How to tell if you have sealed beam head lights or ellipsoid healights?

[Prost]

just custom make the new h3 or what ever harness. Really easy and simple to do.

That's all, I heard new screw and bracket too...is that true?

[Mr. Tasty]

just custom make the new h3 or what ever harness. Really easy and simple to do.

[Prost]

Dig out an old post, what do I need to convert from seal beam to ellipsoids other than the headlight assembly?

[Van Westervelt]

i have a question.
my car came with seal beams. and i found some guy willing to trade me his ellipsoids. but i was wondering if i can just swap out the low beams from my sealed beams for his low beam ellipsoids?

Nope, sorry. Reason being is that they mount completely differently. The headlight frames for sealed beams are metal and for ellipsoids they are plastic.

Both mounting points are vastly different. Why dont you want the high beams that are paired with the ellipsoids anyway? they are better than sealed beams too.

[accident]

if you have removable bulbs on the back side you have ellips

Not true, there was an H4 upgrade that also had removable bulbs but no projector.

[aknickintyme]

i have a question.
my car came with seal beams. and i found some guy willing to trade me his ellipsoids. but i was wondering if i can just swap out the low beams from my sealed beams for his low beam ellipsoids?

[CHIF8008]

sealed beam = {rounded face} poor light output, even new ones may not seem bright

ellipsoids = {flat face} good light output & projection/ can be upgraded with brighter bulbs/ HIDs ..ect

[MR 325]

Vert or non vert does not decide what headlights were installed. 89's all had ellipsoids, some 88's did. Just like the other models.

[bzboardz]

my '92 mtech had sealed beams

[samiam3356]

Had a 91 vert as well and it had ellips on it. BUT judging by the wiring it looked like someone had put them on it. Sold it shortly after owning it though.

[MattM]

most verts, if not all had ellipsoids

my 91 parts car vert had sealed beams

[StereoInstaller1]

AFAIK, only '89 had ellipsoids on all models.

[Holland]

Not true. A buddy (Krumchev) had sealed beams on his 91 vert. I've seen a vert in the junkyard with smashed sealed beams on it too. Also seen a couple verts driving around with sealed beams.

I believe all 91 and up cars had sealed beams. IIRC BMW did that to keep the cost down.

[Stevie30]

most verts, if not all had ellipsoids

Only "88 and "89 verts had ellipsoid headlights. Look on your registration. If it is a 1987, it will have sealed beams. If it is a 1988, it will have ellipsoids.
My 1991 has ellipsoids but I put them in so I could use HID bulbs.

[dreamchasin]

most verts, if not all had ellipsoids

Not true. A buddy (Krumchev) had sealed beams on his 91 vert. I've seen a vert in the junkyard with smashed sealed beams on it too. Also seen a couple verts driving around with sealed beams.