I'm doing a bit of research into projector swaps (as I'm tired of blinding oncoming traffic -- or not being able to see because of having to aim the lights down a little lower.) I know there have been topics on this before, but most seem to have old dead links.

I know the tsx projectors are the typical favorite, but how are the e46 bi-xenon projectors? I do a LOT of driving at night (typically at midnight or 4am, after work) so my high beams are on at least 75% of the time. I understand the TL projectors are bi-xenon and much like the TSX, but I don't want to put $300+ projectors in $200 headlights :D

The e46 projectors seem to go cheap on ebay...

Thanks!

sorry, i have no experience with bi-xenon e46s

BUT, if youre only worried about blinding people: a cheaper and easier fix would be to just modify your cutoff shield on your existing projectors.

how???

either something like this:http://www.houseofthud.com/cartech/hids/ (http://www.houseofthud.com/cartech/hids/)
or
just making a completly new shield by cutting it out of metal, and replacing the old one.

what about modifing the high beam lens? those dont throw out much light at all on the ZKW lights. anyone know?

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=316320

Pics are no longer on that thread, but you could PM the OP. I had something similar done to mine. I had the high beams on the projectors as well as the high beams on the regular headlights both power on. Looks like Daylight :)

I also have HIDs in the Fogs, both the new 50w style HIDs which put out lot more light.

what about modifing the high beam lens? those dont throw out much light at all on the ZKW lights. anyone know?

I used to do retrofits for fun...personally, I think the bi-xenon option on the e46 is a bit of joke. The problem is when high beam mode is activated and the shield drops, the light beam becomes to scattered and unfocused. The actual projector in normal low beam mode will produce plenty of light if the shield is slightly modified. Proper hight adjustment is also critical in getting a nice solid beam.

When you say moding the high beam lens what do you mean exactly?

btw...I noticed your in orange county. I can sell you a set of mint e46 bi-xenons. I'm heading to Long Beach tomorrow(12/7) shoot me an offer if you're interested.

haha i think he's in a different OC

try to look at them on the road...watch a e46 3 series drive down the road....then watch a tsx

both very good, but i really think the TSX are better
i was debating between the same two, and i picked TSX and am happy b/c of it
TSX's beam is much wider, and the cutoff is sharper
some people have said that the e46's are easier to retrofit? not sure but maybe?

from what I've seen, the e46 projectors aren't quite as good as the tsx. Generally speaking, the cutoff is not as sharp on bi-xenon either. I don't know about the ease of retrofitting them though... I've been surfing hidplanet for the same kind of info lately, it's a good resource for stuff like this.

search my threads, from comparisons i have done with other tsx's they look the best as far as cutt off and cut off color but when compared to my buddy tsx's my e46 bi xenons put more light on the ground and more evenly.
it really just depends whats you want.
quad high beams for the win tho
btw if you want pics search my threads

search my threads, from comparisons i have done with other tsx's they look the best as far as cutt off and cut off color but when compared to my buddy tsx's my e46 bi xenons put more light on the ground and more evenly.
it really just depends whats you want.
quad high beams for the win tho
btw if you want pics search my threads

Hey, did you ever do a write up on the project?

sorry, i have no experience with bi-xenon e46s

BUT, if youre only worried about blinding people: a cheaper and easier fix would be to just modify your cutoff shield on your existing projectors.

I've thought about it, but I don't think that would really be good. The lights are plenty bright, but the beam spread is quite terrible - especially when mated to the disappointing high beams in the european lights. Not to mention the H1 rebased bulbs don't sit in the stock projector right - its both in the wrong position, and sits crooked.

What I really want to know is if the bi-xenon lights are really worth it. Like I said, at least 75% (if not more) of my night-driving is with the high beams on back roads. I want to see as much as I possibly can.

Will the e46 with bi-xenon be better (with high beams on - both the cutoff shield and stock high beams) than the tsx projectors with stock high beams turned on? I can't imagine the beam pattern will be WORSE with the e46 projectors in low-beam mode than with the depo's. I would even consider buying the 50w HID setup for e46 housings.

