Got the lights a few days ago. (Many thanks to George Roffe)

Ive already broke the lens part off one(wasn't going to use that part ) After a lot of scenario brainstorming and fitting, Ive come up with a gameplan.

Im going to reuse my Sentra housing and gut the insides (except for the mounting brackets).

I will create a flat "face" inside the housing (flat black) with holes cut for the actual lights and mount the lights onto the created "face"

Then I can either:
A. Reuse the original Sentra lens (although the lens has its own reflecting surface), or
B. See if I cant find a low-run plastic fabricator to create a Lexan or Acrylic lens using my Sentra lens for the mold (I dont know if this scenario is possible).

This solves a couple problems:
The BMW assembly is too large and requires trimming of the car somewhat (dont want that).
Reusing the Sentra housing makes mounting easy easy.
Retains the proper angle of the BMW lights (reusing the BMW housing would result in a "cross-eyed" lighting pattern due to differnt mounting angles).

I will get some preliminary pictures taken and posted tomorrow and will try to follow up throughout the week.

Thanks again, George

Originally posted by me
Then I can either:
A. Reuse the original Sentra lens (although the lens has its own reflecting surface), or
B. See if I cant find a low-run plastic fabricator to create a Lexan or Acrylic lens using my Sentra lens for the mold (I dont know if this scenario is possible).


Well, option B is out. I only made one phone call to a Thermoforming place. The guy on the other end was really friendly and did a lot of explaining. Long story short, It would cost upwards of $3000 to produce clear, headlight-quality thermoformed lenses out of plastic.

Ouch.

If anybody is in that industry and could correct me or point me to an alternate , cheaper process, Id love to hear.

That is Project #13 on my list.

Can you tell me what part # they are and what BMW model they come out of.

Is this the same project that a member posted pics of, like a year ago?

THANKS.
:cool:

I dont know the part #, but they come off any E36 BMW.

Ive heard about that car, but have never seen any pictures.

Originally posted by llaprad1


If anybody is in that industry and could correct me or point me to an alternate , cheaper process, Id love to hear.

You might be able to machine a lense from a solid chunk of plastic. It won't be the easiest thing to do, but if you are desperate, it's worth a shot. It's certainly cheaper than $3000.

could you cut your stock housing with a O ring bit? than place the beamer light in them as for solid lens i have heard of people making them out of a sheet of plastic and useing your stock lens and sticking them in the oven to get the shape (set the temp to like 250 degrees i think) hot enought were it wont melt the stock lens. than cutting it to fit the stock lens. Dunno i was going to try it.

i want pics...do this mod and give me pics...i saw this done on a friends 90 maxima and i wanted to do it so bad, but i was afraid to trim the body....

you can get clear plastic lexan lens covers (for stone protection and the like) from places like summit. I think its the same company that makes the smoked taillight covers for mustangs and crap. GTS or something. They should be crystal clear and a direct duplicate of the stock contour. I'm not sure if they make them for sentras, but you should check it out; i think they are made for most cars. Another option is to get lexan sheet and a heat gun and form them over the stock lamps yourself. Heat lamp may also work and may not distort the lexan as much as the gun. I'd look into the lens covers *** - i doubt you'd be able to form something that was still good optically after forming.

good luck

andris

Originally posted by andris
you can get clear plastic lexan lens covers (for stone protection and the like) from places like summit. I think its the same company that makes the smoked taillight covers for mustangs and crap. GTS or something. They should be crystal clear and a direct duplicate of the stock contour. I'm not sure if they make them for sentras, but you should check it out; i think they are made for most cars. Another option is to get lexan sheet and a heat gun and form them over the stock lamps yourself. Heat lamp may also work and may not distort the lexan as much as the gun. I'd look into the lens covers *** - i doubt you'd be able to form something that was still good optically after forming.

good luck

andris

I used to own GTS covers that were tinted (I was a teenager and it was 92). They do make a clear version, but they install by "grabbing" onto the stock lens. So they do not entirely emulate a lens. They would not be adequate for sealing the assembly without utilizing the original lens.

