1388 replies to this topic

[wizzard8]

Top job!

[pete-r]

Looks fantastic will be so much better than standard. Did you look at LED? I've got them my new 1 series and they are even better than the xenons in my old car.

[fezzasus]

Looks fantastic will be so much better than standard. Did you look at LED? I've got them my new 1 series and they are even better than the xenons in my old car.

 

Generally OEM implementation of xenon has been average so LED are more than a match, aftermarket availability is inverse to that; LED has limited choice, they're 20 x the price and not particularly good.

 

Here's the most common LED unit against the unit I've selected to go into the VX headlights.

 

LED:

 

Xenon:

 

[pete-r]

I stand corrected Sir lol. When can I order them!!!

[techieboy]

 

Finally, the selected projector, you can see this has a much broader beam pattern which will fully illuminate the road and signs.

 

 

 

 

Is that not a US beam pattern? Flat instead of the Euro-stylee LHD or RHD kick up.

[fezzasus]

 

 

Finally, the selected projector, you can see this has a much broader beam pattern which will fully illuminate the road and signs.

 

 

 

 

Is that not a US beam pattern? Flat instead of the Euro-stylee LHD or RHD kick up.

 

 

You're correct, however ECE pattern for HIDs is very, very comparable (nothing like that of the halogen). Retail parts will have the ECE ramp, these samples were to determine beam width.

 

Edit: comparison of HID ECE (EU) and DOT (US) cut off patterns.

 

Edited by fezzasus, 10 May 2016 - 09:35 PM.

[techieboy]

Retail parts will have the ECE ramp, these samples were to determine beam width.

 

[wizzard8]

Will you have some cooling issues to solve?

[fezzasus]

Will you have some cooling issues to solve?

 

No, maximum wattage from a xenon unit is the same as halogen, infact the xenon has better conversion to light so less waste energy as heat.

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

Toms kitchen = VX headlight testing facility

[D-Dub]

 

Is there anyone making rear light clusters as well ? mine are in a bit of a bad way in general....

 

If the front units are successful I will develop rears too, however rears are generally lower cost and more available so were not my priority.

 

 

"rears are generally lower cost and more available"

 

Were Tom I've been looking for turbo rears everywhere, may buy the rear lens from GMS but don't think I've got the balls to try and fit them

 

[fezzasus]

 

 

Is there anyone making rear light clusters as well ? mine are in a bit of a bad way in general....

 

If the front units are successful I will develop rears too, however rears are generally lower cost and more available so were not my priority.

 

 

"rears are generally lower cost and more available"

 

Were Tom I've been looking for turbo rears everywhere, may buy the rear lens from GMS but don't think I've got the balls to try and fit them

 

 

 

Maybe the situation has changed slightly since I started this. 

 

I've built up enough contacts and way of working to be able to apply the same approach to the rears pretty quickly. Let's see the reception when the fronts are available and go from there.

[Andy_VX]

Really impressive stuff as always Tom, it's great to see all the work you've put in. 

 

I'll certainly be having a set. 

[fezzasus]

Toms kitchen = VX headlight testing facility

 

As well as composite fastener and adhesive testing facility.

 

FML

[Andrew aka Stuwy]

I will be having a set even though I don't "need" some.

 

 

Its for the longevity of the car and community.

Edited by Andrew aka Stuwy, 12 May 2016 - 11:46 AM.

[fezzasus]

Mounting method now finalised - i've tried a few different variations on themes and have one which is durable and will retain the ability to adjust the system much longer than the OEM setup.

 

This is also a good repair for current headlights, which means I'll have one up for grabs soon.

 

 

I will be having a set even though I don't "need" some.

 

 

Its for the longevity of the car and community.

 

Thank you Andrew, they'll also look stunning if you need another reason

[DaveyC]

Excellent work.

 

Will your first production batch size be based on the number of orders received or will you set a limit? I ask because It takes me more than 30 seconds to reply to 'for sale' ads and as a result I always miss out!

[fezzasus]

Excellent work.

 

Will your first production batch size be based on the number of orders received or will you set a limit? I ask because It takes me more than 30 seconds to reply to 'for sale' ads and as a result I always miss out!

 

Typically carbon fibre work is performed in small batches as there's limited value in scaling production for such a manual task. Therefore batches of 10 are an ideal size but there's little stopping me commissioning new batches straight away. 

 

In reality, the demand for these is difficult to judge; these are not a low cost alternative to 2nd hand OEM units (although it's likely that these will help drive down the cost of scruffy OEM units), they're carbon fibre, xenon units with a light output far greater than can be achieved with HID bulbs in the standard projectors. I've had to take a lot of costs inhouse to make production viable, including carbon fibre trimming. That said, they will offer much better value than the rates Vauxhall or Opel want/wanted for a new unit and be in the ball park of the prices that good OEM units have crept to.

[DaveyC]

 

I'll watch my email notifications like a hawk.

[t3dcf]

Can't wait! Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk