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Headlight refurb ** Now finished with rings fitted and de-oranged reflectors**
Headlight refurb ** Now finished with rings fitted and de-oranged reflectors**
After Getting my hands on this spare X5 for breaking I took the lights which was the main thing i wanted off it but they where in a really bad state infact they were probably the worst set Ive seen on an X5.
So after removing them I set about cleaning them up, strapping them to the top of the wheelie bin to hold them down and started wet flatting them with first 600 grit then 800 grit then finally 1500 grit then polished them back up to a showroom shine with the machine polisher first with the course compound and hard polisher head then with the soft head and fine compound and they now look great IMO.
some pics
Tools and bits used to clean them up
Before
After wet flatting
After machine polishing
A quick comparison close up before and after
Now all I have to do is CUT them as there post 2002 to open them up to fit the SMD rings from my old lights then bond and seal them back up then there ready to be fitted
looking like new
So after removing them I set about cleaning them up, strapping them to the top of the wheelie bin to hold them down and started wet flatting them with first 600 grit then 800 grit then finally 1500 grit then polished them back up to a showroom shine with the machine polisher first with the course compound and hard polisher head then with the soft head and fine compound and they now look great IMO.
some pics
Tools and bits used to clean them up
Before
After wet flatting
After machine polishing
A quick comparison close up before and after
Now all I have to do is CUT them as there post 2002 to open them up to fit the SMD rings from my old lights then bond and seal them back up then there ready to be fitted
looking like new
Last edited by dpbayly on Thu Sep 26, 2013 10:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Really pleased with the headlight refurb
Nice job. A few folks have had this problem in the past and now they can see how to fix it......
Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.
Re: Really pleased with the headlight refurb
As always excellent job. Did you not just think of polishing your existing ones?
Re: Really pleased with the headlight refurb
fantastic job mate!
didn't u do this on your original lights as well?
didn't u do this on your original lights as well?
Current: BMW 640i Convertible (320PS)
Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 T FSI quattro (300 PS) SE STronic
Previous: BMW X5 E53 Facelift 3.0d
Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 T FSI quattro (300 PS) SE STronic
Previous: BMW X5 E53 Facelift 3.0d
Re: Really pleased with the headlight refurb
[quote="jaynana"]
fantastic job mate!
didn't u do this on your original lights as well?
[/quote]
Yeah I think he did actually.
fantastic job mate!
didn't u do this on your original lights as well?
[/quote]
Yeah I think he did actually.
Re: Really pleased with the headlight refurb
I did in deed but these are obviously the the factory xenon's mine are the factory halogen which look dated and not as efficient.
Today I chopped them up ready for the SMD rings to go in also going to do away with the orange side reflector at the same time.
Today I chopped them up ready for the SMD rings to go in also going to do away with the orange side reflector at the same time.
Re: Really pleased with the headlight refurb
Great job as always! Looking forward to the finished pics!
Scn Protect,Alarm Chirp,Ashtray del,Sub install,IV2,Screens,PS2 Media,Chrome rings,Schnitzer pedals,Reverse cam,Silver Grills,F/mirrors,Comp Spkrs,Heated S/W,20"168s,Splash scn,Arches,Remap,LED Tails,ACS Spoiler,'is' Bumper Trim,Rear heated seats,Rear blinds
Re: Really pleased with the headlight refurb
Another fine job.
You will have to stop posting your mods soon as you are showing the rest of us up )
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
You will have to stop posting your mods soon as you are showing the rest of us up )
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
3.0d Sport Exclusive E53 CB with black comfort, pano, folding dimming mirrors, 20"ers, comms, xenons, focal sub, Intravee II, GSM heater........and so on.
Runabout - E92 3 Series Coupe
Runabout - E92 3 Series Coupe
Re: Really pleased with the headlight refurb
[quote="dpbayly"]
I did in deed but these are obviously the the factory xenon's mine are the factory halogen which look dated and not as efficient.
[/quote]
Ah cool. Makes sense now.
I did in deed but these are obviously the the factory xenon's mine are the factory halogen which look dated and not as efficient.
[/quote]
Ah cool. Makes sense now.
Re: Really pleased with the headlight refurb
All finished and very happy with how they've turned out.
After cleaning up the lenses I set about chopping the lenses off as I wanted to refit the SMD rings from my old lights.
All chopped up:
When fitting the rings I test fitted them from behind the lens as I wanted them hidden but unfortunately with them on the lenses distort the pattern.
from behind:
In front
So after deciding to stick with them on the outside of the lenses my next step was to rid the orange side reflectors seeing as there apart thought silly not too.
