BMW E36 Headlight Conversion

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Jun 7, 2010 | 06:53 PM
  #201  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
quick question did any of you who did the swap look at the E38 (95-98 740-Il) headlights ? they look smaller (bumper to hood) and wider.
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Jun 7, 2010 | 07:16 PM
  #202  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: Car looks great! Check out this vid i was in. This shows off the lights from a direction i never seen before. It looks pretty Awesome! Fast forward to 2:20 into the vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD4RsxEZ6CU
DROOL -I really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really want to do this mod....
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Jun 27, 2010 | 11:38 PM
  #203  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
sick, hope I can muster the courage to do this!
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Jul 10, 2010 | 11:59 PM
  #204  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
This has just been added to my list of additions during my build.
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Aug 7, 2010 | 03:21 AM
  #205  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: This has just been added to my list of additions during my build.
same here
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Sep 16, 2010 | 01:23 AM
  #206  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Someone make a write up already!!!
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Oct 11, 2010 | 01:31 PM
  #207  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Any more info on the E 38 lights
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Oct 12, 2010 | 08:04 AM
  #208  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: no, i said that i didnt have the HIDs. Thats a later project in itself lol
We switched my girls Mustang over to a projector style with halos that were NOT HID. She hated them. Said she could not see at night nearly as well as the stock lights... When faced with the HID conversion she decided to go with a mild smoked factory style instead. Me I would have done the conversion

But in your case you say the NON HID version is preforming better then stock?
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Oct 13, 2010 | 08:41 PM
  #209  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: We switched my girls Mustang over to a projector style with halos that were NOT HID. She hated them. Said she could not see at night nearly as well as the stock lights... When faced with the HID conversion she decided to go with a mild smoked factory style instead. Me I would have done the conversion

But in your case you say the NON HID version is preforming better then stock?
way better than the stock 3rdgen lights.
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Oct 20, 2010 | 03:11 PM
  #210  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
i just got my headlights in but i am not to good with wiring. could some please help. not sure how to wire them up . i got the ones from ddmtuning with the 55w hid and angel eyes. an help would be much apprecited.
thanks
bruce
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Nov 13, 2010 | 05:31 PM
  #211  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
someone could make a cardboard template of what they had to cut out to post up on here for everyone. just an idea, i still love this mod, maybe one day
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Nov 13, 2010 | 05:51 PM
  #212  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...em=#vi-content

check these out for those interested, pretty cheap and look sweet
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Nov 17, 2010 | 03:55 PM
  #213  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Honestly, i am wondering if it saves weight as well. But, i just dont get how you would adjust the beams though.
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Nov 18, 2010 | 06:14 PM
  #214  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
i say it doesnt save any weight but adds weight. i still havent installed mine but just from holding them they are pretty heavy very well made.
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Nov 21, 2010 | 09:27 PM
  #215  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...em=#vi-content

check these out for those interested, pretty cheap and look sweet
I think these are the ones he used (Euro style):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...73567535270425
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Nov 21, 2010 | 11:40 PM
  #216  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: I think these are the ones he used (Euro style):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...73567535270425
yes sir
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Nov 23, 2010 | 08:25 AM
  #217  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
i got pics earlier in the thread but here's some new ones. drool rags ready...

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Nov 23, 2010 | 01:17 PM
  #218  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
That looks VERY nice!!! I'll probably do this mod when I get another Camaro. No point in doing it to the one I have now since I'm trying to sell it and all the parts for it.
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Nov 23, 2010 | 05:01 PM
  #219  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
i think it would be an interesting project. did anyone get measurements of the lights themselves?
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Nov 27, 2010 | 01:00 AM
  #220  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
I just read through all the pages, looked at all the pics and now need to replace my keyboard due to drool damage. This mod WILL happen to my 86' IROC!
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Dec 4, 2010 | 08:52 PM
  #221  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Does anyone know if the projectors/halos from DEPO GEN5 BMW E36 PROJECTOR ANGEL EYES HEADLIGHTS can be disassembled and stuffed individually into stock thirdgen 4x6 housings?

Or are the projectors/halos too big to fit?

BMW E36 Headlight Conversion-e36.jpg  

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Dec 4, 2010 | 09:23 PM
  #222  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
jim85IROC brought some of these lights and took them apart to see if he could make them work without cutting up his car .so he would know what the insides look like . i think he desided not to do them but mabe he might know if they might fit in a 4x6 housing .
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Dec 4, 2010 | 09:33 PM
  #223  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: i got pics earlier in the thread but here's some new ones. drool rags ready...







