Headlight Question

[JRYE30]

Okay, I am completely stupid when it comes to E30 lights. The only thing I see is that the smilies/sealed beams/ellipsoids look different. No clue how they function differently or anything about bulbs. BUT I do know that my sealed beams suck so bad it's actually a safety hazard.

I ordered a smoked set of these smiley euro cross-haired lights

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=195668

But I seriously haven't got a clue what bulbs to get, or how to wire them to a 1991 318is (sealed beam).

I was just hoping someone could tell me what bulbs I should get and/or what my options are. Someone mentioned H1 bulbs? Need something decent, not crazy bright and not blue. White or the regular colour.

[Blackout]

Just get H1 HID Kit 6000K 55W.
Or PIAA H1 Extremewhite bulbs (expensive).

[Mo Brighta]

bulbs question

Okay, I am completely stupid when it comes to E30 lights. The only thing I see is that the smilies/sealed beams/ellipsoids look different. No clue how they function differently or anything about bulbs. BUT I do know that my sealed beams suck so bad it's actually a safety hazard.

Yeah, they do kinda suck, sealed beams are about the worst option for high performance cars - hell, for most cars driven over 30 mph. There are some really good bolt-in replacements sold, three screws and you are done.

I ordered a smoked set of these smiley euro cross-haired lights

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=195668

But I seriously haven't got a clue what bulbs to get, or how to wire them to a 1991 318is (sealed beam).

Hmmm, hope these are an improvement... I'm not sure why the smoke - that just cuts their output and makes them dimmer, doesn't it? Best way to tell- change out one side only, then shining against a flat white wall, cover one side at a time with a towel. Pics are always nice.

I was just hoping someone could tell me what bulbs I should get and/or what my options are. Someone mentioned H1 bulbs? Need something decent, not crazy bright and not blue. White or the regular colour.

^ looks like H1 bulbs, both highs and lows. I have some nice high output H1 white bulbs, standard wattage Hella "Lightpower 50" - claimed 50% brighter than standard bulbs. $20 a pair, plus a couple of bucks shipping sound OK? If you want more light, there are other options, higher wattage (75-80 on up to 100W), but I'd be careful to avoid melting wires, and be sure the GROUND wires are good and tight, they carry the current from ALL bulbs.

PIAA Extreme whites are tinted blue, no?

Good luck, and if you need help rewiring the relays so the lows stay on I have done this before, I can help. Or, if you get stumped by the smokey joes, can't get them working or whatever, I can get you some decent (Hella, Cibie) lights that will bolt right in to your sealed beam buckets.

[Poorboyz]

REAL Euro Smilies use H1 bulbs for lows and high beams. You said you bought a set of lights from the above link and from what I see those are Depos and further reading I saw where they use the 9005/9006 bulbs.

I also had sealed beam and I just installed euro smilies (BOSCH) and am in the process of wiring up the HIDs.

For converting sealed beams to euro smilies use the below link:

http://bmw.e30tuner.com/articles_eurolight.php

HIDs Install:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=132990&highlight=euro+smiley+hid+install

If you want the low beams to stay on when you turn high beams on:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=59735&highlight=wire+smilies

[JasonC]

The DEPOs that the OP posted up do take H1 bulbs. They just come with a 9005/9004 harness.

[DaveSmed]

....and if you need help rewiring the relays so the lows stay on I have done this before, I can help.

Curious, what method to you use for this? Do you modify the circuit under the fusebox?

[Poorboyz]

Curious, what method to you use for this? Do you modify the circuit under the fusebox?

The relays sit next to each other in the fuse box under the hood so what I did was soldered a wire between the 2 #30 pins on the relays and re-installed them like on the link below.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=59735&highlight=wire+smilies

[DaveSmed]

That's more or less why I was asking. I feel that is an incredibly half ass way of doing that.

[Poorboyz]

I thought about it and although mine doesn't look hacked up like in the link I posted I could have done it a different way. I could have soldered the same wire on the underneath of the fuse box like you stated...but either way it would have been soldered. I'm open to suggestions on how it can be accomplished underneath the fuse box without it being half assed like you mentioned.

Thanks

[cunninglinguist]

Another way:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=150809

[Mo Brighta]

Relay mods

Curious, what method to you use for this? Do you modify the circuit under the fusebox?

Yes, exactly right. Did it in my E28 by severing the relationship between the high beam power output lead and the fog light and low beam relays, then tied the fog and low beam relay grounds to the chassis.

It's kind of tight in there, but I went in on a hot day and the wiring was softened up a bit, and I have no fear.