From Seal Beam to Smiley or Elliptical Light for HID?

[Prost]

My 92 325iC is currently with seal beam as OEM, I want to convert it to be with HID, is it better to change it to smiley or elliptical (sp?)? Which one will be easier (ie. plug and play)?

[oliver.r]

euro smilies have a additional daytime running light.
i say if you are only interested in HID get elipsoids from the junk yard

[JasonC]

Smilies don't have a daytime running light. That's called a city light in them. It's used in Europe for when you park your car in a dark tight street. Passersby can see your car parked there. And they are controlled with your turnsignal stalk. But since our cars here in tbe states aren't set up like that. When we put in the smileys, most just wire them to their parking lights. Now for the difference, the US ellips will be easier to find used, and cost a little less. But remember, both lights are now 20yo so pitting and dauling of the chrome inside the housing will hinder light output. HIDs usually are bright enough to overcome this. But its still a used light in the end. They do sell new smilies on eBay. They are made by DEPO. They have been known for quality issues, sometimes brittle plastic but mostly condensation inside the housings in moist regions. Both the US ellips and Euro ellips will be basically the same amount of time to wire in.

[Prost]

Smilies don't have a daytime running light. That's called a city light in them. It's used in Europe for when you park your car in a dark tight street. Passersby can see your car parked there. And they are controlled with your turnsignal stalk. But since our cars here in tbe states aren't set up like that. When we put in the smileys, most just wire them to their parking lights. Now for the difference, the US ellips will be easier to find used, and cost a little less. But remember, both lights are now 20yo so pitting and dauling of the chrome inside the housing will hinder light output. HIDs usually are bright enough to overcome this. But its still a used light in the end. They do sell new smilies on eBay. They are made by DEPO. They have been known for quality issues, sometimes brittle plastic but mostly condensation inside the housings in moist regions. Both the US ellips and Euro ellips will be basically the same amount of time to wire in.

Thanks, so both are never direct plug and play at all?

[JasonC]

All it is, is a hot wire and a ground wire per bulb. And a relay jump so the lows will stay on when the high beams turn on. You just have to have the correct connectors for tje lights. Cause the US ellips take a different connector then the Euros. There are a few write-ups in the DIY/ FAQ part on here. Once I'm home ill post up the differences in then and a link to the wiring if you are unable to find it.

[Prost]

All it is, is a hot wire and a ground wire per bulb. And a relay jump so the lows will stay on when the high beams turn on. You just have to have the correct connectors for tje lights. Cause the US ellips take a different connector then the Euros. There are a few write-ups in the DIY/ FAQ part on here. Once I'm home ill post up the differences in then and a link to the wiring if you are unable to find it.

I will take a look at that later. Thank you!

[noE30]

I should have asked this question a while ago, I had elips and replaced them with depo smoked smileys with HIDs in the low beams, I wasn't sure how to wire up the high beams though. I assume there is a diy out there for it, but i just seem to find your average hid threads when I try search.
Thanks

[ELVA164]

You don't want to use HID in high beams because flashing them damages the bulbs.

If you mean just installing them, look here.