If I had $300+ to blow on projectors, I would buy the TL with bi-xenon... but I don't :) Basically I want the best high-beam solution I can get while having acceptable low beams.

let me say that with my swap, the high beams dont really help much...

but if you really think you are going to use your highs a lot, then go for the e46's...... those with highs on are going to be brighter and better than tsx's with the stock depo/zkw highs on...no question

i guess for me its never really an issue cause in southern ca i really cant use my highs that much cause i'll most likely always be blinding someone

im talking about the high beams on the ZKW's. they SUCK.

the us spec headlights are much better on highbeam.

the zkw the passenger side is smaller than the other (the beam pattern) i believe they do this to help even out the light that the low beam puts out (tilted cut off)

Yea the high beams on the European headlights are absolutely terrible. My sister's saturn has better high beams.

I miss the high beams on my '88 325is. Those things were freaks - just ungodly bright. I have NEVER seen high beams that came close to that... in fact if I could do an "e30 high beam retrofit" I would :lol

Hence my need for bi-xenon. I decided on the fx35 bi-xenon's. They are widely accepted to be the best bang for buck bi-xenon over on hidplanet.com forums... in fact, the e46 seem to be considered the bottom of the barrel. :)

Heres a ready-made solution:

http://lightwerkz.net/prod_bmw.htm

Ive seen them in an E46 M3 and they were VERY sweet. If I were to get another set of HIDs, I would absolutely go with these over my current XTEC kit.

Heres a ready-made solution:

http://lightwerkz.net/prod_bmw.htm

Ive seen them in an E46 M3 and they were VERY sweet. If I were to get another set of HIDs, I would absolutely go with these over my current XTEC kit.

That's kind of expensive but it's a good solution for someone who doesn't want to mess with it themselves. I'm very excited to get these projectors... I already have the depo's taken apart, which of course a piece that's unrelated snapped off already :lol

im talking about the high beams on the ZKW's. they SUCK.

the us spec headlights are much better on highbeam.

the zkw the passenger side is smaller than the other (the beam pattern) i believe they do this to help even out the light that the low beam puts out (tilted cut off)

The high beams on my depos suck too:(

My 328i has the stock headlights and the high beam is incredible, not only does it actually light up the road, but it shoots ALOT farther down the road

stock headlights need good highbeams, p-swaps dont

That's kind of expensive but it's a good solution for someone who doesn't want to mess with it themselves. I'm very excited to get these projectors... I already have the depo's taken apart, which of course a piece that's unrelated snapped off already :lol

I've taken mine apart several times without issues :dunno

from what I've seen, the e46 projectors aren't quite as good as the tsx. Generally speaking, the cutoff is not as sharp on bi-xenon either. I don't know about the ease of retrofitting them though... I've been surfing hidplanet for the same kind of info lately, it's a good resource for stuff like this.
+1
Having driven both a tsx and an e46 with bi-xenons, in the same night I can tell you that the tsx is a little better. It has a bit better cutoff.

I've taken mine apart several times without issues :dunno

Sweet, thanks for the help :buttrock

Just an update - Got some FX35 bi-xenon projectors. In the middle of retrofitting them right now, but obviously I took them out to compare to the depo's w/HID's. All I can say is holy shit!

When parked in my driveway with the projectors in my hand pointed at the house, the depo's lit up about 1/2 the length of the house. When I did the same with the fx35's, the light spead was at LEAST 4x wider. It lit up the whole side of the house, and continued well into the front and back yards. Not only was it wider, but instead of having 1 bright spot with a little bit of light around it, it was just one wide intense beam of light. When aiming it down the road a bit, I can see already how big of an improvement it is.

I actually regret spending $200+ on H1 HID's when I could've spent $225 + some extra work to have these to begin with. We'll see how it is once they are actually IN the car.

