Luis's LED Angel eye retrofit
04-27-2009, 08:36 PM
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Today I removed my headlights, wrapped them in bubble wrap, packed them in peanuts, and sent them down to Luis in FL for his custom angel eye retrofit.
For those that haven't seen his pics from other threads, it's an unreal angel eye upgrade:
I'm sure others will be interested, so I'll tell you in advance that it requries you to part with your headlights for a week and a half or so. Pricing hasn't been set for the e60 as of yet, but it will be a few hundred north of the angel ibright's. That may sound steep, but the result is the best bang for your buck when it comes to mods IMO. Luis is a big time BMW enthusiast, has a slick e46, and provides this service for a reasonable price considering the parts costs and his 10 hours or so of labor. To quote him, he's "just doing it to help the community get some 'real' angels".
Additionally, since he will have the lamp unsealed and open, he is going to try to take out my amber reflector. Does anyone have any pics of what it looks like with it removed? I seemed to remember seeing that someone managed to do it but can't find the thread...
It's also of course a risky undertaking because we are unsealing the light, but Luis has already done 13 or so retrofits on other BMWs and has already opened a few "dummy" e60 lights for practice. If it weren't for his obvious attention to detail I would have had more reservations, but he sounds like the man for the job if it can be done. Here is his explanation of the process:
"The Angels are the Orion V2s leds that come in an array that forms a ring, in different sizes, custom matched to your requirements. As far as the install, its too involved to write it down but I do not compromise the headlights functionality in any way, everything is independent from one another and doesn't conflict at all. I reseal the headlights properly.. many have tried and gotten condensation but I go the extra mile with all the right materials and do a full reseal. It takes a long time because of all the attention to details and the mounting and resealing but the end product is worth it."
(NOTE: the retrofit requires the use of more than 1 kit because of the varying ring sizes (they are $140 a pop). Additionally, I confirmed with Umnitza that there is no plan to come out with a product similar to the Orion for the e60 because the headlights are sealed.)
"Its definitely a custom job.. not for everyone but whoever does it so far is happy...nothings ever 100% perfect in custom work, but im known amongts the enthisiasts as being an OCD nutcase..LOL so hope that beings some peace onto how meticulous i am. As far as the install...it involves making custom parts to install the rings physically into the headlight, I carefully make these parts by hand with a dremels, sanders and ABS, I test fit and install the rings and I do edits to headlight shrowds and different areas for perfect fitment and no conflicts... I choose places that will not be seen from the outside of the car and whatever edits I do come out picture perfect...surgeon hands..hehe. after all that is done, the resealing material is relaid and resealed properly... lastly I take care of all the wiring with relays, custom LED powering modules and no light out warning components etc and solder them in place clean and protected by new fuse systems that are accessible by you via the removable covers that are on all BMW headlights. you will get the headlights back and it's plug and play...OEM fuctionality.
Short and sweet version of course, its much more intricate than that, hence the 10+ hours on it."
FYI - the temperature of the LEDS is 6000k, thus matching the HIDs. The pics may lead you to believe differently but in person it apparently matches the Xenons.
Hopefully this answers most of the questions.
ALSO - With my headlights out and my car in an NYC garage, parking it of course triggered the "headlight failure" warning. Does anyone know if this will go away once they are reinstalled or will I need to go to the stealer to have it reset? Thanks...
Here are a couple of teasers from the links below. Hit them for more pics. I'll keep everyone posted!
e90 headlight install
e90
more e90 w/outside pics
M3
For those that haven't seen his pics from other threads, it's an unreal angel eye upgrade:
I'm sure others will be interested, so I'll tell you in advance that it requries you to part with your headlights for a week and a half or so. Pricing hasn't been set for the e60 as of yet, but it will be a few hundred north of the angel ibright's. That may sound steep, but the result is the best bang for your buck when it comes to mods IMO. Luis is a big time BMW enthusiast, has a slick e46, and provides this service for a reasonable price considering the parts costs and his 10 hours or so of labor. To quote him, he's "just doing it to help the community get some 'real' angels".
Additionally, since he will have the lamp unsealed and open, he is going to try to take out my amber reflector. Does anyone have any pics of what it looks like with it removed? I seemed to remember seeing that someone managed to do it but can't find the thread...
