halo bulbs

[jaygo0770]

h1's are the bulbs for the halo lights correct?

and how do you go about changing the bulbs for the halo lights?
there are two screws inside of the housing, do i unscrew those to get the bulb to pull out?


i bought some plasma xenon for the halos til my h1s bulb come from ebay.

but these are the ones i ordered from ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=011&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=320161842123&rd=1

[Ahriman is BRUTAL]

...... wha?

[Cat Ion]

For what bulb location you talkin' 'bout?.....driving lites?

[XeroState]

"Halo" lights are most commonly found on high-end BMW's.. the light comes from the edges of the light, rather than the center but still provides the same lighting for DRL [witchcraft I tell you, witchcraft!].

Those are merely H1 lights, the term "Halo" comes from the housing more than the light itself otherwise known as "Angle Eye" headlights
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/XeroState/91_2.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y146/XeroState/41cf_2.jpg

You need more than just the H1 bulb to get "Halo" or "Angle Eye" headlights.. unless what you are talking about is something completely different. If so, ignore this.

Also, I believe all "H" series bulbs are used for Halo/Angle Eyes as the E38 M3 uses H7 for the high beams and HID-D2S for low beams [as do all M3's with HID "Angle Eyes" from the E38 on.. not sure about the newest ones].

[Paulumbo]

h1's are the bulbs for the halo lights correct?

and how do you go about changing the bulbs for the halo lights?
there are two screws inside of the housing, do i unscrew those to get the bulb to pull out?


i bought some plasma xenon for the halos til my h1s bulb come from ebay.

but these are the ones i ordered from ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=011&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=320161842123&rd=1

Check out this link:
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=123&highlight=led

These work WAY better!

[Cat Ion]

Check out this link:
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=123&highlight=led

These work WAY better!

Gotta have an account to get on there!:slant:

[bc3tech]

Gotta have an account to get on there!:slant:
ditto - not cool :thumbsdown:

[Paulumbo]

Part needed:
A length of FlickStick = Clear Acrylic/Plastic Rod used for opening and closing window blinds/curtains etc. (Found at Spotlight or any Curtain retailer).
Diameter approx. 8mm. Length varies from approx. 60cm to 125cm.
Cost: for a 100cm APPROX. $4.99.
Ooooooh, now I have to live on strict budget again.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/paulumbo/AngelEyes01.jpg

A Dremel.

2 x WHITE or BLUE, 5mm, LEDs. From 2 - 8000mcd (for each ring)
1 x Resistors 220 - 420 ohms. Depending on how strong you want the light to be.

1 x Oven.

Usual tools and some.

1- Cutting the correct length.

We need to create a circular ring out of the rod.
In order to determine the circumference of the circle, measure the diameter of your either Hi or Lo beam reflector. That is if you want to have Halo Rings around both of the reflectors.
In this case it comes out to be 10cm (or 5cm radius).
Using the circular formula (C=2πr, where π=3.14), cut the rod about 32cm long.

If math is not your thing.
Take a string or shoe lace, lay it carefully around the edge of the location you want to mount the Angel Eye.
Mark the ends and use the bit you marked to cut the lengt you need.


2- let’s get the rod to light up.

In order to make the ring to lights up like the true 'Angel Eye', you need to refract the light as it goes through the rod by making multiple cuts along the rod.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/paulumbo/AngelEyes02.jpg

As you see from the picture there is not much light being reflected.

Use a Dremel and cut groves in the rod.
Each cut/groove allows the light to 'escape' the ring. Each cut should be about 2~3mm apart and 1mm deep. This will make your ring look like a continuous band of light.

DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE RING.

To get the cuts look perfect, use masking tape and draw a line every 2-3mm. Stick the masking tape to the rod and cut along each line to a depth of 1mm.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/paulumbo/AngelEyes03.jpg

Don't make the cuts too close to one another.

You only need to make the cuts along one sided of the rod.

Make sure that the cuts are evenly space out.

It will take about a few minute to do the cuts using a Dremel.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/paulumbo/AngelEyes04.jpg

If you don't have a Dremel, you can use a small saw, but then will take you a bit longer to do the job.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/paulumbo/AngelEyes05.jpg

Here is few cuts.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/paulumbo/AngelEyes06.jpg

Use a saw blade and even out the cuts so they are all starting and ending at the same place of the rod.
If you have access to an air compressor, blow the shaving off the rod. If not a brush would do.
To see the final effect these cuts have, turn the rod upside down, so the cuts are on the bottom side of the rod.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/paulumbo/AngelEyes07.jpg

Now you can see how the cuts refract the light and how the rod hides any imperfection in the cuts.(Remember this is only an example to show you how. I know the cuts are not exactly perfect….(.


3- Making a ring.

Now, find an aluminium can or a glass jar (let’s call it a Peanut Jar) that has about the same diameter as the ring you want to make.

Heat up the oven to 150°C. When the oven is 150°C, turn it off.
Place the rod on an aluminium tray and then leave it inside the oven for 10 minutes.
Put on a pair of oven mitts or gloves and take the rod out.
Hold the two ends of the now VERY bendable rod with your fingers and wrap the rod around the peanut jar lid and hold it for few seconds.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/paulumbo/AngelEyes08.jpg

MAKING SURE THAT THE CUTS ARE EITHER FACING UP OR DOWN (not sideways towards or from the jar). In the above picture they are facing down.

