My E36 headlight conversion
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My E36 headlight conversion
I decided to have a go at the bmw headlight conversion and found it to be pretty easy. About $120 parts and 10 hours of work. Have a look:
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Looks good man. Not a fan of the blue lights on the red car, but looks well put together. Props
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Just curious whats the difference between these and the sets that need all the cutting to the headlight bar and stuff? Hows the lighting at night? They look good as said, but i'd def get some clear instead of that blue.
good job!
good job!
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
The lights are just 9006 and 9005, but the visibility at night is WAY better than the stock, square, sealed lights. The blue is a little too bright at night I'm going to try to dim them to make it more subtle. But they look better than stock with the blue off too.
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
looks awesome
have always liked this mod, but not a big fan of the hackin up part.
This seems like a good alternative. so were the parts a ebay sortta deal?
you got a close up pic of the installed light? just wondering about gaps/fit.
have always liked this mod, but not a big fan of the hackin up part.
This seems like a good alternative. so were the parts a ebay sortta deal?
you got a close up pic of the installed light? just wondering about gaps/fit.
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Would like to know these things too, id rather go this route then cutting up the front. My styles change all the time so id like to be able to revert back.
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
I wish I had taken more pictures during assembly but here's some that might help:
These are, very roughly, the holes I drilled for mounting. I just used the preexisting big ones on the bottom.
and here's a picture of one of the crappy mock up lights I used installed (not prefect in this picture)
Last edited by Banks4004; 05-22-2012 at 10:03 PM.
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Nope, just have to get the right plugs for the 9006 and 9005 bulbs and splice them into the stock connectors. I got those at advance auto parts. The halo lights just need to be wired to a switch or however you want them to come on. Other than that its all straight forward and all 12v lights.
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Nope, just have to get the right plugs for the 9006 and 9005 bulbs and splice them into the stock connectors. I got those at advance auto parts. The halo lights just need to be wired to a switch or however you want them to come on. Other than that its all straight forward and all 12v lights.
Nice find & install, Sorry I forgot to say that earlier!!
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Sweet mod man looks wicked. I wonder if anyone has done anything like this on a firebird
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
what did you use exactly. I like this. I can't really stand the double lights probably cause I'm to young to have real taste. haha
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Looks like you did a good job, but I don't like it. They look good on an E36.
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Im doing this to my car, and im wondering how do you aim the lights? And did you take the light bar out of the car or did you do it in the car?
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
I found them on craigslist, but there are a lot on ebay for not too much.
Aiming them is kind of tricky, it basically involves loosening all of mounting bolts and adding shims where its needed. And I did not have to take out the light bar, its completely doable while it is in the car and probably much less work than removing the whole bar.
Aiming them is kind of tricky, it basically involves loosening all of mounting bolts and adding shims where its needed. And I did not have to take out the light bar, its completely doable while it is in the car and probably much less work than removing the whole bar.
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Yeah i realize this now that im finished, i definitley couldve done it in the car. Oh well. They look great though, trying to figure out the retarded wiring now haha. Thanks alot for all the info. Very nice job, ill post pics of mine soon
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Oh and anyone asking about where they bought the lights, i got mine from a local junkyard, $60. Sanded and buffed em, look brand new.
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
UPDATE: Blue lights are illegal (learned the hard way) so check local laws... white is legal at least where I live
white may be more tasteful anyhow
white may be more tasteful anyhow
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Do you have a top view of the headlights and how do you keep them in place? Thanks
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Also how did you wire them up too as Im looking for how its done
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
theres a top view and explanation in the first few posts. To wire them just get the 900x pig tails and splice them into the stock light plugs. outer are low beams inner are high beams
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
how do i know which headlight assembly to buy so i dont have to cut into the radiator support?
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
buy the American ones. they are smaller. like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/92-99-BMW-E3...422d37&vxp=mtr
not like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/DEPO-FREE-SH...8065ae&vxp=mtr
which pretty much means your restricted to 9006 instead of hid projector stuff
not like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/DEPO-FREE-SH...8065ae&vxp=mtr
which pretty much means your restricted to 9006 instead of hid projector stuff
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
buy the American ones. they are smaller. like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/92-99-BMW-E3...422d37&vxp=mtr
not like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/DEPO-FREE-SH...8065ae&vxp=mtr
which pretty much means your restricted to 9006 instead of hid projector stuff
not like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/DEPO-FREE-SH...8065ae&vxp=mtr
which pretty much means your restricted to 9006 instead of hid projector stuff
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
I cant tell without seeing the back but I'm guessing they would require more modification than I did because they are projectors. You could add the angel eyes to some American style ones like I did for way less money.
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
I mean, not that bad. there's a lot of info in the first few posts of this thread
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Not bad you just gotta be patient with the dremel to cut the plastic. BUT YOU DONT HAVE TO CUT THE WHOLE CLEAR PART OFF like I did. You can sneak them in by only cutting the top horizontal piece off and dropping them in from the top. It is not hard at all if your patient and carefully glue them in place.
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
What brand of halos did you use & what type of glue? Are the lenses glued on? Would putting them in the oven for a bit help lens removal? Sorry for all the questions
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
I used CCFL halos I found on ebay they are all probably about the same. But if you get white get LED ones and if you get a color get CCFL. The LED white is way brighter cuz it has like 50 leds, and led color halos only have 2 leds and are super dim. I used 2 part clear apoxy for gluing the halos to the inner glass circle lens. I don't recommend baking them I've heard it rarely ever works. I do recommend cutting just the top out. I cut a piece of plastic the size of the top hole and cemented it in place with non hardening gasket sealer for easy access if I need to fix them or if the lens fogs up. When the hood is down you cant even see the top
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Iended up with the depot ones so if I wanaa use them im cutting the support. Oh well I got them so I might as well use them.
#46
Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Hows it going my friend I just ordered some headlights to do this mod on my 86 z28 off ebay could u tell me if these will work
BMW E36 318 320 323 325 328 M3 3 Series 92-99 Head Lamp Angel Eye Headlights
390552197734
Item number:
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
im really hoping this will work seeing that ive already ordered them, thanks for any help
BMW E36 318 320 323 325 328 M3 3 Series 92-99 Head Lamp Angel Eye Headlights
390552197734
Item number:
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
im really hoping this will work seeing that ive already ordered them, thanks for any help
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
Those look like the right style, I've seen those types of angel eyes before, they are a little different looking than others. I think they are the smaller size. Once you unscrew them from the big adjustment bracket. But you will see what I mean when you get them.
#49
Re: My E36 headlight conversion
could u give me the link on ebay for the white led halo lights. i got my bmw lights in but the halo is not that bright.thank you my friend. oh by the way the conversion is going real smooth im only having to cut a little from the old housing.
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Re: My E36 headlight conversion
i got something like this. they are cheap and pretty bright. just not super visible during the bright day, but in shadows cloudy days and night they are extremely bright.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-White-CC...item4d0600b43f
ive never used them but I would get something like this if you want to spend the extra money and get one without a testimony:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E38-E39-...4a7bf9&vxp=mtr
or this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Angel-Ey...7f1822&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-White-CC...item4d0600b43f
ive never used them but I would get something like this if you want to spend the extra money and get one without a testimony:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-E38-E39-...4a7bf9&vxp=mtr
or this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Angel-Ey...7f1822&vxp=mtr