Alright guys, here is the deal. As we all know the e30 guys are smoking there ellipsoids and smileys. There is a guy over there that is getting the crosshairs cnc machined on group buys. He says he has no plans to do anymore unless he can get more interest. I told him we e34 guys are interested. The price he was doing them at was $30 a set. We need to get the word out and get up a sizable number to get this done. I would think at least ten of fifteen of us for a start. We get these and use the oven cleaner trick and we'd be on easy street for the conversion. His cross hairs are the best I've seen!

Do you have a link? I'm not sure if you can post URLs yet or not... just tell me where to go and I'll put up a link.

I'm interested in the smoked look for my smilies. I have always wondered though, why have I only seen crosshairs on smoked headlights and not all of them?

I'm interested in the smoked look for my smilies. I have always wondered though, why have I only seen crosshairs on smoked headlights and not all of them?

Crosshairs are for smoking the high beams. That way when you look at them from any direction other than head on you see the black reflection.


I'm 100% interested in this:buttrock

yeah, sounds like a good buy. 30 a set would mean for both highs right? if thats the case. i would definatly like to have a set.

this could be tasty.

I'm in.

im down if some one can instruct me how to smoke the lows effectively.

im down if some one can instruct me how to smoke the lows effectively.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=821546

First and third posts.

Also, attack eagle attached this in another thread:

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g232/td325ic/temp%20pics/Hellasmokedtemplate1.gif

I would venture to guess that anyone with a set of aluminum aircraft shears ( L,R,& Straight) and a dremel or cutoff wheel could probably knock out a two sets of crosshairs in a couple hours.

there would be no reason for them to be cnc'd, they could be stamped if someone wanted to make a run of them.

You are correct Attack Eagle. Anyone with a set of aircraft shears and a dremel could knock off a set. In fact the guy that was doing the buy for the e30's did his that way first. He didn't like the way they looked. The shears left a rather ratty edge and there is a lot of filing to get them to look pro. As for stamping..., easier said than done. The dies have to be made and the machinery design, and la. la, la. Program one computer, put a stack of aluminum sheets in the milling machine, what ten minutes, "ding", they are done. Let Hella stamp um. They can afford to set up a stamping plant for the cross hairs. The guys name is Compression and I'd drop the link for you guys but I'm currnetly limited on links. If desired I can provide it via PM or email.
The set would include four pieces. Two interlocking blades for each highbeam gives the cross hairs.
I've got the template, I've got the aluminum, I've got straight cut, left and right hand cut shears, as well as one battery powered and one corded dremel (with flexneck extension). I still would rather have these.

Where does he post? e30tech? r3vlimited? You gotta give us some more info man, shoot me a PM if you can.

r3vlimited. I did say I'd provide the link if you pm me clevertd.

Ah my dufisinium has emerged you can't PM my as of yet so go email. Anyone interested can email me for the direct link to r3vlimited thread for info. There are pictures in the thread of the cut cross hairs. One look and you'll want, nay..., need to get a set. Knowing I've got a set of those babys up front is like knowing everything I put on my "E" is top notch. I Know that was lame but still..., they are badass. No hand job is gonna match them without some serious labor put in um.

I am the guy that is making these things.
First off, they are not CNC machined, they are laser cut from .032 aluminum.
I have sold about 30 sets so far and no one has had any trouble with them, they are very nice pieces. If you want to try to make them by hand, go for it. They are not easy. I tried all sorts of methods before going the laser cut route. A set is only $30 and can save you mucho time and frustration.

The biggest problem people have is heating their headlights to pop the lenses off. If you are not careful, you might melt the housing and need a whole new headlight.

The last group sale I did resulted in several people flaking out, which is frustrating, but you E34 guys are way more mature and reliable than those E30 punk kids, right?

My original thread can be located on the R3vlimited forum in the group-buy section. I would post a link but the forum server is down right now.

For now, I will just let interest grow and answer any questions you have.

:needpics

Wow! I looked on that forum and they look good! Defiantly count me in!

Here are some pictures I pulled from that thread:
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/8231/p1250001zm7.jpg
http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/9846/p1250002or6.jpg

I am the guy that is making these things.
First off, they are not CNC machined, they are laser cut from .032 aluminum.
I have sold about 30 sets so far and no one has had any trouble with them, they are very nice pieces. If you want to try to make them by hand, go for it. They are not easy. I tried all sorts of methods before going the laser cut route. A set is only $30 and can save you mucho time and frustration.

