2clubsp Posted August 28, 2018 Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 Wait. You took the heatsink off the LED bulbs? They won't last long if that's the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted August 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 haha no “to take the heat sink of the led bulbs” they come with a plastic cap with an earth receiver and wire on it. I removed that and drilled a 16mm hole for the heat sink to poke through and sealed with silicone. 2clubsp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted August 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 anyone retrofitted projectors into the halogen headlamp housings? thinking about going full retard on the lights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted September 1, 2018 Report Share Posted September 1, 2018 Its been done before, yes. Here's a DIY: https://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=895209 And some info: https://www.lightwerkz.net/photo/eds-e46-m3-quad-bixenon-projector-conversion/ Google "E46 quad projector" for more info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted September 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2018 thanks momo, I’ve seen the diy’s I was wondering if anyone active on the zone had done it and could say whether it’s worth it. I don’t want to trash my halogens and end up with an expensive mot fail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted September 2, 2018 Report Share Posted September 2, 2018 Hold up - what do you have now? Factory halogens? So you mean you want xenon's instead of halogens or the full quad projector setup? If you have halogens and want xenon's then why not just get some depo headlights? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted September 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2018 yeah halogen reflectors at the moment, i’m not a fan of the quad look. I’m gonna be, if I do it, running H7 LED bulbs in projector housings which are rated for halogen bulbs. just after an angle or opinion on whether it’s gonna make the lights an MOT problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted September 3, 2018 Report Share Posted September 3, 2018 I think technically, according to the letter of the law if you have OEM xenons then you need to have the level sensors and headlight washers fitted. BUT what if they're not present to be tested? I think that's how most get around it.. I think you'll be fine tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted September 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2018 This evening I have installed a wash stalk out of an E53 X5 with the additional S button wired up to the GM5 module (pin 12 of the 54pin plug) to activate the headlight wash. it’s not quite what I was expecting, I assumed a single press would activate the cycle. It’s not, it’s on for the duration you hold the button in. I wired in a kill switch as the circuit is constant live and my kids are challenging! I’m going to fix this in the near future with a switching relay on the accessory circuit. and bonus, I’ve now mastered disassembling bmw module plugs! think I’ll take on the power fold mirror retrofit next! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted September 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2018 ah I’m such an idiot! in my defence I was a bit tired when I wired the switch in, just realised I could have avoided putting a hole in my dash and just wired a switching relay up to the headlights! The“S” button on the stalk will now only activate the headlamp wash when the headlights are on, just need to find something else to run off the surplus dash switch now! probably an isolator for the rear screens so I can punish the kids for kicking the back of my chair!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted September 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2018 first problem with the led headlight bulb upgrade is the bulb holders are completely wrong. fortunately you can get adapters which click in to the lamp housing and allow the heat sink to pass out the back. the original holder remains in place tucked out of the way as the wire from the led bulb plugs in to the original holder. next problem is going to be the halogen reflector, I’ve read enough about it now to know that I’m going to need projectors for a legal beam pattern. I’ve found some, nice and cheap, but I’m worried about my ability to reverse the procedure. also im going to have to replace my yellow AE’s with white to tie it all together! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontpannic Posted September 19, 2018 Report Share Posted September 19, 2018 Have a look at the retrofitsource for projectors in halogen reflector bowls. What I did is buy a set of e46 xenons from a pre-facelift and swapped the internals across to my facelift lamps. Easyish to do, then just need to code it in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted September 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 main beams are now LED! awaiting arrival of cheap projectors, going to black plastidip the chrome bits on the dipped reflector and leave main beam alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2clubsp Posted September 20, 2018 Report Share Posted September 20, 2018 Which bulbs did you use? Sorry, maybe you posted this already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted September 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2018 I got them from wish.com, H7 Nighteye 6500k at least that was what I thought I was getting, what turned up was unbranded in an unbranded box but they work fine and seem well built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted September 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2018 Mrs incredirog is gonna kill me, I’ve bought two leather interiors this evening!! A pair of E53 heated electric memory sport seats and an E46 touring SE extended heated nappa leather interior both in black! at least it will be a nice place to sleep when I get kicked out! momo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted September 24, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2018 (edited) the “SE” seats have lumbar support!! super retrofit time! Edited September 24, 2018 by incredirog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted September 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2018 (edited) picked up the nappa non-sport extended leather interior today and it’s in phenomenal condition. absolutely no holes anywhere and very few scuffs. I’m torn now as in my mind I was just going to strip the front seats for the lumbar and take the frames to the dump but they’re too good for that. the E53 interior is arriving on a pallet tomorrow so I’ll make my mind up when I see it I guess. Edited September 27, 2018 by incredirog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted September 28, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2018 I can’t not have the sports seats and I can’t not have the lumbar so I’ve destroyed the nappa front seats and cut my hands to ribbons but it’s in! door cards next! momo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted October 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2018 extended leather door cards are in, I’m running out of options to retrofit!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted October 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted October 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2018 have wired in the heated seats now, extra toasty on the school run! I’m dissatisfied with how the under seat looms look now that 3 interiors have been spliced together so I’m gonna go back in and sort it into one thick bundle popping neatly out of the carpet. also fired up NCSexpert and coded the TPMS system to operate and have run the wire from the DSC module to centre console. Tempted to let some air out of one and see if it works!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted October 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 (edited) current mood its a LED “array” sidelight and full beam combination with a cut down shroud. no idea what MOT man is going to have to say about them! Edited October 9, 2018 by incredirog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted October 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2018 just ghetto rolled my rear arches, that H&R cup kit is apparently lower than I thought, standard MV1’s on 255/35 rubber with a 12mm spacer rubbing like crazy on the stupid lip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehallone Posted November 2, 2018 Report Share Posted November 2, 2018 Lights look stealth af Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...