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duggi
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
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 Posted: Sep 30, 2009 12:59 AM Post subject: New Euro Lights |
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Just got my new (to me) euro lights yesterday from blkbmw (thanks!) and installed them this evening. I really wanted to do the same install style as Rod Paine, but I need to source a few more things before that's possible, so I just installed them according to the directions on m535i.org The install was actually pretty straightforward (after I got over my fear of cracking open my fusebox) and it went on without a hitch. The only problem I have is that the passenger side high-beam doesn't work, but i think that's just due to a toasted bulb (Pete left the original bulbs in there, so I was just using what was there). I haven't hooked up the city lights, but plan on doing that when I upgrade all the wiring to 12 gauge so I can run 100w bulbs. Now to the photos (sorry they're so crappy, will take better, daylight ones tomorrow):
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blkbmw
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: 101 tower tw "world's highest for now"
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| Posted: Sep 30, 2009 4:25 AM Post subject: |
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Wow Derrick those look nice and bright 
Pete
Last edited by blkbmw on Sep 30, 2009 4:31 AM; edited 1 time in total |
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duggi
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
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| Posted: Sep 30, 2009 4:30 AM Post subject: |
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seriously, compared to the sealed beams, it's like driving around in daylight =D
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duggi
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
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| Posted: Sep 30, 2009 5:55 PM Post subject: |
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Daytime Pics:
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wkohler
Joined: 05 Oct 2006
Location: Northern Mexico
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| Posted: Sep 30, 2009 7:11 PM Post subject: |
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| Cool. What a difference they make, eh? Get some of that film from Andy (MisterFixIt) before you get chips in the lenses. DAMHIK. |
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Eddie in TO
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Sep 30, 2009 8:03 PM Post subject: |
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| duggi wrote: | seriously, compared to the sealed beams, it's like driving around in daylight =D
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those lights look great. I love Euro lights on E28's.
The next level is to go HID...trust me, you'll never go back.
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Big Bronze Rim
Beamter
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
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| Posted: Sep 30, 2009 9:38 PM Post subject: |
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L_N_Love
Joined: 19 Jun 2008
Location: RVA
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| Posted: Oct 01, 2009 8:23 AM Post subject: |
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| Eddie in TO wrote: | | duggi wrote: | seriously, compared to the sealed beams, it's like driving around in daylight =D
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those lights look great. I love Euro lights on E28's.
The next level is to go HID...trust me, you'll never go back.
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Eddie...any info on how you did that? Source for system? , etc. |
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C.R. Krieger
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: Halfway up the left side of Lake Michigan
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| Posted: Oct 01, 2009 8:48 AM Post subject: |
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| Eddie in TO wrote: | | duggi wrote: | seriously, compared to the sealed beams, it's like driving around in daylight =D
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those lights look great. I love Euro lights on E28's.
The next level is to go HID...trust me, you'll never go back. |
 Read this. |
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Justin_FL
Beamter
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: South FL
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| Posted: Oct 01, 2009 8:51 AM Post subject: |
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I've found the 7" factory lights to be poor with HIDs. I bought a kit and found that to have proper aim and not glare traffic, the lights must be aimed much lower. The cut-off isn't sharp like they are with correct HID assemblies and there were very obvious hot-spots. Halogens tend to allow for more upward glare and that is too much for HIDs. I even aimed mine low enough to affect the distance ahead illuminated by too much and road signs were still lit up like neon.
Of course, you could decide to not aim them lower and glare oncoming traffic, but still retain distance illumination for yourself. Frankly, I'd save yourself the money and just pop in some 80W bulbs. The warmer color temperature is easier on the eyes, especially in foul weather and rain at night. I removed the HID kit from my 535is after about 30 minutes and they have sat in the box ever since.
Leonard, HID H4 kits are very cheap now and are available just about anywhere you look, if you really want them. |
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Eddie in TO
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Oct 01, 2009 9:45 AM Post subject: |
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| L_N_Love wrote: |
Eddie...any info on how you did that? Source for system? , etc. |
I purchased a conversion kit from a company called GT HID 3 yrs. ago. www.gthid.com
Here’s what the kit consisted of:
2X ballasts, bulbs, 3M pads, mounting plates with 3M pads, and a daytime running light harness.
I had Bosch H4 halogen's so I ordered a kit for an H4 system.
The bulb is a 6000K unit with a shield on the bottom as you can see from the picture. We all know that the 5 ¾” housing were never designed to reflect high intensity lighting.
You’ll need to make a special request (at no extra charge) for this or they’ll simple send you a regular H4 bulb.
Although this doesn't eliminate the oncoming glare due to the lamp housing design, it does 'help' reduce it...somewhat.