The biggest problem people have is heating their headlights to pop the lenses off. If you are not careful, you might melt the housing and need a whole new headlight.

The last group sale I did resulted in several people flaking out, which is frustrating, but you E34 guys are way more mature and reliable than those E30 punk kids, right?

My original thread can be located on the R3vlimited forum in the group-buy section. I would post a link but the forum server is down right now.

For now, I will just let interest grow and answer any questions you have.

yeah I will probably buy from you, just not at this moment. I agree the $30 is well spent to avoid the headaches. Are you US based, and is shiping included? Sorry if I missed that earlier.

Awesome, glad to see you posted compression. Also thanks goes to smokeewon for letting us know about this. I would love to buy a set off you as soon as I could:)

yeah I will probably buy from you, just not at this moment. I agree the $30 is well spent to avoid the headaches. Are you US based, and is shiping included? Sorry if I missed that earlier..

In his R3v thread, he states " A complete set (to do two bulbs) will be $28, plus $2 for shipping in the US. $30 total."

Awesome:D

OK ....my question is WHY? What are these supposed to accomplish? I guess I'm just an old fart ...why does ANYONE care what E30 owners do?

>^..^<

I want a set

OK ....my question is WHY? What are these supposed to accomplish?
>^..^<
smoke the high beams...
IE save the $500 that you'd pay mel to buy factory modded Hellas and just mod them yourself.


I don't read r2v2, thanks for the clarification clever.

Thanks for the correction compression. My bad. Alas it si too late to retitle the thread.
Perhaps I could start a new one, or does anyone really care that much about it. If so we can start this all over. Ok Mr old fart. I an old fart too, and it is not so much caring what the e30 guys do as much as that car uses the same lights the e34 does. I want smoked lens. This allows the high beams on both cars to smoked just as the factory does it. I am interest in doing the same thing. If you are not then don't sweat it. All old farts are not alike. Well I do own four cats and I love the ones with camel toes, but I digress. Additionally we as a community of BMW owners often own more than one type; problems and solutions on one type are common to others. So don't be a snob.
Thanks compression for your valuable input.

^^

wha?

Hopefully bimmerforums will let me post a link now.

the bimmerforum nazi wont let me post links....
I will post the complete instructions and some pictures as soon as I am allowed.

I started with a new set of "smiley" headlights bought off of ebay. They are not hella or bosch, they are an aftermarket copy from a company called DEPO. They worked great.

$30 includes free shipping in the Continental USA. I am located in Oregon.

If you want, you can e-mail me them and I will post them in this thread. tldavis6@ncsu.edu

I had a set cut for me today on a waterjet using the pattern, I'm running it through our widebelt sander and rounding the edges a little tomorrow. I can see if you don't have access to the equipment how 30 would be a heck of a deal...My problem now is having to wait until after my wedding to buy new lights.

I'm down for a set if you will ship to Canada using USPS.

I have the same lights compression. What temp did the glue separate...., at. Hey, I wonder if they can accept aiming motors on them.

I have the same lights compression. What temp did the glue separate...., at. Hey, I wonder if they can accept aiming motors on them.

about 380F, but dont leave them in there for very long. I dont have aiming motors, so i dont know.

mine separated at 300 on the lows

aiming motors attach to the headlight frame, and it looked like on the US frames the holes were there as well

humm. it looks like such a nice mod too. it may not be worth the effort though. It still bugs me to see my high beam lens missing and all the damage. I just noticed this morning that my from bumper is cracked about the pas side demolished highbeam. It is looking like and excuse to change the entire front end clip to something more aggressive.

I..., like compression, am on the resticted newbee regime: that means I can't do any fancy tracking of those desirous of these great crosshairs. We need to get more inquires out for this and I believe we need someone sight savy to set up a list of interested owners. Does anyone wish to volunteer?

20 posts and you can use links smileys or pm.

Dang..., I should be counting these things.

In the mean time..., how about someone that already has a bizzillian posts helping out.

I..., like compression, am on the resticted newbee regime: that means I can't do any fancy tracking of those desirous of these great crosshairs. We need to get more inquires out for this and I believe we need someone sight savy to set up a list of interested owners. Does anyone wish to volunteer?

