|
|
SUPPORT ZPOST BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER, THANKS! |
Post Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
06-28-2014, 01:08 PM | #1 |
Colonel
886
Rep 2,554
Posts
Drives: Z4MC-X3-35i-525i, Corrado G60
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MD
|
Angel Eye LED ring experiment without cutting open the headlights
I installed a set of LED rings as an experiment on a damaged 2007 factory Xenon headlight from a wrecked car. The lights were not cut open in any way to install the rings. The LED rings are behind the factory angel eye rings. They'd probably be a little brighter without the OEM rings, but you can't tell there are LED rings in the headlights by looking from the outside. These LEDs are white when turned off, not yellow as many I've seen so the headlight appears totally stock when off.
They're fairly bright, though not quite as bright as the new BMWs. I'm no camera expert, they're somewhat brighter in person then the camera shows. They're hard on the eyes if you stare at them. The pictures I took in the basement tuned out as just a blob of light and you couldn't make out the rings so I didn't bother posting them. If someone knows what setting to set my digital camera to for better shots, please let me know as I've never been able to shoot good light shots when it's dark out. Overall I pretty happy with the results. I want to let them burn in for a while to test the reliability before I do the mod on the headlights in my car. These shots are in the shade on a full sun clear sky day around high noon. These shots are in direct sunlight with the headlights facing south on a full sun clear sky day around high noon. |
06-28-2014, 03:05 PM | #3 |
Private
9
Rep 56
Posts |
Nicely done, really want to hear more details on this. All I can imagine is that the rings were flexible enough for you to insert them through the rear opening where the halogen bulb holder mounts?
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-28-2014, 03:51 PM | #4 |
Not a New Member
94
Rep 925
Posts
Drives: with both hands and both feet
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: midwest
|
i wonder about the lifespan of the inner ring due to full heat from the xenon bulb...
subscribed for sure!
__________________
#1498E86 | Sepang Bronze | Dark Sepang Leather | Carbon Leather Trim
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-28-2014, 06:30 PM | #5 | |
Colonel
479
Rep 2,782
Posts
Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
|
Quote:
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-28-2014, 06:33 PM | #6 |
Lieutenant General
2435
Rep 11,669
Posts |
Very creative solution.
Great alternative to opening things up.
__________________
'21 M2C Hockenheim Silver
'18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold) |
Appreciate
0
|
06-28-2014, 08:30 PM | #7 |
#dubspec
6344
Rep 5,201
Posts |
Brilliant work. Please go into further detail on this.
__________________
LCI ///F80 M3 Individual Atlantis Metallic / Black Full / Carbon Cermics / 6MT
MPE / M Performance & Carbon package / KW v3 / 20" HRE R101LW / 20" HRE 527s / Michelin PSS / 20% tint / 3d Design / Streckenn splitters / OEM GTS hood / EAS Carbon seatbacks / Carbon RKP sideskirt / Bootmod3 / M Performance Tri color alcantara / AWE S Flow instagram: @ dubsesd |
Appreciate
0
|
06-28-2014, 09:05 PM | #8 |
Major
182
Rep 1,031
Posts |
What do the LED rings look like? What size and where did you buy them? That is pretty creative to install them from the inside!
__________________
08 M Coupe • Ceramic Black Fabspeed Headers • MCS 1WNR • Poly FCAB • Stoptech BBK • Vibra-Tech • Epic Tune • Apex EC7 • RPI Scoop • Eventuri • Stromung • Rogue X Pipe • Varis Diffuser • CF E92 GTS Wing • CF Roof
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-29-2014, 09:31 AM | #12 |
Private
9
Rep 370
Posts
Drives: 2007 BMW Z4MC
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: San Jose, CA
iTrader: (2)
Garage List 2007 BMW Z4MC - Sold [7.66]
2006 330ci ZHP [0.00] 2000 Porsche Boxster S [0.00] 1972 DeTomaso Pantera [9.50] |
I believe you are, at this point, obligated to provide a DIY kit via a Group Buy ;-)
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-29-2014, 12:00 PM | #13 |
Retrograde
18
Rep 390
Posts |
Interested in what rings were used. I've been trying to find the right sized ones and all I can find are CCFL. I believe Mazda 3 ones would fit though. Just haven't dug into this project yet but it's on my list. In for more info.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-29-2014, 10:03 PM | #14 | |
Colonel
886
Rep 2,554
Posts
Drives: Z4MC-X3-35i-525i, Corrado G60
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MD
|
I want to let these burn-in for a while on the bench before I commit to modding the headlights in my car. I have them set up on a timer so they cycle on and off to exercise the hot cold cycles. I'd hate to have some of the individual LEDs fail after the install and have dead spots like I've seen on many other installs.
Quote:
I still have a little work left to complete and finalize the design. Unfortunately it's not a trivial install and did require some custom work on the internals to get the rings to fit properly. I think it could be set up as a service where the headlights are sent in for the required modifications and sent back ready to use. The good thing is that the required modifications will allow the headlights to be easily converted back to stock if needed, so no harm done. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-30-2014, 07:22 AM | #15 |
Not a New Member
94
Rep 925
Posts
Drives: with both hands and both feet
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: midwest
|
I said "inner" up there ^.... I meant outer.
also, i'm assuming these will run off the DRL power source...?
__________________
#1498E86 | Sepang Bronze | Dark Sepang Leather | Carbon Leather Trim
|
Appreciate
0
|
06-30-2014, 07:30 PM | #16 | |
Colonel
886
Rep 2,554
Posts
Drives: Z4MC-X3-35i-525i, Corrado G60
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MD
|
Quote:
Yes, the rings will be powered off the DRL power source. The stock 10w Halogen bulb uses ~.8 amps where a pair of LED rings uses ~.4 amps so it might trigger a bulb out error. Simply adding a resistor or just code the LSZ to not check the bulb would eliminate the error, Last edited by pungo; 07-02-2014 at 05:56 PM.. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-07-2014, 11:58 AM | #19 |
Private
9
Rep 56
Posts |
From another thread, here's what I got with Cree XBD x10 bulbs I bought from China: http://www.zeleznik-klein.com/z4/fixit/drl/index.html. I'm very happy with the results, but still waiting to see what pungo comes up with.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-07-2014, 12:01 PM | #20 |
"The Midas Touch"
521
Rep 1,055
Posts
Drives: F87 LBB ///M2
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
|
Great solution would love to hear more and how did you disable the stock angel eye?
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-07-2014, 09:05 PM | #21 |
Colonel
886
Rep 2,554
Posts
Drives: Z4MC-X3-35i-525i, Corrado G60
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MD
|
I have let them burn-in for a few weeks now and they have held up well with no issues at all. I'm really happy with the results.
Some custom machine work was required so it's not a DIY. The internals are fragile, easily damaged and are not sold separately. Replacement parts are not sold separately, so if something gets damaged, another light would be required. No lens cutting is done, so no chance for leaks. The work is completely reversible so the headlights could be returned back to stock. The lights look totally stock when the LEDs are not turned on, so no ugly yellow LEDs showing. The individual LEDs are so close together, they appear as a continuous ring of light, even when viewed up close. I'm thinking about setting up a service where the lights are shipped to me, the required machine work is performed, the rings are installed, everything is put back together tested and ship back out. I'd estimate a 3 day turnaround not including the shipping time. If there's enough interest, I'll pursue offering this service. Cost estimate would be around $375 with all required parts, not including shipping. Color options would be white or amber. |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|