Quick pics of HEADLIGHTS (modded)
 

I didn't wash her down yet, or hook up the angel eyes yet... but I did instal the lights themselves and it looks GOOD! And the pictures are from a cameraphone. So hopefully better pics soon, maybe tomorrow.

With the headlights pulled apart, first I trimmed back the corner lens
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...6/IMG_1992.jpg

Then I reinstalled the chrome filler
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...6/IMG_1993.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...6/IMG_1994.jpg

Then reinstalled the lens
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...6/IMG_1995.jpg

Taped in place and glued in Angel Eyes (sorry no pic of that step)

Snatched up the smoked lenses and installed them with some non-hardening sealer
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...6/IMG_2014.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...6/IMG_1998.jpg

Before and after shot
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...321_153201.jpg

Both installed (and I did want a bit lighter smoke than this, but this is how I got them from the paint shop)
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...321_162249.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...321_162357.jpg
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...321_162234.jpg



So now the grilles look kinda out of place... what finish would look best on them? Fully gloss black? Gloss black center with chrome ring? But gotta do something now...

WOW the tinted headlights look even more bad ass on a black X :thumbup:

The grilles personally I would go fully gloss black...but whatever you decide it will still look great.

Nicely done :)

+1 on the full gloss black grill :thumbup:

looks good. turn em on.

+2 on glossy blk grills

gloss black is perfect.. great looking X.. hurry up and do the gloss black LOL.

Anyone else feeling ripped off that there are no pics with the lights and AEs on and then pics with just AEs on.

Hey lights look awsome, do a flat black grill trust me

Another vote for gloss black, I would have them painted the same color as the car.

But why did you put the amber corners back in? :dunno:

Yep - paint the grills satin black and the trim bezel as well around the grill.

Looking pretty sinister. :thumbup:

I hate it. Washes the car out to much.

To each their own.

Hey weasel:thumbup: nice job. Dumb question though, does any light get out?

And you're right the chrome grills do stand out...look kind of like two big butt cheeks.

Ever thought of stripping off all the paint and re-painting it matte black? That would be f-ing cool.

Great Mod!!

Fits your theme very well! Some just dont get the idea of theme!!

I agree with Rarebreed...I would go with a flat black...

...........but whichever route you go...on bad ass X!! luky you....getting the mods done in the shop!

LOL!

Rich:thumbup:

Cool Weasel, I knew you'd do a good job. Now turn those puppies on for us all and start clicking.

What about satin black grills with gloss black outer surround ?? Just my .02c

Hmmmm.... I think I like that idea! Although I may just go all gloss, the gloss ring and satin/matte center is different.

And yes light does get out. I upped from the OEM xenons to 6000k so it is still good light output.




come to think of it, I kinda wish I would have smoked the left-over reflector... but it's too late now! :rofl:

FYI...6000k actually put out less light, not more than OEM :stickpoke

Is that legal? It is not allowed here to tint the headlights

It's technically legal if he doesn't drive at night ;)

It is fully legal here as long as they are visable at 100 yards... If I can't tell the headlights are on from across a football field I must have lost my vision! They are just as bright as before by switching from 4300k to 6000k.

I am now on the hunt for fog lights with projector lenses w/blinders so I can safely install HID's in them without blinding oncoming traffic.

Hmmm...interesting idea. Didn't know anyone was making such fog projectors for the X5. Please do let us know if you find one. I'm interested to do the same mod for my '04 if such product exist.

I know certain BMW's come with projector fog lights, I have one hanging around under my roll cart. As for ones made for the X5, they will likely have to be aftermarket. And I just checked flea-bay to no avail...

Doesn't pre-facelift X come with projector fogs?

Mine is pre-facelift... but I think the fogs are different between the 03's and the earlier, or maybe just different with the 4.6is trim. Either way, I'm gonna research it with my parts guys on monday.

Did you notice that BMW now offers a retrofit for X3's that don't have xenon headlights. The kit installs additional 'xenon main beam headlights' in place of the fog lights. That might be pretty cool if you could retrofit it into the E53. Given by what you've already managed to do, I'm sure that wouldn't be too hard for you!

mine is 2002 and I have the projector fogs

I was just thinking about installing those smoked stickers on mine. It looks good, but I am only worried about night driving?!?! I am fan of strong lights and great visibility, how is visibility with smoked lights now? Can you upload some pics with lights on, can you still notice angel eyes under it?
Thanks

I didn't use the tint stickers as they are even darker than what I have. (we have a couple E46's and an E90 that come in with those) Mine are sprayed with a black/clearcoat candy coat.

And I figured out how to power the AE's with the parking lights without having them flash with the turn signals! Tap the relay into the licence plate lights output from the lamp module.




