Dimming and Tinting EAS Aurora Angel Eyes

In my opinion, LED Angel eyes are a little too harsh and too bright, unless you want to use them as daytime running lights.
In an effort to get a more subtle, OEM look, I dimmed and tinted my LED Angel Eyes.

I installed an adjustable dimmer on my EAS Auroras to tone them down so they would look good at dusk and at night.
I don't use them during the day. (BTW, these are the new, 15% brighter v1.1 Auroras.)





To install the dimmer, I spliced into the main power wire between the relay and the main power source. I wired them to come on with the fog lights and I do not use the wire that fades them on and off with the interior lights.

The rheostat, plastic "project box", and the knob are all from Radio Shack. The cost of all three parts was less than $10.

25-Ohm 3-Watt Rheostat
Model: 271-265 | Catalog #: 271-265

Project Enclosure (3x2x1")
Model: 270-1801 | Catalog #: 270-1801

Communications Style Control Knob
Model: 274-402 | Catalog #: 274-402

Installing the dimmer was easy...

- Just drill three holes in the project box.
- Solder the wires to the rheostat.
-Assemble the project box and attach it to the firewall. ( I attached it with HD velcro. )





I also "tinted" my LED Angel Eyes to reduce the individual LED, "pearl necklace" look. Auroras use a pattern that is moulded into the lens to diffuse the light and help blend the individual LEDs. However, that pattern is only on the front of the lens, leaving the sides of the lens clear. When viewed at an angle, the individual LEDs show up much more than when they are viewed straight on.

To fix this I tinted the sides of the rings with silver vinyl, the type of vinyl you would get at a sign shop. (1/4" x 11" strips) Silver vinyl is quite thin so 50% to 60% of the light still shines through, but it is diffused much better and the "pearl necklace" refections are all but gone.

The pictures below will give you an idea of how the silver vinyl looks and works...







BTW... you could experiment with different colored or translucent vinyls to get different colors or different looks, like maybe time attack looking angel eyes with just a hint of color change around the edges?

I love the idea of the vinyl treatment and the possibilities are endless (brushed, chrome, black CF, silver CF, etc...). It gives the rings a unique look

Props to UncleDon

^^ Thanks Mike ...

I forgot about trying carbon fiber patterned vinyls.
The beauty of using vinyl is that it is very inexpensive for the small amount it would take to do four rings.
It's also very easy to remove to try different colors or to return the rings to "stock" condition.

everything looks good. i too have tried different methods to get rid of the pearl necklace look as well.

a very good solution!

well done. perhaps i could amber tint mine

Nice work.

Great idea!! May have to attempt this.....

nice work!
I might try this but still have them come on with the interior lights. I like the vinyl idea too. I might give a try

Thanks for the DIY!

I was wondering, what if you turned the rheostat all the way down. Will it actually cut power to the AEs?

Originally Posted by genuity

Thanks for the DIY!

I was wondering, what if you turned the rheostat all the way down. Will it actually cut power to the AEs?

No, it will only dim the angel eyes.

OP - Excellent work!
I love the idea of dimming them, as I agree with you on the harshness.

I myself have ccfl's... haven't wanted to upgrade to led for those 2 reasons you addressed.

Originally Posted by genuity

Thanks for the DIY!

I was wondering, what if you turned the rheostat all the way down. Will it actually cut power to the AEs?

I actually installed a kill switch / interrupt in my wiring and installed it under my steering column.

I like having the option of turning them on and off at will.

Originally Posted by genuity

Thanks for the DIY!

I was wondering, what if you turned the rheostat all the way down. Will it actually cut power to the AEs?

I'm sure you can find a rheostat with a built in switch that clicks off at the end of the rotation.

Originally Posted by TerraPhantm

I'm sure you can find a rheostat with a built in switch that clicks off at the end of the rotation.

yup!

A pulse width modulator is probably overkill, but it will give full control over ring brightness. It will also help to prevent uneven brightness from LED arrays such as used in angel eyes, at low current levels. This is on my project list for no good reason other then to have it on the project list, which is small at the moment. I don't know how or if this will work with the voltage drop regulators supplied with some angel eye kits, but I think it will work either in addition to or in place of their regulators. Try at your own risk, of course.

http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/show...-experimenters

And a link to buy one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-DIGITAL-12V-...item35b08df522

just finished. thanks for the write up!

Originally Posted by Devious1

just finished. thanks for the write up!

lets see some pics

Working on it will be done soon Great Write up

Just got my v2 angel eyes(6000k)I have a dark blue 328i so i was thinking of maybe doing a deep blue vinyl around the edges like the OP did with silver. Might look good we will see. I will post pics after the install

Love the innovation of the vinyl.

used this DIY a while ago and forgot to bump this. it worked great thanks bud!!