BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
#1
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Well what more can i say. Im doing the BMW E36 Headlight conversion. As far as i know im the second one to do this. It took a lot thought and planing but it seems im on the right track. Right now i only got one side in and still working on
the other side. Wiring is almost done for the most part. had to modify the the factory head light wiring a little. Just so you know, i still need to cover up a lot of things. Make it look more factory. Pics tell a much better story
Joey J.
the other side. Wiring is almost done for the most part. had to modify the the factory head light wiring a little. Just so you know, i still need to cover up a lot of things. Make it look more factory. Pics tell a much better story
Joey J.
The following users liked this post:
dragracinshrink (11-28-2021)
#2
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
The pic's above were the US Style BMW lights. Here is some pics of fitting in the new EURO Head lights.
Last edited by Ramair21; 08-07-2009 at 01:26 AM.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: N. Virginia
Posts: 660
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1988 Firebird - 1998 Z28
Engine: 2.8 - LS1
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Thats pretty sweet. I was thinking of doing the same with headlights from an 87 Cadillac. (can't remember model at the moment..)
#5
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 5.0 TBI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.08
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Nice idea, and cool to see innovation, but I'm just not feeling them...
#6
Supreme Member
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Do you have any more pics of the conversion?
#7
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
I do but I'm away from my computer. Once I get home I will upload some. I'm going to be working on it some more this weekend. Going to try to get her done. I'm also going to try to install the angel eyes as well.
Trending Topics
#8
Supreme Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Osceola Indiana
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 92 RS(sold) 1989 IROC-Z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: ones that turn
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
wow those look like a near perfect fit
#9
Senior Member
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
LOVE IT. now there will be a bunch of people doing it. you would think somebody would start making more kits like these and other parts we all want.
#10
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
here is a pic of one side installed.
#11
Supreme Member
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Missouri
Posts: 614
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: Camaro RS
Engine: obd2 350 lt1
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
I like this idea the stock headlights are definently a downside and hard to make look good but you figured it out. nice job. but you know what i like even more. E36 m3's my second favorite car next to the thirdgen camaro of course
#14
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Augusta,GA
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1992 Z03 RS
Engine: (L03) 305TBI
Transmission: TH-700R4
Axle/Gears: bone stock
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
looks great. next project....new parking lights. it actually kinda gives it a 5th gen look
#15
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Aloha, Oregon
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes
on
6 Posts
Car: '91 Camaro Z28, '85 Camaro Z28
Engine: LB9, LB9
Transmission: T5, 700r4
Axle/Gears: Eaton 3.73 Posi, 3.23 Posi
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Bad *** man. That's awesome. I've always like the "idea" of a single headlight conversion but I've never seen one that looked right, until now. Great work!
#17
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
This Friday I'm going to get the angel eyes installed. I'll take a picture after it's all done.
#18
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Fox Lake, IL
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 camaro sports coupe
Engine: Fast Burn 385
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt w/ 3.27 gears
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
wow...just wow. Can't wait to see what it looks like with angel eyes! With the angel eyes, those would be the first headlight mods I'd seriously consider. Thats as close a fit to a stock headlight, with modern headlight components, that I've ever seen. Headlight mods not looking like factory equipment have been my biggest issue, but I must say that setup looks quite factory correct. Impressive work, if I do say so. I look forward to seeing how they look when your completly done. How complex has the wiring become to make those functional?
#21
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
wow...just wow. Can't wait to see what it looks like with angel eyes! With the angel eyes, those would be the first headlight mods I'd seriously consider. Thats as close a fit to a stock headlight, with modern headlight components, that I've ever seen. Headlight mods not looking like factory equipment have been my biggest issue, but I must say that setup looks quite factory correct. Impressive work, if I do say so. I look forward to seeing how they look when your completly done. How complex has the wiring become to make those functional?
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: O'Neill NE
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 83 Z28 Camaro
Engine: 305
Transmission: 5 Speed manual
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
it kinda does give it a 5th gen look it also makes it look meaner to me with the stock ones
#23
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Fox Lake, IL
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 camaro sports coupe
Engine: Fast Burn 385
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt w/ 3.27 gears
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
The wiring is not that bad at all. Very simple actually. I made my own harness with the BMW headlight connectors that i got from a junk yard. Used the the high and low beam coming out of the car to relays. I had to short the low beam switch cause when you turn on the high beam, the low lights would shut off. The BMW E36 light only use 2 wire instead of the thirdgen 3 wire plug.
