Halogen > LED lighting upgrade

[nuc1]

Thanks. Found a couple of videos from Lightwerkz, there is some shaving away that needs to be done to fit the new projectors. And they don't offer a complete video which I always like when tackling something difficult.

Wrote up my swap today for the next guy with a bunch of pics: https://chrisparente.com/2023/03/11/...peration+ZKW-R

Retrofits generally require some massaging/shaving.

Mike

[BlueBimmers]

Thanks. Found a couple of videos from Lightwerkz, there is some shaving away that needs to be done to fit the new projectors. And they don't offer a complete video which I always like when tackling something difficult.

Wrote up my swap today for the next guy with a bunch of pics: https://chrisparente.com/2023/03/11/...peration+ZKW-R

[nuc1]

If you don't mind report back when you do. I'd assume the wiring requires some modification. Yes I went very slow and careful on the lens swap, there was a video from Jake W that was priceless.

I will. May take a while.

The stock bixenon projectors use D2S bulbs with a separate ignitor and ballast. It should be as simple as swapping the projectors and installing the brackets. You could use aftermarket ballasts with integrated ignitor but I would want to hide that away to keep an OEM-ish look under the hood.

MIke

[BlueBimmers]

I haven't done it yet. That project is behind some other projects for the moment. AFAIK, that's all you need. Be aware the headlights themselves are probably brittle. Be wary of prying/tightening too much on things.

If you don't mind report back when you do. I'd assume the wiring requires some modification. Yes I went very slow and careful on the lens swap, there was a video from Jake W that was priceless.

[nuc1]

from Ceasar at Lightwerkz for those curious about the weight savings.

I just weighed the MLED 2.0 1.3lbs. The HID ballast, bulb, adapter, and projector weighed in at 2.0lbs. So .7lbs per side, 1.5 lbs total of savings. I am not sure if that's enough to warrant the switch to LED.

Well you get the added benefit of much much better overall lighting.

Mike

[Cronenberged]

from Ceasar at Lightwerkz for those curious about the weight savings.

I just weighed the MLED 2.0 1.3lbs. The HID ballast, bulb, adapter, and projector weighed in at 2.0lbs. So .7lbs per side, 1.5 lbs total of savings. I am not sure if that's enough to warrant the switch to LED.

[nuc1]

Same question: Just brackets and a new set of RX350 projectors to convert from halogen?

From halogens you would also need ballasts and the appropriate connectors if going HID. LED would not need ballasts. As far as wiring goes, not sure about that.

Mike

[nuc1]

nuc1 - yeah I'm tracking you. Once you've totally disassembled why not improve further? A few years ago I paid a shop to put Evo 2.0s in my E39 headlights. Then went brand new Euro with a nice group buy price, but that's another story.

For now I'm happy with new lens and Osram CBI bulbs. Have you already done the retrofit? so you need the brackets ($80?!) and new projectors? No other changes needed?

I haven't done it yet. That project is behind some other projects for the moment. AFAIK, that's all you need. Be aware the headlights themselves are probably brittle. Be wary of prying/tightening too much on things.

Mike

[SQ13]

Y’all, reach out to Lightwerkz. They’ll tell you exactly what you need.

[rjsimz]

following. looking to upgrade my halogens to projectors as well.

[D-O]

nuc1 - yeah I'm tracking you. Once you've totally disassembled why not improve further? A few years ago I paid a shop to put Evo 2.0s in my E39 headlights. Then went brand new Euro with a nice group buy price, but that's another story.

For now I'm happy with new lens and Osram CBI bulbs. Have you already done the retrofit? so you need the brackets ($80?!) and new projectors? No other changes needed?

Same question: Just brackets and a new set of RX350 projectors to convert from halogen?

[BlueBimmers]

nuc1 - yeah I'm tracking you. Once you've totally disassembled why not improve further? A few years ago I paid a shop to put Evo 2.0s in my E39 headlights. Then went brand new Euro with a nice group buy price, but that's another story.

For now I'm happy with new lens and Osram CBI bulbs. Have you already done the retrofit? so you need the brackets ($80?!) and new projectors? No other changes needed?

[nuc1]

Interesting thread. I remember how bad the halogen headlights were on my E36 M3 before I went with Hella ellips. Big improvement there. If I was stuck with reflector halogen I'd definitely look for an upgrade. Feel like I know my headlights intimately now that I've figured out the ZKW-R lens swap. More work than I first thought.

If you have done the swap, good on you. If you haven't done the swap, save yourself some trouble and buy adapter brackets from LightWerkz and some new projectors.
G5 / G5-BRT: https://lightwerkz.net/products/bosc...to-g5-brackets
RX350: https://lightwerkz.net/products/bosc...33925594939532

I've done the ZKW-R lens swap w/ Osram CBBs. Have a set of adapters and RX350 projectors to swap in.

My Tundra has RX350s w/ CBBs and there is no comparison between them and my M w/ ZKW-R swap w/ CBBs. RX350s are much, much wider and have a better hotspot.

Mike

[BlueBimmers]

Interesting thread. I remember how bad the halogen headlights were on my E36 M3 before I went with Hella ellips. Big improvement there. If I was stuck with reflector halogen I'd definitely look for an upgrade. Feel like I know my headlights intimately now that I've figured out the ZKW-R lens swap. More work than I first thought.

[tcp]

So, 10lb to go to xenon? Wow.

Yeah, the bixenons have leveling motors + the shutter/lens assembly + the ballast which adds ~ 4 lbs per light. Then you need ~200 feet of 20 gauge wire for the leveling sensor wiring harness, the extra wires from the LCM to the lights, and the connectors. And of course, you need the two leveling sensors (one for each axle).