Poor light output out of Hella Euro Ellips.

[bimmer8604]

Well for a while i've been meaning to complain about the poor light output in my Euro Ellipsoids. I have the hella ones, and upgraded to a 5000k HID kit. The light output still sucks. I've noticed my drivers side light is much brighter than my pass. side, so before I installed the HID's i swapped the bulbs-no change(thought one bulb was older than another). I think the problem is a cloudy projector, as the lenses are both equally clear. Is there any way to clean the inside of the projector? I think if the projector was broken the light wouldn't look the way it does, but i've never seen the light output of a broken projector.

TIA,

kyle

[KenC]

Just unscrew them and take them apart. You can easily clean the projector lens.

[bimmer8604]

thanks ken. shortly after making this post and searched, yes SEARCHED for cleaning projectors. i was able to find the one thread about it and it said to unscrew them and clean them.

finally the search tool did something!

any other ideas as to why the output would be less than optimum?

Kyle

[blueapplesoda]

behind the ellipsoidal projector lens, there is a parbolic reflector with a chrome reflective material which you are not supposed to touch with anything to clean it (or it scratches). My euro ellips have the chrome reflective material flaking off, so it makes my headlight stupidly dim. It seems to be a comon problem, and the only way to fix it is to have somebody re-chrome the headlight reflectors, or get new ones. both which costs upwards of 100$. I hate it. HIDs help out, but not enough to my liking.

[bimmer8604]

behind the ellipsoidal projector lens, there is a parbolic reflector with a chrome reflective material which you are not supposed to touch with anything to clean it (or it scratches). My euro ellips have the chrome reflective material flaking off, so it makes my headlight stupidly dim. It seems to be a comon problem, and the only way to fix it is to have somebody re-chrome the headlight reflectors, or get new ones. both which costs upwards of 100$. I hate it. HIDs help out, but not enough to my liking.

may seem like a stupid idea, but def. cheaper than replacing/rechroming- you think it would be possible to use some spray paint or anything? I know they have a few different types of "chrome" spray paint. it might be something to try.

kyle

[T.Dot_E30]

I added chrome tape to the insides of my projectors, even places which weren't chrome before, it helped alot!

[bimmer8604]

I added chrome tape to the insides of my projectors, even places which weren't chrome before, it helped alot!

did you add tape to the parabolic reflectors too? im going to take them apart today, and ill post pics of my findings.

kyle

[T.Dot_E30]

did you add tape to the parabolic reflectors too? im going to take them apart today, and ill post pics of my findings.

kyle

Not really mine were in good shape, I mostly added tape to the metal parts that weren't chromed. The cut-off, and surounding metal.

[bimmer8604]

Not really mine were in good shape, I mostly added tape to the metal parts that weren't chromed. The cut-off, and surounding metal.

ok, i got everything torn apart. looks like the inside of the reflector housing is really dull and cracked(heat im sure). I can get new reflectors for a little less than 100bucks with my discounts, so i thinkim going to go that route. in the meantime i might experiment with some hi-temp chrome tape cut in little squares and lining the inside of the reflector..

kyle

[FL318is]

Just unscrew them and take them apart. You can easily clean the projector lens.

I have those headlights and I am lost on how to unscrew them. I want to clean the inside of the glass lense but from where I sit it looks more like I would take off the metal retaining ring and pop/pry the glass lense off?

Is there a DIY or pics?

[bimmer8604]

you cant unscrew the front lens, that is glued in. you can take the back half of the project out by removing your whole headlight assembly, then removing the three screws on the back.

kyle

[backtrail69]

Also, you might have RHD ellips, that have the light cutoff putting more light on the drivers side of the car. You NEED LHD headlights for them to work well. My friend with RHD headlights on his LHD car has really bad light output as well.

[bimmer8604]

both of my cutoffs are the same, with the _/ type of angle on them. what would make the cutoffs different? All of the other bmw's and euro cars with HID's and euro ellips i've been in have the same cutoff.

kyle

[JasonC]

The cut offs are adjustable, just unscrew the 3 screws that hold on the ellip housing and turn it. This is only for euro ellpis.

[backtrail69]

For RHD it is more like this... \__\__ instead of __/__/ for LHD.