Banks4004

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:

HiPerf_Chevyman

HOW WHAT WHEN WHERE can i get that?

HiPerf_Chevyman

nevermind i did some research. haha. Looks wicked nice man!!

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Looks good man. Not a fan of the blue lights on the red car, but looks well put together. Props

puma1552

iTrader: (1)

Worst thirdgen mod.

Banks4004

haha thanks man you should try it

KonArtist

iTrader: (1)

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!

Banks4004

Thanks! I bought the US version just for that reason, the euro, projector, and HID lights are bigger and need more cutting. BUT they can be opened to insert the halo lights. The US ones are smaller but sealed so I had to cut the front lens off to glue the halos on and glued the lens back in place. I prefer that because they fit into the stock headlight bar and if I wanted to go back to stock headlights I can anytime.

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.

LivinLarge

I also do not like that blue halos on a red car. Im kind of on the fence about those head lights. Don't know if I like them or not..

usacamaro

best 3rd gen mod

sid rs91

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.

KonArtist

iTrader: (1)

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.

Banks4004

Yea I got the lights on craigslist but there are loads on ebay too. I got the halo kit on amazon but again there are some on ebay. The only things I had to do were first cut a very small amount out of the bottom of the headlight recess so the new light can fit down in there, cutting one of the tabs on each side that act as mounts for the whole plastic front. (the stock lights can go back in and it would look the same) and second I had to drill 4 holes in the headlight bar (again they don't interfere with stock light mounting.

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)

t-top havoc

iTrader: (3)

Did you have to do wire up-grades // ballasts // resistors etc?

Banks4004

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.

t-top havoc

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the speeedy reply!

Nice find & install, Sorry I forgot to say that earlier!!

89blackbird89

Sweet mod man looks wicked. I wonder if anyone has done anything like this on a firebird

Ramair21

iTrader: (3)

Good Job dude!

Ruckusz28

iTrader: (3)

Good work!

Personally, I prefer them stock over this mod. Good write up though!

bronzeken

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

2007xl50

Looks like you did a good job, but I don't like it. They look good on an E36.

dans89

Where did you buy the lights?

SabresFan716

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?

84 1LE

iTrader: (9)

Much cleaner install than previous bmw jobs, but i still would'nt switch.Good work though.

Banks4004

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.

SabresFan716

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

SabresFan716

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.

Banks4004

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

6SIX6

iTrader: (35)

Do you have a top view of the headlights and how do you keep them in place? Thanks

6SIX6

iTrader: (35)

Also how did you wire them up too as Im looking for how its done

Banks4004

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

3rdgenkiller

iTrader: (1)

looks good!

69boss429man

how do i know which headlight assembly to buy so i dont have to cut into the radiator support?

Banks4004

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

69boss429man

could these work since these have the angle eyes

Banks4004

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.

69boss429man

how hard is it?

Banks4004

I mean, not that bad. there's a lot of info in the first few posts of this thread

69boss429man

alright ill take a long look haha, i just dont want to mess it up

Banks4004

Feel free to pm me if u have specific questions

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

How difficult was it to put in the halos?

Banks4004

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.

karl's-92'-z28

iTrader: (5)

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

Banks4004

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

6SIX6

iTrader: (35)

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.

Z28 Rider

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

Banks4004

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.

Z28 Rider

Thanks Banks your coversion looks awesome!!!!

Z28 Rider

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.

Banks4004

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