Headlight Assembly Replacement

For the record, today someone asked where to get just the headlight lenses:
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > 2003 530i Headlight lense

For the record, another asked for just the lens today:
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > headlight lens

I pointed them to here, but, I wish they would follow up here with their results so the next person would benefit from their experience.

Originally Posted by pr02530i

I just picked up an 2002 530I I did not think it was too big of
a deal so I figured I could easily find replacement lens apparently
I was wrong.

I have the drivers side that is cracked and looks bad, However the light
works fine....
I want to replace just the lens is this not possible? does anyone have
a source? thanks much...

Here's what a quick E39-only title-only search for 'headlight & lens' found for me just now:

• headlight lens, pr02530i
• Headlight Lens Help, mikenboats
• Imprint on headlight lens, Melrose
• --headlight lens cracking--, Alexbenz
• 2001 E39 Headlight Lens or Assembly Replacement, socaman
• headlight lens, Paint
• Headlight module lens condensation, Jim Martin
• e39 replacement headlight lens, TIm_
• Headlight Lens Renewal?, bmw520
• How Do You Remove The Headlight Lens ??, toddmack
• Headlight Lens Replacement, ksayeau
• Want to replace Amber Lens on side of Headlight, BeemVerg
• Refinishing headlight lens, kd_unruh

Looking at all those threads briefly, and dropping the ones that contained little information or were irrelevant to replacing the headlight lens itself, I added the following (in red) to the bestlinks:

- Headlight aiming DIYs (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & how to physically remove the BMW E39 Hella headlights (1) & how to twist out the headlight bulbs (1) (2) (3) including HIDs (1) & which stock H7 'halogen' bulbs to buy (1) (2) (3) & how to physically remove the front turn signal bulb (1) (2) (3) (4) & what front turn signal bulb to replace it with (1) & how to remove the angel eye bulb (1) (2) (3) & which stock angel-eye bulbs to buy (1) (2) (3) & how to retrofit halogen angeleye bulbs to LEDs (1) (2) (3) (4) & how to modify pre-facelift headlights to angel eyes (1) (2) (3) (4) & headlight plastic polishing & refinishing DIYs (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) & replacing just the headlight lens (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) & how to cross reference all light bulbs for any BMW E39 including for the headlights, stoplights, backup, blinkers, dome, vanity, side markers, licplate, parking, fog, trunk/boot, glovebox, etc. (1) & more information if you really want to know everything about broken headlight adjusters (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) & how to make your own headlight adjusters (0) (1) (2) (3) and a summary list of all your options when your headlight adjusters are broken (1) & headlight autopsy photos (1) (2) (3) & an explanation of the weird flat spot on the USA spec headlights (1) (2) & an explanation of HID versus conventional headlights and why the high beam is always a halogen H7 bulb (1) (2) (3) & the age-old argument of whether to buy aftermarket DJ Auto or Depo headlights (1) or OEM Hellas (1).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Has anyone bought the non-OEM replacement headlights currently on Ebay?

This one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-97-03-E3...item20c32aab9d

or this one with HID included: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-97-03-E3...item1e6bb8f0be

or This one from a different seller (fishcake321) http://www.ebay.com/itm/97-03-BMW-E3...item1c24547157

Like everyone, I am looking for less expensive replacement compared to the $1000+ OEM Hella HID's. I've got pitted lenses + broken adjusters. 2002 540i6.

Great Threads - Great responses from all. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Swive

or This one from a different seller (fishcake321) http://www.ebay.com/itm/97-03-BMW-E3...item1c24547157

Did anyone get these? They look legit, but its still ebay but who knows. And how would I install these on a 2000 bmw?

Why? Fishcake = DEPO = bad quality (not fishcake's fault, just crap DEPO build on the E39 headlights.)

Go with something much better that you'll be happier with:
http://www.umnitza.com/index.php?mai...oducts_id=5659

I bought mine from BavAuto for $211, and found the quality and fitment to be very good. I strongly suggest taking this time to also replace the four headlight adjustment stems (about $36 at BavAuto). The stems often break, and then make it impossible to properly align headlights, and you will notice your headlight beam "shudder" on the road when you hit a bump. With removal, cleaning and reinstallation it should take you less than 2 hours.

Regarding the headlight upgrades, do your homework. Most states have strict laws on headlight type, brightness, color, etc. To be street legal you need product packaged with DOT Approved (NOT "for offroad use only". Headlights that are too bright, colored, etc. can be the cause to get you ticketed. There are several manufacturers online who make and sell street legal products that provide a nice look.

I got so lucky and found a dude 40 miles north of me with these for 400 oem hellas that had the ill pia bulbs for the angel eyes there's a dude in the bronx that has a set for sale if your close to ny he's on craigslist under ny

Go oem ebays just looked cheap you get what you pay for try to find a good deal on good conditioned oem 1s

http://www.umnitza.com/projector39-h...03-p-5659.html

Another thing to consider with the ebay lights is how they hook up, by that I mean they call them plug and play, I found out the hard way the connections are really different. I bought a set of $600 Depo xenons, sold them to someone alse at a $250 loss. Fixed my Hella's. ALSO - my 2cents on the lens, polishing will no do it most of the time. Wet sandinding, 600,800,1,200 etc, up to 3000 grit, going vertical , then horizontal on each series of sanding, then buffing compound then polishing compound. There is a website, I believe 540i-6 fun, Malachi sent me this info, now mine look brand new, they were pitted and foggy. One last thing, BMW used a different adhesive on the 02 and 03 5 series, putting them in an oven will not loosen this glue, almost IMPOSSIBLE to remove the lens on these lights, I went in through the top to fix my adjusters

Eeuroparts have hella for $303 Lh and $354 Rh

any idea why one side costs more than the other?