Once on, it shields almost 1/3 of the lower reflective area of the Bosch housing. You only see this if you're up-close.
Installation would have been quite simple but I chose to hide the ballasts so I ended up making extensions using the daytime running light wiring harness that also came in the kit. It's very straight forward and if I recall, the only modification was done to the rubber boot for the new HID lamp which was no big deal. Keep in mind, this is referencing a 5 3/4" Bosch and not a 7" E28 Euro light. It looks as though it's possible per Justin's feedback but his experience is not as positive as mine.
Considering the extra lighting I obtained from this conversion, I’ll take this anytime over the conventional halogen lamps in the future if I have the option.
I now enjoy the little night time driving I do every year in my E12.
Hope that helps.
Sorry duggi for hijacking your thread  |
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duggi
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
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| Posted: Oct 01, 2009 3:33 PM Post subject: |
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| Eddie in TO wrote: | | Sorry duggi for hijacking your thread |
Yeah, it's cool. I really have no interest in HID's though. I see too many of them on the road, and I hate them. I believe in sharing the road, and that means being courteous with your lighting. I don't want my car to look like a Prius from the front, with retarded-bright headlights than blind oncoming traffic. |
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Eddie in TO
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Oct 01, 2009 10:11 PM Post subject: |
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| duggi wrote: | | Eddie in TO wrote: | | Sorry duggi for hijacking your thread |
Yeah, it's cool. I really have no interest in HID's though. I see too many of them on the road, and I hate them. I believe in sharing the road, and that means being courteous with your lighting. I don't want my car to look like a Prius from the front, with retarded-bright headlights than blind oncoming traffic. |
IMO, I'm not being any less courteous than those wanting to use higher wattage bulbs for better lighter than what was originally provided from the factory. |
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C.R. Krieger
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: Halfway up the left side of Lake Michigan
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| Posted: Oct 02, 2009 10:52 AM Post subject: |
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| Eddie in TO wrote: | | IMO, I'm not being any less courteous than those wanting to use higher wattage bulbs for better lighter than what was originally provided from the factory. |
You know, Eddie, you're lucky enough to have Daniel Stern right there in Toronto. You would do well to look him up and have a long talk with him sometime. It would truly enlighten you in a number of ways - at least if you're smart enough to listen to him. |
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Eddie in TO
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Oct 02, 2009 11:14 AM Post subject: |
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| C.R. Krieger wrote: | | Eddie in TO wrote: | | IMO, I'm not being any less courteous than those wanting to use higher wattage bulbs for better lighter than what was originally provided from the factory. |
You know, Eddie, you're lucky enough to have Daniel Stern right there in Toronto. You would do well to look him up and have a long talk with him sometime. It would truly enlighten you in a number of ways - at least if you're smart enough to listen to him. |
Thank you for the information.
I'll be sure to look him up once I have some spare time.
"at least if you're smart enough to listen to him" ....that wasn't necessary. |
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skip535i
Joined: 26 Oct 2006
Location: Lynchburg, VA
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| Posted: Oct 02, 2009 7:05 PM Post subject: |
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| C.R. Krieger wrote: | | It would truly enlighten you in a number of ways - at least if you're smart enough to listen to him. |
Dickwad  |
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wkohler
Joined: 05 Oct 2006
Location: Northern Mexico
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| Posted: Oct 02, 2009 7:45 PM Post subject: |
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| skip535i wrote: | | C.R. Krieger wrote: | | It would truly enlighten you in a number of ways - at least if you're smart enough to listen to him. |
Dickwad |
And Skip has now made his semi-quarterly "this board is going down the tubes" post. |
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ElGuappo
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
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| Posted: Oct 03, 2009 4:35 PM Post subject: |
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Derrick,
Those look great, but SERIOUSLY, you really need to contact Andy and get some of the 3M film. I have bought 4 kits from him and they are great, includign for e34 projector foglights. Worth every penny, and its not even that many pennies. |
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M5ZEALOT
Joined: 14 Aug 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Oct 03, 2009 8:08 PM Post subject: |
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I just went HID on my M5 and Ducati. Never going back to H4. You should have hooked them up per my way in the tech section. I didn't have to butcher my fuse box and I have all four lights on when I use my high beams. The M535 way turns off your low beams when you flick your highs......just like the Germans intended. But I like the US system of having all four on. Just my 02 cents. The author tore me a new asshole because he thought I was bashing his way when all I was doing was offering an alternative way. Hhhhmmm maybe that's why I don't troll the room that much anymore. 
