in days. I ended up using high temp transluscent silicone sealer (a few £'s for a 400ml tube off Ebay) . After a year it's been perfect and does not yellow or a discolour as many of the epoxy type adhesives do

DIY Angel Eye Wire Harness
 

Do it yourself AE wiring harness:

You will need these 2 items fron EAS:

http://www.europeanautosource.com/im...ysckt_main.jpg http://www.europeanautosource.com/images/relay_main.jpg

http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=632
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=631

Follow this diagram:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...nessPINOUT.jpg


1. connector/relay from EAS
2. fuse
3. connect to pin 87
4. connect to pin 86
5. connect to pin 87a
6. connect to pin 30 (positive wire) & 86 (ground wire)
7. connect to pin 85
8. connect to pin 30 (positive wire) & 86 (ground wire)

After you have it all wired up to the connector/relay, follow the article on the main webpage.
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/l...-2003-x5s.html

thanks! definitely glad I hooked up the inner solvers - they look great. I gave the car some TLC today and gave it a good wash.

JayX5 - I actually did use 3M tape, and I had some high temp sillicone adhesive - didnt see it. we'll see. Havent had to drive at night.

but i don't even have this:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...nessPINOUT.jpg

Hey ZeroCheif, if i get the harness in the diagram - i don't need the items from EAS right?

Correct, you wouldn't need the relay or connector. I just posted the DIY incase you wanted to make it.

BTW, where can you purchase just the harness?

Also, the relay must stay completely dry. I had problems with small amounts of water getting inside it and effecting the wiring.
I had to replace it a few times... no biggy since there are about $5. Now I have a nice thick bead of RTV sealing the relay from the elements.

I'm getting it from a member here who was selling the entire light assembly etc.. so i'll have an extra pair of xenon light assemblies.. with AEs already installed - on the waffles though. Few tabs broken here and there but i'll probably fix it up and hold onto 'em as spare.. :-)

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...nessMedium.jpg
I know, thats why I posted it. You can make it...just need some wire and the relay.

OK - thx, might be a cool thing for me to do with this second set. see if i can get it working. Wires arent my strong point, but then i didnt think i'd be able to do the headlights..

Got the harness, gonna try and do the installation tonight. If i do, I'll take pics finally of the AEs..

OK - old post. But just posting pics of my finished install. Got the 7000k AE's installed - looks like they match the xenons - i also have 6000k fogs.. I love my new lights! thanks to CJ10 and Zerocheif especially... THANKS!! Here are a few pics.. going to upload some in my personal user page as well. http://www.xoutpost.com/userpage.php?userid=16542

:popcorn: <- me sitting back looking at my work... LOL

GO GIANTS!!!!

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WOW! :thumbup: Everything looks fantastic rastaFarai!

Wow - they do look good. Great job and a pleasure to offer the limited advise you needed.

Just finished another much more complicated AE and lens change project on my other Bimmer, a Z today. Have a look here:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2953

You can see my X with upgraded lights in the background of one shot

very nice job but one thing that i have to say is, lose the chrome pillar look.

Yup! definitely losing the chrome pillars! Dont know why I did it LOL. Not taking it off until the carbon fibers come in...

Thanks guys - Cj10 - nice z4, well done.

hey TooHotDoc - got rid of the chrome pillars - got my carbon fiber ones. they look great. got them from bimmian clearance. you dont really notice them unless ur close, but should be taking pro shots soon.