Originally Posted by ilian007

Eeuroparts have hella for $303 Lh and $354 Rh

Those prices are likely US headlights without xenons

Yeah I just ordered mine from Ebay earlier today, and after reading the forums, I regret it, since theyre way cheaper than OEM and the quality would probably be bad

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Bimmer App

For the record:

Originally Posted by Solo12

I know Schmiedmann sells the facelift lens. I think they only have the clear corner versions. If you really want smoked and are good with rattle cans/painting I believe they have specific paint for that at auto parts stores.

As far the new lens go I know there have been one or two threads on replacing facelift lens either here or on bimmerforums. I would maybe search using "Schmiedmann" and maybe "lens" to see if anyone found a vendor that sells just the lens' in the US. Schmiedmann is in Europe and I think they have a pretty good rep, but obviously shipping cost and time would probably be better from a US source. I am pretty sure the Schmiedmann lens is a DJ auto lens. If you find the thread on the facelift lens I believe somoen ordered those lens and said if they were marked DJ auto.

This link should work for Schmiedmann
http://www.schmiedmann.com/5_series/...e3.htm#1936335

Edit:
I found a link to the thread where someone ordered the Schmiedmann lens'. They are indeed made by DJ auto pics were posted to confirm it
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...hmiedmann+lens

We sell DJ Auto replacement lenses, just like Schmiedmann.

They sell the exact same ones and sell them for $25+ more than we do.
They may work for E39 standard headlights from HELLA as well (some customers had luck with that).

For the record, this was asked today:

Originally Posted by GabesJH82

I still have the oem headlights and was wondering if its an easy DIY to just replace the lens with new ones instead of replacing the whole headlight assembly

For cross reference, this thread today is looking for white lenses:

Originally Posted by Rgol

After some repair at a local body shop, my driver's headlight (pre-facelift) was replaced with an nice, new OEM headlight with white indicator lense (Hella.) My car had aftermarket Depos on it and of course, the clear lenses do not match.

I seem to be having trouble finding Hella replacement ones. Any help in finding one is appreciated.

Rob

So, Team 321, what did you eventually end up doing? I am having the exact same experience. It is the inside, not the outside that is the issue. My car is 12 years old, and other than this issue is a beatiful car, but I have no intention of spending $600 for headlight covers. I love my car. But, let's be real. Besides, I need the money for snow tires before the next 1/2" of snow we get kills me.

For me,OEM is the way to go, others just doesn't look right, the size of the lights just don't have the right proportion, I just got a use set of "Bi-xenon it is like 95% new, the seller is re-storing his M5 so he sold the used set, it cost me 300 bucks. The catch is I need new adjusters on both.
My is a 97' so I had to refit on the plugs for the angle eyes and the blinkers, plus the lower bracket is different.

Where did you get it from ebay? I have the hella headlights on mine. I ordered some halos but i realized its ccfl or whatever and had to cancel it. What headlights can i get that will fit? Because the ones thats arent hellas don't fit. Any ideas? Like plug and play ones.

A thread was posted today where the polishing didn't work, so the OP wanted to replace the headlights. It has good information which I'll repeat here for others to benefit:

Originally Posted by GabesJH82

I'm looking to replace both headlight assembly due to the lense being so cloudy even after trying wet sanding and polishing product like the 3m kit. Since I have the facelift ones lense are harder to replace then preface lift. I'm looking for the European headlight styles oem with amber reflector eliminated similar to the ones below. Anyone know a place where to purchase them?

Originally Posted by Solo12

With replacement lights you pretty much get what you pay for. OEM lights are crazy expensive and yeah the technology is a little dated. But keep in mind if you want aftermarket lights with good AEs and good projectors you are going to spend a good amount of money too. I am not saying buy OEM or buy really expensive aftermarket lights. But don't expect to spend a ton less money and get good quality lights and excellent light output.

There are a ton of threads on lights that will give you all the information you need on pros and cons of various aftermarket light combos. But here is a little info to get you started.

DJ autos seems to be the preferred aftermarket light, but I believe their AE quality/or brightness is not so great and I have heard the projectors are not that great.

Upgrades to the DJ auto AEs and projectors are available. You can buy parts and DIY or buy from Umnitza who will do the work for you.

If you have OEM xenon lights you should be able sell them on ebay or the forums to help offset the cost of new lights. Provided your lights are the ones that can be opened with heat(oven or heat gun) you should be able to get a couple hundred for them. Chances are someone else will swap out the lens' or use the lights for parts. Do a search to see what people have sold lights for/ value lights at in the past. If you have halogens you can still probably sell them just for less than the xenons.

If you do decide to go with OEM use http://www.furiousmethod.com/ to get the best price. IIRC you may be able to get the price down to $900-$1,000.

See also:
- Replacing just the headlight lens (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)