Finally talked someone into ordering them for me best of all they are cheap enough where I can sell mine and actually break even One was already in the usa and the other side had 300 of them in germany, hopefully its sent without any problems :thumbup:
I will be adding the vertical aim control that I have been wanting to do for awhile, Like Daniel said I could have used my factory ones for this mod, and I know he is right but the deal I'm getting on the euros is to good to pass up on. I will be ordering the motors and switches and such as soon as I have them in my hands
Will post pics and info on this project as it goes on
Most people who have cars with the headlight range adjustment have never had a need to use it. Are you sure you might not find a more useful control to mount in the trim control panel position? I figured your Z3 would be short of switch positions by now, but maybe that is because I know Ron and some of his projects.
Feel free to write me with any questions if you go ahead with the project. I will see if I can answer them based on the homoligation of my car for the TÜV.
Let's say I didn't want the leveling adjustment, would the Euro-spec headlight assemblies be a direct plug-n-play replacement for the US-spec ones? Also what's different about the Euro-spec ones, beam pattern?
Most people who have cars with the headlight range adjustment have never had a need to use it. Are you sure you might not find a more useful control to mount in the trim control panel position? I figured your Z3 would be short of switch positions by now, but maybe that is because I know Ron and some of his projects.
Feel free to write me with any questions if you go ahead with the project. I will see if I can answer them based on the homoligation of my car for the TÜV.
Actually I think the headlights are pretty much the same other then the euro ones are ready to accept a few things that the usa ones are not but can be. im really not sure if beam patern is any different.
I was saving for a hardtop but now am thinking the money would be better used on more smaller mods, Talking with daniel and ron there is not a short supply of mods to do
my car is always garaged and I hardly ever drive in bad or cold weather so as bad as I want a hardtop i would rather have all this other stuff
Like JohnF said, I doubt i will use it at all, but the space in the dash that was made for it will be filled with the correct switch now
anal? ; I think so
I once helped a guy replace the outside temperature display in his 316i coupe with an OBC. He felt the A/C with its digital controls made the temperature display look like it was missing buttons and created visual holes in the center console. Now he is as happy as a clam with a nice, uniform stack of glowing buttons.
We haven't yet figured out what to do about his rear drum brakes (with ABS!). He thinks they add a comical inbalance to the car. I say that because I once suggested he might paint them. His reaction suggested that might not be so helpful.
Let's say I didn't want the leveling adjustment, would the Euro-spec headlight assemblies be a direct plug-n-play replacement for the US-spec ones? Also what's different about the Euro-spec ones, beam pattern?
What is stamped on the lens? The Z3 units I have seen have had both European and DOT/SAE approval marks. These have had the characteristic 15 degree beam rise off to the right. The European mark is a circled capital E with a country number. A headlight submitted for approval from Germany, for example, would have a circled "E1" on it.
US-bound BMWs changed to a free-form headlight in advance of Europe that lacked a sharp cutoff and 15 degree rise to the right. In the early-90s, the EC/EU relaxed the allowed amount of forward vertical light scatter which allowed BMW to use a common headlight for both Europe and the U.S. I think the E36 compact and Z3 were the first models to get a headlight approved for both markets, at least German ones did! I believe nowadays everyone gets the same headlights (and for that matter, radios).
US-bound BMWs changed to a free-form headlight in advance of Europe that lacked a sharp cutoff and 15 degree rise to the right. In the early-90s, the EC/EU relaxed the allowed amount of forward vertical light scatter which allowed BMW to use a common headlight for both Europe and the U.S. I think the E36 compact and Z3 were the first models to get a headlight approved for both markets, at least German ones did! I believe nowadays everyone gets the same headlights (and for that matter, radios).
Picked up the left side light today, it comes with the aim motor already installed that saved 55.00 per side, waiting on the other light to come in from germany next week, hope it makes it here
Picked up the left side light today, it comes with the aim motor already installed that saved 55.00 per side, waiting on the other light to come in from germany next week, hope it makes it here
I've got the euro lights as well. I want to hook up the leveling control, but I'm not sure how. Please post a how-to once you get everything hooked up.
I installed the drivers side assembly today not bad at all, I'm still waiting on the pass. side to be shipped. a few notes the euro ones uses H3 & H7 bulbs the H7 was not in the USA version. the beam pattern lens is slightly different
also while i was in there the air box has what looks to be a removable 3in plug where a tube can be attached for cold air or something, the plug was for sure a after thought, it dumps into the fender well
I will have the headlights for sale either a pair or individually they are mint condition
I will post more when the harness and other assembly get here
I installed the drivers side assembly today not bad at all, I'm still waiting on the pass. side to be shipped. a few notes the euro ones uses H3 & H7 bulbs the H7 was not in the USA version. the beam pattern lens is slightly different
also while i was in there the air box has what looks to be a removable 3in plug where a tube can be attached for cold air or something, the plug was for sure a after thought, it dumps into the fender well
I will have the headlights for sale either a pair or individually they are mint condition
I will post more when the harness and other assembly get here
ahhh ok, thanks Ron
any idea what that plug is for as in what should be there in the air intake housing, its actually part of the housing that supplies the air box
Are you wiring in the city lights? If yes, consider replacing your stock airbox and switching to cold air intake. It is really difficult to access the driver's side city light harness, even if you hack away at the support/ducting piece that works/feeds into the airbox.
do it Max! then i'll visit SA and u can help me out
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