i got e46 projectors that i'll be putting in 97/9 cstock/chrome reflectors. unlike the tsx ones the space between the bowl and lens is open. should i cover that (read that some ppl do to prevent light from eascaping) or just leave them be? will the light from the bowl reflect in the stock reflector messing up my beam pattern and cut off?

 

Yeah, they'll glare like crazy and look really unprofessional if you don't cover them up with at least something. Doesn't even have to be a shroud, sheet aluminum and HVAC metal tape work fine.

 

And of course, make sure whatever you use to cover it up doesn't unintentionally cut off some of the light traveling from the bowl to the shield/lens because it's sticking inward or something

 

im running my e46s without a shroud, i dont have any glare problems but i blacked out the housings so the light cant be reflected,





If u plan to keep the reflector chrome then u are going to need a shroud. If u plan to paint the reflector a dark flat color then not so much, its kinda optional at that point.

 

I'd cover it up.....not just for the purpose of preventing light from escaping....but also heat. The excessive heat from the bulb will cause the lens to get cloudy. Over time, when you look at the headlights in the day....the lens will have a brown cloudy appearance....i dont know how else to describe it. I had that problem with the first retrofit that I did.

Its more noticeable if you used brand new headlights with perfect lenses like I did.

 

I found that even sitting on my workbench, nowhere near my housings, the MDXs (also an open projector) had a lot of glare, especially if you were above and to the side of it. It wasn't bright around there, but it was definitely noticeable unless I sealed the sides.

 

Hey. Get it right. They're called "Coolsaber57 shrouds".

 

thx for the tips guys.

got any pics? how much?

 

u mean these kind of angles?





i do understand what ur saying thou. people in SUVs might get a direct view of my bulb for a split second and its better to have a shroud and i have tried getting a shroud on there but i haven given up on getting one in there.

 

Dude... i'm pretty sure I hate you now.

Within 2 days, the tape came undone, and the shrouds fell off and rattled around the housing.
I went back to stock headlights so that I can re-open my retro and put real shrouds on (and fix the aiming)

 

 

Dude...you were supposed to JB weld those together...not TAPE!

I take no blame for taped-up shrouds

 

tape/JB weld same difference