[bigneil]

After buying imitation ZKW headlights on eBay I'm more confused now than ever.

1) I don't want angel eyes, but now I am reading I need to install expensive projectors? I thought these were projector headlights? This is the set I got:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...3AIT&viewitem=

2) Wiring -

There are only 5 wires so it can't be that hard, but it would have been nice to get some instructions. Plus I'm supposed to drive to f*cking Home Depot and buy pieces of f*cking brass? G*ddamn it.

3) Is there a DIY that's not as long as War and Peace?

4) Is this DEPO Helix Gen V much better?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E...Q5fAccessories


Thanks

[badgtho]

Neil.

i TOTALLY called this in your first post regarding these lights/

1: the auction you linked to did not have halos.. did you buy halos or not? ..they are projectors.. WTF are you talking about? what is the problem specifically?

2: I TGOLD YOU THAT GUY DOES NOT SEND INSTRUCTIONS...get a volt meter... ohm out the wires to determine how to connect the PNPs. gray is for the city lights. the others vary, just ohm it out.

brass? again.. WTF are you talking about?

3: look above

4: dude.. that's what you bought.

[salty]

To install my Bosch Projectors, I purchased a PnP harness from Umnitza for $20 if I recall . Should work on yours.

[badgtho]

Originally Posted by salty

To install my Bosch Projectors, I purchased a PnP harness from Umnitza for $20 if I recall . Should work on yours.

he has PNPs........just being neil

[bigneil]

Ok, I was wrong. I'm a moron. So now what should I do?

[badgtho]

Originally Posted by bigneil

Ok, I was wrong. I'm a moron. So now what should I do?

neil... c-mon.

you have been a member here for years.

did you read my post?

answer those questions.. then i can help you start on the right foot.

[Anubis]

The bf.c lighting DIY section has a DIY for installing euro ellipsoids.

There are four pins. Depending on how the Asian man felt when he put them together, they are for four functions: Ground, low beam, high beam, city light (or angel eyes).

The correct orientation is: Ground at 12:00, City (or AE) at 3:00, Low beam at 6:00, high beam at 9:00. If these do not work, then they were manufactured incorrectly, as many were, and you will need to test the wires (multimeter set to continuity or resistance, touch the pin with one end, and the wire on the back of the bulb inside the headlight with the other).

[bigneil]

Today I had them installed professionally and it was worth it. $199 wired and installed (I could have saved if I got the bulbs myself but I forgot they weren't included).

So the total cost was $162 + $199 = $361 installed. They are lined up perfectly which is hard to do on all 4 corners. I could never get them to look like the factory ones when I installed the plastic set. I like them except all the DOT lettering on the lenses seems silly.

[bigneil]

It's worth it to get the glass ones (plus I can recoup $50 or so online for the plastic ones - it can be done for under $300 if you are careful, under $200 if you wire it and install it yourself.

They are an improvement for several reasons:

1) Headlights are the "eyes" of the car, and new headlights look so much more focused.
2) Though I haven't seen them at night, the projectors should improve upon the "two candles" stock ones.
3) Once they get pitted they are never the same (3 years = old plastic).
4) The inner high beams are more offset and look like real spot lights with projectors as opposed to screw-in light bulbs with stock plastic.
5) The inner high beams function as daytime running lights (no angel eyes for me thanks but that is another option).
6) Glass will last forever if maintained.
7) Glass ones look sturdier and better overall.

[Anubis]

Originally Posted by bigneil

Today I had them installed professionally and it was worth it. $199 wired and installed (I could have saved if I got the bulbs myself but I forgot they weren't included).

So the total cost was $162 + $199 = $361 installed. They are lined up perfectly which is hard to do on all 4 corners. I could never get them to look like the factory ones when I installed the plastic set. I like them except all the DOT lettering on the lenses seems silly.

There is no DOT lettering on european glass headlights. They are not DOT-approved. The lettering you see are the E-code (ECE) markings for the European Union.

Headlights do not require professional installation, to be brutally honest. I've removed and installed my headlights over two dozen times now, and I can tell you, all you need to get the factory gaps perfect is a feeler gauge (or a few pieces of cardboard). The gaps are specified in the Bentley manual.

The wiring is also extremely simple. If you have the money, then go for it, but you could have spent the extra $200 and bought a pair of real ZKWs.

Originally Posted by bigneil

It's worth it to get the glass ones (plus I can recoup $50 or so online for the plastic ones - it can be done for under $300 if you are careful, under $200 if you wire it and install it yourself.

They are an improvement for several reasons:

1) Headlights are the "eyes" of the car, and new headlights look so much more focused.
2) Though I haven't seen them at night, the projectors should improve upon the "two candles" stock ones.
3) Once they get pitted they are never the same (3 years = old plastic).
4) The inner high beams are more offset and look like real spot lights with projectors as opposed to screw-in light bulbs with stock plastic.
5) The inner high beams function as daytime running lights (no angel eyes for me thanks but that is another option).
6) Glass will last forever if maintained.
7) Glass ones look sturdier and better overall.

1) Yes, glass headlights look much better. ZKWs look much cleaner than DEPOs (the markings are not all over the headlight - they're on the bottom, where they belong), as do Bosch, but that's just nitpicking IMO.
2) Yes, they have better output.
3) This applies to glass as well. Lamin-X is a must to make sure that the glass stays clean and crisp.
4) Yes - the high beams are better...
5) Yes, euro glass ellipsoids have city lights...
6) Not true - with Lamin-X or some kind of protective film, they will. Ever seen what happened to one of Brett's glass lenses on the highway?
7. They're also heavier.

You've listed the major selling points for european ellipsoids, and almost everything you said is true. And as always, Bosch > Hella (H1 ellipsoids, not the CELIS) > ZKW > DEPO > Apexcone > DJAuto > the rest.