How do euro city lights work?

[cohny]

I just got a used pair of oem ZKWs from the Netherlands and they have city lights in the high beams. The seller was kind enough to cut the wires for the single connectors and included them with the sale so I don't have to buy a harness. My only issue is I'm not sure how the city lights are wired. When are they operational? When the headlights are off? At all times?

[M3C]

They should light when headlight switch is turned ON. For this you would require to connect the 12V city light power wires to (for example) the front indicator power wires.

[AJLM34A]

I have mine wired to turn on with the ignition, but cut off when headlights turn on with a relay.

[yurisuika]

I wired mine to the indicators, which I have also modded so they do not illuminate unless indicating. That way, I can run with just the city lights or with fogs by using the parking light mode.

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[cohny]

I have mine wired to turn on with the ignition, but cut off when headlights turn on with a relay.

Hmm I like the sound of this. Where did you mount the relay? Did you have to use one for each headlight? What did you use for a power source that's always on when the car is on?

[Moron95M3]

I wired mine to the indicators, which I have also modded so they do not illuminate unless indicating. That way, I can run with just the city lights or with fogs by using the parking light mode.

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+1 (aka just cut the third wire from the corner lights and wire to the city lights)

[AJLM34A]

Where did you mount the relay? Did you have to use one for each headlight? What did you use for a power source that's always on when the car is on?

In the drivers bolster/steering column area.

1 relay for both bulbs;
https://www.amazon.com/Directed-Elec.../dp/B000CJ05WW

In the harness for the ignition switch, Green/white should be engine running.

[RRSperry]

I wired mine to the parking light. So "on" with any light.

[Braymond141]

I wired mine to the indicators, which I have also modded so they do not illuminate unless indicating. That way, I can run with just the city lights or with fogs by using the parking light mode.

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“Modded”? The US turn signals are dual fillament. It’s hardly worth wording as if you did something other than taking constant off the turn signal for the city light. BMW did the rest. From what I’m told by a Euro, member that’s exactly how BMW does it too and they stay on with the low beams (this part I’m skeptical of).

Here’s how to do Euro light conversion the OE way.

Proper OEM Euro pigtails. Unwrapped the harness and pulled the US corner parking light wire over to power the city lights. Everything is neatly redone to look OEM. New Bosch/AL/MM lights shown.

[CblockM3]

I wired mine to the Euro rear fog light switch, can turn them on anytime independent of the other lights. Nothing worse than seeing the city lights stay on with the lowbeams. Also used amber led's which I think is a much cleaner look.

[cohny]

“Modded”? The US turn signals are dual fillament. It’s hardly worth wording as if you did something other than taking constant off the turn signal for the city light. BMW did the rest. From what I’m told by a Euro, member that’s exactly how BMW does it too and they stay on with the low beams (this part I’m skeptical of).

Here’s how to do Euro light conversion the OE way.

Proper OEM Euro pigtails. Unwrapped the harness and pulled the US corner parking light wire over to power the city lights. Everything is neatly redone to look OEM. New Bosch/AL/MM lights shown.

Awesome, thank you for the great photos. That is one immaculate E36. The seller I bought the headlights from was nice enough to include the original connector with the lights so I can do it exactly as you've shown.

[NYbmw96ti]

Old thread but do u still have these pictures they’re not showing.?

[Braymond141]

Old thread but do u still have these pictures they’re not showing.?

They are fixed.