FX-R Clear lens

2

2k9FX

Member
First and foremost i just wanted to say Hi to all as im mostly a lurker and never really posted anything. :smile (2):

I recently caught the mod bug and decided i want to do a complete HID re-vamp. I will order a set of clear FXR lenses (link below if you are not familiar) and a set of OSRAM 66240 CBI bulbs. I'd like to know if anyone has done the clear lens replacement and if you have any pics or positive reviews regarding this mod. If not i'd more than likely be the the beta tester and will eventually report back on my results. Basically i want to have a sharper more colorful cutoff w/ better foreground lighting. Any input is very well appreciated.

Link to the clear lens (also includes pics showing the cutoff)
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/product_info.php?products_id=134

Link to the bulbs
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/product_info.php?products_id=10591
 
I don't know about doing the clear lens swap on a 2nd gen, but a lot of us first gen guys have done it and love the upgrade it provides.

Also those bulbs are awesome, much whiter looking than OEM, and also increased output (I think I remember seeing an increase of about 200 lumens over stock, which is pretty significant.)
 
They no longer carry the FX-R, if you order the FX-R they will send you the TSX-R instead. Basically the same thing, but the TSX-R requires you to modify your cutoff shields slightly on the first gen. I'm guessing 2nd gens are similar. They stopped carrying the FX-R because of low volume and it only fit pre-recall projectors anyways. Post recall projectors needed the TSX-R. At least that's what the owner explained to me (TRS is local).

I've got the TSX-R lens in and they're pretty nice. Are the 2nd gen projectors the same as first gen?
 
shadow191 said:
They no longer carry the FX-R, if you order the FX-R they will send you the TSX-R instead. Basically the same thing, but the TSX-R requires you to modify your cutoff shields slightly on the first gen. I'm guessing 2nd gens are similar. They stopped carrying the FX-R because of low volume and it only fit pre-recall projectors anyways. Post recall projectors needed the TSX-R. At least that's what the owner explained to me (TRS is local).

I've got the TSX-R lens in and they're pretty nice. Are the 2nd gen projectors the same as first gen?
Click to expand...


Thanks for the heads up on the TSX-R replacements. I'm not sure if the projector units are the same as the 1st gens. I emailed 2 reps at TRS today regarding fitment. I'm down to do more modifications as long as it's worth the effort (warranty expired). I'm familiar w/ retrofitting so i wouldn't mind doing a DIY after i'm done w/ the lens swap. My biggest hurdle is the weather since I don't have a garage i'm hoping to do the swap in a single day's time. It shouldn't be too complicated.
 
From what I recalled when speaking to Nate at TSR years ago, I got info that the gen2 project lens is also 2.5 (gen1 oems lens are 2.6 last when I measured it), it "should" fit directly in theory but you can be the one who can confirm.

+1 in regards to FX-R, those are discontinued and TSX-R are the only replacements.
 
Those lenses do have a nice cutoff, but man, if you are on a dark street then it goes from bright to black very quickly. I think I need to adjust my headlights though. My previous ones were definitely aimed much higher.
 
Well, if you need to "play" with the cutoff shield to get a sharp clean cutoff line, it will takes some time. I know I have spend quite a bit of time on a set of TSX-R on the 1st Gen projector in my basement. One day might be doable if you have the touch on fiddling on the shields. Be sure to take lots of pictures as you progress. Love to see a DIY on the 2nd Gen clear lens mod.
 
Bending the shield or changing the distance between the lens and the bulb typically results in less clean cutoff, but more color band. Finding a good medium is exactly what im looking for. Im not too concerned about having too sharp a cutoff since i have HID fogs which bleed past my cutoff already so there shouldn't be an abrupt line of dark and light. Im also planning on getting the spacer kit that TRS offers as an option so I can test different focal points to get the desired effect.

