[Alperovich]

I already have OEM fog lights in the bumper so this is something I have to just figure out how to do it.

if you have stock fogs then you should have a stock oem switch you could wire it up to that but the new fogs need to have have their own fure and stuff like that or you could just change the fuse on the stock fogs to support all the fogs lights

 

[G2-GS]

Another idea, you could also use the JDM fogs as high beams too. I used a rebased 9005 bulb and pointed it upwards. The beam pattern is a bit distorted because of the glass reflector but it's still bright. This way you don't have to worry about the switch.

My hella micros are already bright enough so i don't need a second fog.

bl420: you have any pics of your beam pattern? I had those shrouds too but it was too big so i didnt use it.

 

[Alperovich]

yes but he is using bi-xenon so he will not have the need for a Separate hi-beem and the jdm yellow fogs are the sickest as you can see in my sig but i just removed the factory fogs all together and had no problem just rewired the jdms

 

[G2-GS]

yes but he is using bi-xenon so he will not have the need for a Separate hi-beem and the jdm yellow fogs are the sickest as you can see in my sig but i just removed the factory fogs all together and had no problem just rewired the jdms

Yeah that's true. I have bi-xenons too, but using the JDM fogs as hi beams is just for blinding oncoming traffic. How come you didn't splice the fog wires and use both for fogs?

 

[Alperovich]

the factory fogs housing needed to be replaced all rusted out but if you just splice you need to change the fuse to the proper rating or you might cause circut damage but i'm planning on just using the jdm headlight cluster and completly removing the bumper turn signals and factory foglight holes for a more cleaner look...

 

[bl420]

i dont have pics of my beam pattern yet... still working on the headlamps... going to have custom corner lamps...

if im not busy one day once im done mounting the projectors i'll put them on

 

[Octane]

Hey Bud,
Good to see you got this project started!

What I would do: fibreglass up (i.e. shave) the low beam opening in the chrome bezels and leave just a circle for the projectors. Then paint the chrome bezels the same color as your car (black with that sweet M5 blue pearl). Next mount the bixenons and get a small chrome projector trim ring that will sit atop the blacked bezel. wire up the JDM fogs to your oem fog switch. Sell your oem bumper fogs to me! Done

Seriously though, I'd be happy to help you with this project. If you need tools or a heated garage to work in, you know where to find me.

D.
P.S. I got your vm and will ring you tonight.

 

[bl420]

the thing about fiberglassing for use in headlights is a grey area... some people do it but others say that regular fiberglass resin wont stand up to prolong exposure to heat.

i made shrouds by fiberglassing around the projectors... not going to use them since i went with aluminum instead.

but if you do wanna fiberglass i would suggest baking them.

 

[theGodfather]

Thanks for all the great info guys!

I got the E46 shrouds off eBay for about $100 but they are in MINT condition!

I havn't started the project yet as I have been sooo busy but maybe this weekend I at least take the headlights appart. I need to polish up the headlight surface a bit using the wetsanding/polishing tecnique, but I'll probably do them at the end of the project right before I put them in the car. I wonder if I should clearcoat the headlight surface after I polish them up to protect them?

I plan to keep my OEM fogs and run the JDM ones, but I want to be able to run them independantly from each other. One person suggested splicing into the current foglight wires and put a bigger fuse, however you have to check the gauge of the wire to see if it can handle the extra current draw. The fuses usually protect you from melting your wires!

I do have a wire/relay set from when I replaced my OEM foglights with a Civic set from eBay, so I will use that wire kit to wire the JDM foglights up and I have an extra switch on my "police horn" mod control panel that I have in my center console.

Other than that, that's all the news I have and hopefully after this weekend I have some progress!

 

[Octane]

TGF, Don't clearcoat. If you really want to protect them, use 3M "Scotch-Cal" which is the material used for invisible nose bras (stop by any tint shop, Zeibart, etc. that installs invisible nose bras and ask to buy a few square feet - they might charge $20). You just cut the stuff to size and apply with soapy water in a spray bottle and squeegee out the bubbles like a tint job. Officially they say not to use the stuff on windshields or headlights, but that's just legal jargon. Plus, if the stuff can stand up to summer heat while attached to black paint, they can stand up to the heat from HID headlights (which btw is less than factory halogens give off).

