[dwells]

Long story short, I'm an electronics and lighting hobbyist (flashlights, lasers, LED arrays, microprocessor-driven stuff), and I've got some ideas for a better way of upgrading the angel eyes in E92s to be more like the LCI models by using a similar setup. However, this type of thing takes some trial and error to develop properly, so experimenting on my own car isn't an option.

Also, money is kind of tight at the moment, so I'm hoping to find a way to get my hands on an E92 headlight to practice disassembling and engineering on. I'm thinking maybe a junkyard, as I don't care if it's missing pieces or broken with a damaged lens, as long as the assembly and rings are still good.

So, any suggestions on where or how I could go about finding one on the cheap (preferably like near-free)? I'm in Western MA not far from CT.

Thanks!

[wmb0000]

eBay would be your best best or the for sale forums here.

[dwells]

Originally Posted by wmb0000

eBay would be your best best or the for sale forums here.

Yeah, unfortunately eBay prices are out of my range given the context. I had a donor lined up from my wanted thread, but he just wound up with his car totaled and the headlights basically exploded...

[DTrain17]

Highly doubt you are going to get these anywhere near free lol.

[crazyinp]

If you know someone in body shop that would be the best place to get it free.

[dwells]

Originally Posted by DTrain17

Highly doubt you are going to get these anywhere near free lol.

Figured as much, but worth asking around. I figured a busted headlight wouldn't be that valuable to most people.

Originally Posted by crazyinp

If you know someone in body shop that would be the best place to get it free.

Sadly no.

[blueaudi18]

my offer still stands bro... or give me a price u want to pay. ill se what I can do.

[dwells]

Originally Posted by blueaudi18

my offer still stands bro... or give me a price u want to pay. ill se what I can do.

I'll let you know once I figure out my finances. 60,000 mile service, just did pads/rotors/sensors, and an anniversary with the girl are all happening at the same time, so money's damn tight right now.

[blueaudi18]

Originally Posted by dwells

I'll let you know once I figure out my finances. 60,000 mile service, just did pads/rotors/sensors, and an anniversary with the girl are all happening at the same time, so money's damn tight right now.

let me tell u what I learned.. the outter ring are plain and simply.. one led on each end will be more then enough. The real problem is to get the inner ring to illuminate like the outter. They are made differently so it really difficult to make them match when lit up... unless u make both led the same way, if pretty impossible to make them look alike.
Hope u kind of understand what im trying to say.

lci looks so bright and good because both inner and outter ring are made the same way.

[dwells]

Originally Posted by blueaudi18

let me tell u what I learned.. the outter ring are plain and simply.. one led on each end will be more then enough. The real problem is to get the inner ring to illuminate like the outter. They are made differently so it really difficult to make them match when lit up... unless u make both led the same way, if pretty impossible to make them look alike.
Hope u kind of understand what im trying to say.

lci looks so bright and good because both inner and outter ring are made the same way.

My plan was either to run different output levels for the emitters on each ring (i.e. more powerful emitters for the dimmer ring) or to cut them down and mount the LEDs closer to the actual visible portion of the ring. I was also considering coating the non-visible parts in chrome vinyl to keep the light bouncing around rather than escaping, as well as frosting the rings via spray or sanding in order to make the light disperse more evenly.

Honestly, the most difficult part is going to be heat management depending on what emitters I wind up using, and then deciding on a driver, what power source I'm going to use, and how I'm going to control dimming (looking to retain fading for locking and dimming at night). I was thinking of driving directly off the H8 connector, but it looks like the stock angel eye voltage is actually something silly like 10 or 11 point something volts rather than the standard 12 (presumably BMW attempting to prolong the life of the halogen DRL bulbs)...

[ska///235i]

whats the budget? can keep an eye out for you

[dwells]

Originally Posted by ska325xi

whats the budget? can keep an eye out for you

Like under $100, like I mentioned earlier, I've got so many expenses coming together at once right now that I can't bring myself to spend any money on toys. Really just hoping to stumble across someone with a busted one they just want to get rid of.

[bbbuzzy]

You might want to post to the wider e90 audience in the general section. Lots of people do headlight swaps, so someone may have your needed part. In Mass, Turner Motorsport has a decent used BMW part inventory and they do a lot of custom work to. Perhaps they can find something you can use. Good luck.