Whats funny is the Mexican headlight conversion is a OE replacement and is better looking that E36 headlights. I understand wanting to be different but the Tsuru headlights would have probally been cheaper in the long run.

Originally posted by Pretty White
Whats funny is the Mexican headlight conversion ... is better looking that E36 headlights.

Thats an interesting fact!:rolleyes:

If I wanted this:
http://www.louislaprad.com/altima.jpg
I would have gotten this:
http://www.louislaprad.com/tsuru.jpg
Uncanny resemblence, hmm?

Ive posted it before, but the *required* grille is butt-ugly. If you could work the stock grill in there, cool. But if you think that Tsuru grille is cool, youve been staring at Sentras too long.

I understand wanting to be different but the Tsuru headlights would have probally been cheaper in the long run.

Different is not my objective, neither is a cheaper price tag. Ive owned my car for 6 years now, this being my 3rd Sentra SE-R, and I want to experiment in a different look for *me*.

I have no B13 sentra "buds" I hang out with or try to differ from.

This is what Im hoping for:

http://www.louislaprad.com/serbmw.jpg

If the lights cost me ~$100, and I already have spare headlights, grinding is free, splicing is free, the plastic (for the face, not the lens)may cost me, oh, I dunno $50?

How is that more expensive? Laborious and stressful, yes, but expensive?

Funny thing is, I love your car, I want an NX if I can find one only if I get the front spoiler you have.

And I *know* people raz you on *your* aesthetic taste, if not now, before you got the new bumper. I mean, really, NXs are an acquired taste.

I dig your car, and I know your no troll, so why come in here and start with "why are you doing this" crap?

I dig your car, and I know your no troll, so why come in here and start with "why are you doing this" crap?

First off, don't twist my words.

I said:

I understand wanting to be different but the Tsuru headlights would have probally been cheaper in the long run.


Never once did I say you are wasting your time or it is a stupid project or anything in that manner. I assumed that E36 lights are not cheap. My brother is a BMW mechanic so I just figured out the price of E36 lights OE, not aftermarket. The Tsuru headlights look great in person and fit correct the first time. When you get the e36 lights to fit perfectly I am sure they will look great too.

I did not know how much you got the lights for. The Tsuru kit with grill that bolts right in is only 3 and change range.


If the lights cost me ~$100, and I already have spare headlights, grinding is free, splicing is free, the plastic (for the face, not the lens)may cost me, oh, I dunno $50?
How is that more expensive? Laborious

I was going off the $3000 price range you were quoted for lenses. If you want it right and are looking for less it probally would be in the higher $000.00's range. But then again that's an assumsion.


I used to own GTS covers that were tinted (I was a teenager and it was 92). They do make a clear version, but they install by "grabbing" onto the stock lens. So they do not entirely emulate a lens. They would not be adequate for sealing the assembly without utilizing the original lens.

You are trying to do this to make it look quality and not cheap I assumed. Still it is not going to be cheap. You know it and I know it. My front spoiler wan't cheap and I know it. But if you want to be different and do it right it ain't cheap. Its like clear markers made of flourescent light covers. They look ok, but will never look like Nis-Knacks clear markers. A fact. Or I have yet to see one that looks OE and not cheezy.

And I *know* people raz you on *your* aesthetic taste, if not now, before you got the new bumper. I mean, really, NXs are an acquired taste.

It sounds like you are attacking me for saying what I thought. Thats was uneccesary. I never said anything about you or your car.


Lets not even talk about classics because I can take you back to 1993.

http://www.sr20de.net/multimedia/pictures/sentra_se-r/ian_lyn/dead.jpg

Thats the back of my old SE-R. Back in 1993. Ask Mr Clean (Brian Chang). I got an OE badges from England to match the motor I was building. Not cheap but not sticker either.


*Different* is not my objective,

But yet you wrote:

and I want to experiment in a different look for *me*.

Different is different no matter how you spell it. Different than other SE-R's or your own car is still different.


I dig your car, and I know your no troll, so why come in here and start with "why are you doing this" crap?

