1388 replies to this topic

[Mopeytitan]

i would be interested in these could do with some new headlights

id be up for upgrade or standard

[fezzasus]

So I've read a lot of guesses as to why the VX220's headlights are so poor, some say it's because they're too low to the ground and so on. That's balls. It's because the projector is a low quality item made by Wipac.

 

Here's the original projector (inverted because this is the only space i could find to demonstrate it)

 

 

Here's the Bosch xenon unit, at the same exposure, shutter speed, ISO...

 

 

Compared (original unit on the left)

 

 

[CocoPops]

Looks good. Ready yet?

[fezzasus]

Looks good. Ready yet?

 

I'm down to 0.98734 Duncans

 

Up to now I've been trying a like-for-like design, and in the processes have had a mould made which wasn't up to scratch. That approach wasn't ideal as the original design was so compromised (bodged main beam projectors, poor quality dipped beam projector, weak projector mounting points). Instead i've binned that approach which has set me back, but means I'll be able to produce something better and more durable. It'll use a metal frame to hold the projectors in place and a shroud over the projectors to make it all look pretty. This approach is used in proper headlights.

[dumfunk]

sounds promising, keep up the good work fella 

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

how close to oem will it look from the outside? also will there be colour options?

[LY_Scott]

With a chuffed N/S light I could do with a set of these!

[Code Monkey]

I'll live without it looking OEM from the outside, so long still have the separate light components when viewed from the front, and any increase in performance.

 

Running without a lens cover on the drivers side at the moment is a large improvement so will be another place for gains on improving the seal and stopping any moisture build up inside the light which reflects and diffuses light from lighting up further down the road.

[fezzasus]

I'll live without it looking OEM from the outside, so long still have the separate light components when viewed from the front, and any increase in performance.

 

Running without a lens cover on the drivers side at the moment is a large improvement so will be another place for gains on improving the seal and stopping any moisture build up inside the light which reflects and diffuses light from lighting up further down the road.

 

I have my doubts over the grade of polycarbonate used with the OEM units, which could contribute to the reduced output. So will the large angle of the lens vs. the projector position as it effectively increases the polycarbonate thickness.

[fezzasus]

how close to oem will it look from the outside? also will there be colour options?

 

Can't commit an answer to either yet, i'm focusing on getting them working correctly then packaging them. There will be a lot of 3D printing in my future.

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

 

how close to oem will it look from the outside? also will there be colour options?

 

Can't commit an answer to either yet, i'm focusing on getting them working correctly then packaging them. There will be a lot of 3D printing in my future.

 

 

fair enough, I understand the need to change the structure and I assume this will alter the look too, its not a deal breaker for me, but as expensive as the standard lights are IMO the designers got the look "right".

 

Much koodos for attempting this, as it has been spoken about for years with no action at all

[CocoPops]

Tbh if they fit and work, the inner lense arrangement doesn't bother me.

[CocoPops]

As is the outer lense is more important for fitting the shape of the car.

[siztenboots]

the internals of the astra H lights could be a good base design , not too blingy compared to the vxr

[fezzasus]

 

how close to oem will it look from the outside? also will there be colour options?

 

Can't commit an answer to either yet, i'm focusing on getting them working correctly then packaging them. There will be a lot of 3D printing in my future.

 

 

fair enough, I understand the need to change the structure and I assume this will alter the look too, its not a deal breaker for me, but as expensive as the standard lights are IMO the designers got the look "right".

 

Much koodos for attempting this, as it has been spoken about for years with no action at all

 

Strangely enough, I was just getting out of my car at my parents and a someone came past saying they used to work at Wipac were on the project working in the VX220 headlights. Vauxhall went through quite a lot of iterations to get the headlights where they are now. I agree they look good, however sometimes look a bit simple.

 

In an ideal world I would produce separate projector shouds to the rest of the enclosure, so that the colours can be changed easily (for example, body coloured projector shrouds, or simply ease of supplying NA and Turbo versions). 

 

Projector arrangement will stay approximately the same, as moving things around too much just creates more work. Indicator unit will be the same, but there are now smoked and LED versions available, main beam unit will look the same but require some thought into mounting as I'm not prepared to work the units as much as Wipac did. Dipped beam projector increases from 2.5 inch to 3 inch, but visually not much difference in appearance. 

[Gilgamesh]

well as long as they fit well and work as they should I welcome these with open arms,Opel wants £1600 each for the crap OEM headlights, and as I don't have any headlights atm I really need these. waiting with excitement!

 

Edited by Gilgamesh, 03 January 2014 - 01:45 PM.

[TheRealVXed]

Don't drive in the dark for a few months!  These things take ages and I'm sure Tom will want to make it 100% right first time.  His attention to detail is superb

Edited by VXRed, 03 January 2014 - 02:57 PM.

[Gilgamesh]

I still have my old ones without any lense cover but they won't pass MOT, but I won't drive until late april maybe if weather is good be then.

[fezzasus]

I still have my old ones without any lense cover but they won't pass MOT, but I won't drive until late april maybe if weather is good be then.

 

Why can't you pass an MOT? The individual projectors are all E-coded so still legal without a cover.

[Gilgamesh]

 

I still have my old ones without any lense cover but they won't pass MOT, but I won't drive until late april maybe if weather is good be then.

 

Why can't you pass an MOT? The individual projectors are all E-coded so still legal without a cover.

 

 

the light output is completely wrong on one of the headlights, I can't adjust it either as the adjuster seems to do nothing.. so yes I can drive with them but won't pass MOT