Better lighting contemplation: Retro Quick Kit from TRS or the new bowls from Max

[BumpinAlpine]

Hey fellas, I'm on the fence regarding which route to take to upgrade my pathetic ZKW light output.

I'm down to the kit that the retrofit source offers or the burnt bowl replacement that Max is selling on the e46f forum.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Alex

[slater]

Hey fellas, I'm on the fence regarding which route to take to upgrade my pathetic ZKW light output.

I'm down to the kit that the retrofit source offers or the burnt bowl replacement that Max is selling on the e46f forum.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Alex

hey alex,

link to the e46f thread?

i have the TRS kit and have been very pleased with it.

peter

[BumpinAlpine]

These are the burnt bowl replacement options that a member came up with.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=990507

[jiggz]

I don't know much about the bowl repairs so I couldn't compare the two.

I did the FX-r projectors about 2 years back and have been really happy with them. Light output and cutoff are better than OEM IMO, even the AL setup. But if you want to stick with OEM parts only the bowl repair route might be better? I just haven't heard many people going that route so not sure how reliable the fix is long term?

[ELCID86]

BTW, Clemsone46 is a member here also.

[slater]

These are the burnt bowl replacement options that a member came up with.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=990507

hmmm. my initial response is, what's to stop it from happening again?

personally i'd do the TRS kit. it was easy, decent quality, and relatively inexpensive (and $100 LESS than the ones in the e46f thread). use your OEM projector shrouds though - i found the TRS ones kinda crappy.

peter

[nsk040]

I gave the TRS product a try and honestly regret it. I found that the parts didn't line up particularly well with the OEM assemblies and actually required a decent bit of modification (well beyond the 30 second dremel described on the TRS website) to fit. I also was frustrated by the complete lack of directions from TRS.

If I had it to do over again, I would have just sent it out to Lightwerkz and asked them to restore a basic OEM level of light output.

If you need some ZKW bowls to send out to the forum member who restores the OEM part, mine are available: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?14905-FS-ZKW-Lighting-Components-%28used-OEM%29

[BumpinAlpine]

Did you follow these directions http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?10787-DIY-The-Retrofit-Source-(TRS)-Retro-Quick-System-Burnt-ZKW-Bowls-Projector-Retrofit-doityourself/page7 ?

[rguti153]

Fxr all the way .... Won't regret it

[BumpinAlpine]

The TRS kit is in the mail!

[smacame]

I also just ordered the TRS kit and new bulbs. I'll be doing the install this weekend. Good to know there are others out there taking the plunge!

[LivesNearCostco]

I was happy with my TRS retrofit kit. Only complaint was the plastic spacers softened with the heat and shrank. TRS sent me new aluminum spacers for free but I haven't installed them yet. The retrofit made my right side AL lights (both before and after accident) look not as good. However, I plan to swap my old ZKW lens to the right side AL light and see if that improves the cutoff.

Have not tried the fixed ZKW bowls from Clemsone but I'm sure they do the job and would be easier to put in than the retrofit.

[smacame]

Did the install on Friday. I can see again! :eyetwitch

[Johnmadd]

Did the install on Friday. I can see again! :eyetwitch

Pictures please.

[johnrando]

Good info here. After a few more days I'll move to the "lighting" section so the info is more centralized.

[smacame]

Pictures please.

Are you interested in seeing the light out the front, or the guts of the lights? I haven't done any beamshots, but i have some of the insides. I'll upload some when I get home tonight.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag96/smacafee/IMG_20150130_174707_zpsuyhd3j8s.jpg

[Johnmadd]

Looking for pics of the beams from inside the car and looking at them from in front. :)

[smacame]

Here are a couple of shots. There's no question that they're bright enough, and I'm super happy with the Philips 85122 bulbs.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag96/smacafee/2015-02-02%2019.56.28_zps0fluxkev.jpg

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag96/smacafee/2015-02-02%2019.54.18_zpsa7hcj92p.jpg

I'm struggling a bit with getting them aimed right. The passenger side only has a couple of degrees of adjustability before it slips and points back up. Worst case I'll have to spend another long evening opening it back up :facepalm.

[Johnmadd]

That light output is amazing. Great work :thumbsup

[BumpinAlpine]

I finished my install too along with new Philips bulbs. It is quite the difference and my bowls were not as toasty as some examples I have seen (the drivers side was much worse). My cutoff line is very colorful. I will try and capture in in pictures but no guarantees with a point and shoot canon.
Installation wise, the first headlight took me a while taking things apart and assembling it, the second one was a breeze.

Overall I'm satisfied, with the kit.

[smacame]

Here's a photo of the burned ZKW projectors that came out of the car:

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag96/smacafee/Camera%20Uploads_zpsmdi2sqig.jpg (http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/smacafee/media/Camera%20Uploads_zpsmdi2sqig.jpg.html)

These are some of the worst I've seen around the internet. They were so burned that there was smoked residue on the lenses in front of the projector.