"Racoon Eyes v1 & v2" - Hella Bi-Xenon pro

[Taras]

Clayon, a really good question. MOst OEM application utilize both a bi-xenon as well as a halogen high beam unit. Although lately, there has been a bit of a move to just use a bi-xenon alone with a daylight driving light or/and a cornering light. Latest Audi A8 and a Ferrari comes to mind. Also as new generations of adaptive headlights come out, besides them swiveling, auto-leveling and being bi-xenon, they are moving towards making them with a variable focal length, so they can be either wider or more focused. Cool, eh?

The reason I think a separate Halogen high beam unit is involved is primarily for a FTP (Flash to Pass) function to those slow do-do birds out there. Xenon capsule has a bit of a warm-up time to reach full intesity and thus not a great tool for FTP in the daytime. Night is a different story. Also most newer vehicles also use a high beam cluster on a de-powered setting as a DRL (Daytime Running Light) for safety. Xenon can only be used at full power. And lastly, you can't have the best of both worlds. You can't have a really good even and wide low beam with a nice focused high beam. Although. with newer projectors it's getting better and better. So, a separate high beam is used for a distance reach, where Bi-xenon may fall a bit short. Plus it looks better.

Trust me, if I could have avoided puting that 90mm unit there, I would have. But then I am a bit if a freak. I was going to put FF50, which are in my opinion looks even better than a second round cluster in there, but then I thought if can experiment and see if I can stuff a Hella 90mm in there. It was fun trying. I have not hooked them up yet, but they are crazy bright and run very hot.

[fuxxy]

What was the going price for the parts to make these lights? Are they true HID or just 'projector' (pardon my inexperience, these two terms may both refer to the same thing)?

Also, How in holy HELL did you get the cover lens as clear as you did?

<small>[ September 12, 2004, 09:02 AM: Message edited by: fuxxy ]</small>

[Taras]

First Gen Hella Bi-Xenon projectors out of Audi A6/ML430(55), Porsche will run about $150.00

Philips D2S Xenon(HID) Capsules/Bulbs (4100K) will run about $50.00-$100.00 brand new, depend on where you buy. Could also use Osram Xenarc bulbs. Similar Price.

Bosch/AL Ballasts and ignitors run about $150-200, also depends where. Eugene is using Hella Ballasts. Similar price. Does not really matter which ones you use, Philips, Hella, Bosch, Matsu(hs)ita(Panasonic).

I bought my stuff from Germany a few years ago and at that time I paid E400 for a set with shipping , etc.

You have to count a spare set of headlamps into an equasion, materials, wiring, relays, connectors, shrink tubung, wire loom, epoxy, paint.

I also bought a set of Hella 90mm high beam units. $54 each with $10 for both H9 connectors. Eugene use a cheaper but as effective Hella FF50 driving lamps for high beams, they usually go for about $50 on eBay.

Are the lights real HID? Yes, they are real HID with OEM Ballasts, Capsules and Bi-xenon projectors (means hi and low beam).

How did I get lens so clear? Lots and lots of sanding, but there is a more effective solution to the clear lens issue that I am sure you have read in previous posts.

[Tyler17rose]

Nice lights Taras.

Ok so i bought Eugenes car off him. He sold it to me and bought a bike and a Subaru, lucky guy. I installed them yesterday and took some pics today. Eugene did some awsome work, these lights are awsome, and the beam is unreal. Night shots will follow these pics in a couple days.

<img src="http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_im ... 0_full.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_im ... 1_full.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_im ... 0_full.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_im ... 1_full.jpg" alt=" - " />
There's a bit of condesation in the driver's side lens. I'll have to seal it up a bit.
<img src="http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_im ... 2_full.jpg" alt=" - " />

[Tyler17rose]

<img src="http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_im ... 8_full.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_im ... 9_full.jpg" alt=" - " />

High beams

<img src="http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_im ... 0_full.jpg" alt=" - " />

[Taras]

Congrats T-rose,

I am sure you will love the lights, expecially the bi-xenon function. Yeah, it's too bad Eugene sold the car, but I guess everyone's gotta move on some time or another. Enjoy the lights. I love mine. One night I will drive to the boonies and snap some shots. Gotta borrow a tripod from a friend. Oh, Btw I find my fog lights so useless now. I am sure you will see that too.
Cheers.

[Tyler17rose]

Ya i agree, my fog lights are basically useless now. All i use them for now is DRL's (I aimed them way down so i dont blind anyone)

I'll try to get some shots in the boonies of the beam. Its really nice. Eugene knew what he was doing.

[mx3frik]

LOL you guys, just to keep the credits to the good guys Taras practically walked me throught the retrofit

Yeah it's a shame to give the car up but the time's come to split the fun ride with my should-be-practical daily driver. Maybe one day when I can afford a 2nd project car...sigh...

I think the lights blended in with Taras pearl gray and T-rose's black lots better than my silver, awesome pics you guys got.

