Probably every motorist dreams. At the same time, the side lights will become similar to those found on the headlights of a modern BMW model. You can make absolutely the same spectacular lights with your own hands, fortunately our man has ingenuity and desire. Armed with wire cutters, a metal saw, pliers and other common tools, you can quickly organize everything.
In order to make “angel eyes” with your own hands, you need to find a plexiglass rod and cut four blanks from it. LEDs are attached to them and cuts are cut every 5 mm. Homemade “eyes” are installed instead of standard side lights.
Side lights from BMW
What are "angel eyes"? It turns out that this is just another hobby from, which has not left a single motorist in the world indifferent. But you shouldn’t sell your favorite “six” just because of the unique and original lights and save up for a BMW. How do you think?
You can do it differently. Take the side lights of this manufacturer as a sample and try to build something similar yourself.
It is worth immediately noting that, no matter how beautifully and effectively these components are made, they are not welcomed by the traffic police and can arouse “unhealthy” interest among the latter. But still, if you decide to go for it and become the owner of a car with such “angel eyes”, you should preferably have a car with round front optics. For example, a VAZ 2106 or a VAZ 21213 has such optics. In addition, it could be any foreign car model, for example, the same BMW, only an older version.
Getting ready
Before, you need to arm yourself with tools and necessary material. As mentioned above, you must have wire cutters, pliers, a metal cutter, a file, a drill and a drill bit. the right size, soldering iron or hair dryer. A special transparent rod made of plexiglass or plastic that can withstand high temperatures is also important. Where can I find it? Auto-tuning experts advise looking for such a rod in stores that specialize in selling curtains and blinds. In addition, do not forget to take care of the presence of a large flat container for a plastic rod, a round can, electrical tape, one-volt LEDs (there should be 8 of them), 220 Ohm resistors and wires with connectors.
All of the above materials and tools will not be difficult to find and prepare. It is important to remember that there are wells in headlights different diameters, which means that our “ angel eyes"must be of different circumferences.
For the rod you will have to choose the desired length, although a piece of thin hose will also work as a measurement (we use it to trace the circumference of the car headlight). We cut the rod to the required length and heat it in the prepared container with a soldering iron or hair dryer until it becomes soft. If the rod is made of plexiglass, then place it in a container with hot water so that it becomes soft.
Now you need to take the pliers and remove the workpiece. We wrap the preparation around a coffee can or something else and wait until it cools down (photo below).
If you don’t find a jar, you can use a plate instead. In this case it will look like this:
To make small angel eyes, you need to wrap a rod around a jar lid. The smaller the workpiece, the more difficult it is to work with. Be careful not to burn your fingers.
Now we are working on the blank, from which, after cooling on the jar, we get a ring. You should drill a kind of niche at the ends of each workpiece where the LED will be installed. You need to drill very carefully, preferably at a low speed of rotation of the drill, since the walls of the twig are very thin.
In the video - do-it-yourself “angel eyes”:
Next, along its outer side you will need to cut out a couple of dozen lines with a hacksaw or drill, but no deeper than a third of the circumference. This is done so that the light from our “angel eyes” turns out to be radiant.
Now we need to fix the diodes. You can do this as you like, but you should take into account the high coefficient of thermal expansion of the plexiglass rod. This means that the “eyes” need to leave a little free space in a niche. We take and solder resistors to the legs of the LEDs. Two diodes must be prepared.
This is what we end up with:
We go further and solder the LEDs to the side lamp, remembering that you need to solder to the “plus”. Under no circumstances should the polarity be reversed. And all connections must be insulated with tape specially designed for this purpose. Then check how everything works.
Now it's time to dismantle the headlight glasses. Unfortunately, there is no way without this. We then take it out and be sure to plug the holes. We install the prepared diodes on top so that they are less conspicuous.
In conclusion, I would like to note that this is a responsible matter. Complete the car homemade parts, of course, good, but you need to do it very carefully so as not to confuse anything, and this is especially true for elements and parts related to electricity.
To better understand how to make “angel eyes” on your car’s headlights with your own hands, we recommend watching this video:
We hope that the article will help you and everything will work out for you!
Every owner secretly dreams of improvement appearance your iron horse. It's nice when a car looks more expensive than it actually costs. Tuning headlights is one of the most common ways to change your appearance. It is very popular to install luminous rings in optical elements, popularly called DIY angel eyes.