#24
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Pretty slick. So the high beams are all four lights like they should be? Looking at the pictures closely, I still can't believe that headlight fits so well. Actually looks like where the lights "belong". If those angel eyes look as good as they do on BMW's, I might have another winter project to ad to the list. Especially if the wiring is simple, like you say. I've always admired the BMW headlights over any other lights. I'm eager to see what the car looks like with angel eyes. This already looks like a awesome mod, I'm thinking the eyes would take this mod over the top! If you would, please post more pics when your done.
The project over all is not hard. The only problem im having right now is making the hood even with the fender in the front. But i still need to do more shaving on the headlight and maybe on the hood
#25
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Fox Lake, IL
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 camaro sports coupe
Engine: Fast Burn 385
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt w/ 3.27 gears
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Not sure if i understand the first sentence but i will try to answer lol. I am able to get all 4 light on like they should be. When Im using low beams and click over to high beams the low beams stay on like they should.
The project over all is not hard. The only problem im having right now is making the hood even with the fender in the front. But i still need to do more shaving on the headlight and maybe on the hood
The project over all is not hard. The only problem im having right now is making the hood even with the fender in the front. But i still need to do more shaving on the headlight and maybe on the hood
#27
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Im about to work on the car right now. Just had the angel eyes installed on the headlights. OH MY GOSH!! Looks super sexy lol. Ill take a pic of the harness for you. not sure if they go by year. The headlights that im using are for a 92-99 BMW E36. Basically when you buy the EURO head lights from Ebay or a store, it comes with a harness to plug into your existing BMW connectors. So plug and play. All i had to do was fine the male ends to plug into the supplied connector
#30
Member
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Very nice, they look right at home. Got to see pics when you're all done and night pics also. Later.
#31
Supreme Member
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Alamogordo, NM
Posts: 3,740
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
9 Posts
Car: 88 Formula 350
Engine: 5.7
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 9" 3.89
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Can't wait to see the finished product joey. Looks sick. More and more people are going to start doing this now... Great work!
#32
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Update:
We got the driver side light in. Made some more notching of the radiator frame on both sides. Good news. The headlights sits a lot lower than before, so now the hood can go all the way down a sit even with the fender!! Hooked up the angel eyes to my parking lamps and WOW!!! ITS AMAZING!! I dont have pics right now but tomorrow i will for sure. Also i just got my headlight bulbs today so i will install them tomorrow
We got the driver side light in. Made some more notching of the radiator frame on both sides. Good news. The headlights sits a lot lower than before, so now the hood can go all the way down a sit even with the fender!! Hooked up the angel eyes to my parking lamps and WOW!!! ITS AMAZING!! I dont have pics right now but tomorrow i will for sure. Also i just got my headlight bulbs today so i will install them tomorrow
#33
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: jackson new jersey
Posts: 733
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1991 camaro vert
Engine: ls1 soon
Transmission: t56 soon
Axle/Gears: moser 12bolt 4.10 soon!
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
i really like this mod and im now planing on doing it after my move cross country.. i have a few questions for u tho. how did u get the idea to do this mod? how did u know that they would fit? i looked up the lights on ebay and they are going for around 250 bucks or a lil less. im ganna try and find one in a junk yard somewhere cause im not ganna pay that much for headlights. but the mod does look amazing i cant wait to see more pics of it. could u possibly get some during the day so that we can see how they light up both high and low beam and then at night the same with the angel eyes to.. cant wait to do mine!
