headlights

[scott41258]

any body know if there is a conversion kit or trick to making my 328i have daytime headlights, you now, headlights that are on all the time or do i have to turn my lights on and thats all i can do or is this just a stupid question.
P.S. Bimmerfest was sick!

[allen85t]

Well if you just want your normal (low-beams) on there are two fairly easy tricks for the electrically inclined. This is just "in general," works on any car more or less.

1. (good) Run an additional lead from the ignition "on" lead to your headlight "on" lead. This will make the lights come on and stay on whenever the key is in this position.

2. (better) Rewire the headlights to run off the "on" relay instead of the normal one, and just leave them switched to "on" all the time. This will have the same effect, except you'll be able to turn them off if you like.

In either case you may need to disable the warning buzzer, this is a grey area and would be specific to the E36, compared to any other car.

I used a similar trick to allow me to turn on the headlights in my Z31 (84-89 300zx) to do this, and allow me to turn the headlights on without flipping them up -- so my "daytime running lights" were the half-hidden headlights turned on.

http://asym.rfnj.org/modules/gallery/albums/zpics/aai.sized.jpg

[ImperialDuckM3]

^^^^ Dude, what are trying to do. If you don't own a BMW's, please don't offer advice that don't make sense. :confused:

Here's the correct way, if you want to run DRL on your E36

From RonStygar_at_aol.com Thu Dec 14 11:21:18 2000
From: RonStygar_at_aol.com
Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2000 14:21:03 EST
Subject: Lets Daytime Running Light (DRL) my '00 M coupe +
To: dalus_at_eskimo.com

In Canada, starting with the 1990 model year, BMW's came with daytime running lights. If you have trouble obtaining the DRL module, Ron will send you one for $63.20 plus shipping. You will have to decide if you would like this feature on your car.

Link: http://www.drivers.com/cgi-bin/go.cgi?type=ART&id=000000322& ;static=1

A DRL module lights the high beams with an alternating lower voltage so they are less bright than when the high beams are on normally.



The DRL's come on in run and start.



They remain on when you turn on the parking lights.



When you turn on the head lights (low beams) they go off. Nick Hurst found out that to get this feature in our cars you just had to replace the high beam relay with the DRL module. In Canada, I assume you could remove the DRL feature by replacing the DRL module with the regular high beam relay.
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/drl-3.jpg



It's a direct plug-in replacement.

http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/drl-4.jpg


This will work on all the Z3's like my coupe. On my coupe and other Z3's the high beam relay that you replace with the DRL module is located under the dash on the drivers side just above the speaker.
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/drl-7.jpg



I assume since they share the same relay it will work with other E36's. The relay on the other E36's is also located under the dash on the drivers side just above and to the left of the steering column.
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/drl-8.jpg


On my '97 318ti the wiring is shown in the ETM (Electrical Troubleshooting Manual) but marked as not used. Turns out the wiring in pin 1 and 5 is not there. Pin 1 and 5 go across the headlight switch pin 10 (yellow) and pin 4 (green/red). I added wire connector 61 13 0 007 439 $1.50 retail to pin 5 of the relay socket. I added wire connector 61 13 0 007 437 $1.50 retail to pin 1 of the relay socket.



To do this you have to remove the upper pin lock of the relay socket. You can do this with a screwdriver or use the tool shown.



Once removed push in each contact from below until you hear them click into place. Small contact into pin 1. Larger contact into pin 5.

I tapped pin 1 of the relay socket to the wire going to pin 10 (yellow) on the headlight switch. I tapped pin 5 of the relay socket to the wire going to pin 4 (green/red) on the headlight switch. If your not into adding wiring, check the relay socket for wires in pins 1 and 5 before buying your DRL module.

Ron_at_unofficialbmw.com, FLI BMW, FLY BMW, Marlborough, CT
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/ronstygar.html
Unofficial RS/SS bender/shortener/installer +

[scott41258]

thanks ImperialDuckM3 for the info i needed. i was hopping there was a way to convert my lights. thanks again.