There are three ways to get a fashion accessory:
- buy ready-to-install;
- made from transparent plexiglass and individual LEDs;
- do based on LED strip.
We dismiss the first method right away - it’s boring, and there’s practically nothing to describe. But let’s look at the remaining ones in more detail.
Angel eyes based on plexiglass rings
In order to make luminous rings for headlights or foglights using the first method, we will need:
A transparent rod can be purchased at a construction supermarket - these are used in blinds. Any can that matches the diameter of the reflector will be suitable as a cylinder. If the headlights are not round, then the process of bending the rod will be more difficult - you will have to make a template complex shape independently from available material.
First, measure the circumference of the future ring. Then a piece of the rod of the required size is cut off, and holes for the LEDs are drilled in its ends. Now the rod can be bent.
To make the plexiglass soft, it is heated with a hair dryer. To make a ring, a softened rod is wrapped around a template and waited until it becomes hard again.
For better dispersion on the resulting product, you need to make notches 0.5 mm deep at equal distances (the easiest way is to use a hacksaw blade or a needle file). So as not to suffer with painstaking work, you can cut a thread on a still straight rod using a die of suitable diameter.
LED strip angel eyes
Rings with two LEDs have significant disadvantages. Firstly, they are open. Secondly, they are not bright enough to be used as daylight running lights. Angel eyes made from LED strips are free of such disadvantages. To make them you will need:
To begin with, future rings are marked on a sheet of plexiglass. Then they are cut out, first along the outer diameter. They should only be cut with a hand jigsaw or a ballerina. If you use a jigsaw, the plexiglass will melt at the cut site.
The resulting circle is checked in place on the headlight, if necessary, the size is adjusted. After checking, you can cut out the inside.
For better glow, the outside of the rings is covered with a special diffusing film. If it is not there, then you can make notches hacksaw blade or just matte with small sandpaper.
Now you can install the tape. Before gluing, you need to carefully attach small cubes - six pieces will be enough - from plexiglass between the LEDs so that the distance between the diodes and the surface of the ring is about two mm. The tape is attached to the finished ring by gluing these cubes.
Before attaching the tape to the rings, you need to solder the wires to it and fill the soldering areas with silicone sealant.
The finished rings can already be checked by connecting them to a 12 volt power source.
Power connection
Ready-made angel eyes are usually connected to the power supply for the side lights of a car. This is the simplest and effective method, since there is no need to lay additional wiring and make a separate switch. It is imperative to observe the polarity - unlike a conventional incandescent lamp, you cannot connect the LED haphazardly. If you confuse the plus and minus, it will not burn.
You need to carefully drill a small hole in the headlight or fog lamp reflector, just so that the wires can pass through it. After final installation rings and headlight assembly, it will need to be filled with sealant.
The power supply of the tape is connected to the on-board network using standard wiring to the side lights, observing the polarity.
In a similar way, you can make and install angel eyes with your own hands, not only in car headlights. Fog lights can also be decorated with LED rings. The headlights of motorcycles and scooters will also look great if you install self-made LED lighting in them.
One of the easiest options for modifying the exterior of a car is tuning the headlights yourself. Today, the so-called “angel eyes” are very popular. It's about about the luminous rings built into the front optics of the car. At first, this solution appeared on BMW cars, but after some time many car enthusiasts liked this idea. Therefore, in this article we will try to cover this topic and help you understand how to make angel eyes and install them yourself.
Features of angel eyes
The production of original angel eyes is carried out using neon tubes, which are bent and installed in the headlights. This mechanism uses a special ignition unit. Installing angel eyes in the headlights results in a pleasant and fairly bright glow.
Some drivers use these elements as daytime running lights, as well as dimensions. It is noteworthy that angel eyes headlights can be used on various cars. Their dimensions and diameter may differ significantly from each other. No less important is the fact that car owners can choose the optimal glow color, which will give the car a truly exclusive look.
Of course, simplest option– is to buy angel eyes and install them at one of the car services. However, many car enthusiasts want to install angel eyes with their own hands, since only in this case can they get real pleasure from modifying their own car. And it’s not at all difficult to do this. Angel eyes are often installed on VAZ cars from the “classic” series, as well as on modern models, for example, Lada Priora. Let's move on to the question of how to install angel eyes.
