36 replies to this topic

[Veneficus]

I am not understanding all of this about projectors but would like to put clear
or better or more modern headlights into an 850. Is it possible to purchase clear
lenses

Thank you, regards
Helmut Ranff

Without changing the internal reflector to something that directs light (or a projector), a clear lens won't work. You can however get new jewel headlights.

E-codes on 850's and HIDs work though? I heard that they have a better cut off then the stock lenses... Also, wouldn't eyebrows help with that too?

Yeah, whats the deal with E-codes? Whats the real difference I never figured that out...

[Gregg]

E-codes use H1 bulbs, have different deflectors in the glass, and possibly different reflector in the headlamp housing. The H1 bulbs produce more light (lumens) than 9006, but less than 9005 bulbs. The cutoff is a lot better with the e-codes than with standard lenses and bulbs (U.S.-spec).

[Volvoson]

E-codes use H1 bulbs, have different deflectors in the glass, and possibly different reflector in the headlamp housing.  The H1 bulbs produce more light (lumens) than 9006, but less than 9005 bulbs.  The cutoff is a lot better with the e-codes than with standard lenses and bulbs (U.S.-spec).

So E-codes are a whole new headlight assembly? How does it work since it requires a new bulb type vs the 9006 I have now... If I have to get new bulbs, screw that I just dished out money for the HIDs, I'm not ready to spend more money on new headlight bulbs just so I can get a new look... They look fine as is, but it could look better.

[Serge]

To tell you the truth, I am not sure about HIDs inside of halogen housings period. I am not that big of a fan of ricers driving in the opposite direction with lights that blind me. Granted not all housings are the same, the majority of housings I've seen spew out glare.

That is pretty much the reason I am doing a projector retrofit. I just need to get the remainder of the parts and some time (and balls, to cut into my headlight!).

As for changing the bulbs, you don't need to. Just use your current housing w/ e-code lenses.

[StickThatClutch]

ECEs have a completely different beam pattern than DOT lenses. DOT lenses are rated for something like 34% of gross lumen output while ECEs are 38%. Plus the beam pattern is wider and the cutoff is sharper on the left (drivers side).

I'm not sold on a non HID projector/retrofit solution. The amount of light you gain is minimal it just looks brighter due to diffraction.

[Serge]

ECEs have a completely different beam pattern than DOT lenses. DOT lenses are rated for something like 34% of gross lumen output while ECEs are 38%. Plus the beam pattern is wider and the cutoff is sharper on the left (drivers side).

I'm not sold on a non HID projector/retrofit solution. The amount of light you gain is minimal it just looks brighter due to diffraction.

Oh of course. I wouldn't do a non-HID projector retrofit... no point! It's all about OEM 4200K OSRAM HID bulbs w/ Hella ballasts behind some BOSCH projectors baby!!

[StickThatClutch]

You're fan of the OSRAM capsules? I think the Phillps V3+ capsules actually do a better job at lumen output. If you want bling go with the ultinons.

Good to see people going about it in the right way.

[Serge]

You're fan of the OSRAM capsules? I think the Phillps V3+ capsules actually do a better job at lumen output. If you want bling go with the ultinons.

Good to see people going about it in the right way.

I like OSRAMs for the simple reason that the Hella ballasts that come out of Audi's are designed for these capsules. I haven't played with any other ones actually (with the exception of rebased bulbs).

Absolutely man, I either do something right or don't do it at all

[beachnut]

So E-codes are a whole new headlight assembly? How does it work since it requires a new bulb type vs the 9006 I have now... If I have to get new bulbs, screw that  I just dished out money for the HIDs, I'm not ready to spend more money on new headlight bulbs just so I can get a new look... They look fine as is, but it could look better.

If you're using DOT lenses with your HID's you could at least get the e-code lenses from FCP (not full housings) and you'll get a better left side cut-off as has been previously mentioned. This is my setup and it works fine for me. No, it's not perfect in the eyes of an HID purist in regards to using reflector housing, but it's better than leaving your DOT lenses on. I have never been flashed because my lights are too bright. I have a decent left hand cut-off and I flood the right side.

