New headlights

[110reef]

I was getting so tired of the old hazed-over headlights, bought some new euro spec glass lensed headlights with angel-eyes.

[M3rocket]

Looks good! Care to share the brand, cost, and where you bought 'em? I'm tired of buffing-out the haze on my orig plastic lenses, too.

[110reef]

I got them on ebay. They were $210. You can get them for like $160 w/o angel eyes. You have to buy your own bulbs, so that adds to the expense. Installation isn't bad. I am not sure how easy it is to get the bulbs out to change them once installed, there isn't much clearance behind them to open the doors to get the bulbs out. But that is a problem for another day. Worst case is you would have to pop them out again which isn't too hard. And the wiring attaching to the back is a little flukey, but works. The wiring to the car is easy, plugs right in to the existing connectors, plus one wire attached to the marker light wire (I guess that is for the angel eyes). I love them so far. Here is the description:

92-99 BMW E36 3-Series ZKW Type Euro Projector Glass Headlights w/ Thinline CCFL Angel Eyes
Condition: NEW Manufacturer: HELIX Automotive / Genuine DEPO
Special Notes: These headlights' unique ellipsoid lens design and bulb technology provide far superior lighting capabilities than the stock U.S. spec headlights. They produce more light overall than the 9006 bulb-based U.S. headlights since they use a higher wattage H1 bulb, and because the light is more effectively projected onto the road (versus aimlessly scattered around as with the U.S. headlights), you get light where you NEED it most: further out and on the road signs you need to see.


Product Description:
•Brand new HELIX Automotive / Genuine DEPO ZKW Type Projector Headlights w/ Thinline CCFL Angel Eyes!
•Type: ZKW Type Projector Headlights w/ Thinline CCFL Angel Eyes
•Color: Black Housing / Clear Lens
•Lens: Glass
•Bulbs Included: No
•Bulb Specifications: H1 High, H1 Low, T10 City
•Retails at over 499.99, get it now for less!
•Pre-installed HELIX Thinline Series CCFL Hyper White Angel Eyes!
•Replace those weak, dull, pitted US-Spec headlights with these!
•Perfect update for older E36s and CCFL upgrades.
•Includes Plug & Play adapters!
•Adjustable projector for right hand and left hand drive!
•This is for one pair (1 left & 1 right).

[JDStrickland]

Get some fog lights.

[110reef]

Get some fog lights.

Ha! I ordered some when I bought the headlights. They delivered them to someone else. I notified the sender that I never received them, and after some going back and forth ebay closed my case without me ever receiving them or without a refund. They said there was tracking showing they were delivered. I raised a stink and eventually ebay refunded my money. But I never went back and re-ordered the lights. But it is on my to-do list. (Not that I ever use the foglights, but they do look crappy all broken up.)

They seem very prone to getting broken, maybe placed where they are. I have replaced them several times, but they break again.

[M3rocket]

Thanks for the info on the headlights!

[MarketMaster]

can i show mine off

[110reef]

Nice!

It is amazing what a tremendous difference it makes to the looks of the car.

[andyh1]

Agreed, updating the headlights make a huge difference.

[Baby ///M3]

Looks good!

I wish U.S. spec cars didn't come with plastic headlights.

A pair of new headlights definitely make a huge difference.



Jon

[B328iC]

Just wondering if there is any problems with switching to these? You are going from the 9600 bulbs to h1's. The H1's are a higher current draw. Do they require any modifications to the existing system? I saw these come with the correct plugs to do the conversion but is that all they need?

[ponchiz318]

Usually, people do a HID kit with rebased h1 bulbs. It would be best to modify the cutoff shield if going this route.
If you maintain halogen bulbs, then yes it's plug and play. You won't have any issues

[zohaibrose]

just gonna buy the headlights without the halos since ill mount the halos on my own