LED Angel Eyes
Colorless plastic sticks are used to make dimensions. To securely fasten the rings you will need sealant. LEDs will provide a beautiful glow. It is quite possible to make LED angel eyes on your own, even for those who do not have great experience in car tuning. For each of the rings you need to select a pair of LEDs. In addition, you need to purchase resistors with a resistance of 2 kOhm.
- You need to make a ring out of each stick. You can make the task easier by using a jar of the appropriate diameter. Heat the plastic stick with construction hair dryer(a simpler option is the oven) and screw it onto the selected jar. After making all the rings, you can check them again and align them, if necessary.
- As the title of this section suggests, LED angel eyes involve the use of LEDs. It is necessary to determine their diameter and length, and then make corresponding holes in the two ends of each ring. We shorten the legs of the diodes so that their length does not exceed 5 mm from the semiconductor body.
- We connect the legs of the diodes to each other using a soldering iron. It is necessary to solder minus to minus, and plus to plus. The plus leg is located in a thickening of larger diameter. Next, solder the LED legs to the wires. We recommend using colored wires, with which you will definitely not mix up the polarity.
- The wire must be cut at a distance of about 15 cm, and then a ballast resistor must be soldered to it. The wire must be soldered to the second leg of the selected resistor.
- The diodes are attached using clear nail polish. Literally one drop of the product should be applied to each end. After this, you need to wait a little so that the varnish has time to dry. The varnish will ensure reliable fastening of the diodes and provide good contact diode and sticks. Thanks to this, LED angel eyes will look very beautiful.
If you have a desire to install angel eyes with “cilia,” you need to make the appropriate notches, which should be present along the entire length of the sticks. Leave about 10 mm between the notches. The notches should be approximately 5 mm deep.
Angel Eyes Installation Procedure
It's time to install the angel eyes headlights. To do this, you must first disassemble the headlight housing and remove the glass. As a rule, installing angel eyes takes a lot of time, since the headlight must be disassembled very carefully so as not to damage the mounts.
The final assembly is also an important step. The surface of the reflector must be cleaned of dirt and debris, for which it is better to use cotton swabs. To perform this procedure, it is prohibited to use chemicals. In addition, do not touch the surface with your hands.
We apply sealant to the glass and install the ring. Everything needs to be done so that the LED elements are at the top of the headlight. Next we lay the wires.
If there are notches on the ring, they need to be directed outward. It is necessary to apply silicone between the headlight and the glass and carefully fill all the pores. The product will dry in about 30 minutes. After this, it is necessary to test the operation of the headlights by first connecting power to our angel eyes.
To do this, you need to disconnect the plug designed to connect the turn signals and side lights. The connectors of the turn signals and markers of the “Male” type need to be connected to each other, and then connected to the “Mother” of the turn signals. As a result, you will have a free female connector, which was previously used by the side lights. It is to this that the “plus” from the angel eyes needs to be connected. We connect the “minus” to the fastenings of the turning lights.
After all these steps, when turning on the side lights, the angel eyes headlights should also turn on. Now you know how to make angel eyes with your own hands, and also correctly connect them to the power system.
Bi-xenon lenses with angel eyes
It's no secret what leads to ensuring the maximum good result only if the machine is equipped with lenses. In addition, the use of bi-xenon lenses ensures comfortable driving in the dark.
Thanks to such lenses, you will not dazzle oncoming drivers and at the same time you will be able to drive your car without any difficulties. It is the bi-xenon lenses with angel eyes that look very attractive. This type of lens can be installed on different groups of lamp sockets used in cars. In order to install them in a standard base, you only need to remove the outer glass of the headlight and install the lens.
Benefits of using angel eyes
Installing angel eyes yourself is one of the components of car tuning, the popularity of which is not decreasing. Upgrading the interior and installing various aerodynamic elements over time is often no longer pleasing to the eye, but this option for tuning headlights always attracts attention.
Another “advantage” of using angel eyes is that they provide additional safety. This optics performs its main tasks well without creating problems for other car owners. In addition, angel eyes consume a minimal amount of energy.
Photos and videos of angel eyes
Today many people like to tune their vehicles, and regardless of whether they are imported or domestic. The most popular and easiest to implement are “angel eyes”.
