What tribal-knowledge options are available when a fellow 2001-2003 E39 has broken headlight adjusters?
- REFERENCE: Broken headlight adjusters (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23)
Specifically, this thread should cover E39's built after September 2000, namely the post-facelift 2001-2003 model year with either the Hella HID (aka xenon gas-discharge low beam with self-leveling motor) or Hella conventional (aka halogen headlights with the H7 base, 9005 holder, 9006 connector, no ballast, no self-leveling motor).
Note: The cost for a complete set of adjusters for E39's older than September 2000 is only $15 at EAC (compared to $160 for newer adjusters); so the older adjusters are not expected to be the topic of this discussion.
The headlight adjusters that are the subject of this thread should fit:
From the 09/2000 build date:
528i, 528it (wagon touring), 530i, 540i, 540it (wagon touring), M5
520d, 520i, 523i, 525d, 525i, 525td, 525tds, 528i, 530d, 530i, 535i, 540i, 540iP
I realize most of this information is known, but it's scattered about (as I found a dozen confusing options just by googling) ... and some of the information was unknown until now (e.g., the materials used); so the main intent of this thread is to consolidate the known & newly recommended options in some sort of ordered usable decision-making list.
As usual, I'll stick my neck out to show my ignorance (headlights are soooo confusing to me but I learn a lot about any problem I run into so this is my starting point)!
Here are the materials used for headlight adjusters:
- PBT (aka polybutylene terephthalate, the Hella OEM brittle polyester thermoplastic)
- Delrin (aka polyoxymethylene, i.e., the polyformaldehyde thermoplastic from odometergears & EAC Tuning)*
- Nylon-6 (aka PA6 or polyamide 6, from the Russian guys in Palatine IL on Ebay, Craigslist, & bimmer.netne.net)
- HDPE (aka high density polyethylene, i.e., I made mine out of HDPE from Tap Plastics, by hand)*
- Teflon (aka polytetrafluoroethylene, some users fabricated BMW E39 headlight adjusters out of PTFE)
- Aluminum (either nicely molded from EAC Tuning or beautifully machined in Great Britain)*
- Brass (one guy I listed makes brazed brass BMW E39 headlight adjusters; but he dropped out of sight)
Note: Items with asterisks are those materials I've had personal experience with for my headlight adjusters.
As a first stab, here are what I think are the main options available to us for a complete set:
1. New Hella headlights:
- OEM (~$710/pair for Halogens, left 63 12 6 900 199/right 63 12 6 900 200, from EAC, ~$1,520/pair Xenons from ECS, PN left 63 12 6 912 433/right 63 12 6 912 434) or
- New Hella headlights, OEM (~?/pair for Halogens, ~$900/pair Xenons from Umnitza).
Note: I do not know if you end up with the same brittle PBT plastic headlight adjusters; if so, this would devalue this choice.
2. New Depo headlights:
(~$550/pair, PN E39 "Depo Projector39 Headlights (HID & Angel Eyes Included)") Note: considered ugly by many.
Note: I do not know if you end up with the same brittle PBT headlight adjusters; if so, this would devalue this choice.
3. New DJ Auto headlights
(~$550/pair, PN E39 "DJ Auto Projectors Hella Style (HID & Angel Eyes Included)")
Note: I do not know if you end up with the same brittle PBT headlight adjusters; if so, this would devalue this choice.
4. Modified-new DJ Auto "FXR" upgraded headlights
(~$?/pair for Halogens, ~$500/pair of "DJAuto Projector 39 Hella Type" Xenons, and ~$700/pair for "DJAuto Projector39 FXR-modified Hella Type" Xenons from Matt at UmNitza.
Note: I do not know if you end up with the same brittle PBT plastic headlight adjusters; if so, this would devalue this choice.
5. Salvage yard headlights
(~$250/pair)
Note: You can sell your old headlights on Craigslist for about ??? to partially recoup your losses.
Note: You'll probably end up with the same brittle plastic PBT headlight adjusters; if so, this would devalue this choice.
See also:
- What is the plastic in the OEM Hella and aftermarket DJAuto & Depo BMW E39 headlights?
- What is the PRACTICAL difference of post-facelift halogen Hellas vs non-filament HIDs
6. Buy adjusters & have the supplier install them for you
- (~$430 for both headlights installed by bmwheadlightrepairs for the Delrin adjusters, and assuming $30 shipping)
- (~$350 at EAC for aluminum adjusters, includes $30 shipping to Mark (800-208-6448 x704) for both headlights)
Note: That link is: "http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/m5-e39-group- buy -forum-sponsor-discussion-offerings/98376-2001-e39-headlight-adjusters.html#post1874860 where you have to remove the spaces above due to asterisks automatically inserted by this forum into the URL).
