• Board index ‹ BMW E36 ‹ Exterior Styling
  • Change font size
  • Print view
  • Board RSS • FAQ • Search • Register • Login




It is currently Wed May 14, 2025 12:45 am



Need some advice on headlights please...

Any topics about exterior styling
Post a reply
19 posts • Page 2 of 2 • 1, 2
WeLink Del.icio.us Digg FURL FaceBook Stumble Upon Reddit Google Bookmarks Squidoo Technorati Yahoo My Web

Re: Need some advice on headlights please...

Postby Smidy316i on Sun Jul 17, 2011 2:07 am

[quote="davsurfa"]Left

[img]http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh126/daventrysurfer/DSC_0718.jpg[/img]

Right

[img]http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh126/daventrysurfer/DSC_0717.jpg[/img]

And front

[img]http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh126/daventrysurfer/DSC_0719.jpg[/img]


Hey davesurfa, i was contemplating installing hid lights on my 316i. I have heard that they have different wiring compared to other models, did you have any issues with installation?
User avatar
Smidy316i
Rookie
Rookie
 
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 1:56 am
Cars: e36 316i compact
Top

Re: Need some advice on headlights please...

Postby davsurfa on Sun Jul 17, 2011 10:59 am

I've only ever fitted hids to my car but to be honest i was amazed at how easy and quick it was to do! Do you want pics of the wiring on the back? It'll take about 2 minutes to pull the headlamp and then post them up if it'll help.
User avatar
davsurfa
Advanced
Advanced
 
Posts: 47
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:54 pm
Cars: E36 316i, Hyundai Coupe 2.0l
Top

Re: Need some advice on headlights please...

Postby Smidy316i on Sun Jul 17, 2011 12:45 pm

[quote="davsurfa"]I've only ever fitted hids to my car but to be honest i was amazed at how easy and quick it was to do! Do you want pics of the wiring on the back? It'll take about 2 minutes to pull the headlamp and then post them up if it'll help.



Just wondering weather you had to change the plug or any of the existing wiring? i'd like to do them myself as I've had some pretty expensive quotes to get them install by a shop. Were your lights specific to the 316i ? Cheers,
User avatar
Smidy316i
Rookie
Rookie
 
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 1:56 am
Cars: e36 316i compact
Top

Re: Need some advice on headlights please...

Postby davsurfa on Sun Jul 17, 2011 12:55 pm

Nope I just bought a set of H1 HiDs with ballasts off ebay.

I had to pull my driverside headlamp earlier to clear some condensation out of the lense so I took a load of pics to do a write up. I'll crack on and get it done.
Fitting them only took 20 minutes and was easier than doing the angel eyes. If you can change a headlight bulb then really don't even think about getting it done for you it would be a total waste of money.
Just gonna eat some chow then I'll get the write up done :)
User avatar
davsurfa
Advanced
Advanced
 
Posts: 47
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:54 pm
Cars: E36 316i, Hyundai Coupe 2.0l
Top

Re: Need some advice on headlights please...

Postby davsurfa on Sun Jul 17, 2011 5:45 pm

This is the rear of the headlamp

[img]http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh126/daventrysurfer/2011-07-17123032.jpg[/img]

Drop the headlight out, fit the HiD bulb as you would a normal one. Cut a hole in the cover that sits over the back of the bulb. The HiD bulb is longer, poke the two feeds from the ballast pack through the hole, there are 3 wires with 3 plugs, rocket science this bit ain't. Put your light back in the car and attach the two original plugs back on to the back off the headlight. Job done :)

It's advisable to fit "shrouds" to focus the light beam. Mine I made from a sheet of carbon fibre that I had laying around.

[img]http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh126/daventrysurfer/2011-07-17123203.jpg[/img]

Other shrouds I've seen are made from aluminium(painted black), black plastic.... You can buy shrouds online on places like ebay, bimmerland.
User avatar
davsurfa
Advanced
Advanced
 
Posts: 47
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:54 pm
Cars: E36 316i, Hyundai Coupe 2.0l
Top

Re: Need some advice on headlights please...

Postby Smidy316i on Tue Jul 19, 2011 6:50 am

righto cheers for the info dav ill give that ago and see how she ends up
User avatar
Smidy316i
Rookie
Rookie
 
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Jul 17, 2011 1:56 am
Cars: e36 316i compact
Top

Re: Need some advice on headlights please...

Postby Cherry100 on Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:32 pm

they're gorgeous... think i might have to give this a go myself, rather than sod about with the wrong plugs- maybe just rip the plugs off and wire it all in properly... hmm... decisions, decisions.

is that a carbon backing you've got behind the high beam? what did you sue so it wouldn't melt? lol :)
User avatar
Cherry100
Rookie
Rookie
 
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:18 pm
Cars: E36 318, Astra Cab, Metro ;)
Top

Re: Need some advice on headlights please...

Postby davsurfa on Wed Nov 02, 2011 6:52 pm

Yes it's real carbon and there is next to no chance of it melting as it's 5mm thick.
User avatar
davsurfa
Advanced
Advanced
 
Posts: 47
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:54 pm
Cars: E36 316i, Hyundai Coupe 2.0l
Top

Re: Need some advice on headlights please...

Postby Cherry100 on Thu Nov 03, 2011 4:13 pm

nice :D
User avatar
Cherry100
Rookie
Rookie
 
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2011 4:18 pm
Cars: E36 318, Astra Cab, Metro ;)
Top

Previous

Post a reply
19 posts • Page 2 of 2 • 1, 2

Return to Exterior Styling

Who is online

Registered users: No registered users

  • Board index
  • The team • Delete all board cookies • All times are UTC
© 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group