It's also of course a risky undertaking because we are unsealing the light, but Luis has already done 13 or so retrofits on other BMWs and has already opened a few "dummy" e60 lights for practice. If it weren't for his obvious attention to detail I would have had more reservations, but he sounds like the man for the job if it can be done. Here is his explanation of the process:
"The Angels are the Orion V2s leds that come in an array that forms a ring, in different sizes, custom matched to your requirements. As far as the install, its too involved to write it down but I do not compromise the headlights functionality in any way, everything is independent from one another and doesn't conflict at all. I reseal the headlights properly.. many have tried and gotten condensation but I go the extra mile with all the right materials and do a full reseal. It takes a long time because of all the attention to details and the mounting and resealing but the end product is worth it."
(NOTE: the retrofit requires the use of more than 1 kit because of the varying ring sizes (they are $140 a pop). Additionally, I confirmed with Umnitza that there is no plan to come out with a product similar to the Orion for the e60 because the headlights are sealed.)
"Its definitely a custom job.. not for everyone but whoever does it so far is happy...nothings ever 100% perfect in custom work, but im known amongts the enthisiasts as being an OCD nutcase..LOL so hope that beings some peace onto how meticulous i am. As far as the install...it involves making custom parts to install the rings physically into the headlight, I carefully make these parts by hand with a dremels, sanders and ABS, I test fit and install the rings and I do edits to headlight shrowds and different areas for perfect fitment and no conflicts... I choose places that will not be seen from the outside of the car and whatever edits I do come out picture perfect...surgeon hands..hehe. after all that is done, the resealing material is relaid and resealed properly... lastly I take care of all the wiring with relays, custom LED powering modules and no light out warning components etc and solder them in place clean and protected by new fuse systems that are accessible by you via the removable covers that are on all BMW headlights. you will get the headlights back and it's plug and play...OEM fuctionality.
Short and sweet version of course, its much more intricate than that, hence the 10+ hours on it."
FYI - the temperature of the LEDS is 6000k, thus matching the HIDs. The pics may lead you to believe differently but in person it apparently matches the Xenons.
Hopefully this answers most of the questions.
ALSO - With my headlights out and my car in an NYC garage, parking it of course triggered the "headlight failure" warning. Does anyone know if this will go away once they are reinstalled or will I need to go to the stealer to have it reset? Thanks...
Here are a couple of teasers from the links below. Hit them for more pics. I'll keep everyone posted!
e90 headlight install
e90
more e90 w/outside pics
M3
04-27-2009, 08:42 PM
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nice, GL..keep us posted 
I knew if I'd post those pics enough times someone would try it
I knew if I'd post those pics enough times someone would try it
04-28-2009, 06:16 AM
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My Ride: 2004 E60 530i TITANIUM SILVER METALLIC
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Originally Posted by DKNewYork' post='861445' date='Apr 28 2009, 09:59 PM
Can't wait to see the results.
Love those Angel eyes
04-28-2009, 06:21 AM
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My Ride: 2004 E60 530i, 2012 E70 X5 35i
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I can't wait either.... because i'll be next in line. LOL. 
The only thing i'm concerned is that, The silicone / glue on my headlight from the eyebrow mod, will this melt since I have it on and he's going to take out the other silicone?
It might mess up my seal that I have now. Maybe he can reseal it for me too.
Let me know Luis!
The only thing i'm concerned is that, The silicone / glue on my headlight from the eyebrow mod, will this melt since I have it on and he's going to take out the other silicone?
It might mess up my seal that I have now. Maybe he can reseal it for me too.
Let me know Luis!
04-28-2009, 06:50 AM
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Originally Posted by jdcinc21' post='861480' date='Apr 28 2009, 10:48 AM
Man if this works I am pulling the trigger right away!
GL, hope everything works out right!
GL, hope everything works out right!
04-28-2009, 07:28 AM
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My Ride: My 5 and I met on Father's Day 2008 and have been together ever since. 20" Wheels (Make TBD), premium package, sport package, AiB V3 upgrade and a Passport Escort 8500 Radar Detector.
Originally Posted by KCooke82' post='861191' date='Apr 27 2009, 09:36 PM
Pricing hasn't been set for the e60 as of yet, but it will be a few hundred north of the angel ibright's.
So that puts the price closer to $600...?
The LED's do look great though
