DIY: Modding Spyder headlights & projectors

[MINIz guy]

This is a video I made detailing what I did to modify my Spyder headlights (eBay brand) for a prefacelifted X5. The main takeaway should be how to modify hot spot, rotation and high beam alignment, as I haven't seen that covered around here. Spyder headlights have the same projector mounting bracket as OEM prefacelift xenon headlights.



Headlight specifications:
Hella RS6 projectors w/ clear lenses, custom foreground limiter and tuned hotspot/rotation
VHT Nightshade spray tint on all the chrome
Morimoto 35W D2S ballasts and 4300k bulbs
LED halos: Click here for the link. You need 125mm full-circle and 145mm semi-circle rings, mention it in the ordering comments.




Foreground limiters: I didn't mention the custom foreground limiters I had on there, since most popular replica projectors will have them on there already. What foreground limiters do is redirect the foreground light back into the bowl so that it can be projected elsewhere in the output for more distance intensity. Cut a piece of aluminum that mounts onto the extra mounting holes of the projector and hangs down from the top part of the bowl. I used a Coke can as a template since the aluminum is thin, but use non-colored aluminum flashing from the roofing section of a hardware store as the final design. You must test on your own how much the limiter hangs down to see how much foreground light you want to limit.



Hotspot: Note the yellow hotspot is right on the step of the cutoff.


Aftermarket 125mm halos (low beam application): You can reuse the original halo bracket to mount these with minimal modification. 1) Cut the inner ring of the bracket off but leave the legs so the halo has a place to sit on. Tie fishing string at the bottom and top of the halo to secure it. 2) Sand down the black halo housing so that the fatter ring can fit through without getting crushed between the bracket and housing. 3) Sand the top part of the bracket down since the aftermarket ring will be fatter than the original CCFL halo.





Aftermarket 145mm halos (low beam application): You do not reuse the original halo bracket. 1) Sand down the black halo housing so that the fatter ring can sit flush in the housing. 2) Drill 4 small holes at 4 corners for fishing string to go through and make secure knots. This will hold the halo in place. 3) Tape up the perimeter of the halo to make sure the knots or ring do not loosen up over time.





If you guys have any questions or comments, post them up. Subscribe to my channel for more cool DIY/racing videos!

[TECN1K]

rofl - everyone is losing minds over this headlight upgrade.

There's like 4 different threads going demanding attention

We should have a mega thread and sticky it

[Ricky Bobby]

Andrew awesome video man and use of the illustrations on your tablet are sure to help people out!

[MINIz guy]

Thanks guys

Lots of threads asking specific questions on retrofitting, so I figured I'd bring a modern touch with a video DIY. If you search hard enough, all the information is on this forum, but I think I covered 90% of the required information to complete a retrofit.

I will update the OP with more information if people ask it and I didn't go over it in the video.

Even after 7 years on this forum, I'm still around!

[TECN1K]

OK - so I ordered the COB Led's that BimmerE38E53 has and they look way different than the CCFLs.

BMW Angel Eye Halo Light Lamp Ring COB LED Kit White Headlight E53 x5 1999 2004 | eBay

I'm guessing I'll need to bust out the dremel if I want to retain the Spyder halo retainers.

[MINIz guy]

Originally Posted by TECN1K

OK - so I ordered the COB Led's that BimmerE38E53 has and they look way different than the CCFLs.

BMW Angel Eye Halo Light Lamp Ring COB LED Kit White Headlight E53 x5 1999 2004 | eBay

I'm guessing I'll need to bust out the dremel if I want to retain the Spyder halo retainers.

Those are going to be too big to fit in Spyder housings. Specs say 160mm for the high beam halo, when the maximum the Spyder high beam halo is 145mm. You may get the low beam to fit without the bracket, as you need 125mm but the kit is 128mm.

The sizes I have listed 100% work. I've tried 145mm full-circle halos for the high beam and there is no way they would fit. Per Ricky Bobby, I ordered these, with some hesitation, and they are a perfect fit with little modification required. Don't stray from these dimensions (125mm & 145mm) or you will waste time and money!

[TECN1K]

Recommendations on LEDs then? Really didn't want segmented SMDs. Would love to see some photos, up close, of these modded halos.

[Ricky Bobby]

Those look great Andrew and you're right they really fit in the housing well! Enjoy the new brightness!

[TECN1K]

Can't cancel them, already shipped from Hong Kong, return shipping would be stupid. So I'm not out $70, I'll need to find a way to make the COB versions work.

Looks like they'll have to be mounted on the outside of the inner shroud, rather than sit flush with the opening.

Will you guys share your links to the LEDS you used? Or is it trade secret

[MINIz guy]

Originally Posted by TECN1K

Can't cancel them, already shipped from Hong Kong, return shipping would be stupid. So I'm not out $70, I'll need to find a way to make the COB versions work.

Looks like they'll have to be mounted on the outside of the inner shroud, rather than sit flush with the opening.

Will you guys share your links to the LEDS you used? Or is it trade secret

Updated my OP with a link to the halos I used. I also posted the link in your thread.

Also updated the wording on some parts of the DIY as I found better ways to do it while assembling everything.