I've been searching for a while for a set of real OEM euro lights. In the search, I found it very hard to get actual pictures of E36 headlamps that arent either depos, or modified with HIDs/AE/etc. I really wanted to understand the difference between the different brands, aside from the modifications you can make to them.
I've now had the opportunity to get a set of very clear photos from an ebay seller based in Germany and will attempt to illustrate the differences here
Let's start with the front end.
These are the Bosch headlights
These are the ZKW
Differences in the front
- ZKW's have a striped glass pattern on the bottom half of the projector. I'm not sure what you call this pattern
- ZKW's have nipples on the top glass
- Bosch have a more pronounced pattern on the inner headlamps
- Bosch have three tabs on the top, ZKW have two
There are several differences on the back.
Bosch
ZKW
Differences
- ZKW dust caps are squared
- ZKW dust cap clasps appear heavier duty
- ZKW have larger clamps holding on the front glass
Bonus: OEM tabs can break too, be careful people
There are many more pictures if you want to examine the full gallery here. Note, the Bosch headlamps are the first in the gallery
http://imgur.com/a/60LMY
Anything else anyone wants to add? For example, light output, beam pattern, cutoff, etc. I havent had time to install these ones yet
The "striped" glass is called fluted. It actually is bad for a projector as it robs output and it scatters the light.
I might be stupid for asking this, but what's the deal with the nipples on the top of the glass? They seem to be a positive selling point for aftermarket lenses on ebay. What is their purpose?
Yoy.
This was just on ebay, but I see he's sold them since I downloaded the pics. Here are his active listings http://www.ebay.com/sch/tainik/m.htm...&_trksid=p3686
-Bosch have three tabs on the top, ZKW have two
my Bosch headlights only have two mounting tabs on the top
My Bosch has three tabs on the top
As mentioned, some versions of the Bosch have two tabs while others have three. Some of the Bosch headlamps also have velocity nipples.
From what I've found, the older version typically has 3 tabs and no nipples.
So is Bosch preffered ove the ZKW's? Can HIDs be installed in either set? What's the light output like in both?
Just FYI, I only deal with Bosch because nothing comes close to them in terms of quality, design, engineering, functionality and performance.
The earlier version Bosch headlights have 3 mounting tabs on top and no raised dots (nipples) on the front glass, later version Bosch have 2 mounting tabs on top and front glass raised dots that serve for aerodynamic reasons (better airflow at high speeds).
They can be modified (as other brands can too) to HID but I think they are the best just how Bosch made them.
See the later version Bosch E36 headlights with raised dots.
you can put HIDS in anything with projectors. ZKWs, Bosch, Depos, etc. You can even do it to the US headlights. Once you go HID, you should change the projector as well, so the question of light output doesnt make sense. You can changing the bulb to HID and the projector, so the light output is much more dependent on the quality of those components, than the plastic housing that remains.
theoretically break up the wind as it comes at the lenses to prevent whistling.
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Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!
hello, i have repaired one tab which was broken, inserted a white hard plastic (found by luck one piece that was perfect for the job) into the tab gap and glue it with thermal silicone then i cut the piece to make it shorter as shown in the picture with the black square, the picture with the black line shows where the turn signal locks to the tab.
It holds very good and it was perfect but i change the lights with new ones(depo) later anyway (i heat the plastic tabs before install with a hot gun first).
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The nipples are mounts for headlight adjusters. Used by repair shops to aim USA market headlights.
On the E36 chassis the headlight adjusters are operated via an Allen wrench (or Allen bit in a ratchet) from above or by a 10mm socket from the rear. The adjuster at the top of the headlight assembly, between the high and low beam lights is for up/down and the adjuster that is at the outside of the headlight assembly (near the fender) is for right/left adjustment. https://blog.bavauto.com/wp-content/...sters-0071.jpg
the nipples on the headlight covers are for mounting the headlight alignment tools used by professional shops.
Last edited by shogun; 07-18-2019 at 06:09 AM.
Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!
Yes please, my replacement only lasted me the day and sometime this evening I went to start it up and notice the dash indicator, and almost thought nothing of it lol cuz it's been like that for some while now. Then I remembered I just fixed it today !! 🙃 Thanks in advance!
4 months ago I have repaired one tab, cut a plastic board into a fitting piece and drilled 2 small 2mm holes thru the plastic and into the rest of the original tab, tightened it with 2 screws and it works fine, no problem. The upper and lower guide rails are still o.k.
Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!
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