So, I don't know what the deal is, but the headlights on European cars imported to America properly suck. That's what I encountered with my 1984 325e. Sealed beams. To be fair, they were poorly aimed when I bought the car, but even when I aimed them via the 25 feet from the wall method with tape and all, they still were terrible.
I recalled a modification I did to my old 1989 535i where you put the high beam bulb into the low beam socket. On that car the difference was amazing. Since they were aimed low, I was never flashed for having my brights on, but the light output was excellent.
I figured there must be a way to do that to the e30, and there is. Here goes.
Parts needed:
2 high beam sealed beam units
2 high beam sealed beam holder (metal cup like piece that holds the bulb, metal trim ring attaches to this) The low beam ones are different.
2 springs for the holder (you can use the one from your low beams if you like)
Tools:
Flathead screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Voltmeter or test light
A little bit of skill, but this is pretty easy
I had a parts car, so I was able to just remove these parts from that one. As far as I know, you can use parts off of any of the sealed beam e30s.
To begin pop the hood but don't open it. Remove the two phillips screws from the bottom of the plastic trim around the headlights on each side.
Next, remove the clips (3 each side) on the top of this trim with the flathead.
Trim piece simply pulls off.
Now, open the hood and remove the black plastic trim behind the lights.
Now, remove the plug for the low beam. You may want to disconnect the negative battery cable before this, but I didn't.
Turn the plastic aiming adjusters counter-clockwise until the whole sealed beam unit/holder/trim comes out. Unhook the spring, and place to the side.
If you didn't get the trim ring for the high beam, transfer it from the low beam using the 3 phillips screws. Be careful to seat the bulb into the holder properly before you tighten the trim ring.
Hook the spring onto the high beam unit and into the car, then line up the screws so they go into the plastic aiming adjusters, and turn them clockwise to tighten.
Now, it's time for wiring. You'll notice that the low beam units have three electrical leads, while the high beams have just two. I don't know why this is the case. On mine, the top wire on the low beam was 12v, the other two were ground.
I just found which side of the high beam was 12v, removed the leads from the harness, connected the top lead to that side, and ground to the other. On my car, the left side from the back of the light is ground, right side is power, but please check using the test light before you connect it backwards.
Repeat for the other side.
Now aim your headlights. You can do a google search or one on this site and find some really good resources on how to do that. I aimed mine just a little lower than the low beams were to ensure that I wouldn't blind anyone. It makes a huge difference in the light output.
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a pm.
Just a disclaimer: This modification may be illegal in your area (it may be in mine too, but so far, so good). Check with local authorities first if you feel a need to do so.
I recalled a modification I did to my old 1989 535i where you put the high beam bulb into the low beam socket. On that car the difference was amazing. Since they were aimed low, I was never flashed for having my brights on, but the light output was excellent.
I figured there must be a way to do that to the e30, and there is. Here goes.
Parts needed:
2 high beam sealed beam units
2 high beam sealed beam holder (metal cup like piece that holds the bulb, metal trim ring attaches to this) The low beam ones are different.
2 springs for the holder (you can use the one from your low beams if you like)
Tools:
Flathead screwdriver
Phillips screwdriver
Voltmeter or test light
A little bit of skill, but this is pretty easy
I had a parts car, so I was able to just remove these parts from that one. As far as I know, you can use parts off of any of the sealed beam e30s.
To begin pop the hood but don't open it. Remove the two phillips screws from the bottom of the plastic trim around the headlights on each side.
Next, remove the clips (3 each side) on the top of this trim with the flathead.
Trim piece simply pulls off.
Now, open the hood and remove the black plastic trim behind the lights.
Now, remove the plug for the low beam. You may want to disconnect the negative battery cable before this, but I didn't.
Turn the plastic aiming adjusters counter-clockwise until the whole sealed beam unit/holder/trim comes out. Unhook the spring, and place to the side.
If you didn't get the trim ring for the high beam, transfer it from the low beam using the 3 phillips screws. Be careful to seat the bulb into the holder properly before you tighten the trim ring.
Hook the spring onto the high beam unit and into the car, then line up the screws so they go into the plastic aiming adjusters, and turn them clockwise to tighten.
Now, it's time for wiring. You'll notice that the low beam units have three electrical leads, while the high beams have just two. I don't know why this is the case. On mine, the top wire on the low beam was 12v, the other two were ground.
I just found which side of the high beam was 12v, removed the leads from the harness, connected the top lead to that side, and ground to the other. On my car, the left side from the back of the light is ground, right side is power, but please check using the test light before you connect it backwards.
Repeat for the other side.
Now aim your headlights. You can do a google search or one on this site and find some really good resources on how to do that. I aimed mine just a little lower than the low beams were to ensure that I wouldn't blind anyone. It makes a huge difference in the light output.
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a pm.
Just a disclaimer: This modification may be illegal in your area (it may be in mine too, but so far, so good). Check with local authorities first if you feel a need to do so.
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