Projector beam patterns - pics please

Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:25 pm

Random I know, but could people post up some photos of the beam pattern for your E30's projector head lights. Ideally a couple of car lengths from and onto a wall.

Cheers.

Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:59 pm

One of mine with HID's fitted

Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:49 pm

The E30 projector headlights give off one of the most defined beam patterns I think I've ever seen apart from some real new HID stuff.

Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:57 pm

Cheers DanThe.

I can't recall what my E30's lights were like and they were only normal not HIDs.

I'm asking for photos as I've been doing a mod on my golf using a spare set of E30 projectors and I'm trying to work out if they are too low or if the glass pattern is changing the light output.

What doesn't help is I tested and took the photos in an area that wasn't totally dark so trying to spot the top of the beam pattern when it's mixed a bit with nearby street lighting is a pain. If anyone has any more photos or could grab some non HID ones that'd be great.

Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:12 pm

the pattern on the glass.....

See how there is no pattern on the centre of the E30 glass (painted white lines)

Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:19 pm

My non HID light beam is exactly as Dans.
It could be the VW lens is distorting the pattern from the E30 projector??

I can get you some pics of mine, but not for a few days as the front end is apart while I change the engine.

Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:52 pm

kam-325i wrote:the pattern on the glass.....
http://www.catuned.com/content/images/t ... hella.jpeg

See how there is no pattern on the centre of the E30 glass (painted white lines)

&

jmc330i wrote:My non HID light beam is exactly as Dans.
It could be the VW lens is distorting the pattern from the E30 projector??

I can get you some pics of mine, but not for a few days as the front end is apart while I change the engine.

Yeah, I'm thinking the pattern on the Golf lenses are knocking off the 'ticks' and possibly also cutting them down but not remembering the E30's output meant I figured I should ask.

Guess I need to think some more about my mod.

Mon Mar 10, 2014 10:05 pm

It doesn't need a kick to pass an MOT, a flat line will do.

Mon Mar 10, 2014 10:15 pm

The golf lens is distorting the pattern, I bet there will be glare when driving towards it at night

Mon Mar 10, 2014 10:15 pm

Pfffttt who cares about MOTs. :p

It's more that I'm trying to improve the light output from the car really as standard lights were awful, but I'd also like to have the output correct for the type of lights.

DanThe wrote:The golf lens is distorting the pattern, I bet there will be glare when driving towards it at night

I agree that the lens probably is changing the output pattern. From the output I had against the wall, I'm not sure if I agree on it causing glare as the projectors should be putting light out the same as yours, with the lens then bringing it down and to the left, there isn't a huge throw to the right.

I'll probably swap the standard lamps back in and have a think about how I want to proceed with the projector units.

Mon Mar 10, 2014 10:55 pm

It probably looks worse than it is but in the pic you can just see the feint line, there is quite a lot of light above it, the line on the building doesnt help either

Ive just been out in my E39 so thought id take the opportunity, never had a look at the light pattern before either

The E30 lamps above were better to drive with, the E39 light output is 'scattered' in comparison

Mon Mar 10, 2014 11:01 pm

DanThe wrote:
Ive just been out in my E39 so thought id take the opportunity, never had a look at the light pattern before either

The E30 lamps above were better to drive with, the E39 light output is 'scattered' in comparison

You sure those aren't set to driving on the right position? Unlike the E30 lights, which give an identical, but revered 'kick' when set to European position, E39 lights just remove the kick completely, leaving a flat topped beam.

Mon Mar 10, 2014 11:03 pm

No idea, they are facelift projectors that ive fitted HID's to. Will have to check it out

Mon Mar 10, 2014 11:43 pm

I don't think the golf glass is helping.

Really you'd need to use a light with plain glass like some of the 'crystal' style aftermarket ones, but then I don't think they'd look as nice.

You may also be getting reflection from the glass back against the surrounding reflector which could be upsetting the pattern.

But yes, golf lights are even worse than e30 ones, on dip beam anyway. On mains they're pretty good with a 4 lamp grille.

Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:29 am

The car came with crystal two lamp grill, which is really poor ok dipped and full. As yet I've not wired in the full beam spots though but I dont need to use them (only ever evening town driving for the next few weeks) and am waiting on some parts.

An issue I have with changing to clear glass like The crystals is that the sidelights would then have no diffuser and could cause distraction / glare for other road users.

I'll have to put more thought into how to get this working just right as I certainly prefer the projectors to reflectors, plus I can HID at a later date without issue.

Cheers for the photos and help guys.