Odd headlight problem

yellowgixxer · 4th July 2012, 15:13

Hi all,

I though my headlights were chipped and needed polishing, so while I had the time I decided to try the 3M kit mentioned elsewhere and bought from Amazon for not very much.

They were indeed chipped. A little, anyway. And the kit did the business very well. But what I discovered was unusual. I think.

The lights are actually crazed on the inside of the lenses. I have no idea how - the only thing that I can think of is massive overheating, perhaps from running overpower high beam halogens (I managed to do that to the plastic lens of a motorbike headlamp once using a 130W bulb) but it seems unlikely. They're standard bulbs in there at the moment and have been all the while I've had the car.

It looks as though I'll have to replace the whole unit unless anyone has any bright ideas?

SB

bibledriver · 4th July 2012, 16:26

Yeah, that lens is beyond repair...

Have a look here vvv

Schmiedmann - Lighting and indikators in/outside for BMW E39 - New parts - page 3

keep in mind that shipping is from UK, so it will add on, but it is a great option. Browse around if you're not into the chromed stuff on the side.

bibledriver · 4th July 2012, 16:27

you had no issues putting on your 3m kit?

yellowgixxer · 4th July 2012, 16:27

Shipping from the UK is good as I'm in the UK myself

Thanks for the link.

SB

yellowgixxer · 4th July 2012, 16:38

Not sure what you mean about putting the 3M kit on. It was a poloshing/grinding kit, not a film...

Can you give me an idea of the difference between DEPO and Hella lights? Other than about £500...

Thanks,

SB

nerio02 · 4th July 2012, 17:48

these days you can buy lenses for the facelift headlights, i think that would be the cheapest solution iff you can bake them open..
seen these lenses pass by on ebay sites for a while..but dont shoot me iff they dont fit..dont have first hand experiences with them
but you can always ask the sellers offcourse..that doesn't cost anything

for example

BMW E39 5er Facelift Streuscheibe Blinker weiß auch Xenon Bj. 00-03 rechts | eBay

BMW E39 00-03 FACELIFT STREUSCHEIBEN SCHEINWERFERGLÄSER WEISSE BLENDE | eBay

Streuscheibe Blinker weiß auch Xenon BMW E39 5er Facelift Bj. 00-03 L + R | eBay

bibledriver · 4th July 2012, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowgixxer

Shipping from the UK is good as I'm in the UK myself

Thanks for the link.

SB

Ha, yeah I thought I saw that as i was setting the laptop down, but went on my way

bibledriver · 4th July 2012, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowgixxer

Not sure what you mean about putting the 3M kit on. It was a poloshing/grinding kit, not a film...

Can you give me an idea of the difference between DEPO and Hella lights? Other than about £500...

Thanks,

SB

Oh, I thought you put a film on after. Thanks

Build quality may be less, but then I've never had two side by side.

I think Josiah has depo housings but upgraded internals for it. . . . maybe he knows better

If you are looking to buy the whole thing instead of just replace the lens, then there are options that you could look into like P39 headlight setups through umnitza too. May be worth your while if you are looking to spend a bit more cash. Lens only in the oven is not too bad, as I just found out while changing my projectors to bi-xenon and replacing the adjusters. Trust me, you can do it if you are just a bit handy.

2-Pugs · 4th July 2012, 22:34

That's funny, I just posted in my own thread about my headlamp which looks the same as yours YG. Seems pitted/crazed on the inside! Will follow up on the advice given in this thread, many thanks.

josiahg52 · 5th July 2012, 13:50

I have DJAuto assemblies with upgraded internals. There are features that could have been executed better but going through and replacing key internal parts produced a very nice assembly that has appeased me for over a year. I had bought them only as a short term solution to rebuilding one of my various OEM sets but I don't feel the pressing need at this point.

DEPO, however, is junk, JUNK, JUNK AND the lens is ugly so even if you put money into replacing ALL of the internal parts, which you HAVE to get any decent output out of them, you still have an ugly headlight.

Problems with DEPO assemblies that I have PERSONALLY seen:

1) misshapen high beam reflectors
2) poor projector lens quality (incorrect bulb spacing and placement in projector housing; like they are halogen projectors maybe?
3) inferior vertical/horizontal adjusting mechanisms (build quality and material issues)
4) insufficient vertical adjustment (I could not get one passenger headlight even CLOSE to the proper aiming point)
5) even poorer horizontal adjustment (practically non-existent in one assembly)
6) front lens is covered in raised lettering (distracting and appears cheap)

Now I have only "sampled" TWO of the DEPO assemblies but I saw enough to form a pretty strong opinion of them. One pair I bought myself and the second I got from someone with buyer's regret and disappointment; he ended up going with the Hella assemblies. There was NOTHING worthy of salvage from either one and I junked them both.

I have to say, I have never seen an issue like the one you guys have with the defects on the inside of the lens and I have had quite a few headlight assemblies apart.