Eyes on the car
This type of headlight tuning can be done by anyone for any car. This article will tell you how to make angel eyes with your own hands and what they are.
Decoration Features
Today, the simplest and most effective way to modify the exterior of a car is the so-called. "angel eyes" This tuning consists of luminous rings installed on the headlights. These rings are installed on the front optics of the car.
For the first time, such a unique solution appeared on BMW products. After some time, luminous rings for headlights began to be sold as a separate vehicle upgrade.
Note! Today, “Angel Eyes” can be either purchased in a store or made with your own hands. At the same time, their production is quite simple and many car enthusiasts prefer the second option for their car.
"Angelic" car tuning
It is worth noting that purchased angel eyes for a car are made from special neon tubes. They are bent and installed on the headlights. The installation also uses an ignition unit. After installing this optical system on the headlights, the light turns out more pleasant and bright.
Separately, it is worth noting that some drivers use such tuning as daytime running lights or dimensions.
Today, such car decoration is very popular and occurs very often. This is due to the fact that they can be installed on a wide variety of headlights. different models cars (both domestic and foreign).
For different car models this type tuning may vary in basic parameters:
- dimensions;
- glow color;
- ring diameter.
If everything is done right, you will get an exclusive car.
Installation option
Purchased item
As already mentioned, today this kind of tuning can be obtained as follows:
- buy in the store. But for domestic cars this is not the best solution, and it is not always possible to select rings of the required diameter;
Note! You can buy “eyes” both with and without optics. The second option involves purchasing a luminous ring with further self-installation it on the headlights.
- make homemade angel eyes. This option is more preferable in terms of saving money and time that will have to be spent searching for rings for headlights of the required diameter.
To the question “how to make angel eyes?” There are two answers that are not very different in terms of implementation:
- assembly of an optical system from a ring (LED strip);
- making a lighting system using a transparent tube.
Once you have decided on such tuning, you should find out what such an optical system will be made of. But remember that you will definitely need an ignition unit through which you can connect a homemade lighting device.
What we are preparing material
The most important question that arises in the mind of a car enthusiast is what kind of relatively expensive type of tuning for a car can be made from.
Today, LED angel eyes are in favor, so in this article we will look at this particular option, especially since connecting them using an ignition unit can be as easy as purchasing products.
So, to make angel eyes with your own hands, you will need:
- plastic transparent sticks. Here you can use a curtain leash for blinds;
Note! The transparent stick should not be hollow.
Transparent sticks
- LEDs or LED strip;
- resistors;
- ignition unit;
- jar. Its diameter should correspond to the dimensions of the car headlights;
- 9 volt battery.
In addition to the above materials, in order to make such a backlight and connect it correctly using the ignition unit, you also need the following tools:
- file;
- drill with disk attachment and 5 mm drill or needle file;
- pliers;
- construction hairdryer It can be replaced with a conventional oven.
Once you have made sure that you have everything you need for the job, you can begin assembly.
We work, we are not lazy
In order to install it on the headlights of your car, the backlight must be mounted according to the following scheme:
Rounding the can
- First you need to give the transparent stick the shape of a ring. To do this, the rod should be heated until its plasticity increases until it deforms;
- You can heat the sticks in the oven or using a hair dryer. It is considered more correct to use a hair dryer;
Note! Do not allow the stick to overheat, otherwise bubbles will appear in it, which will have a bad effect on the glow of the homemade product.
- Next, we wrap the heated rod around the can using pliers. We start bending the can from the middle of the rod, bringing its ends towards each other;
- let the rod harden and saw off its ends;
- Next, we assemble the LEDs with a resistor;
- You can check the quality of the assembly using a battery;
- then we isolate and grind the contacts being processed;
- carefully and smoothly grind the ends of the stick;
- after that we apply serifs to the rod. We take the pitch for them within 2-2.5 mm. At the same time, do not forget to retreat 1-1.5 cm from the edges;
Notch on a stick
Built-in diode
- for evenness, you can use a plastic clamp;
- After this, the rod must be connected to the LEDs to check the glow. An ignition unit must be used for these purposes. This will allow you to see how homemade device will glow in the final result;
- to avoid a drop in the brightness of the glow towards the middle, the notches should gradually deepen towards the middle of the rod;
- solder the LEDs in series. This will balance the current flowing through them;
- after that, at the ends of the resulting ring we drill a hole up to 7 mm long and 5 mm in diameter. We insert LEDs into it;
- We wrap the ends of the transparent stick with foil.