I'd REALLY like to see some shots of the headlights from above, to see how they flow with the lines of the bumper cover. PLEASE.
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Dec 4, 2010 | 09:35 PM
  #224  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
On a side note: It would seem that with the INSANE popularity that this mod has, a company would/could take note and actually produce what we want that fits w/o hacking the car up and a product that fits the headlight opening perfectly... We need a more or less direct bolt on product for this application.

COME ONE SOMEONE!
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Dec 4, 2010 | 09:48 PM
  #225  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
jim85IROC - pm sent
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Dec 8, 2010 | 03:26 PM
  #226  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Does anyone know if the projectors/halos from DEPO BMW E36 lights can be disassembled into 4 separate lights and stuffed "individually" into stock thirdgen 4x6 housings?

Or are the projectors/halos too big to fit?

Is there anyway that anyone who has these lights could measure the low beam projector/halo diameter for me? and also the high beam if it's not the same size..

I need the this info before I spend a bunch of money for nothing!

Thanks!
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Dec 8, 2010 | 04:24 PM
  #227  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
You could just buy the 4x6 halo housings... Be easier and cheaper
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Dec 8, 2010 | 05:06 PM
  #228  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
I don't really care for the square halo thirdgen housings, IMO.

I'm trying to see if I can dissect the projectors/halo's from the e36 housing and fit them individually into the aftermarket thirdgen 4x6 housings (with major modification required I'm sure), but if the e36 halo's are bigger than 4.5 inches, then I may have to go another route.
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Dec 8, 2010 | 05:51 PM
  #229  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Yea I know what you ment... They make the round ones... A member on here has them 841le is the name I think
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Dec 8, 2010 | 06:14 PM
  #230  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
i just went out side and measured the halos. i didnt take the glass but held the ruler in front and the halo looks to be 4.5 to the outside edges. is that what you were looking for. if not let me know mine are still in the box so measureing will be easy for me.
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Dec 8, 2010 | 07:33 PM
  #231  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
usacamaro - do you have the same lights as ramair21 ??
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Dec 8, 2010 | 07:51 PM
  #232  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
guess ill look it up for you

non square halos...in 4x6 housings, can be found on ebay i think

if he made those all he did was take the regular housings you buy on ebay and add in halos which will accomplish the same thing you are trying to do with less work and money then buying a 200 dollar set of bmw lights to tear apart

BMW E36 Headlight Conversion-halos.jpg  

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Dec 8, 2010 | 07:59 PM
  #233  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: Yea I know what you ment... They make the round ones... A member on here has them 841le is the name I think
IIRC, his are LED strips wrapped into circles to create the halos.
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Dec 8, 2010 | 09:41 PM
  #234  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Stephen is correct.

Also, 84-1LE did ALOT more work than you have suggested to make his lights, I read his thread on his lights that he had posted a while back.

I really like the look of the BMW projectors / halo's, but I'm not willing to cut my light bar and/or core support. Therefor, I'm going to have to stick to 4 single factory sized housings.

Hence, needing the measurements of the halo's in the Euro style E36 housings that ramair21 used (these are the one's I'll most likely use for the parts).
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Dec 9, 2010 | 08:23 PM
  #235  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
hey 1bad91z i have the smae lights ramair used. this is a pic of them just sitting on the bumper,
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Dec 9, 2010 | 08:50 PM
  #236  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: hey 1bad91z i have the smae lights ramair used. this is a pic of them just sitting on the bumper,
GET EM INSTALLED ALREADY!!
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Dec 9, 2010 | 09:45 PM
  #237  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: hey 1bad91z i have the smae lights ramair used. this is a pic of them just sitting on the bumper,
Fix the damn hood first.....lol
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Dec 9, 2010 | 10:33 PM
  #238  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Perfect!!

usacamaro - would you mind unclamping the front glass lens and taking a picture of the Halo from bottom to top with the tape measure in front of it?

I'm not too concerned with the width, just the total height of the projector and halo.

Also, when you have the lens off, can you see if the projector/halo and high beam lamp is glued in or bolted in, etc....?

The more info I have about it's original assembly, is the easier I will be able to extract all the parts needed from that housing....

Thanks!
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Dec 9, 2010 | 11:24 PM
  #239  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: IIRC, his are LED strips wrapped into circles to create the halos.
Thought i felt my ears burning!.Actually mine are not strips.Just BMW halos cut down.

Quote: Perfect!!

usacamaro - would you mind unclamping the front glass lens and taking a picture of the Halo from bottom to top with the tape measure in front of it?

I'm not too concerned with the width, just the total height of the projector and halo.