The rod will harden within 30 seconds or so.

If you did not succeed to make a perfect circle, repeat putting the rod in the oven and warm it up etc….. one more time.

Now you should have a nice circle. With the cuts facing up or down.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/paulumbo/AngelEyes09.jpg

There is your ring.

4- The LED

Attach the resistor to the positive terminal of LED bulb, which is the longer of the 2 terminal leg.

Attach a wire to the LED first, and then attached the resistor at the end of the wire on the positive terminal. This will give you flexibility because the resistor will be outside your headlight unit and you can change it if you have a need to do so later, like changing to a lower resistor to make your Angel Eye brighter.

5- Securing LED Bulbs Inside Angle Eye Rings
To secure the LED bulbs into the rings, drill a hole in both ends of the ring, 5mm wide and 5mm deep.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/paulumbo/AngelEyes10.jpg

Parallel connect two LEDs for the both ends of the ring together.
After soldering a 25cm long wires to the positive and negative legs of the LED bulbs, wrap black electrical tape around or use some shrink wrap on the exposed part of the legs and the wires to keep them apart.
Attach the resistor to the end of the wire later on and connect the wire to the parking light.

Make sure you connect the correct wire to 12V+ and earth.

Next, insert the LEDs inside the holes of the ring, and either wrap black electrical tape around them or use a drop of Superglue to fix the LEDs to the holes you made in the end of the ring.

DO NOT paint the rod, specially in black.

The black paint will absorb the light and will make your angel ring look dim.

If you plan to wrap the black tape around the uncut/unused part of the ring, make sure you wrap some aluminium foil around them first before wrapping the black tape.
The aluminium foil will reflect the escaping light back into the ring, making the ring brighter.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/paulumbo/AngelEyes11.jpg

This is how it looks with ONLY one LED.



6- Securing the Halo Ring to the reflector

Use either JB Weld or Super glue to glue the Angel Eye rings to the headlight housings trim or the reflector edge or if you got a bezel. i.e. a suitable place.
Apply only a very small amount of glue to the un-scratch/un-cut part of the ring. The inner black frame acts as a barrier and helps protect the Angel Eyes from the heat coming from the reflector housing.

MAKE SURE THAT THE CUTS ARE FACING DOWN or ARE AT THE BACKSIDE FACING THE TRIM/REFLECTOR EDGE etc., WHEN GLUING THE RING.

Before reassembling the headlight lens to it’s housing, test that everything works OK.
If everything is OK, reassemble your headlight lens to it’s housing.

Permanently connect the LED wires to 12V+ and earth of your Parking lights.

Enjoy your Angel Eyes.



P.S. For our American friends: When anything is highlighted or in bold it does not mean I am shouting or angry.
It is highlighting the IMPORTANCE of what was written.


Enjoy. This is a very easy mod to do!

ditto - not cool :thumbsdown:

Join-it's free and there is lots of good lighting stuff in there. But just so you'll quit whining I hooked everyone up so they can see it.

[bc3tech]

holy fucking shit. most badass how-to EVER. copied to its own thread.

[Paulumbo]

holy fucking shit. most badass how-to EVER. copied to its own thread.

I take no credit for writing that How To. The lighting forums are full of that stuff, but Mavs was the bestest at doing that shit. The halos look fucking kick ass at night!

[bc3tech]

I take no credit for writing that How To. The lighting forums are full of that stuff, but Mavs was the bestest at doing that shit. The halos look fucking kick ass at night!
i may just have to take on that project next summer :D

[Paulumbo]

i may just have to take on that project next summer :D
I made foot well lights from that how to since the IRL has no fucking light on the floor! They work like a mofo. Next lighting mod is led dome and map lights.

[bc3tech]

I made foot well lights from that how to since the IRL has no fucking light on the floor! They work like a mofo. Next lighting mod is led dome and map lights.
instead of just buying some of those LED bars? hm. i don't think i'd replace my dome light w/ anything other than maybe a "hyperwhite" one as i had a blue one in my previous car and it was a PITA cuz you couldn't see anything when trying to get a guest in the car at night or something... kinda lame. just like my blue trunk lights in the ion now. a pain & worthless at night. map lights, same deal - for me anyway.

footwells, i'm too lazy i'd just do the LED bars or whatever. but this tutorial for the halos is fucking sick.

paul how come you're not playing in the shoutbox w/ the rest of us? :)

[Paulumbo]

instead of just buying some of those LED bars? hm. i don't think i'd replace my dome light w/ anything other than maybe a "hyperwhite" one as i had a blue one in my previous car and it was a PITA cuz you couldn't see anything when trying to get a guest in the car at night or something... kinda lame. just like my blue trunk lights in the ion now. a pain & worthless at night. map lights, same deal - for me anyway.

footwells, i'm too lazy i'd just do the LED bars or whatever. but this tutorial for the halos is fucking sick.

paul how come you're not playing in the shoutbox w/ the rest of us? :)

I'm getting ready to go night night-gotta 0400 wake up tomorrow.
I used white leds for the foot wells, it took me all the more of about an hour start to finish to make and install footwell lights. Dome and map lights will be white as well. Though I am going to do some cupholder lights-it's dark down there at night and using blue leds lights up bottles pretty wikedly. Added some links for led tech info.