- (~$220 + shipping) for bimmer.netne.net to fix your headlight adjusters for you.
- (~$140 for odometergears adjusters on both headlights by Palatine from Craigslist, cost includes the adjusters and installation)
7. Buy the "20% glass-filled Delrin" thermoplastic or "Nylon-6" polyamide adjusters:
- (~$210 at bmwheadlightrepairs for both headlights, PN ODO-E39-LITE) or
- (~$170 at Bavauto for both headlights, PN E39 HLA AE) or
- (~$170 at Pelican for both headlights, PN ODO-E39-LITE) or
- (~$161.50 at EAC for both headlights, PN 098816001) or
- (~$150 at fcpgroton for both headlights) or
- (~$60 from Hetpe3b, aka bimmer.netne.net on Craigslist for both headlights) or
- (~$58 + $6 shipping from Hetpe3b, aka bimmer.netne.net from their web site)
- (~$63, including $10 shipping from Hetpe3b, on Ebay for both headlights again from bimmer.netne.net).
8. Buy the aluminum adjusters
(~$160 at EAC for both headlights) <=== THIS IS THE MOST-OFTEN RECOMMENDED OPTION HERE
(~$102 on Ebay for both headlights) <=== (£50 GBP for both headlights + £12 GPB for shipping all four to the USA)
9. Buy the brass adjusters
- (~$80 from biliff for both headlights)
10. Fabricate your own adjusters, either molding or fabricating out of Teflon or HDPE or Delrin & a steel screw & cap:
- (~$5 for both headlights, where you open the headlights for access)
- (~$5 both headlights, where you cut a square in the top of the headlights for access)
Note: I bought two hefty bars of suitable plastic for under $6 including tax at Tap Plastics:
- Black, 3/4" thick, 1 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches long, Seaboard UV Stable HDPE, $16/square foot (cost was $1.00 + 10 cents tax)
- White, 1/2" thick, 7/8 x 10 1/2 inch long Delrin, $57/square foot (cost was $4.50 + 45 cents tax)
The fabrication of two headlight adjusters took just about an hour with nothing more than a vise, a saw, and a 5/32" drill bit. It was actually trivial to make, surprisingly to me (and at a total cost of less than $6 sufficient for three or four vehicles). More details in this thread.
11. Use two zip ties per headlight & adjust by clicks (~$5 for both headlights)
12. Shove a spare length of metal under the lens assembly to keep it rigid in place (~$0 for both headlights) Note: This is what I've done, for now, while I research what permanent solution I'll choose. Interestingly, the light aim is better now than it has been in years!
I'm sure this list is incomplete/inaccurate so please help improve it so that we can update it and then others can refer to our collective tribal knowledge.
BTW, here are some of my favorite threads on the headlights and the headlight adjusters:
Summary of useful DIY Headlight threads:
- 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 buy new headlight adjusters (EAC E39 prior to 9/2000) (EAC aluminum E39 after 9/2000) (EAC plastic after 9/2000) (odometergears) (UK)
- How to make your own headlight adjusters (0) (1) (2) (3)
- A list of your options when your headlight adjusters are broken (1)
- Headlight aiming DIYs (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
- Headlight replacement H7 bulbs (1) (2)
- Headlight plastic polishing & refinishing DIY (1) (2) (3)
- Headlight autopsy DIY (1) (2) (3)
- What's the flat spot on the USA spec headlights (1) (2)
- Explanation of HID versus conventional and why the high beam is always a halogen H7 bulb (1) (2) (3)
- How to replace your headlight bulbs (1)
- DJ Auto or Depo headlights (1) or OEM (1)
Some of my favorite headlight adjuster threads:
- REFERENCE: Broken headlight adjusters (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23)
Specifically, this thread should cover E39's built after September 2000, namely the post-facelift 2001-2003 model year with either the Hella HID (aka xenon gas-discharge low beam with self-leveling motor) or Hella conventional (aka halogen headlights with the H7 base, 9005 holder, 9006 connector, no ballast, no self-leveling motor).
Note: The cost for a complete set of adjusters for E39's older than September 2000 is only $15 at EAC (compared to $160 for newer adjusters); so the older adjusters are not expected to be the topic of this discussion.