Also, when you have the lens off, can you see if the projector/halo and high beam lamp is glued in or bolted in, etc....?

The more info I have about it's original assembly, is the easier I will be able to extract all the parts needed from that housing....

Thanks!
The halos i have are basically the same thing.They are made for those BMW lights.You'ld have to do the same work roughly to fit them into the 4x6s.Height is 4.5-5 inches, they clip/clamp on.
They look like this.
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Dec 10, 2010 | 01:58 AM
  #240  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: hey 1bad91z i have the smae lights ramair used. this is a pic of them just sitting on the bumper,
Quote: Fix the damn hood first.....lol

how did that dent end up there like that with out hurting the bumper?? and whats up with the stripes captian america lol.. jk keep us up to date on the lights tho oh and to those that are researching this mod i believe the orignal poster is made a new thread to try and produce a plug and play harness for these lights since its so popular
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Dec 11, 2010 | 12:56 PM
  #241  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
the hood is fixed amd modified now been busy working on the hood new rear end and trying to convert over to 5 spd so head lights been on hold. i will soon be installing the headlights within the next two weeks so hopefully have them done for christmas.
and 1bad91z i will take the cover off and take some pics of the lights and post them up later tonight.
heres a pic of hood fixed i know it doesnt have the lights in yet but i like the hood much better now. and the stripes are the red white and blue them on the car {usacamaro}
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Dec 11, 2010 | 01:30 PM
  #242  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
i just went outside to take the pics of the halos and it looks like they sealed the glass on to the housing . so i couldnt take the glass off to get the ruler right next to the halo. but i took a pic with the ruler on the outside of the glass hope this helps .
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Dec 11, 2010 | 02:00 PM
  #243  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: the hood is fixed amd modified now been busy working on the hood new rear end and trying to convert over to 5 spd so head lights been on hold. i will soon be installing the headlights within the next two weeks so hopefully have them done for christmas.
and 1bad91z i will take the cover off and take some pics of the lights and post them up later tonight.
heres a pic of hood fixed i know it doesnt have the lights in yet but i like the hood much better now. and the stripes are the red white and blue them on the car {usacamaro}
LOVE THOSE STARTS...hopefully it will be an OLD GLORY paintjob ??!!!!
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Dec 11, 2010 | 03:50 PM
  #244  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Quote: i just went outside to take the pics of the halos and it looks like they sealed the glass on to the housing . so i couldnt take the glass off to get the ruler right next to the halo. but i took a pic with the ruler on the outside of the glass hope this helps .

Where did you buy them again? I always like to take note of where ppl got theirs and compare them with how they look installed - As much as this mod doesn't fit the openings perfectly, I am seeing them more and more and really do like them.
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Dec 11, 2010 | 07:25 PM
  #245  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
http://ddmtuning.com/product.php?II=135&parent=0
this is the ones i got . i added the ccfl halos for 75$ and upgraded to the raptor 55w hid for 10$ and went with the 6000k bulb color. this will cost 184 right now on their site. they have them on sale right now i think i paid 215. it seems like they are very well made. i hooked them up and the headlights are very bright but i think the halos should be briter.
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Dec 11, 2010 | 07:27 PM
  #246  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Thanks for the reply!

I do have a couple more questions though...

1st - what are those holes in the high beam for (the one's circled in yellow in the pic) see pic attached....

2nd - what are the top two clamps for? I thought that's how the glass unclamped from the housing?

BMW E36 Headlight Conversion-halo.jpg  

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Dec 12, 2010 | 02:02 PM
  #247  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
there is actually 4 clamps two on top and two on bottom . i took the clamps off but it seems like they also sealed the glass to the housing i guess so no water gets in the lights. and the two circles are not holes but little dimples in the chrome housing dont know what for but they are there . i got some pics of them .
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Dec 14, 2010 | 01:36 PM
  #248  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Jim85iroc said that the glass front unclamps and is removable which exposes the front of the projectors. Is this true or is there no way at all to remove the front glass?
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Dec 14, 2010 | 05:57 PM
  #249  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
this is true the clamps do hold on the front glass but the ones i got also has the front glass sealed with something like silocone to prevent water from getting in. i havent had these out the box much but for a couple pics so i dont want to cut the silocone just to remove the glass sorry. if i had to change the halos i would have to remove the glass but i cant find the red halos right now . when i find the red halos and go to install them i will take pics then .
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Dec 14, 2010 | 10:31 PM
  #250  
Re: BMW E36 Headlight Conversion
Use a heat gun or put them in a 300* oven, for about 3 or 4 mins.
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