[V Tuning 850]

So the E-codes from FCP Groton.

Are these it?

9169346
Left Head Lamp Lens Kit

$65.00

Scan Tech E-Code Specs

9169347
Right Head Lamp Lens Kit

$65.00

Scan Tech E-Code Specs

I know they say E-code.

Are these just the lens itsself, that is what I am asking. Because I would like the clear look, or cleaer look for my 99 S70.

Edited by V Tuning 850, 20 February 2005 - 11:20 PM.

[V Tuning 850]

bump

[Serge]

bump

The e-codes by scantech are just lenses. You won't get a 100% clear setup w/o new jewel headlights. You'll get a clearer headlight though, that's for sure.

[UncleBoost]

Ok...So basically what I am hearing from you guys is that using Jewels with an HID setup would reak havoc because the light wouldn't be properly Difused... correct?

What is the "Projector Retrofit"? (HID bulb in a Projector Housing?)
Where would you find the projectors and how would you install them, in the Jewel housing? Thus basically bypassing the Faceted reflected surfaces?

HID Foglights.....has this been done yet?
Hmmmmm....thinking. How would a Dual set of HID Fogs look in a Custom Front
airdam?

-=Boost=-

[Serge]

Using just jewel lenses in a non-jewel housing with HIDs will reak havoc. Using jewel housings w/ jewel lenses will be fine, I believe, but not perfect.

A projector retrofit involves taking an OEM HID projector (out of an Audi, BMW, Mercedes or similar car housing) and retrofiting it into a non-projector housing. There is a whole community devoted to this, and apparently not something for beginners unless you are willing to deal with loss. It requires a lot of custom work and fabrication, as well as knowledge on how to align them.

[UncleBoost]

Thanks for the info Liquid....
Intresting. So Say if you took an HID setup, (Bulbs and Ballasts)
You obtain a couple Jewels How much modification will you have to do
to get the bulbs into place, and would you Gain or Lose visibility? You had mentioned a "Loss" with this mod.


Check this out...has anybody ever tried these Kats?

HID vs Halogen

1800k-(warm light) ---->28000k (cool light and bluest)

I read where "The Higher the Kelvin, the Bluer the Light".
What does this mean? Answer....If you have a friend named Kelvin who is High, and drives while High, and Tries to run from the Cops, the light gets bluer cause you have more than 1 cop chasing him...

(I hear crickets)

Anyway..
Oh...I do know this. Not sure about where you guys live but here in North Carolina
State troopers are using Blue LED's and Low profile "Bubble Gum Machines". You can see those darn LED's 5 minutes before you get to them....Hella Range!!! almost like a fricken laser beam of blue...

[Serge]

You don't get the bulbs in place, you get projectors in place, which the bulbs go into. There is a lot of work involved, which I have yet to attempt.

You will not lose visibility by using projectors w/ HIDs.. you will gain a lot, actually. You will lose if you use projectors w/ halogens.

Kelvin rating (a color scale, shifted celsius scale where absolute-zero is 0) determines the color of light when it comes to bulbs. OEM HIDs are 4100k, which is pure white (though 5000k is actually day-time light), projectors do the job of making them blue. DO NOT get a stupidly high kelvin rating on bulbs. I hear of people getting 12000k bulbs for the purple color. Why not do this? As the kelvin rating gets higher, the light output gets progressively smaller.

[patrick]

kelvin is a light temperature rating(aka color of visible light)

lumens is the amount of light, you can see those lights far away because they are outputting alot of lumens.

basically theres a range of visible light we can see, whcih is a small portion of all light energy. for example w/ HID's 4300k HIDs are whiter, however give a more central(in our viewing capable range) color temp, so they appear the brightest. 7000k are bluer, but miore of the lgiht we cannot seeo n the road, so they are actually not as bright, even though they are producing the same amount of lumens.
there was a good chart posted recently giving examples of the different light/color temperatures

hope this helps and feel free to correct if im wrong somewhere...