I still have no idea what you are talking about...

most threads do the
1: name
2: name
3: name

thing to show if people are interested.
there is no Fancy tracking forthose "sight savy" or those site savvy either.





And until the seller gets their post count up (and or becomes a vendor- blind eye turning now) they cant take a pm so everyone will have to contact him individually off the board anyway- which isn't a bad thing.

He can not offer them for sale here as a manufacturer, or he will be banned. someone else can post contact info as a place where they could be purchased, but he can't offer them here even at no profit or at a loss without becoming a vendor.

(witness Antrieb and the individually purchased calendars from a third party site fiasco, Miller performance, smallsnails Megasquirt issues and others.)

So, let's let this sleeping dog lie, and let those who are interested contact the gentleman to purchase as needed. I would venture to say that he could probably sell 10 sets or more in the next couple of months as people defrost and start modding again, and I'll probably be one of them.

The amount of damage my headlights have suffered this winter is just too much to let go for much longer so I'll be putting in the smileys as soon as the weather gets to about fifty. That is sometime this weekend or next. It looks like it is going to be me and the tin snips doing crosshairs.

How thick are these?

I need some more fog light too. I am thinking "smoked" reflectors on them also.

there is an mia s in there somewhere, Bahran race has me, it has me, arrrgh.

Could somebody post a few sets to ireland for me?

I'm working on getting some of these made myself.

I need some more fog light too. I am thinking "smoked" reflectors on them also.

i got presmoked housings ( freeforms though).

freeforms. I guess I'll have to google that one.

faq is your friend

Hate to bring back an older thread, but I'm curious, are these still for sale! Completely forgot about this whole thing until I saw my headlights sitting in my garage the other day!

did anyone ever buy any from this guy?

or have links to the thread on r3vlimted since he doesn;t accept pms or email on this board?

edit: nvrmind; looks like he sold out on april 1st and hasn;t made anymore since.


Jon K? I know you have all the cool metal fab hookups? run off a set for me?

I want a set if we can find someone to make them... Was thinking about this yesterday morning and was going to search for this thread but its already bumped...

Send me some plans and I'll get some made.

I work for a precision sheet metal fabrication shop with all the goodies: Laser cutter,CNC punch presses,brakes,shear etc. We also do some CNC machining too.

I want.

List of people who want them copy and paste yourself in:

1. SchnellerE34
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

I want.

List of people who want them copy and paste yourself in:

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

and here is the pattern

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12502617&postcount=62

NVM, I found the answer. I'm going to try and make a set of these plates myself. The only reason is because I'm pulling my lights out tonight and want to do it all at once. I'll post pics depending on how they turnout..... if it looks bad I'll return to stock and pretend I never tried it.

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4. jhower08
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4. jhower08
5. Jcbe34
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Ok I must be stupid..

I saw pics of how to shadowline your trim and kidneys then the low beam smileys..

then i saw pics and talk about some silver CNC cookie cutter things for head lights?? What do they do? Where do they go? How do they install? is it for style or for some type of gain? Does anyone have any before or after pics of said cookie cutters?

Im not an old fart I think (37) but I am lost as helll..


So someone help me out here with what ever it is these things are, do, install and look like..

Basically they act as a louver for your high beams. Paint them black and your highs will look smoked from all angles. When you turn your lights on it doesn't block any light. So you have the same light out put yet they look smoked. Perfect.

http://www.tmtuning.com/HOME/medienarchiv/bilder/2485_g2-l-139_1.jpg

http://lbrtuning.com/images/Golf%201%20Smoked%20Headlights.jpg

http://www.oldskoolindustries.com/catalog/files/mk1smkdhlts.JPG

Ok I must be stupid..

I saw pics of how to shadowline your trim and kidneys then the low beam smileys..

then i saw pics and talk about some silver CNC cookie cutter things for head lights?? What do they do? Where do they go? How do they install? is it for style or for some type of gain? Does anyone have any before or after pics of said cookie cutters?

Im not an old fart I think (37) but I am lost as helll..


So someone help me out here with what ever it is these things are, do, install and look like..

Ok I must be stupid..

