My FX-R Projector Retrofit Thread

[tofubento]

Some1 needs to find a shop that can chrome plastic, so we can all get our Hellas redone.

its called vacuum plating, about any plastics shop should know where to do that.

[bmwman91]

Lucky I guess. Every set I have opened was beaten to hell.

I have ordered up some SLS (3D print) prototypes of the brackets and will be test fitting the projectors in a week or so when they arrive. So, I am officially working on this again!

[einstein57]

I've taken apart a few sets of projectors to harness the lenses and non of them had any pitting or flaking. Desert climate exemption?

[bmwman91]

I'm not sure if chrome plating would be good for a headlight application. The reflectors use an aluminum coating since, despite the fact that it will oxidize, aluminum oxide is clear, whereas chrome gets dark/black as it tarnishes. As it gets darker, it will absorb more heat and oxidize/peel more rapidly, and possibly damage the plastic.

[jrobie79]

http://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/chassis-body-frame/6369-can-you-re-chrome-plastic.html

wealth of information on plastic chrome plating

[golde30]

Some1 needs to find a shop that can chrome plastic, so we can all get our Hellas redone.

[bmwman91]

Wow, good to know. I guess that a new set is a good option after all since the reflectors are still nice and shiny!

[jrobie79]

yeah they are still making new ones, abrahams sells em too, clear at least

[einstein57]

Pretty sure hella is still making new ones. IIRC Guten was waiting on a new batch so they could re-stock. The new design has a different bowl shape as well.

[bmwman91]

Then cut up trashed smileys. As the OP said at some point in this thread, often times the reflective coating on the inside deteriorates and causes bad light output.

Or in my case on my e34, the previous owner already hacked my smileys all to hell, so...

Yup, at this point paying more than $100 for a set of 20+ year old smiley's is just silly. The reflective coating in these things is shot to hell. Even "new" ones that are still in the box might be sort of crappy if they have been sitting for a decade or more. I am not sure when Hella/Bosch stopped making these units, but I am sure that they don't anymore.

Question...anyone got a connection at a machine shop that they could give me a deal on some work? The ancient DRO's on my mill bit the dust, and as much as I would enjoy running these parts the old-school way, it would be nice to just have them done at a shop.

[AndrewBird]

Then cut up trashed smileys. As the OP said at some point in this thread, often times the reflective coating on the inside deteriorates and causes bad light output.

Or in my case on my e34, the previous owner already hacked my smileys all to hell, so...

[e30trooper]

Even with "adapters" theirs still plenty of cutting evolved :D I felt bad cutting up nice smileys lol.

[bmwman91]

Sorry, have not worked on this at all since my last post. Waiting for a rebuilt cylinder head, and I am in the process of buying my first house. Silly life, getting in the way of E30 fun!

[AndrewBird]

I'm looking to do this retrofit for my e34. If you would be willing to share your adapter plate designs with me, I could likely make up a few sets at work.

[george graves]

Ditto - can I send you my housings? Or a few dozen? ;)