Eugene

[Taras]

Hey Eugene, good to see you being here. Thanks for your compliments, but blame the sites that we visited so much. You were the one to try the GTS clear cover too..... Hey you can always put HIDs into your Suby too. Sad to see you go, but our cars do not get any younger and times goes on.

[fuxxy]

All I can say is a simple, reserved, "Wow."

I've got a lot of custom fab(jerryrigging?) experience, but I don't think I'm capable of doing something that precise, that looks as good as both of you guys's work.

Don't get me wrong, I still plan on trying, but I'm apprehensive about the total appearance I will end up with.

Great work, guys.

[Taras]

Fuxxy, do a lot of research, get a spare set of headlamps, get all the right tools and materials for the job. If you feel confident with your skills, it will turn out fine. It's a bit of work, but most time it takes to actually decide how you want them to be and how to do different things. I have changed my mind a million of times on various things. Good luck and thanks for your comments.

[fuxxy]

If anyone has the time to pound out a guide for these lights, i'm sure they would be immensely helpful to the scent (and me), but for now, I've only got a couple quick questions.

I know it's probably been stated elsewhere on this forum, however, since both of you guys' ended up with such a clean, clear lens, I'd like to know the process that both of you used.
JDM said he sanded his, what grain and/or type of paper did you use? Also, if a plastic cleaner was used to clear up the foggy lens, how long has it lasted? My plastic cleaner has always faded after a couple weeks or so.

Will I have to get the projectors from an audi/porsche dealership? There aren't many sports car junkyards around here.

Lastly, are you guys worried about burning the outer clear plastic with the intensity of the HID?

*UPDATE*
I seem to have found a set of Euro-spec Audi A6 OEM Projectors, ballasts, and bulbs for USD $450
http://hidtech.com/product.descriptions/1064515734.htm

<small>[ September 15, 2004, 01:36 AM: Message edited by: fuxxy ]</small>

[MX3-Freak]

For clearing up headlights, here is some text taken from here (HID lighting FAQ)


"Plastic front lens can be made clear.

Warning: Do not do this unless you plan to replace entire optical unit. (Example: projector unit.) A textured lense is part of the design and headlamp will not work as intended if texture is remved. See top of the page for more details.

First of all, get a junk yard headlamp to practice on. This will make you establish a good tecnique and not make mistakes on the way.

Front lens needs to be separated from reflector. See above.

There is a 3 alternatives to make clear lenses: </font>

• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">SANDING: Process is very tideous, so u might want to concentrate on a specific area. If you are planning to mount a projector unit behind a textured lens, you can get away with just making a circlular area clear:
  
  The process is pretty much to start carving with something very rough first. Rough in this sense could be a dremel with round carving bit (see Tools and Materials page) at low speed.
  
  Go through the entire range of sandpaper 60, 80, 100, 150, 300, 600, 1000, 1500.
  
  Then go over to plastic rubbing compund (3M) followed by plastic polishing compund on a buffing wheel.
  Plastic will cook if it gets too hot, so you have to go easy - operate machinery on low speeds. If plastic starts cooking, you have to start over with a new headlamp, so its a good idea to practice on an old one first. A way to keep lens cool is constantly moving to new area, maybe even using ice cold water. Keep front lens from getting scratch up on the outside by covering it totally in 3M green painters tape and constanstly make sure it stays on. It is not water proof, so it has to be changed from time to time. Usage of vinyl sheet insead of tape can prove itself to have too powerful adehiesive on the back and will ruin the front of lense. If you are afraid that UV rays may ruin the plastic lens, u can paint inside with UV resistant clear paint - See Tools and Materials page.</font></li>
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">FILL IN THE TEXTURE: Simply fill in the texture. Imagine simply pouring some clear "soup" onto all tecture, and wholla... next day.. clear lenses. If lens is bowed, fill in multiple sections. The "soup" would bean an optical grade adhesive. Herman have not found a retailer that carries this, but there should be:
  search All lumileds products uses optical grade epoxy, so this can be a very good lead guys!!!!</font></li>
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">REPLACE PORTION OF LENS: Cut out the area where you want to make clear and replace with a piece of optical grade polycarbonate (See Tools and Materials page). This is quite tideous as well and the final estetics may not be the best unless you replace entire front lens, which is normally not feasable: polycarbonate sheets cannot be bent to look like bowed front lens."</font></li>

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">

JDM already said he used option one. Eugene (now T-rose's car) used option 3. However, he replaced the everything except the edge of the original lense, no small sections.

You can find projectors in cars ranging from integras to some new kias (not all HID). Also, you can buy 90/120mm hella units new both H9 or HID. Its all up to you and what you care about. Read that link, it provides the most info I can find in one place.

<small>[ September 17, 2004, 04:57 PM: Message edited by: MX3-Freak ]</small>

[monty73741]

can someone do a write up on wireing the thing to stock head lights

[Taras]

You mean wiring the ballasts to the stock wiring, building a harness with relays, fuses and diodes or how to wire bi-xenon solenoids. Diagrams. Please be specific to your application and we will help.