Personally however, I wouldn't bother with any type of protective coating on the headlights - it will only further mess with your beam pattern & you can always wet sand 5 years down the road to get rid of any hazing or chipping of the plastic (if you even still own the car in 5 years!).

D.

 

[theGodfather]

UPDATE - Started on the project today!

Today I finaly had the time to start the project and got quite a bit done!

Breakdown of what I have done:

1. Removed all wire harnesses, bulbs, clips, etc. and baked the headlights. 2. Removed main headlight glass diffusor and the main headlight reflector.
3. Cut the reflectors to fit projectors. Fit the projectors in and made a few more extra minor cuts until they fit in perfectly the way I want at the right angle.
4. Mounted reflectors back into headlight assembly to properly and accurately position the projectors. Marked the reflector at 4 points where I will be drilling holes to screw the projectors to the reflectors.
5. Fitted shrouds onto projectors while in headlight and marked where the shrouds needed to be trimmed.

That's basically where I stand now and only have the following left to do:

- Remove reflectors from headlight assembly and drill out the small holes.
- Trim shrouds.
- Mount projectors to reflectors with screws which I will get from Home Depot.
- Clean out the inside of the headlight assembly and prepare for re-assembly.
- Re-assemble and re-bake the headlights to seal them up again.
- Put all parts back on again.
- Prep wiring for connecting.
- Wet-sand/polish headlight surface.

For those that have baked their lights, how easy is it to seal them back together and do they seal perfectly such that moisture doesn't get in?

Also a word of caution to everyone who wants to do this, I ed up slightly when baking them, I followed one person's instructions on the forums to put aluminum foil on the oven rack and placed the headlamp directly on there... well let's say I got some lines on the corner of my headlight that match the lines you get on your steaks when you grill them I'm so lucky it was on the very corner where the hood will cover it and should not be noticable. A nice set of fibreglass eyelids will definetely cover them. I didn't have a cookie tray so I put an upside down baking pan in there which worked perfect on the next headlight. Other than this, everything has been flawless and am looking forward to completing this during the week.

Dave, I may need your help with removing my bumper since I know you've done and will make my life easier.

More updates to come.

 

[bl420]

wow... im basically up to where you are right now...

i need a second set of JDMs since i lost some parts...hehehe that really sucks so make sure you keep all your parts.

and i did what you did also and got steak lines on my headlight too... but i left the headlights facing up so the lens didnt get lines.

btw what shroud and projector did you use?

 

[theGodfather]

I put all my parts into ziplock bags which is something I always do especially when taking apart more complex parts of the car.

I'm using Audi A6 bi-xenon projectors and using E46 ('04 BMW M3) shrouds.

Going to buy a compressed air can to blow all dust and stuff out of headlights before sealing them as well and give them a interior wipe down with a microfibre cloth cause I'll hate to trap dirt inside even though I been relatively clean with my process.

 

[theGodfather]

Done.

A few pics here...

 

[mrkeith]

Wow--I'm impressed! Those JDM housings look mint.
Great work, man

k.h.

 

[rayhk]

Congrat, very nice clean job. Looks like 3" lens fit very well inside the one piecer housing. :2cool:

 

[Octane]

Sweet! How long did it take you? ...or perhaps more importantly, how long would it take you to do it again??

 

[Ballistic]

primo job! Pays off when you don't 1/2 ass a project.

 

[KokDahkJeE]

Looks great man

to those who have finished this mod, how do you adjust the beam?

same way as you adjust non-modded-oem headlights?

 

[G2-GS]

Awesome job man! Now...pics with it on the car!!

Looks great man

to those who have finished this mod, how do you adjust the beam?

same way as you adjust non-modded-oem headlights?

yes, as long as you're still using the original jdm 9006 reflector/housing...adjusting the projector would be the same as the 9006 bulb.