#34
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
i really like this mod and im now planing on doing it after my move cross country.. i have a few questions for u tho. how did u get the idea to do this mod? how did u know that they would fit? i looked up the lights on ebay and they are going for around 250 bucks or a lil less. im ganna try and find one in a junk yard somewhere cause im not ganna pay that much for headlights. but the mod does look amazing i cant wait to see more pics of it. could u possibly get some during the day so that we can see how they light up both high and low beam and then at night the same with the angel eyes to.. cant wait to do mine!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E...Q5fAccessories
you need to get the EURO type headlights in order to use angel eyes. US version suck man! this is not an cheap mod. This is going to put you back a little. Maybe 300 or so
#36
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Fox Lake, IL
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 camaro sports coupe
Engine: Fast Burn 385
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt w/ 3.27 gears
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Update:
We got the driver side light in. Made some more notching of the radiator frame on both sides. Good news. The headlights sits a lot lower than before, so now the hood can go all the way down a sit even with the fender!! Hooked up the angel eyes to my parking lamps and WOW!!! ITS AMAZING!! I dont have pics right now but tomorrow i will for sure. Also i just got my headlight bulbs today so i will install them tomorrow
We got the driver side light in. Made some more notching of the radiator frame on both sides. Good news. The headlights sits a lot lower than before, so now the hood can go all the way down a sit even with the fender!! Hooked up the angel eyes to my parking lamps and WOW!!! ITS AMAZING!! I dont have pics right now but tomorrow i will for sure. Also i just got my headlight bulbs today so i will install them tomorrow
What more did you have to cut off the radiator support? You didn't have to cut more off the top of the frame, did you?
#37
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: jackson new jersey
Posts: 733
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1991 camaro vert
Engine: ls1 soon
Transmission: t56 soon
Axle/Gears: moser 12bolt 4.10 soon!
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
hell yea man im ganna add that to my 14 page list of stuff i wanna do to my car lol
#39
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Some pics of the the install
#40
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Headlights installed!!
#44
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Aloha, Oregon
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes
on
6 Posts
Car: '91 Camaro Z28, '85 Camaro Z28
Engine: LB9, LB9
Transmission: T5, 700r4
Axle/Gears: Eaton 3.73 Posi, 3.23 Posi
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Absolutely amazing. I hate to copy people but this is getting put on the future mod list for sure. Those headlights look like they belong on the car more than the stock ones do!
#45
Supreme Member
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Awesome job!
#46
Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Mount Pleasant Michigan
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 87 Camaro IROC, 85 IROC Roadste
Engine: 5.7 V8 350 TPI, 383 - Coming Soon
Transmission: 700R4, Turbo 350
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Those look awesome! Nice mod! Yea could be a future mod for my car if I get time to. Good job!
#47
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Fox Lake, IL
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 1988 camaro sports coupe
Engine: Fast Burn 385
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt w/ 3.27 gears
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Nicely done, looks like a factory conversion! On the last pic of your recent install pics, the very back of the headlight housing looks as if a tiny bit of it tucks below the radiator support. (At least it kinda looks like it is) You said that you'd got the headlight to sit a lot lower and I was wondering if it was actually lower than you had thougt and maybe you didn't need to cut the top of the radiator support. Could just be my eyes playing tricks on me. Either way, thats by far the best looking headlight conversion I've seen. The angel eyes look incredible! I'm gonna have to steal your idea before my car hits the road next spring for sure. Nice work man, very impresive. The headlights themselves look pretty bright in the picture. How much brighter are they then the stock headlights? Cool dog in the one pic. Kinda looks like a ewok. ha
Last edited by cavazos31; 08-17-2009 at 09:13 AM.
#48
Supreme Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: stockton, CA
Posts: 2,233
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: Camaro RS/SS
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: 4L60E Transgo shift kit, 3500 stall
Axle/Gears: 4th Gen Rear 3:42
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Nicely done, looks like a factory conversion! On the last pic of your recent install pics, the very back of the headlight housing looks as if a tiny bit of it tucks below the radiator support. (At least it kinda looks like it is) You said that you'd got the headlight to sit a lot lower and I was wondering if it was actually lower than you had thougt and maybe you didn't need to cut the top of the radiator support. Could just be my eyes playing tricks on me. Either way, thats by far the best looking headlight conversion I've seen. The angel eyes look incredible! I'm gonna have to steal your idea before my car hits the road next spring for sure. Nice work man, very impresive. The headlights themselves look pretty bright in the picture. How much brighter are they then the stock headlights? Cool dog in the one pic. Kinda looks like a ewok. ha
Thanks for the nice comments. I was really afraid that no one would like it. But seems like everyone is going to start to do it so that must be a good sign. im going to try to find a fab shop do they can cover up the headlight under the hood.
#49
Member
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Ramair, that is very clean work. when doing any kind of mod it's always important to not remove any more metal than what's needed and you've accomplished that (lot's of measuring right), yeah just a little sheet metal work to cover the tops and you're set. Those really look exceptional dude, if you hear any negative on this it's because they're blind. Later.