Back to the root of the post. I never asked why you are doing this, I just made the comparison because it was not going to be cheap. As far as looks I have seen the two and my opinion is that the Tsuru lights look better and obviously you agree but are not willing to make a grill that can work. I assumed this from this reply:

Ive posted it before, but the *required* grille is butt-ugly. If you could work the stock grill in there, cool. But if you think that Tsuru grille is cool, youve been staring at Sentras too long.

Personal attack again? Why?

Lets see, SmoothDaddy (I am sorry I dragged you into this Brova Smoove) made a grill for his SE-R. You are creative and I am sure you could hack a Tsuru grill to make it more attractive.

If you are getting fustrated please don't attack me because thats the vibe I got with your post.

I still have the pics from the forum member a year ago. He also put the BMW lights on there, and if I remember right, he said you need to do some cutting on the radiator support. Well, anyway, here are the pics.

http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~sgg8661/headlight1.jpg
http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~sgg8661/headlight4.jpg

Okay, no twisting of words.... what is the purpose of this...

Originally posted by Pretty White
Whats funny is the Mexican headlight conversion is a OE replacement and is better looking that E36 headlights. I understand wanting to be different but the Tsuru headlights would have probally been cheaper in the long run.

Thanks for nitpicking my post apart, but my main point is "what is your point?"

I dont plan on modifying the body one bit. Its all in the lights.

I posted a thread about a month ago to see if anyones tried to hack into the grill, but all I got were replies to the effect of, "why would you do that?"

Believe me I'd much rather hack into $100 of parts than ~$350 in parts. Your long-running participation in the SE-R community notwithstanding, you must admit, you made a judgement call.

You give me your personal opinion when it wasnt asked for, and I'll hack it. I posted this for the advantage of anyone who might want to see this

Nowhere did I say, "Am I wasting my money" or "what looks better, in your opinion."

Your opinions seem to be based on taking the headlight untouched and modding the body to accept it.

Be an adult and wait until Im finished before you start shooting me down.

If Ive personally attacked you again and youve taken offense, oops. If Ive contradicited myself again, sorry.

Thats all Im going to post regarding you, so if you want to rebut, email me or pm me. If you post here, I'll ignore it and move on.

I hate the Tex-Mex lights.
And everyone I know hates the grilly fo' really.

I want to see this finished project!!!
I want to see if I need more room on the Visa.:p

Hurry up!!

I say use the stock lense and make the best out of it.
You do have a Dremel right?

I'm sorry if this has been brought up in this thread, but I can't bring myself to read through the bickering, but e36's, atleast the m3, are horrible at lighting the road. They are almost to the point of making driving at night very dangerous. I hear the euro spec headlights are decent, however.

Originally posted by WhiteSER
I'm sorry if this has been brought up in this thread, but I can't bring myself to read through the bickering, but e36's, atleast the m3, are horrible at lighting the road. They are almost to the point of making driving at night very dangerous. I hear the euro spec headlights are decent, however.

Yeah, Ive read that on BMW forums, too. We'll see how bad it is when I do it. If it blows donkey, Ive always got my original headlights. I really dont have an answer for this one, though.

Anyone notice how the pics above look like an older Toyota Celica.?

http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/NYS/tkr/reports/2000ar.pdf

http://www.clearcorners.com/company/

http://www.nissanperformancemag.com/december00/clearcorners.shtml
http://www.gracoinc.co.kr/html/solu_car.htm


http://www.trucktoyz.com/HTML/lights/TaillightCovers.asp

if you guys want me to try and make a mold for the b13 let me know and ill see if i cant try to make some of these lights

i have seen this mod and honestly is looks akward. I think the car was yellow and it had to have the turnsignals as well. But to at least help you instead of just being negative here is an idea

Why not (since you are doing so much fab work) get a couple of projection driving lights and make a custome face for them. The fronts can be made of fiberglass and you do not have to worry about creating any sort of front acrylic lense or a diamond cut reflective lense(which I have priced in upwards of $20,000) It would in essense look something to the effect of the dual headlight mod for P10s. Just a suggestion and good luck