Masked up:
blown over with satin black
Another little upgrade was to the Xenon bulbs, I went with 8000K as I like the slight blue tinge:
Fixing the lenses back in place I used a glue in places then used a silicon sealer to seal the whole way round (done this way in case I ever need to take them apart again) cut where I had cut it with the lights installed there's no sign at all they have been buchered.
Some pics fitted:
A little comparison
How it looked when I bought the X to the tinted with CCFL rings to tinted with SMD rings to now.
The SMD rings are now super bright (camera struggled to capture a good pic so bright) and perfect as my DRLs
After cleaning up the lenses I set about chopping the lenses off as I wanted to refit the SMD rings from my old lights.
All chopped up:
When fitting the rings I test fitted them from behind the lens as I wanted them hidden but unfortunately with them on the lenses distort the pattern.
from behind:
In front
So after deciding to stick with them on the outside of the lenses my next step was to rid the orange side reflectors seeing as there apart thought silly not too.
Masked up:
blown over with satin black
Another little upgrade was to the Xenon bulbs, I went with 8000K as I like the slight blue tinge:
Fixing the lenses back in place I used a glue in places then used a silicon sealer to seal the whole way round (done this way in case I ever need to take them apart again) cut where I had cut it with the lights installed there's no sign at all they have been buchered.
Some pics fitted:
A little comparison
How it looked when I bought the X to the tinted with CCFL rings to tinted with SMD rings to now.
The SMD rings are now super bright (camera struggled to capture a good pic so bright) and perfect as my DRLs
Re: Headlight refurb ** Now finished with rings fitted and de-oranged reflectors**
Top job mate.
JFT96.YNWA
Current
Jaguar XF
Previous
Porsche Cayenne 3.2 (money pit)
BMW X5 3.0D
Mercedes C Class,Mazda RX8,Jaguar S Type 3.0.
Current
Jaguar XF
Previous
Porsche Cayenne 3.2 (money pit)
BMW X5 3.0D
Mercedes C Class,Mazda RX8,Jaguar S Type 3.0.
- Don Coffey
- Snr Member
- Posts: 2452
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:25 am
- Location: Here, there and everywhere
Re: Headlight refurb ** Now finished with rings fitted and de-oranged reflectors**
Congrats dp,
That looks like a lot of hard work but the finish justifies it as the result is excellent.
Don
That looks like a lot of hard work but the finish justifies it as the result is excellent.
Don
Re: Headlight refurb ** Now finished with rings fitted and de-oranged reflectors**
Freshened the front end right up. The black grilles helped too.
Currently :
2013 BMW E70 X5 40D MSport
Previously :
2008 BMW E92 335D MSport
2004 BMW E46 M3
2005 BMW E60 535D MSport
2002 BMW E39 530D Sport
The list goes on...
2013 BMW E70 X5 40D MSport
Previously :
2008 BMW E92 335D MSport
2004 BMW E46 M3
2005 BMW E60 535D MSport
2002 BMW E39 530D Sport
The list goes on...
Re: Headlight refurb ** Now finished with rings fitted and de-oranged reflectors**
looking lovely mate. How did you fit the xenon's tho, people say they are extremely difficult to fit to non xenon cars.
Can I drive to yours for you to do my lights?? lol
Can I drive to yours for you to do my lights?? lol
Black BMW E70 35D
-----------------------------
Previous:
: Tuned Black E53 3.0D Sport
: Tuned and custom E46 facelift BMW 330ci clubsport in estroil blue
-----------------------------
Previous:
: Tuned Black E53 3.0D Sport
: Tuned and custom E46 facelift BMW 330ci clubsport in estroil blue
Re: Headlight refurb ** Now finished with rings fitted and de-oranged reflectors**
[quote="Jamee"]
looking lovely mate. How did you fit the xenon's tho, people say they are extremely difficult to fit to non xenon cars.
Can I drive to yours for you to do my lights?? lol
[/quote]
Fitting the lights is really simple the ballast sits in a little cut out below where the light sits (needs a bracket to hold it down or another means of holding it in place) then the connector that normally goes to the dip beam bulb plugs into the ballast and then all the other plugs go where they did on the old lights, It that simple no messing about to do at all.
Bit of a long drive otherwise I'd say sure pop over.
looking lovely mate. How did you fit the xenon's tho, people say they are extremely difficult to fit to non xenon cars.
Can I drive to yours for you to do my lights?? lol
[/quote]
Fitting the lights is really simple the ballast sits in a little cut out below where the light sits (needs a bracket to hold it down or another means of holding it in place) then the connector that normally goes to the dip beam bulb plugs into the ballast and then all the other plugs go where they did on the old lights, It that simple no messing about to do at all.
Bit of a long drive otherwise I'd say sure pop over.