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E46 Bi-Xenon (budget) retrofitViews : 18509 Replies : 136Users Viewing This Thread : |
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Jan 7th, 2020, 16:43 | #91 | |
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Yep, last picture is definately the best outcome. But good led bulb in reflector housing would output way way more light than even the nightbraker halogens. Problem with halogen is, that acutally +150% is some marketing BS. Some bulbs are better than oterhs yes, but in some case even cheap chinese ones are as good as expensive ones (did good amount of research and followed tests in web and youtube). With 50-100usd led bulbs high bams should be superior to any halogen. For fogs i ordered some cheap amazon leds, that based on my reasearch have the most logical build (similar to halogen bulb) and decent reviews. For high beam I wouldnt bother wasting on cheap cra p. Although in reflector type housing, even the cheap bulbs tend to work quite good, due to fundamental differences in how reflector and projector housing works. Here is a decent list of actual testing results. Although tyou have to note every housing differs and outcome might differ. https://www.bulbfacts.com/led-kits/chart/ Last edited by wanamees; Jan 7th, 2020 at 18:17. |
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Jan 8th, 2020, 10:21 | #92 | |
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2005 V50 T5AWD M66, Stage1 Hilton tune E-focus torque mount, E46 bi-xenon retrofit v2 , (also available in PDF form), DTSC fully-off mod, Brembo discs+ATE ceramic pads |
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Jan 8th, 2020, 19:13 | #93 |
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I've posted this on "swedespeed" as well but just in case some Europeans are considering retrofitting as well, here's a comparison between H7 base E46 replica and D2S base AL/Kendrion Gen2 projectors from a Chevy Camaro.
Link: https://imgur.com/a/k5ACCKK A few things to note: 1) Gradual cutoff: while clear lens mods are highly sought after in the retrofitting community, I found the shard cutoff lines between light and dark to be straining and distracting; 2) No colour flicker at the cutoff: a plus in my eyes, as I found it distracting; 3) Much wider output: in the close-up comparison pictures the car was even further away from the wall in the first shot (with the replicas). Easier to make turns on completely dark roads as you pretty much get at least some illumination ~150 degress around the car. To top it all off, with the prices of the projectors on eBay being so low, this is actually a cheaper way to retrofit if you're going the D2S route. |
Jan 9th, 2020, 11:20 | #94 | |
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edit - forgot to add this attachemnt, the amount of light leak on this spot comparing to e46 is worrysome... not sure about this one, thanks for pics though
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2005 V50 T5AWD M66, Stage1 Hilton tune E-focus torque mount, E46 bi-xenon retrofit v2 , (also available in PDF form), DTSC fully-off mod, Brembo discs+ATE ceramic pads Last edited by LizardOfBodom; Jan 9th, 2020 at 11:23. |
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Jan 9th, 2020, 14:35 | #95 |
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Indeed, these are the US style projectors. And yes, these aren't standard in cars made for EU markets but are perfectly legal and MOT-compliant in EU if the imported car had its first registration in the US. However, the retrofit itself is illegal, as is any halogen to xenon retrofit or conversion.
As for the light present above the cutoff. There are two reasons for it. Firstly, OEM projectors always have some illumination above the cutoff. If you're ever behind or inside a car with OEM xenon headlights, this can be appreciated by the way they light up the signs in front. This feature is lost with clear lens mods. Secondly, it was raining when I took the shot, so there is some light bouncing off the wet surface. Not to sound defensive here, but I really don't see how US style projectors would be inferior to EU ones. Additionally, I'm not getting flashed by upcoming traffic and it's much more comfortable to drive with these. |
Jan 9th, 2020, 15:07 | #96 | |
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I get your point ref light leak - maybe what we see on lower pic is within limits of "designated leak over cutoff" for road signs etc, E46 projectors are brutally sharp and its true that black/white contrast is very eye straining. Not a fan myself. If you are not flashed by traffic and it improves light, yea, seem like win win situation any pics of high beam with shutter down please? Is it octagonal or star-shaped?
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2005 V50 T5AWD M66, Stage1 Hilton tune E-focus torque mount, E46 bi-xenon retrofit v2 , (also available in PDF form), DTSC fully-off mod, Brembo discs+ATE ceramic pads |
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Jan 9th, 2020, 15:48 | #97 | |
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I didn't flash the other driver, but I'd do a lot worse if I saw them again. So we all want brighter candles, but please get them set up 100% right. If you have a hot spot, or bad scatter or cant get the shut line below the legal level, dont run the lights. light bleed or bad scatter with halogens is nowhere near as dangerous as with xenon or LEDs so please please please don't wait til you've blinded someone into a ditch... And I have a FL c30, with nightbreakers and I'm considering an upgrade to improve headlights, hence my interest in this thread. Just gotta be done right, it's serious Last edited by lockstock; Jan 9th, 2020 at 15:56. |
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Jan 9th, 2020, 16:32 | #98 |
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Based on his location and beam patern its Lithuania. I actually do get the "US patern wouldnt dazzle" thing as in theory it really might work, check the beam pattern and compare to UK/Eu one. Much more "room for error".
fun fact - most US cars with halogens dont have beam leveller in the cabin as because of pattern shape, its not required.
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2005 V50 T5AWD M66, Stage1 Hilton tune E-focus torque mount, E46 bi-xenon retrofit v2 , (also available in PDF form), DTSC fully-off mod, Brembo discs+ATE ceramic pads |
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Jan 9th, 2020, 19:15 | #99 |
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Road safety is a sensitive topic and everyone has their story of either being blinded by some douche with high beams or just annoyed by the new SUVs with two Suns for the headlights. I can assure you that I didn't just have my own safety in mind when I decided to do a xenon retrofit.
In fact, one of the main reasons why I decided to opt out of the E46 replicas was because I couldn't get rid of the color flicker at the cutoff. I find any color other than <6500K white annoying and distracting. Additionally, the sharp cutoff is something that I kept following with my eyes instead of focusing on the road. Now I'm not sure what is a worrying thing that you see in that picture, but there is no hot spot/scatter above the cutoff of these projectors. They are no worse than the E46 replicas when viewed from the front of the car and the car in general doesn't look any different than any other xenon-fitted vehicle. I haven't had the time to wire the high-beams so I can't comment on the high beam pattern. Here's another pic of the cutoff on a wall: https://i.imgur.com/Nr2nqLA.jpg Last edited by Sidonas; Jan 9th, 2020 at 19:19. |
Jan 9th, 2020, 19:39 | #100 | |
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