---------- Post added 10-23-2013 at 12:00 AM ---------- Previous post was 10-22-2013 at 03:40 PM ----------

Geez I just realized I posted a reply about this same topic that started 4 years ago. I guess it's time to stop slacking and just do it already lol. I ordered the TSX-R 2.5 with spacers as per TRS recommendation. Hopefully I get these guys in before the dead of winter. Better late than never :)


Sent from my iPhone - now Free
 
My cutoff isnt terrible but it could stand to be better, the main thing I need to adjust is the height. My passenger headlight is lower than the driver, and its supposed to be the reverse of that.

Don't worry its i'm not blinding others, my passenger headlight needs to come up a little bit because it is aimed to low. My driver side headlight is at the perfect height.
 
So i installed the TSX-R clear lens w/ 1 paper spacer each. I've got mixed emotions about it, but it's mostly positive. With the clear lens installed it's absolutely clear. You can see the clean crisp cutoff w/ some blue-ish purple aberrations at the cut off. You can also see both side and top squirrel finders which seems to have it's own mix of colors as well. I unfortunately did not get any pics of the unit and installation since i was literally racing against time to get these puppies in my headlights. I definitely love the cutoff much more now, but im sure it'll only enhance the Osram CBI 66240 bulbs that will be lighting them up sometime this week. From a rate of 1 - 10 w/ 10 being the most difficult i'd rate this project a 6-7, but that's mostly because I didn't start till 3PM and finished around 8PM after sundown. BTW the bumper removal probably took as long as the headlight bake/lens swap. Pics & vids coming after I get the CBI's.
 
So what are the mixed emotions? I like the cutoff better as well, but the light spread seems to be more uneven if that makes sense. The foreground has more light, but there seem to be bright spots and low spots whereas before, it was more even. Maybe it's just me. But the sharp cutoff is pretty cool, I compared it to the cutoff on my 335 and it is so much sharper.
 
shadow191 said:
So what are the mixed emotions? I like the cutoff better as well, but the light spread seems to be more uneven if that makes sense. The foreground has more light, but there seem to be bright spots and low spots whereas before, it was more even. Maybe it's just me. But the sharp cutoff is pretty cool, I compared it to the cutoff on my 335 and it is so much sharper.
Click to expand...


Similar gripes. There's a cone shaped floor output that is more obvious with AFS with some hot spots . I still see yellow just below the step cutoff, but slight blue/ purple on top is a good trade off. I guess I'm hoping the CBIs will change this as I'm currently using Morimoto 5000k on this setup. I previously retrofitted ECE spec Audi RS6 projectors years ago and it had tons more color and still had just as sharp a cutoff as the TSX-R.
 
Looks like FX-R lenses are back for sale on TRS, so in this case, which one would work better for the 2nd gen projectors? TSX-R or FX-R?

soonster said:
From what I recalled when speaking to Nate at TSR years ago, I got info that the gen2 project lens is also 2.5 (gen1 oems lens are 2.6 last when I measured it), it "should" fit directly in theory but you can be the one who can confirm.

+1 in regards to FX-R, those are discontinued and TSX-R are the only replacements.
Click to expand...
 
Nope, if you read further more, they stated the following:

*Please note: we have replaced the FX-R clear lenses with our TSX-R lenses as of 8/2012*
 
You're right! Missed that hidden note lol. Question is, which lens fits the 2nd Gen headlights better?

Sent from my SGH-I747
 
As long as the lens on the 2nd Gen still 2.5", then both will fit. The real question is which will yield a better output and color. We all know the FX-R lens is the best clear lens for the 1st Gen projector. Even though TRS claims the TSX-R lens will yield the same, my personal find them not.
 
What I don't get is the reason for making tsx-r lenses if the fx-r lenses are the same in terms of size and focus. Why not keep the fxrs?

Sent from my SGH-I747
 
The TSX-R supposedly is compatible with more applications. And the lenses are slightly different, so maybe there are some cars the FX-R won't work with. You have to mod the projectors slightly with the TSX-R and remove part of the cutoff shield. At least on the first gen post recall projectors. From what TRS told me, the FX-R worked great with the pre-recall projectors but would need mods to work with post recall so there is a difference. They also told me that the FX-R was a really low seller and it took them forever to sell out.
 
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