.

no offense. i hate it too. i think it looks terrible. the X5 headlights are so nice, especially when they have the angel eyes. they even look good if they're not on.. why cover it up?

I love how it is turning out. It will look sick if you get the grill painted black and the wheels to be some kind of black too.

Looks Bad Ass! :wow:

Here in Europe you would be hung in a public place by the Police if caught with smoked headlights :popcorn:

Looks like a job well done but not my cup of tea im not a fan of this mod

To each his own.... :thumbup:

And I visited one of my best friends today who's a deputy officer, he said there is nothing illegal about them with the local or state laws, and wishes he had a car with similar headlights to do this to now! :rofl:

I just can't wait until I have the time to clay bar and fully detail 'ol girl... she's filthy right now.

Why would it be illegel i dont get it. Whole bunch of new cars have factory smoked lights, even some old models of E36 come with them, or audi TT and some more. I mean police guys will not even notice it until you tell them: hey guys I put stickers on my headlights is that cool with you?

I am ordering it right now, but the one with less dark effect 87%.
Smoke (Light) Non-Protective Film: 87% Light Transmission
They even come with film for fog lights too.

you obviously haven't been to Virginia :bustingup


my friend got pulled over for tinted headlights, tailights, windows, windshield (front and back), aftermarket exhaust system, having white turn signal bulbs in the front, and having an LED strip under the hood that 'emitted light through the grill" ... all at once!

This is exactly the reason why I haven't done that.

However, while I do think the chances are slim for being pulled-over for just the white bulb, your friend was kind of asking for it. I bet his vehicle is not really "subdued" and pretty easy to pick out from the crowd! :rofl:

Don't forget the citation, or was it a fix-it-ticket, for tinted sunglasses. Bastards.

yeah i didn't want to take a chance with the white turn signal bulbs either. i will always take a chance with window tint though. how can people go without it??

i might one day consider tailight tint, but it would have to be very light.
I hope mr officer doesn't get mad. :police:

BTW .. meant to ask you this ... you want the Invisibulbs I got from you back?! :rofl: I'm not using them ... if you want them. ;)

Actually, to the contrary....I hope she does.

:wow: ;pervert; :drool: :mmm:

Sorry weasel .. hopefully we'll get back on topic.

jose why haven't you used them?


and X5 meister i said i didn't want mr. officer to pull me over.

ms. officer on the other hand is more than welcome too ;) (as long as i get to keep my tints)

you said 'tints' with an "n" right?

LOL yeah?? why would i fear for my man boobs?

Sorry misread, thought you were talking about her.

oh ok i thought i was slow on catching the joke.

but now that you mention it, i don't mind keeping her 'tiNts' too :thumbup:


arite the thread hi jack really needs to end.

back on topic:
lets get some pictures with the headlights powered on !!

ok.:thumbup:

Nice mod Weasel. Not my thing either but I appreciate the effort. I also wondered why you didn't deal with the amber while you were at it. :dunno:

I vote for gloss black grille. The matte black would look good on a non-black X5. I think the matte black would kind of clash with the gloss black of the hood. I have my grilles, slats and surrounds, painted glossy Steel Gray and I thin it looks great. :D I actually think it makes the grilles look wider.

got a picture so we can get an idea on how it might look wider?

I have to find before and after pics but to my eye, the chrome surround kind of frames in the grille and when they are painted black or body color blend better and gives the front end a cleaner look. This does not seem to be as dramatic a difference on an Alpine White or Ti Silver X5 though.

There is a guy who painted his chrome grille surrounds and slats Ti Silver to match a Ti Silver X5 and it looked pretty hot. Yes, I am trying to get you to do another mod. :D

I'm always looking for another mod its no prob haha. but i think the stock black grill really blends well with the rest of my X since i have no 4.6 kit, and dark window tint. i just wish i could get the wider grill of that of the facelifted Xs

I was going to hit the amber part I left with the smoke spray, but when I got the lenses back that dark decided to try them as is... hindsight? Now If I can manage to get my 03 headlights apart I will probably do similar mods with a clear lens and smoked amber as that will loos good too.

Hmmm.... I wonder if the smoke spray on the chrome surround of the grilles will turn out good like black chrome? I might grab a set of old grilles from a flooded X to try that on! (with the center slats gloss black of course)

Satin black--will match the wheel and front bumper trim pieces. Doesn't totally disappear but does not jump out at you.

I think you're little late.. this is 5 years old thread and his X5 was totaled 2 years ago .. Lol

Oppsie,

I would still suggest satin--does that make me out of date?

Of course I see the idea of trimming back the corner lights AFTER I just put mine back together today since I installed angel eyes. I'm going flat black grills on my blue X, but since you're black, I'd agree on glossy.