I saw pics of how to shadowline your trim and kidneys then the low beam smileys..

then i saw pics and talk about some silver CNC cookie cutter things for head lights?? What do they do? Where do they go? How do they install? is it for style or for some type of gain? Does anyone have any before or after pics of said cookie cutters?

Im not an old fart I think (37) but I am lost as helll..


So someone help me out here with what ever it is these things are, do, install and look like..


Ok, first of all it really isn't a dumb question.

You simply insert the "crosshair" into your high beam housing so it reflects and gives the "smoked" look. Simple as that. If you need anymore info just ask, and If I can't describe it any better, I'm sure someone else can.


EDIT* Schneller beat me to it.

do want

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4. jhower08
5. Jcbe34
6.Analog
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

How bad would smoked stock low beams look? I don't have smileys yet:( Pretty low on my list of mods

Subscribed

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4. jhower08
5. Jcbe34
6.Analog
7.Kesslerbmw
8.
9.
10.
11.

how much we estimating this to cost?

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4. jhower08
5. Jcbe34
6.Analog
7.Kesslerbmw
8.JPnTexas
9.
10.
11.

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4. jhower08
5. Jcbe34
6.Analog
7.Kesslerbmw
8.JPnTexas
9.dbals
10.
11.

how much we estimating this to cost? around 30 dollars shipped maybe? seems like that would be a fair profit after the cost of materials and shipping + time to do the job, since we are at about 10 sets so far.

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4. jhower08
5. Jcbe34
6.Analog
7.Kesslerbmw
8.JPnTexas
9.dbals
10.OrE34
11.

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4. jhower08
5. Jcbe34
6.Analog
7.Kesslerbmw
8.JPnTexas
9.dbals
10.OrE34
11.Idonttkknow

woot! What do i win?

Looks like there's definitely some interest here.

I'll have to pull one of my high beams out to get exact measurements this weekend. I assume both sides are the same?

Hopefully I'll have some run off sometime next week. May take a few weeks for the finished product I wanna make sure they fit right and will send them out for powdercoat etc.

no need on the powder coat, I'd prefer to spray my own.

The pdf pattern i posted is correct.
JSut print it and you should be good to go

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4. jhower08
5. Jcbe34
6.Analog
7.Kesslerbmw
8.JPnTexas
9.dbals
10.OrE34
11.Idonttkknow
12.Rozboz

Ahh so it just clicked what I was looking at with the PDF. So these are held on by the tabs in the back and it looks like there's a slot for them on the lense? You know the material thickness range they have to fit into by chance?

Would everyone else prefer them bare too? I was thinking to get them flat or semi-flat black powdercoated but will leave them unfinished if that's what people would want. The powdercoat wouldn't increase the cost per too much depending on quantity.

i would rather be able to buy them powdercoated already :)

^^^ +1 So would I, and semi- black would be the preference. Thanks

No one wants them cad-plated?

Or powder coated yellow, or orange or purple? :stickoutt

So what would happen if the vertical piece was white and the horizontal piece was black? You'd have roundels in the high beams?! :D

No one wants them cad-plated?

Or powder coated yellow, or orange or purple? :stickoutt

So what would happen if the vertical piece was white and the horizontal piece was black? You'd have roundels in the high beams?! :D


Hey, you're on to something...purple...Kalihi...Waipahu....Bagio

Get where I am going?

Ahh so it just clicked what I was looking at with the PDF. So these are held on by the tabs in the back and it looks like there's a slot for them on the lense? You know the material thickness range they have to fit into by chance?

When you put them in, you cut your own notches in the plastic highbeam housing for the tabs, put them together in an x , insert them, fold em over and seal everything back up
no slot in the lens, and the width of the slot in the pattern indicates the thickness of material. 22ga steel was used for the original steel ones.

btw, .pdf is taken exactly from a set of broken Hella smokes.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/Dillsnick/Cell/Crosshairs1.jpg


Would everyone else prefer them bare too? I was thinking to get them flat or semi-flat black powdercoated but will leave them unfinished if that's what people would want. The powdercoat wouldn't increase the cost per too much depending on quantity.

If everyone is fine it, I am fine with it. Semigloss black would be best IMO

Hey, you're on to something...purple...Kalihi...Waipahu....Bagio

Get where I am going?

Totally... Wait til the E36/Civic crowd sees the purple headlight inserts.

They'll go bananas.

So do we have someone, or are we making a list for nothing?

