Ok, theres a good chance I'm finally buying some projectors, found a great deal in an ad, a guy who just wants to just get rid of them. I'm getting the whole headlamp assemblies with projectors and D2S bulbs and one bad ballast (I already have ballasts).
I'm taking my time with this project because I'm happy with my setup now, but I know once I finish with projectors, I'll be 100% happy....but I want to do it right so I can leave it alone. Well as you know, I bought these lights for my Camry:
so Im wondering if instead of just using the raw X5 projector.....would I be able to use it along with the textured lense that surrounds it? Is there a cover that surrounds the projector like this:
or is the projector just held flush to the lense? I ask, because I'm thinking about getting it to fit in my lamp with the surrounding lense and all so it could cover up any roughness in the back due to cutting and JB welding...I think my lamp is big enough.
If your camry housing is big enough then you should be able to fit the whole thing in.
The old BMW's have their projectors attached to the larger round lenses, every much like that other image you have. So you should be able to disassemble the X5 housing for the parts you need.
So on the new BMW's, 99+........how is the projector connected to the surrounding lense differently then the older one in that pic? Does anyone have a picture of an X5 projector that's still?
The X5/E39 lamp assembly is too big for your camry housing, I'm %99 positive. So the photo shop picture you made is probably not gonna happen. Maybe use just the projector with costom cover around it. Get some measurements and you'll know what i'm talking about. Also you have to consider the depth of the projectors too WITH THE D2S SOCKETS. After all your camry is not made for HID projector aseembly.
By too big, are you refering to the projector and the surrounding lenses, or just the projector? Because if the lense is made of plastic I can always use a dremel to trim it down can't I?
I believe my Camry's headlamp is about 6inche's tall....if not, oh well, I guess I will have to end up making my own frame....but I know the depth isn't a problem because the lamp is fairly deep at the low beam section. On the passanger side, there is nothing but open space, but on the driver's side, there is a battery sitting 4 inches behind the lamp.
So it's a pretty good chance they still use glass on that surrounding lense?
I just took a good look at mine up close and it looks like a high quality plastic resin, not glass. It's a disguise, the projector lens can be seen so this other "lens" ( I don't think you can call it that) has a hole in the middle.
Thanks, I hope it is something that can be cut with a dremel because that will make my project alot easier.
Have you taken your housing apart before? What covers the diameter of the projector from front to back besides the black headlamp casing? Is there an additional weather proof housing or is it just a raw projector behind that?
to use a projector aftermarked headlamp as a basis instead of the reflector type chose?
If not, using the surrounding glass from the X5 to cover up a projector is something I have been dreaming of myself. There are alternative materials to accomplish this. I have imagined using glass which is used in fluorescent ceiling fixtures. They come in many styles: drops, crossed, iced, etc. Material is styren whis is not too bad temperaturewise:
I was just thinking about that. I tried to use the fluoresant light fixture lamp covers when I converted my old Maxima's tail lamps from amber to clear a year ago.
If they had after market projector housings for Camry's I would have gone the route you suggested. I already have 3 sets of headlamps, so I don't want have to buy another set.
So I take it by how you describe that cosmetic lense on the projector, that it can't be altered.
I just got some rough measurements of my headlamp and it's about 5 inches high, 5 inches deep, and about 4 inches clearance in the back of the headlamp.
Do you think this will be enough room for the E39 projector?
DJ, I was DREAMING of being able to take my housing apart without breaking it since I bought the hella bixenon units (which are identical units to the X5's) and was hoping to fit those in.
As it turned out I'm stuck with the bixenon projectors because I cannot take the housing apart and replace the projectors. I've heard from people who have taken these units apart that they always get broken or are not waterproof anymore after they close them again, so I just decided not to fiddle with it. Luckily, I have 1900 lumens 9005 bulbs as high beams.
I have 3 sets of Camry headlamps, so I'm not too worried about messing a set up .
My biggest concern is here:
that grey weather-proof piece covering the projector (in the left white square) does it extend all the way to the front cosmetic lense? And can it be removed from the headlamp as an independent piece? If it is, how is it removed?
Hmmmm!!, that's not an X5 headlight, similar but not X5. The front looks like X5. In the back, the X5 has a screw on cover that is held by three screws, take those apart and take the waterproof cover away. Then all you see is the back of the chromed projector reflector, and are able to change the bulb only, not take the projector out, because the opening is too small. That you'd have to do only by taking the front lens apart, which is what I cannot do. But again, your headlight seems to be a five series but not X5.
Yeah that's the X5 deal. Not sure how to deal with the 540I. Man, I don't know why manufacturers made it so hard to get to the projectors. The early 1990's hella halogen projectors were still waterproof and can be removed very easily for cleaning. Right now you could not clean one of them suckers. They probably think you'll never need to. Sorry I can't be of more help
That's ok.........if anyone else knows, please let me know. I don't want to have to tear into the headlamp because there are others who want to purchase the remanding pieces.
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