E46 Halogen ---> Umnitza Projector46 FX-R

[Falcon21]

Hey guys

Thought I'd finally post my first thread, since joining BMWfanatics.
I've had my 2002 330d F/L for about 2 years now.
Still loving the diesel torque! :rollsmile:

I've posted some pics of my car at the bottom of this post. I took those quite some time ago, actually.

Although I love the car as it is, there are a few minor things that are irritating me!! The main thing are the Halogen headlights! *Yuk!*
I've been looking around forums for quite some time now, and seen quite a lot of DIY stuff, of people putting their headlights in ovens, cutting/sawing holes in their headlights, etc.
Now I'm not a DIY type of person, and I'd rather have someone do it professionally, as I just know I'm gonna stuff it up!!

Anyway, I thought of getting one of those chinese xenon kits, but soon after reading about the hectic glare, and the crappy light scatter, I thought against those. :nonono:
In any case, I was looking for the authentic nice look that you see on some OEM xenon HID cars, where you'll see them coming with a splash of blue tinge in the distance, and an awesome white illuminated road in front of them! :inlove:

To skip a few chapters,
I've ordered this:
http://www.umnitza.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=450_484_26_90&products_id=1099
Projector46 Premium Sedan 2002-2005 Facelifted with Orion V2
I've specifically ordered them with the FX-R projectors, which give off an amazing wide and sharp cutoff (with the awesome blue tinge at the top of the cutoff.)
I went for the 6000k 35W system.
What I like about those okes, is that they fully build the headlight for you, and they do a proper job. When you get it delivered, you simply just plug it in, with no dashboard warnings, or anything like that.

I'm expecting to receive the product next week, and will post some before and after pics.

To list a few things I've done on my car so far:
- Tinted Windows with Smash and Grab (R1000 - Special deal)
- Added Angel eyes (R1000)
- Changed the rear tail lights with the LED ones. - No dashboard warning (R3500)
- Changed corner indicator lamps to clear (R350 - They've now changed yellowy. Ordered some proper ones now as well)
- Took out all the interior filament bulbs, and replaced them all with white LED's, also the license plate (R350)
- Convert to Projector HID Xenon headlights - In progress (R5000 + R1000 for shipping)

Things I still want to do:
- Chip / Remap - Only performance enhancing mod I want to do (R3500)
- Upgrade sound system with GPS, and touch screen (R5000 - R10000)
- Get 18 inch mags (R4000 - R10000)
- *Maybe* buy a body kit (R????)

The car is very low at the moment. I'm not sure if the previous owner lowered the car, or if the 330d's just came out like that. It definitely makes the car look more aggressive on the road, but almost every damned speedbump, I have to go over at an angle, otherwise my car scrapes the bump.

Anyway, will post soon with updates.

 

[andrewbuch]

Looks good

Good luck with the Xenon install..

I would add to the to do list:

before the remap

Decat the headers & exhaust
Blank off the EGR valve
Blank off the Swirl flaps

If the car is auto

then also get the Gearbox serviced with filter & oil

 

[Sankekur]

Welcome to the forum :rollsmile:

Glad to see that there are actually people around that do a proper lighting upgrade instead of just sticking a HID kit into the standard lights.
P46+FXR+6000K 35W = the best headlight upgrade that is not the OEM xenons with FXR projectors. (The FXR projectors are much better than the standard e46 xenon projectors)

Just remember to post pics of the lights when you get them and of the cut off.

 

[Falcon21]

@andrewbuch

Thanks for the suggestions.
Read up a bit about the Blanking the EGR valve and swirl flaps, and seems like a good idea. (Especially with horror stories about the Swirl flaps causing engine damage.)

Sorry, forgot to mention, I've got the manual version.

@Sankekur

Will definitely post some before and after pics.

 

[XMAX]

Good looking car.

It appears to be standard height. I experience the same issues on my e46 330D.


I could be very wrong, but I think that these cars come with a Sport Suspension as you get in the Sportpacks or Individuals.

 

[jeff_denning]

Hehe, I remember these pics.
Still impressed with the car dude, you can be very proud of her!

Maybe we need to organise a photoshoot

 

[Falcon21]

@Jeff

Yeah, anytime.
We can have some 3er and 5er shots put together!

 

[Falcon21]

I did some research into how long I should expect to receive my new lights.
Umnitza say I should receive it in about 5 days of ordering it.
So since we're in South Africa, you should expect to add on a few days.
However, I'm reading some stories on the net as about 25 days is about the norm!!

Some people have been really lucky, and received their packages within 14 days, while some of the really unlucky ones got theirs after 2 - 3 months! :shocked:

Apparently the delay is always at SA customs, and then after that by the SA Post Office.

Found this info on another website: (http://trackingnumber.co.za/International-Parcel-Tracking.html)

International parcels arrive at custom, custom clearance is supposed to be scheduled. Small international registered letters, letter sized registered parcels are except from the custom clearance process. So there is no duty, tax or clearance fee involved whatever. Delivery time is expected to be faster.

Standard (above standard) sized parcels and parcels weighted more 2kg parcels are randomly picked at the custom for clearance and inspection. Certain duties and tax are issued according to the value stated.

Those lucky parcels not being picked will be dispatched later with no duty or tax charged, but R25 clearance fee is payable at local post office.

Randomly picked parcels with personal content, no commercial value or little commercial value less than R400, packages are except for the custom duty but R25 custom clearance fee is payable when you collect your parcel at your local post office branch.

Randomly picked parcels with value higher than R400 content, (custom holds their right to revaluate your packages even invoice indicates content value less then R400), packages will be issued with custom duty [a percentage of invoice value / revaluation value done by custom or a fix amount depends on the content], and plus 14% VAT [value of your products, custom duty plus R25 clearance fee]. Shipment will be arranged later with attached custom invoice, which is payable when the parcel is collected at local post office branch.

I went for the cheapest shipping option:
United States Postal Service - Priority mail

Oh well, I'll update this thread when ever I get those lights.

 

[andrewbuch]

Me & A friend ordered online the other day.. from china..

He got his package in 2 weeks posted to his house..

I got my package in 2.5 months after it sat at customs for 2months...

 

[Falcon21]

Damn... 2.5 months is hectic!

 

[moranor@axis]

wasn't there someone who waited a whole year and ended up selling the car by the time the part arrived?

 

[Sankekur]

I remember that one......

 

[whattingh]

lots of people had troubles with customs before. I now always get a tracking number for international stuff so that I can know where it gets stuck. If it is at custom more than a week I call them.

 

[Falcon21]

@moranor
LOL! Don't say that!!!!
Touch wood!!!!!

 

[P1000]

Me & A friend ordered online the other day.. from china..

He got his package in 2 weeks posted to his house..

I got my package in 2.5 months after it sat at customs for 2months...

If you order from china via Postal service, you have a 95% chance of it getting held up at customs, especially if it is marked "gift".

 

[jeff_denning]

Can't these be sourced locally?

 

[Falcon21]

Don't think you can get these locally, unless someone is importing them in bulk, and selling them somewhere.
I have seen a few projector headlights being sold locally, but they were all really cheap make, and of low quality, and the cutoff was really crap.

 

[Sankekur]

Yup the ones available locally are usually of the autostyle and the like type, and they are pure total utter crap, that sucks nuts, and then I haven't even gone into how bad they look, and then you have to consider they probably won't fit properly.

 

[moranor@axis]

when i got my car i looked at the autostyle ones for five min... slapped myself and decided i dont need projectors...

 

[Sankekur]

The OEM halogens are miles better than most (if not all) of the projector stuff available locally.


Crap like this:

Or this: