M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Exterior => Topic started by: denious on February 15, 2007, 09:24:36 PM

Title: New headlights
Post by: denious on February 15, 2007, 09:24:36 PM

So 2 of my 4 headlights don't work anymore and as I don't feel like buying sealed ones anymore, I remembered someone talking about American smiley type lights? Were those sealed, and if no, on what models & what year did they come? I hope there're some in Canada...

Title: New headlights
Post by: FL318is on February 16, 2007, 07:39:54 AM

Why don't they work?

Title: New headlights
Post by: doucy2 on February 16, 2007, 08:02:45 AM

Just get some US elips look really good on the m42s and pretty easy to wire up. Just a little cutitng soddering and tapingto do. There is a lot of info about it on here.

A used set can be normally obtained for 130-160 shipped. Or you could look in a junk yard and probally pick them up for under $50. Wherever you get them make sure you have the connectors.

Title: New headlights
Post by: Febi Guibo on February 16, 2007, 09:05:15 AM

US ellips should be around $100; they are pretty decent with 9011/9012 HIR bulbs, or a set of ebay HIDs... just *aim* them and you'll see a big improvement over the sealed beam lamps.

Try ebay, posting a WTB on the bigger E30 boards, or try joel at http://theeurodepot.com

Title: New headlights
Post by: jajou318 on February 16, 2007, 09:29:28 AM

Wait Sam, I thought US ellipsoids used 9005/9006 bulbs??

US Ellipsoids
(http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2841/usellips21wj9.jpg)

These will improve your light output in contrast to your sealed beams. You can go one step above this and get Euro Ellipsoids these have the 'smiley' right under the ellipsoid part which helps project the light.

Title: New headlights
Post by: Alpine003 on February 16, 2007, 10:04:13 AM

IMO, unless you can get US Ellipsoids for cheap, I would rather shell out the extra bucks and get some used Euro Ellipsoids off Ebay. Definitely worth the extra light output.

Trick is to look at German and England Ebay as they have some cheap ones all the time. Shipping can be a pretty penny but the overall cost can still be less.

Of course if you don't mind spending $, you can get new ones at Abraham Motorsports.

Title: New headlights
Post by: denious on February 18, 2007, 06:15:52 PM

Awesome thanks for the info guys! And the lights don't work because, well, sometimes the bulbs burn out I suppose. :)

Title: New headlights
Post by: FL318is on February 18, 2007, 06:40:48 PM

I have brand new 9005 and 9006 plug adapters.  Yours for 20 bucks if you need them.  I paid 54.

Title: New headlights
Post by: Febi Guibo on February 18, 2007, 10:02:57 PM

ahhh, 9011/9012 are a nearly perfect (after some dremel love) replacement for the 9005/9006 lamps. They really are incredibly bright...

Title: New headlights
Post by: gearheadE30 on March 15, 2007, 06:15:59 AM

Any idea how Hella H1/H4's compare to ellipsoids? They seem to be consistently cheaper and iirc they don't need any special connectors.

Title: New headlights
Post by: sheepdog on March 15, 2007, 10:16:44 AM

Quote from: gearheadE30;21341

Any idea how Hella H1/H4's compare to ellipsoids? They seem to be consistently cheaper and iirc they don't need any special connectors.

Not sure how they compare but with decent bulbs will compete with any new car on the road. Mine do.

With all 4 lights on in high beam, it is like daylight. Another advantage over sealed beams... You get 4 lights for high.

Title: New headlights
Post by: kowalski on March 15, 2007, 11:34:49 AM

I'm in Austria right now so anyone who wants smiliey's shoot me a pm.