Euro ellips compatibility

[royalflush313]

Quick Q.

I was sure that all the E30 headlights are interchangeable between all E30 models. But someone recently told me that 87 and earlier E30s headlights are held in differently, so the euro smiley elips for example will not work.

I know that there are more than a handful of you with a 87 E30 using euro ellips, so can someone confirm this? Is there modifications (mounting) needed?

I just want to be sure, because im selling my ellips to a local guy with a 87.

[nando]

they are confusing the sealed beam buckets and lenses. you have to swap the whole assembly with the Euro assembly, which comes with it's own mounting bracket. it's like 4 big screws to take the old ones out, you can find the procedure in any $15 E30 manual.

wiring is a little more tricky, but there are some great guides on wiring the euro lights into sealed beam cars all over the place. I used Ryan's but I think he took it down..

you will also need to aim them, I used the procedure on www.danielsternlighting.com and my lights are great!

[royalflush313]

they are confusing the sealed beam buckets and lenses. you have to swap the whole assembly with the Euro assembly, which comes with it's own mounting bracket. it's like 4 big screws to take the old ones out, you can find the procedure in any $15 E30 manual.

wiring is a little more tricky, but there are some great guides on wiring the euro lights into sealed beam cars all over the place. I used Ryan's but I think he took it down..

you will also need to aim them, I used the procedure on www.danielsternlighting.com and my lights are great!

right, thanks for the response.
I was quite certain that it would be no problem, but I wanted to make sure before I sold the lights to him.

[Madhatter]

no they arent confusing them, atleast not here they arent (so for euro spec vehicles). It is true, the earlier lights use a metal frame which is much smaller than the larger model lights with ellipsoids (the ellipsoids wont actually fit into them). I had to swap the whole assembly from a series II car in order to use my ellipsoids i purchased.

[nando]

no they arent confusing them, atleast not here they arent (so for euro spec vehicles). It is true, the earlier lights use a metal frame which is much smaller than the larger model lights with ellipsoids (the ellipsoids wont actually fit into them). I had to swap the whole assembly from a series II car in order to use my ellipsoids i purchased.

that is exactly what I just posted above...

[royalflush313]

that is exactly what I just posted above...

right, so as long as you have the actual lights and the brackets, it is okay.

[Madhatter]

errr, no you didnt. I dont have sealed beams, it is already a euro car i have H4/H1's and i had to swap the whole thing with a series II car. You cant just use any euro assembly, you specifically need the series II items.

[nando]

errr, no you didnt. I dont have sealed beams, it is already a euro car i have H4/H1's and i had to swap the whole thing with a series II car. You cant just use any euro assembly, you specifically need the series II items.

I think you are confused. I said he had to swap out his old assembly for the new assembly, including the buckets, which is what you just stated (again). it's no different if your car is euro or not (sealed beams and H4s use the same mounts).

[ebelements]

I have an 86, and I'm retrofitting the smiley lowbeams because I got them cheap and I enjoy a challenge. For those of you who do not enjoy cutting yourself, cursing, and possibly not having headlights, you should shell out a couple ben franklins and buy the whole setup. =)