[custom]

Great wrap-up Sirius. I think they should copy and paste that to a new thread and make it a how-to on gauge ring installation. Thanks for the info!

[Sirius]

No prob.
I plan on making a how to thread when I convert my door lock tops to something better. I think I have a way to stuff the factory chrome tops you see on z3 roadsters in my 4-door, (coupe and sedan have different door guts). I believe I can get different parts and make it happen. Ill find out on monday though when I get back to work. *grins*

[umnitza]

ttt ding...

[Sirius]

Waking up the dead are we?

[astan100]

Going right to the FAQ section.

[Sirius]

Lol... this thread had an extra bonus.. a howto on installing cluster rings.

Bump for Matt too.. got projectors/ddes/hids yet?

[Challenger 800]

Matt in that last pic you posted w/ the title DAY in red letters, The light out put is really awesome, I mean that is similar to what the output I am getting from the HID Bi-Xenons from my Infiniti FX 45. What type of set up are you using to get that effect? Is it the ZKW's ???

[umnitza]

Wow, this is old My opinions have changed somewhat to where I believe the ZKW are the best deal of the century for good quality lights.

And DJ Auto has been significantly supplanted by DEPO in terms of quality.

Now, to your questions:

That is the ZKW with 4500K. Properly aimed of course.

[Turismo]

Total newie here.

What is 'DDE'?

What are 'Angel Eyes'?

I have euro m3.

Thanks

[umnitza]

DDE = dated terminology for angel eyes.
These days, most people refer to them as Angel Eyes or Halos for Generic.

The most common ones are eBay made by a company called RaceDash - which are decent, but not premiere and Predator Chromium made by Umnitza with very distinct additional benefits to the eBay product.

Also, in recent years there has been a proliferation of "group think" in terms of HID retrofits, something that deserves to be handled with proper context only.

Serious "retrofitters" have been claiming a wide variety of things recently like - your HID lighting is vastly improved if you get this projector or that projector and do a swap.

A "serious retrofitter" would first need to know the proper terminology which some do and some don't. Many of these serious retrofitters can be found littered across the various forums claiming this or that about how great these modifications are but just because you read something it doesn't make it true.

While most of these retrofitters are quick to point out that they use only OEM components or OE bulbs, the fact of the matter is 99% of all HID products come from generically the same place - KOREA or CHINA - and are then repackaged for "consumer" usage.

When you retrofit a projector into a different headlight than it was originally designed for, have you accounted for ride height variances, width between lights or distance of the front fascia, depth inside the compartments as they relate to the refractory lenses, DOT testing for proper alignment, and the all important cut off as it relates to the car's characteristics?

Serious retrofitters will understand how the various parts affect the overall performance of the optical system rather than as 99% of them do - simply slap projectors into a housing and proclaim perfection even though those projectors don't belong in there. Then of course after doing so, they preach to everyone how this is the only correct way to achieve quality light.

Why am I saying all this now? Because this thread is stickied and it's increasingly troubling to see the misinformation continually propagate around the web.

Are HID retrofits like the standard H1/H7/9006 better than full OE-style retrofits? They are simpler, easier to install, provide valuable relief for night driving. Are they a panacea? No. Are retrofits? No. There are just too many variables for good lighting... Having a simple solution for good lighting with a simple, high quality HID kit inside of a quality projector housing with a quality projector is the best way to get great output in an E36. DEPO Gen IVs, ZKWs, BOSCH, provide that.

If you want to do a retrofit, I for one won't stop you, but I will recommend our least expensive DJ Auto's we have for $125 for the pair.