My HID retrofit revisited, and BE L headlight makeover...

[rougeben83]

Well after over 4 years, it was time to redo the retrofits on my car...the first try was more of a test project to see if I could do it myself; the headlights I bought for the project where not in the best condition ( loose adjustment screw, broken brackets that were reglued, etc), add to that the passenger side headlight was ripped off when my former neighbor backed into my car, the other side started to get condensation after a heavy rainstorm last week, and the always controversial no-shroud look...it was time to overhaul them.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/12/051112084833-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/12/051312062607-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/12/051312062751-1.jpg


Nothing too fancy, some merc E55 shrouds from TRS (def get the fitment rings, I didn't have this option available when I first did these, thus why I didn't want to try and fit shrouds, among other reasons I've already said in the past)...I decided not to add LED strips/halos/etc because I think trying replicate some of the stock running lights on german luxury cars can either look decent or downright tacky. BUT more importantly, the headlight cases consisting of the front cover, brackets and adjusters are from my original, fully functional set, so these lights are now what I've always wanted them to be :smile:

While I was doing that, I had *another* set of non OEM lights (these didn't have the same mounting points as the reflectors with the fx35 projectors so I couldn't use them like originally planned) and cleared/blacked them out like the GT lights...

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/05/051112084940-1.jpg

Finally, here's the official DIY for these two projects.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=16639 (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=16639)

[dodik]

should've used smoked chrome paint for more oem look

just kidding that came out pretty good looking, much better with shrouds.

[rougeben83]

Thanks, I'm kind of surprised at how good the L headlights look with just a simple trim recolor as well.

[STIdarkside]

Got any more pictures of the L headlights that you blacked out and cleared?

Did you paint only the trim or did you paint the side of the reflector where the turn signals are as well.

Thanks

[rougeben83]

Unfortunately, no they're already stored away. The trim and sidemarker reflectors come out all in one piece, I painted them just like the retrofitted lights, you can get a better picture of the sides from the 2nd pic in my post. Hopefully this helps:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/12/051312011408-1.jpg

I painted everything but the actual bulb reflectors themselves. I've seen other guys just paint the whole thing, but I like having the reflectors still functional.

[Yokosilver]

Those things look awesome. I'm just not brave enough to try it on mine.

[Shiv]

They look great! The black background also makes a difference.

[STIdarkside]

Thanks for the info rougeben...

Did you just use normal duplicolor flat or matte black paint (spray can)?

So the area I was curious about is highlighted in the pic below... It looks like you painted it and if so did you just use blue painter's tape to mask off the turn signal reflectors?

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/06/1z1h9qw-1.jpg

Thanks!

[rougeben83]

pretty much. You can see it better on this one.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/12/051312062607-1.jpg