Angel eyes - yes or no

**jprottas** · 04-12-2018, 12:14 AM

About to pull the trigger on some headlights and still have questions. Are the 35w HID for lowbeams only?
Is it possible to skip the HID and only install the bi- xenon?

Tostito- you haven't steered me wrong yet...what lights are you running?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

**Braymond141** · 04-12-2018, 09:26 AM

“HID” is xenon. Do HID correctly and projector swap with HID intended parts. Euro lights do not come with HID projectors, they are designed for halogen.

Angel eyes. That’s a big fat, NO.

**ChuckDizzle** · 04-12-2018, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Braymond141

“HID” is xenon. Do HID correctly and projector swap with HID intended parts. Euro lights do not come with HID projectors, they are designed for halogen.

Angel eyes. That’s a big fat, NO.

^ What he said.

**NoLastName** · 04-12-2018, 11:25 AM

No.

**CblockM3** · 04-12-2018, 11:54 AM

Another vote for absolutely no on angel eyes and run halogen unless you retrofit an HID projector.

**blckstrm** · 04-12-2018, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Braymond141

“HID” is xenon. Do HID correctly and projector swap with HID intended parts. Euro lights do not come with HID projectors, they are designed for halogen.

Angel eyes. That’s a big fat, NO.

I know it's wrong.

I don't care. I love how they look.

**TostitoBandito** · 04-12-2018, 12:44 PM

I agree with others in that angel eyes look like crap.

**LockDots** · 04-12-2018, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by blckstrm

I know it's wrong.

I don't care. I love how they look.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

**JitteryJoe** · 04-12-2018, 08:47 PM

No Angel Eyes !

**CaptND** · 04-13-2018, 01:00 PM

I just picked up an M3 w the angel eyes installed and I can’t wait to get rid of them, visibility at night is horrible and they just look cheesy IMO...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**blckstrm** · 04-13-2018, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by CaptND

I just picked up an M3 w the angel eyes installed and I can’t wait to get rid of them, visibility at night is horrible and they just look cheesy IMO...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't get it - what does visibility have to do with the angel eyes?

**TH3 Shifty** · 04-13-2018, 04:50 PM

angel eyes on the E36 look so out of place ... ugly

**MauiM3Mania** · 04-13-2018, 06:41 PM

They were cool around 2001.

**BMWManiac** · 04-14-2018, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by MauiM3Mania

They were cool around 2001.

I've had angle eyes and "eyebrows" since 2001, ha! To be honest, I love them and don't plan to take them for the simple fact that it looks ominous (to me.) So, yes, that is so 2001, and my car is probably "riced out" more than others, but this car is 20 years old and it is ok to represent styling from 20 years ago
M3 demon eyes.jpg

**jprottas** · 04-14-2018, 08:37 AM

Originally Posted by BMWManiac

I've had angle eyes and "eyebrows" since 2001, ha! To be honest, I love them and don't plan to take them for the simple fact that it looks ominous (to me.) So, yes, that is so 2001, and my car is probably "riced out" more than others, but this car is 20 years old and it is ok to represent styling from 20 years ago
M3 demon eyes.jpg

Are those 4300 or 5000 lumen?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

**cmoody** · 04-14-2018, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by MauiM3Mania

They were cool around 2001.

Seconded.

**bostonaudi** · 04-14-2018, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by cmoody

Seconded.

My car came with them too, cheese

Installed Euro headlights, work great.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**MauiM3Mania** · 04-14-2018, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by BMWManiac

I've had angle eyes and "eyebrows" since 2001, ha! To be honest, I love them and don't plan to take them for the simple fact that it looks ominous (to me.) So, yes, that is so 2001, and my car is probably "riced out" more than others, but this car is 20 years old and it is ok to represent styling from 20 years ago

The truth of the matter is, angel eyes went in when I swapped in euro lights in Feb 02. In April 08, when the euro motor swap took place, the traditionalist tech removed the light source. I was OK with it.

**BMWManiac** · 04-15-2018, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by jprottas

Are those 4300 or 5000 lumen?

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

No clue....don't even remember the brand or where I got them been that long

Originally Posted by MauiM3Mania

The truth of the matter is, angel eyes went in when I swapped in euro lights in Feb 02. In April 08, when the euro motor swap took place, the traditionalist tech removed the light source. I was OK with it.

I remember when I even had GEN V installed that required having 2 x light boxes with clear tubing that provided the light....although it was hokey, it provided great underhood lighting at night when I need to see something

**MauiM3Mania** · 04-16-2018, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by BMWManiac

....I remember when I even had GEN V installed that required having 2 x light boxes with clear tubing that provided the light....although it was hokey, it provided great underhood lighting at night when I need to see something

A side benefit of having good taste.

**bmw328m52** · 04-16-2018, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by MauiM3Mania

They were cool around 2001.

lol exactly. And then every other car had them. Retrofit some hids or get some depos with DRLs.

**earthwormjim** · 04-16-2018, 03:58 PM

I think they are tolerable if using low temperature rings, such that they match the color of face lifted E39 headlights, and mounted behind the glass inner lenses.

I had one of the original versions installed in my 318is back in the day, before CCFLs or LEDs were used. It had fiber optics hooked up to halogen light boxes which sat in the engine bay. Ridiculously cumbersome, but they looked just like the E39 angel eyes. Same brightness and color temperature.

I would never put them on my car today though, the stock European head lights look great as is.

**adamnur** · 04-16-2018, 08:28 PM

When AEs were wildly popular, the E36 was in that weird age where it's not truly dated but not really new either, with the only younger sibling being the E46. I think they worked at that time. Now though with the E36 being a "classic" BMW since the newest one is nearly 20 years old, the AEs just don't fit as well compared to OE Euro styling.

I ran them, then got rid of them, then put them in again behind the lenses in amber LEDs, setup only as indicators. Those are now disconnected too with my newest retrofit.

I still think modern lighting looks good on the chassis but with AEs on new BMWs being so prevalent, it's would appear that the E36 owner is trying to make the car look "new" when it's now several generations back.

**SIIDEWAYS** · 04-16-2018, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by adamnur

When AEs were wildly popular, the E36 was in that weird age where it's not truly dated but not really new either, with the only younger sibling being the E46. I think they worked at that time. Now though with the E36 being a "classic" BMW since the newest one is nearly 20 years old, the AEs just don't fit as well compared to OE Euro styling.

I ran them, then got rid of them, then put them in again behind the lenses in amber LEDs, setup only as indicators. Those are now disconnected too with my newest retrofit.

I still think modern lighting looks good on the chassis but with AEs on new BMWs being so prevalent, it's would appear that the E36 owner is trying to make the car look "new" when it's now several generations back.

LOL, that's a lot of analysis! For me, it's far more simplistic: I think they look good regardless of the age of the car. In fact, I think it's one of the best upgrades on my car (but then, mine is mostly stock anyway) and if I got another E36 M3, I would do it again!!