The headlight adjusters that are the subject of this thread should fit:
From the 09/2000 build date:
528i, 528it (wagon touring), 530i, 540i, 540it (wagon touring), M5
520d, 520i, 523i, 525d, 525i, 525td, 525tds, 528i, 530d, 530i, 535i, 540i, 540iP
I realize most of this information is known, but it's scattered about (as I found a dozen confusing options just by googling) ... and some of the information was unknown until now (e.g., the materials used); so the main intent of this thread is to consolidate the known & newly recommended options in some sort of ordered usable decision-making list.
As usual, I'll stick my neck out to show my ignorance (headlights are soooo confusing to me but I learn a lot about any problem I run into so this is my starting point)!
Here are the materials used for headlight adjusters:
- PBT (aka polybutylene terephthalate, the Hella OEM brittle polyester thermoplastic)
- Delrin (aka polyoxymethylene, i.e., the polyformaldehyde thermoplastic from odometergears & EAC Tuning)*
- Nylon-6 (aka PA6 or polyamide 6, from the Russian guys in Palatine IL on Ebay, Craigslist, & bimmer.netne.net)
- HDPE (aka high density polyethylene, i.e., I made mine out of HDPE from Tap Plastics, by hand)*
- Teflon (aka polytetrafluoroethylene, some users fabricated BMW E39 headlight adjusters out of PTFE)
- Aluminum (either nicely molded from EAC Tuning or beautifully machined in Great Britain)*
- Brass (one guy I listed makes brazed brass BMW E39 headlight adjusters; but he dropped out of sight)
Note: Items with asterisks are those materials I've had personal experience with for my headlight adjusters.
As a first stab, here are what I think are the main options available to us for a complete set:
1. New Hella headlights:
- OEM (~$710/pair for Halogens, left 63 12 6 900 199/right 63 12 6 900 200, from EAC, ~$1,520/pair Xenons from ECS, PN left 63 12 6 912 433/right 63 12 6 912 434) or
- New Hella headlights, OEM (~?/pair for Halogens, ~$900/pair Xenons from Umnitza).
Note: I do not know if you end up with the same brittle PBT plastic headlight adjusters; if so, this would devalue this choice.
2. New Depo headlights:
(~$550/pair, PN E39 "Depo Projector39 Headlights (HID & Angel Eyes Included)") Note: considered ugly by many.
Note: I do not know if you end up with the same brittle PBT headlight adjusters; if so, this would devalue this choice.
3. New DJ Auto headlights
(~$550/pair, PN E39 "DJ Auto Projectors Hella Style (HID & Angel Eyes Included)")
Note: I do not know if you end up with the same brittle PBT headlight adjusters; if so, this would devalue this choice.
4. Modified-new DJ Auto "FXR" upgraded headlights
(~$?/pair for Halogens, ~$500/pair of "DJAuto Projector 39 Hella Type" Xenons, and ~$700/pair for "DJAuto Projector39 FXR-modified Hella Type" Xenons from Matt at UmNitza.
Note: I do not know if you end up with the same brittle PBT plastic headlight adjusters; if so, this would devalue this choice.
5. Salvage yard headlights
(~$250/pair)
Note: You can sell your old headlights on Craigslist for about ??? to partially recoup your losses.
Note: You'll probably end up with the same brittle plastic PBT headlight adjusters; if so, this would devalue this choice.
See also:
- What is the plastic in the OEM Hella and aftermarket DJAuto & Depo BMW E39 headlights?
- What is the PRACTICAL difference of post-facelift halogen Hellas vs non-filament HIDs
6. Buy adjusters & have the supplier install them for you
- (~$430 for both headlights installed by bmwheadlightrepairs for the Delrin adjusters, and assuming $30 shipping)
- (~$350 at EAC for aluminum adjusters, includes $30 shipping to Mark (800-208-6448 x704) for both headlights)
Note: That link is: "http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/m5-e39-group- buy -forum-sponsor-discussion-offerings/98376-2001-e39-headlight-adjusters.html#post1874860 where you have to remove the spaces above due to asterisks automatically inserted by this forum into the URL).
- (~$220 + shipping) for bimmer.netne.net to fix your headlight adjusters for you.