Finished ring
Making angel eyes using this pattern is quite simple and easy. After this, all you have to do is install everything correctly on the headlights by connecting homemade product through the ignition unit.
We attach to the headlights
Installing angel eyes is no less important than assembling them. Here you need to do the following manipulations:
- we disassemble the headlight housing and take out the glass from it;
Note! It is necessary to disassemble the headlight very carefully in order to use it in the future. removed glass to close the installed optical system.
Ring installation
- We clean the reflector from dirt. Use cotton swabs and cleaning chemicals for this;
- during processing, avoid touching the surface of the reflector with your hands;
- We apply sealant to the glass and install a homemade luminous ring on it, with the notches facing outward;
- after that we lay the wires;
- between the headlight itself and protective glass apply silicone, carefully filling all pores;
- It takes at least half an hour for the silicone to dry.
Finished headlight
At the end, all you have to do is test the operation of the headlights with the new LED installation. To do this, connect all wires to a power source. Here you need to disconnect the plug that connects the turn signals. This is where the “eyes” should be connected.
Now your car has a beautiful tuning. Moreover, such a homemade device is not only beautiful, but also practical. If all elements are assembled correctly lighting fixture, it will serve you faithfully long years, giving bright light from the headlights.
Checking diodes with a multimeter: subtleties from the experts
About production DIY angel eyes almost all owners of domestic or imported cars think about it because they want to make their vehicles as attractive as possible. By installing such side lights on your car, you will make them look like the BMW headlights of recent years.
Headlights of this type are their signature feature. If you really like this kind of glow from the headlights and that’s what attracts you to a BMW, then you don’t have to save up money for an expensive German. Such dimensions can be made on every third car. Main condition - round form headlights
Almost all domestic cars have this design, for example, the VAZ 2106 or VAZ 2110. Just imagine how often other drivers or ordinary passers-by will look closely at your car. Believe me, such headlights are hard to miss!
DIY angel eyes
At first glance, the design of such side lights may seem quite complicated, however, in reality, making angel eyes with your own hands will not take much time and will not require a large amount of financial investment.
Everything you need to make beautiful “eyes” (some materials can be replaced if necessary):
- Jigsaw or metal saw;
- Wire cutters;
- Pliers;
- Plexiglas rod;
- LEDs;
- Drill;
- File;
- Drill;
- Soldering iron;
- Construction hair dryer;
- Capacity;
- Can;
- Insulating tape;
- Resistors;
- Wires.
Naturally, to create angel eyes, you need to have at least some understanding of electrical engineering.
Prepare before you start necessary elements. Take a rod of organic glass, cut out a pair of blanks for your car (according to the number of round car headlights in which you want to install hand-made angel eyes).
Organic glass blanks
Fix the LEDs in the rods and cut a cut every 0.5 centimeters and install the resulting eyes in place of the headlights.
Diodes inside an organic tube
This was all described briefly, and now let’s move on to a full-fledged, step-by-step manual on making angel eyes.
How to make angel eyes with your own hands?
Before you start collecting DIY angel eyes from LED strip or plexiglass rods, you must have all the tools and elements that were indicated earlier.
Plexiglas must be in the form of a tube or rod and can easily withstand heating up to high temperatures. If you go to the store, buy an expensive tube, do not skimp, especially since you will need no more than one and a half meters of it, or even a meter will be enough. The amount of plexiglass can be calculated before purchase. Take a meter and measure the circumference of each headlight. To each measurement, add 2-3 centimeters per cut and add all the numbers.
Let's say you want to make angel eyes on 4 headlights: two large (circumference - 25 centimeters) and two small (circumference - 15 centimeters). Let's calculate:
(25+5)*2 = 30*2=60 centimeters for large headlights
(15+5)*2=20*2=40 centimeters for small headlights
60+40= 100 centimeters
As a result, 1 meter of organic glass is enough for 4 angel eyes per car.
You can most often find organic glass at points of sale of curtains, blinds, and construction and repair stores with a focus on decorative and design aspects.