http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=45250&highlight= |
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duggi
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
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| Posted: Oct 04, 2009 12:32 PM Post subject: |
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| M5ZEALOT wrote: | I just went HID on my M5 and Ducati. Never going back to H4. You should have hooked them up per my way in the tech section. I didn't have to butcher my fuse box and I have all four lights on when I use my high beams. The M535 way turns off your low beams when you flick your highs......just like the Germans intended. But I like the US system of having all four on. Just my 02 cents. The author tore me a new asshole because he thought I was bashing his way when all I was doing was offering an alternative way. Hhhhmmm maybe that's why I don't troll the room that much anymore.
http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=45250&highlight= |
Actually, the m535i forum way allows all beams to be on simultaneously, including the fogs, which, although illegal, which looks pretty cool from the front.
And for those of you who want to start a riot about not using all six beams at once or that running more than four driving beams simultaneously is illegal, think about this: you can't use your high beams in situations where other cars are on the road in front of you anyway, so even if I did run around somewhere with all my lights on, nobody's gonna notice.
And regarding HID's:
I'm not getting them, ever. I just see far too many cars out there with both aftermarket and factory HID's that are blinding and poorly controlled. And, any mod I make to my car, I try to keep pretty much period correct. The warm glow of the factory lights is perfect and keeps that appearance. |
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Mless5
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: Swampscott, MA
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| Posted: Oct 04, 2009 10:36 PM Post subject: |
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h4 vs hid in euro lights.... /discussion.
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duggi
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
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| Posted: Oct 04, 2009 11:09 PM Post subject: |
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| Mless5 wrote: | h4 vs hid in euro lights.... /discussion.
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Looking at the way the camera is responding to both lights in the last photo, it's very clear that the HID isn't suitable for the euro fixture. At the top edge, it's casting a HUGE amount of light into the viewer's eyes, and the height at which it the photo is taken is way above where another driver coming at you would be seated, being blinded by your car.
The bulb in the passenger side isn't blinding the viewer because it's working as designed. |
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Mless5
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: Swampscott, MA
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| Posted: Oct 04, 2009 11:12 PM Post subject: |
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| duggi wrote: | [Looking at the way the camera is responding to both lights in the last photo, it's very clear that the HID isn't suitable for the euro fixture. At the top edge, it's casting a HUGE amount of light into the viewer's eyes, and the height at which it the photo is taken is way above where another driver coming at you would be seated, being blinded by your car.
The bulb in the passenger side isn't blinding the viewer because it's working as designed. |
THANK YOU! I was curious to try but didn't have much hope. Oh well, at least I know for sure there will be no HID lights in my low beams.And hopefully these images will be enough evidence for non believers. |
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duggi
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
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| Posted: Oct 04, 2009 11:18 PM Post subject: |
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| Mless5 wrote: | | duggi wrote: | Looking at the way the camera is responding to both lights in the last photo, it's very clear that the HID isn't suitable for the euro fixture. At the top edge, it's casting a HUGE amount of light into the viewer's eyes, and the height at which it the photo is taken is way above where another driver coming at you would be seated, being blinded by your car.
The bulb in the passenger side isn't blinding the viewer because it's working as designed. |
THANK YOU! I was curious to try but didn't have much hope. Oh well, at least I know for sure there will be no HID lights in my low beams.And hopefully these images will be enough evidence for non believers. |
Yeah, no problem. It's not that I have a problem with HID's in general. I think that if they're mounted in a fixture that was designed for them, the light output is fantastic. Think about it this way though:
If you wanted to upgrade to H4's from your sealed beams, would you cut a hole in the back of the sealed beam and stick an H4 in there and call it sufficient? No. |
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C.R. Krieger
Joined: 12 Feb 2006
Location: Halfway up the left side of Lake Michigan
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| Posted: Oct 05, 2009 10:08 AM Post subject: |
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| Eddie in TO wrote: | | "at least if you're smart enough to listen to him" ....that wasn't necessary. |
OK; apologies. I find that a lot of folks have a very hard time giving up on an idea in which they've invested a lot of time and money - like you have with your lamps.
| Mless5 wrote: | h4 vs hid in euro lights.... /discussion.
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 Wow. Just wow. Every other comparison I ever saw was a full set swap, never one at a time for a direct, side-by-side like this. Please shoot an email to Daniel and offer these for use. This is one of those 'picture is worth a thousand words' times. Since I'm not there yet, I'll add that you can see exactly what Daniel's talking about. The HID scatters light upward into the eyes of oncoming drivers and it scatters it downward to overilluminate the close foreground. I find that the H4/H1 sets I've used will illuminate far into the distance while not giving me a bright road directly in front of the car. That just works better with the human eye. |
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