I have a CNC mill at our shop but I don't think we could cut sheet metal with it.

tvcasualty says he can fab them up for us.

I can get them made as well if someone has the cad drawing.

So do we have someone, or are we making a list for nothing?

I have a CNC mill at our shop but I don't think we could cut sheet metal with it.

Wouldn't a Wire EDM machine cut the sheets/plates out more efficiently? Stack say 30 at a time, hit 'start'. :D

Who knows. Never used the EM to cut anything so thin. We were cutting out 1/16 Ti plate.

yep that would be a good choice....and considering how thin they are you could cut several at a time

no cad drawing but the paper template was linked to earlier in the thread

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4. jhower08
5. Jcbe34
6.Analog
7.Kesslerbmw
8.JPnTexas
9.dbals
10.OrE34
11.Idonttkknow
12.Rozboz
13. 5two5i

Im ready lets do this

Totally... Wait til the E36/Civic crowd sees the purple headlight inserts.

They'll go bananas.
like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AU-kAnB24I

:mad

I spent:

1+ minute wondering if you thought Gwen Stefani had her headlights "on"

3+ mins waiting for a riced-out civic with purple headlights to appear.

Then I saw the bananas.

LOL!

bump.
Status?

bump.
Status?

So you can get them cut if I get a CAD drawing?

I could probably get a drawing made in a couple days, just need to have a friend whip it out.

...just need to have a friend whip it out. :bj


Easy there, fellas... :rolleyes

But yeah, bump for status.

If this train's leaving the station, I'll jump on.

For $30 bucks you can count me in too.

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4. jhower08
5. Jcbe34
6.Analog
7.Kesslerbmw
8.JPnTexas
9.dbals
10.OrE34
11.Idonttkknow
12.Rozboz
13. 5two5i
14. PCP Jr
15. Bin, you in?

For $30 bucks you can count me in too.

*Cough*

1. SchnellerE34
2. Attack Eagle
3. 2dye4
4. jhower08
5. Jcbe34
6.Analog
7.Kesslerbmw
8.JPnTexas
9.dbals
10.OrE34
11.Idonttkknow
12.Rozboz
13. 5two5i
14. PCP Jr
15. Bin, you in?

:confused


See above.

I've got it covered guys. ;)

I'm working on converting the PDF file into a compatible file for the laser as I type this. I should have them run off this week. I will make extras for people who want them after the fact too.

just want to say thanks... btw after the first run goes thru, you might want to let the r3v crowd know since some of them were left hanging...

Or run off extras and auction them on ebay to make some mo money. :)

Hey guys,sorry for the delay.

I'm not the guy that does the programming here and I overestimated the speed that we could get these done. But I have some prototypes now,we're almost there:

http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/200/img00668or8.jpg

Excuse the bad cell phone pic,that's all I have with me here. There are a few adjustments that need to be done to make them perfect before we do the final run and send them off to the powdercoater.

Shouldn't be too much longer now.

Thanks for the info attack eagle. I'm definitely running off extras so the more that want them the better :cool.

:alright I can't wait to get them. I have a day set aside to install these and smoke the lows.

look awesome! thanks for going to the trouble of making them

ditto.

Count me in! I've been waiting for this forever!

Awesome man, they look great! I was actually just talking about these to a friend of mine no longer than 10 minutes ago, glad to see progress being made!

I may be in depending on the price... :rolleyes

What is the timeframe on these?

Looks great.. lemme know when they're ready to go.

there's gonna be an overload of smoked headlight wearing E34's lol. we'll probably make it 'cool' to have un-smoked lenses

I may be in depending on the price... :rolleyes


My target price is $30 shipped for the finished set,does that sound fair?

Sounds great!

My target price is $30 shipped for the finished set,does that sound fair?

more than fair man, since they will be powdercoated to boot.

Would everyone else prefer them bare too? I was thinking to get them flat or semi-flat black powdercoated but will leave them unfinished if that's what people would want. The powdercoat wouldn't increase the cost per too much depending on quantity.

I would prefer mine bare please.

*euro smiles waiting on desk*

Thanks:buttrock

up to you. personally i'd suggest bare, so they would match whatever paint people used on the lowbeams

interested as well

My target price is $30 shipped for the finished set,does that sound fair?

more than reasonable.