All other items can be purchased in regular construction stores or car dealerships. The resistors should have a resistance of 220 ohms.
Resistors 220 Ohm
First, measure the circle around which the plexiglass rod will be placed. Take a regular meter or any piece of thin hose, if you have one nearby, and trace the headlights, measuring the circumference. The resulting length is applied to a plexiglass tube and cut off.
Measuring the circumference of the headlight
Now heat this piece of plexiglass to such an extent that it is flexible enough. You can use a hairdryer, soldering iron or a container of hot water. Wait a while and make sure the tube is warm enough to bend.
Warming up the tube with a hairdryer
Using pliers, take the heated headlight blank and wrap it around a tin can or any other structure. Wait until the tube cools down. The diameter of the tin can should be approximately equal to the diameter of the headlight. When working with small rings, you need to be especially careful, since short rods are quite difficult to twist even when hot. Be extremely careful not to get burned.
Bending a heated workpiece
When the workpiece has acquired the desired shape, has cooled slightly and can be picked up, remove it from the jar. Drill holes at the ends of the workpiece where the LED will be installed.
Drilling a hole in the end of the workpiece
Tip: Drill extremely carefully and at low speeds. Organic glass It is quite fragile and the resulting thin walls can easily crack under pressure.
When interior work finished with the tube, take care of it from the outside. The procedure is optional, but the effect of “eyelashes” with a correctly made notch will look beautiful on any headlights. It is important to maintain the same distance between them.
Take a hacksaw and, with light movements, make cuts on the surface with the calculation: 1 for every 0.5-1 cm (depending on the length of the tube). They are made circular; their depth should not exceed a quarter of the thickness of the tube. This kind of notches will help the headlights produce a pleasant radiant light, like that of the “German”.
Notches on the surface of the tube
Secure the diodes in drilled holes so that they do not dangle. They can be filled with transparent glue, silicone or fixed in any other way.
Securing the LED in the tube
Now you need to solder the resistors to the LED legs.
Connecting a resistor to a diode by soldering
Thus, you will need 2 diodes per headlight (one on each side of the ring-shaped tube) and 2 resistors soldered to the diodes.
Next, we need to solder the cables to our blank for easy connection with the old wiring system. Twist the tube into a circle and wrap the edges with electrical tape (if necessary). That's it, the LED angel eyes are ready for installation.
Tube end insulation
The final stage of manufacturing is checking the headlights for functionality. To do this, you can connect them to a power source and check whether the LEDs are lit and diffuse light normally. It is important not to confuse the polarity!
DIY angel eyes installation
After the new lights are ready, you need to temporarily dismantle the existing ones to connect the wiring. Now install the diodes into the headlight housing so that they are almost invisible.
Installing angel eyes in a headlight
Solder the new contacts to the old ones, connect them into one “network” and connect it back to the main power supply of the car.
It is better to perform the installation at night or in the evening in order to fully appreciate the lighting. You may need more powerful LEDs or a good polishing of the headlight glass.
How to connect bi-xenon lenses with angel eyes?
Car enthusiasts are well aware of all the advantages of xenon light and know how it behaves in the presence of lenses. Bi-xenon lenses with angel eyes look much more impressive and modern. They are perfectly mounted under any sockets and lamps without the need to saw the reflector. All you need to do is remove the glass, place the lens inside and close it back.
Angel eyes with bi-xenon headlights
If you are very bright LEDs, bi-xenon lenses prevent glare from oncoming cars and normalize the beam of light.
Which angel eyes are better?
The question is ambiguous and difficult to answer. If you do not take into account manual assembly, then it is better to trust professionals who have already assembled similar headlights more than once. You can find a person who can make angel eyes to order very efficiently and quickly on any automotive forum or in social network groups dedicated to this topic.
It is recommended to contact people who have installed such lights themselves. They know how to correctly select tubes, LEDs and take into account other nuances in order to achieve maximum effect glow at minimal cost. In addition, they can by example show what the purchased angel eyes will look like.
Prefer to make your own headlights? Make sure to select a heat-resistant tube and LEDs with the appropriate light output. Angel eyes with a weak luminous flux will be practically invisible against the background of the main headlights. Very bright LEDs, on the contrary, will only blind oncoming vehicles and make it difficult for them to move on the road.
