Angel Eyes / ZKW mod complete
10-16-2008, 06:52 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Angel Eyes / ZKW mod complete
For a second time, I've gone back into my headlights. I've told myself the 1st time I would never open them back up again. With my cousin's recent purchase of a 2008 TL-S, he's convinced me to do otherwise as he needed help to clear/black out his headlights. I wasn't about to open another set without opening my own as that little part inside me still wanted ZKW replicas and Phillips 85122+ bulbs. With that said, take a look:
10-16-2008, 10:21 PM
#5
Senior Moderator
looks nice 
for the ZKW's did you have to open up the headlight or is it possible to do it without opening them up, by just unscrewing the projector? Also it looks like your neighbors loved the rims on your TL they got them for their car 
for the ZKW's did you have to open up the headlight or is it possible to do it without opening them up, by just unscrewing the projector? Also it looks like your neighbors loved the rims on your TL they got them for their car
10-16-2008, 11:15 PM
#6
Racer
Thread Starter
When I get better/more clear night shots actually firing into the road, I'll post them. I re-aimed them last night using the standard 25ft from wall protocol where the left kick(aka lower cutoff line) is 2" below the distance between the center of the projector ball measured from the ground up. Hopefully this weekend I'll have a chance to take more night shots. The color of the Phillips 85122+ bulbs are very white but put down 3400 lumens vs. stock osram 2800 lumens after 100+ hours of use while colorshifting to blue.
Here are overexposed iphone pictures I took while waiting for my pizza to be down in the parking lot:
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10-17-2008, 12:41 AM
#8
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For a second time, I've gone back into my headlights. I've told myself the 1st time I would never open them back up again. With my cousin's recent purchase of a 2008 TL-S, he's convinced me to do otherwise as he needed help to clear/black out his headlights. I wasn't about to open another set without opening my own as that little part inside me still wanted ZKW replicas and Phillips 85122+ bulbs. With that said, take a look:
10-17-2008, 12:53 AM
#9
where did you get the replicas from?
I did ZKW rep's on my neighbors car, and they literally, just dropped in... didnt need to make a mold or anything... you just opened the metal bracket over the projector, took out the old lense, and put the new one in !! was pretty damn easy actually
I did ZKW rep's on my neighbors car, and they literally, just dropped in... didnt need to make a mold or anything... you just opened the metal bracket over the projector, took out the old lense, and put the new one in !! was pretty damn easy actually
10-17-2008, 02:38 AM
#14
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woah makes me wanna put projectors on my spare set of headlights and put some halos in them haha... i guess eric wants to do them too since he has to reopen his headlights and clean them up a bit..
10-17-2008, 09:52 AM
#16
Racer
Thread Starter
where did you get the replicas from?
I did ZKW rep's on my neighbors car, and they literally, just dropped in... didnt need to make a mold or anything... you just opened the metal bracket over the projector, took out the old lense, and put the new one in !! was pretty damn easy actually
I did ZKW rep's on my neighbors car, and they literally, just dropped in... didnt need to make a mold or anything... you just opened the metal bracket over the projector, took out the old lense, and put the new one in !! was pretty damn easy actually
Erick, I've just been working these days I guess. If you're going to take apart your housing again, don't forget the Halo Eyes (ultimizza), ZKW replicas, and Phillips 85122+ bulbs. Go big or go home. The process took us 14 hours keeping patience and care in mind. You should do a group clearing again so those that are interested can do theirs too.
10-17-2008, 03:21 PM
#18
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So ZKW Replicas came from the retrofit source. Depending on the projector, sometimes you'll be able to get away with no spacer. Other times you won't. Its quite simple to make spacers. It felt like I was in elementary school again with the cutouts and tracing. I tested without spacers and the cutoff had a band of purple 3" wide from a distance at the top of the cutoff. I tested with 2 cereal box spacers and got a yellow band at top. At 1 spacer per projector, the cutoff was razor sharp with no bands. HIDPLANET forums is a good place to find answers regarding TL/ZKW swaps. TL/ZKW is one of the most sought after headlight combos for the gurus out there as it offers bi-xenon option. A TL lowbeam without ZKW is decent to good but still below par compared to the TSX, S2000...etc which all have clear lenses instead of fresnel.