Sweet, thanks for the help :buttrock

Sorry, not trying to be difficult or argumentative. I guess I'm just too used to the whole "depos are crap" argument threads.

That's awesome about the fx35 projectors, I was considering the same ones but didn't know much about them. They tend to be less expensive too, which seems contradictory to what I would've thought. What car exactly (year and whatnot) do these come out of? I may have to invest in a set after your review :)

Just an update - Got some FX35 bi-xenon projectors. In the middle of retrofitting them right now, but obviously I took them out to compare to the depo's w/HID's. All I can say is holy shit!

When parked in my driveway with the projectors in my hand pointed at the house, the depo's lit up about 1/2 the length of the house. When I did the same with the fx35's, the light spead was at LEAST 4x wider. It lit up the whole side of the house, and continued well into the front and back yards. Not only was it wider, but instead of having 1 bright spot with a little bit of light around it, it was just one wide intense beam of light. When aiming it down the road a bit, I can see already how big of an improvement it is.

I actually regret spending $200+ on H1 HID's when I could've spent $225 + some extra work to have these to begin with. We'll see how it is once they are actually IN the car.

its exciting huh? i remember when I first hooked up the tsx projector in my hand, and was like holy sh!t.......
my retro was done in july, but I am still in love w/ my lights every time i turn them on:buttrock

Sorry, not trying to be difficult or argumentative. I guess I'm just too used to the whole "depos are crap" argument threads.

That's awesome about the fx35 projectors, I was considering the same ones but didn't know much about them. They tend to be less expensive too, which seems contradictory to what I would've thought. What car exactly (year and whatnot) do these come out of? I may have to invest in a set after your review :)

They are actually out of an FX35 or FX45 (Infinity SUV that's a copy of the Z3 M-Coupe.) I won't say I recommend them yet, only because I have not driven with them... but I can tell I will like them :D Dual high beams also... though I'm sure having the 55w high beams will be a waste of power :stickoutt

euro96 - The one projector had a 85122 bulb, the other has an 85122+. I haven't tried them side by side, but are there any huge differences? I'll be buying new bulbs anyways in a few weeks. And yes, I'm excited as hell to get these on! I'm even saving my shrouds - except I'm cutting all but the front 3/4" off, since these projectors are fairly wide. I need to figure something out for the glass in front of the low beam... I'd like to just drill them out, but I don't feel like spending $60 on a diamond hole saw.

thats why i got X5 lenses.....put em in place of the glass
i tried having a glass shop drill my lenses, but they broke one
i think drilling the glass lenses is the best, buts its very difficult to not break them

oh and on the bulbs, i have the + version, although i dont think you will be able to tell the two apart
what has more of an effect is their age, so if one is older than the other, you might be able to see a difference

post of some pics, i want to see the projectors

thats why i got X5 lenses.....put em in place of the glass
i tried having a glass shop drill my lenses, but they broke one
i think drilling the glass lenses is the best, buts its very difficult to not break them

oh and on the bulbs, i have the + version, although i dont think you will be able to tell the two apart
what has more of an effect is their age, so if one is older than the other, you might be able to see a difference

post of some pics, i want to see the projectors

Just a pic of the projector, or a pic of the light? I don't have a camera that will take pic if the latter anymore... stupid me, selling my dSLR.

I'll get on that when I get home.:stickoutt

Without looking at realoem - is there a part number for the X5 lens/whatever? Or is this a part I'll have to snag out of an x5 head light assembly? Is it a direct fit?

Got the retrofit done lastnight - installed tonight. All I can say is WOW!!! They are SO much better than before! This was easily the best $225 + other parts + time spent on my car. I can't get over how much better I can see.

The roads are wet tonight - I can see better on wet roads with these than I EVER could on DRY roads with the re-based HID kit I had in the depo's to begin with. :eyecrazy:eyecrazy:eyecrazy Not to mention these are used bulbs and don't match (not noticeable except in my house when testing them.) I can't even imagine them with new bulbs! :D

I'll post a little write-up - though my pictures are embarrassingly bad!