- (~$140 for odometergears adjusters on both headlights by Palatine from Craigslist, cost includes the adjusters and installation)
7. Buy the "20% glass-filled Delrin" thermoplastic or "Nylon-6" polyamide adjusters:
- (~$210 at bmwheadlightrepairs for both headlights, PN ODO-E39-LITE) or
- (~$170 at Bavauto for both headlights, PN E39 HLA AE) or
- (~$170 at Pelican for both headlights, PN ODO-E39-LITE) or
- (~$161.50 at EAC for both headlights, PN 098816001) or
- (~$150 at fcpgroton for both headlights) or
- (~$60 from Hetpe3b, aka bimmer.netne.net on Craigslist for both headlights) or
- (~$58 + $6 shipping from Hetpe3b, aka bimmer.netne.net from their web site)
- (~$63, including $10 shipping from Hetpe3b, on Ebay for both headlights again from bimmer.netne.net).
8. Buy the aluminum adjusters
(~$160 at EAC for both headlights) <=== THIS IS THE MOST-OFTEN RECOMMENDED OPTION HERE
(~$102 on Ebay for both headlights) <=== (£50 GBP for both headlights + £12 GPB for shipping all four to the USA)
9. Buy the brass adjusters
- (~$80 from biliff for both headlights)
10. Fabricate your own adjusters, either molding or fabricating out of Teflon or HDPE or Delrin & a steel screw & cap:
- (~$5 for both headlights, where you open the headlights for access)
- (~$5 both headlights, where you cut a square in the top of the headlights for access)
Note: I bought two hefty bars of suitable plastic for under $6 including tax at Tap Plastics:
- Black, 3/4" thick, 1 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches long, Seaboard UV Stable HDPE, $16/square foot (cost was $1.00 + 10 cents tax)
- White, 1/2" thick, 7/8 x 10 1/2 inch long Delrin, $57/square foot (cost was $4.50 + 45 cents tax)
The fabrication of two headlight adjusters took just about an hour with nothing more than a vise, a saw, and a 5/32" drill bit. It was actually trivial to make, surprisingly to me (and at a total cost of less than $6 sufficient for three or four vehicles). More details in this thread.
11. Use two zip ties per headlight & adjust by clicks (~$5 for both headlights)
12. Shove a spare length of metal under the lens assembly to keep it rigid in place (~$0 for both headlights) Note: This is what I've done, for now, while I research what permanent solution I'll choose. Interestingly, the light aim is better now than it has been in years!
I'm sure this list is incomplete/inaccurate so please help improve it so that we can update it and then others can refer to our collective tribal knowledge.
BTW, here are some of my favorite threads on the headlights and the headlight adjusters:
Summary of useful DIY Headlight threads:
- 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 buy new headlight adjusters (EAC E39 prior to 9/2000) (EAC aluminum E39 after 9/2000) (EAC plastic after 9/2000) (odometergears) (UK)
- How to make your own headlight adjusters (0) (1) (2) (3)
- A list of your options when your headlight adjusters are broken (1)
- Headlight aiming DIYs (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
- Headlight replacement H7 bulbs (1) (2)
- Headlight plastic polishing & refinishing DIY (1) (2) (3)
- Headlight autopsy DIY (1) (2) (3)
- What's the flat spot on the USA spec headlights (1) (2)
- Explanation of HID versus conventional and why the high beam is always a halogen H7 bulb (1) (2) (3)
- How to replace your headlight bulbs (1)
- DJ Auto or Depo headlights (1) or OEM (1)
Some of my favorite headlight adjuster threads:
Can you show me on this pic where the headlight adjusters are? (
1 2)
List options available (sorted by cost) for 2001-2003 E39 broken headlight adjusters by bluebee
What is the plastic in the OEM Hella and aftermarket DJAuto & Depo BMW E39 headlights? by bluebee
How to choose H7 high/low beam replacement bulbs (3100K to 4000K) by bluebee
What is the PRACTICAL difference of post-facelift halogen Hellas vs non-filament HIDs by bluebee
Just curious about 2002 halogen headlights once taken apart by bluebee
Do all our E39's have SEPARATE horizontal and vertical headlight adjustment alignment by bluebee
Tips on Opening Headlight by Zane39
Headlight issues. by BentValve
List options available (sorted by cost) for 2001-2003 E39 broken headlight adjusters by bluebee
What is the plastic in the OEM Hella and aftermarket DJAuto & Depo BMW E39 headlights? by bluebee
How to choose H7 high/low beam replacement bulbs (3100K to 4000K) by bluebee
What is the PRACTICAL difference of post-facelift halogen Hellas vs non-filament HIDs by bluebee
Just curious about 2002 halogen headlights once taken apart by bluebee
Do all our E39's have SEPARATE horizontal and vertical headlight adjustment alignment by bluebee
Tips on Opening Headlight by Zane39
Headlight issues. by BentValve