Erick, I've just been working these days I guess. If you're going to take apart your housing again, don't forget the Halo Eyes (ultimizza), ZKW replicas, and Phillips 85122+ bulbs. Go big or go home. The process took us 14 hours keeping patience and care in mind. You should do a group clearing again so those that are interested can do theirs too.
Erick, I've just been working these days I guess. If you're going to take apart your housing again, don't forget the Halo Eyes (ultimizza), ZKW replicas, and Phillips 85122+ bulbs. Go big or go home. The process took us 14 hours keeping patience and care in mind. You should do a group clearing again so those that are interested can do theirs too.
10-17-2008, 08:31 PM
#20
Racer
Thread Starter
Valid point. I'm cheap. Perhaps $69 shipped for the ZKW replica at 1/4 the cost of the real ZKW convinced me otherwise. Yeah I mean I like good lighting, but not enough to drop any more than the $225 that I've already spent so far. Real ZKW is the way to go for the true enthusiast, but its been proven that the replicas get close.
10-18-2008, 10:59 PM
#22
Racer
Thread Starter
As promised, below are the night shots I got from my Canon SD630 on ISO800 with flash off. This is probably not 56k friendly. All pictures were taken out of my sunroof and there were no street lamps nearby.
10-19-2008, 03:48 PM
#23
Valid point. I'm cheap. Perhaps $69 shipped for the ZKW replica at 1/4 the cost of the real ZKW convinced me otherwise. Yeah I mean I like good lighting, but not enough to drop any more than the $225 that I've already spent so far. Real ZKW is the way to go for the true enthusiast, but its been proven that the replicas get close.
go check out my thread for real zkw cut off.
10-19-2008, 05:53 PM
#24
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I love they turned out. I have the same halo kit for my car and i cant wait to put then on. Especially since ive been waiting to get them installed for about 2 months now.
10-19-2008, 06:03 PM
#25
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Agree with both of you.
Real > Replicas
Even though I love the real ones and those are ones I have in my own TL and also my 2G TL retrofit but replicas are not that far off either, especially when you take into account the fact that a set can be had for $60.
I paid upwards of 300 for the real ones when the combo was first discovered in 06 and thats what ChicoOG paid, who btw was the first TL owner on the board to use the real ZKWs. Since the replicas have been out they have driven the cost of the real ones down as well, a set can be had for $150~200 these days.
Pictures look great, did you use any spacers or modified the shield? All the replicas behave differently, most of them need a slight tweaking of the cut of shield or a spacer and sometimes both to get a perfect sharp cut off.
10-19-2008, 10:14 PM
#26
Racer
Thread Starter
Agree with both of you.
Real > Replicas
Even though I love the real ones and those are ones I have in my own TL and also my 2G TL retrofit but replicas are not that far off either, especially when you take into account the fact that a set can be had for $60.
I paid upwards of 300 for the real ones when the combo was first discovered in 06 and thats what ChicoOG paid, who btw was the first TL owner on the board to use the real ZKWs. Since the replicas have been out they have driven the cost of the real ones down as well, a set can be had for $150~200 these days.
Pictures look great, did you use any spacers or modified the shield? All the replicas behave differently, most of them need a slight tweaking of the cut of shield or a spacer and sometimes both to get a perfect sharp cut off.
Real > Replicas
Even though I love the real ones and those are ones I have in my own TL and also my 2G TL retrofit but replicas are not that far off either, especially when you take into account the fact that a set can be had for $60.
I paid upwards of 300 for the real ones when the combo was first discovered in 06 and thats what ChicoOG paid, who btw was the first TL owner on the board to use the real ZKWs. Since the replicas have been out they have driven the cost of the real ones down as well, a set can be had for $150~200 these days.
Pictures look great, did you use any spacers or modified the shield? All the replicas behave differently, most of them need a slight tweaking of the cut of shield or a spacer and sometimes both to get a perfect sharp cut off.
11-18-2008, 10:02 PM
#27
Safety Car
binh, mind sharing some insight onto how you installed the angel eyes? i'll most likely do that, and that alone - i don't mind the stock lighting how'd you manage the wiring for it all? Thanks
Eric
how'd you manage the wiring for it all? ThanksEric
11-20-2008, 05:45 PM
#28
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