Plug and play options for an 86 eta?

[jimsill]

Are there plug And play headlight upgrades for my car? If not, easy DIY mods? How much of a whore would it be to wire up some US ellips? And Lastly, what setup came stock on this car?


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[jimsill]

Anybody?


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[efficient]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=137296

[reelizmpro]

Sealed beams came stock on that car. H4/H1 would be PNP, but with minor rewiring you can use US or euro ellipsoids. If u have no idea what im talking about then you have a lot of reading to do.

[Mo Brighta]

Plug'n'play upgrade for sealed beams

I can get you some really nice Hella or Cibie halogen lights that fit perfectly, and with high output bulbs they will be a fantastic improvement over stock lights. All new stuff, with headlight protection so rocks don't hurt them. I would hate to have to buy replacement lights after that sickening 'crack' - I guess anyone would feel the same.

What kind of time frame are you thinking?

Andy

[jimsill]

I can get you some really nice Hella or Cibie halogen lights that fit perfectly, and with high output bulbs they will be a fantastic improvement over stock lights. All new stuff, with headlight protection so rocks don't hurt them. I would hate to have to buy replacement lights after that sickening 'crack' - I guess anyone would feel the same.

What kind of time frame are you thinking?

Andy

U have PM


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[Swanny]

What are the specifics with lights you're mentioning?

[KMOSES]

Cibie H1 & H4 headlights from Daniel Stern Lighting are the way to go! I have used the Hella Euro (flat face) H1 & H4 on my '87 325e daily driver for 4 yrs. but installed the Cibie headlight on my restored '87 325. The Cibie have a sharper cutoff on the low beams and the high beams focus and projection is fantastic! There was so much difference between the Cibie and Hella headlights that I replaced the bulbs in the Hellas with the same bulbs I installed in the Cibie's, it was not the bulbs!

[Mo Brighta]

Lighting upgrade - specifics

What are the specifics with lights you're mentioning?

OK, assuming this is directed to me, here goes.

Hella and Cibie are two very well respected makers of lighting, they both go way back, both have very good reputations. Both make 'plug and play' sealed beam replacement upgrade lights that simply install, plug right in to your stock harness. No Muss, No Fuss. Three raised bosses on the back of each light fit into three slots in the buckets only one way to keep the top of the light at the top of the bucket.

Both recommendations are sealed beam replacement Halogen Reflector lights. Both use common bulbs: H1 for high beam and H4 for low beam. I always suggest starting with stock wattage high output bulbs. New lamp technology makes more light from the same watts as original. This avoids strain on the wiring, switches, fuses and relays and so forth, the safest approach in my opinion.

Both lights are made in flat face versions, which is the best option for applying the thick headlight protection film, perfectly clear and vital to avoiding road debris pitting the glass, or even breaking them.

Bulbs recommended are Narva, high output 'RangePower +50', made in Germany. They claim "up to 50% brighter"; I can't swear to the 50%, but I CAN swear they are noticeably brighter than stock.

The Hella setup runs around $190, plus bulbs, plus shipping; the Cibie setup runs around $320 [EDIT: $290], plus, plus.

Hope this answers your question.

[Mo Brighta]

Jim-
Saw a FS Post on another forum, for a set of four Hella H1/H4 lights, used, for cheep!
PM or email me if interested, I'll point you at them. I believe plug and play.

Spoiler- they were used, and pretty pitted, not clean but under $200 for all four.

[tschultz]

On the subject of headlight upgrades, the H1/H4 Hella headlights are a large increase of performance over the standard sealed beams that came in these cars. A lot of guys in the e28 group like them as an upgrade, and they are a direct swap. The nice thing being you can select different wattage bulbs (corresponding to brightness).
The higher wattage may tax your old wiring more, but it's all about give and take.

The other option is what Andy mentioned as a H1/H1 setup. Andy got me my setup, and the first thing you will notice is that the high beams are much much brighter with the same wattage as the old sealed beams. This is because the headlight/reflector is only designed to do a specific task. Sealed beams and H4's flip between filaments, and end up directing up to lo beams or high beams. You end up with with a sacrifice in the beam design because only ~half of the reflector is being used with each filament.

The H1/H1 (bowtie/ECE setup) allows each bulb to direct light in one place, high or low. This means you need two different lights, but you use the same bulbs. You can still change out to higher wattage, but for me the stock 55W has been great (except when covered with road grime on wintery days). There is a small difference in wiring to eliminate the filament 'flip' as I mentioned above, but when modified (always reversible) you will have all four headlights on, and all four aiming 100% or their light towards their focused locations (low and high). AKA you can see really well when high beams are on.

I hope this helps and wasn't too long :yawn:

[Mo Brighta]

Another option - Cibie, lower cost

Thanks for the plug, Tom!

Jim, I just got a lower price for the Cibie setup, H1 highs, H4 lows. $290 plus, plus. I have it on good authority that the Cibie design is in fact better than the Hella, and worth the extra cost.

That would be +1 on the post from KMOSES, thanks!

I spoke with Tom / tschultz / more after he posted above, he says he has noted a distinct pitting in the glass on the lights he did NOT cover with headlight protection film, the high beams, so when you get new lights, I definitely recommend the film. At $20 for four lights, it's a wise investment. I have it cut to fit the European made lights perfectly, it's not 5 inches or 5-3/4 inches, it's somewhere in between.

Anyone want to see where they're going to be in 30 seconds? Better headlights is how you do it.

[jimsill]

Thanks for all the info, I am thinking about the euro ellipsoids as well. Much to decide!


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[KMOSES]

If Mo Brighta can get you a set of Cibie headlights for that price, don't think, just buy them and thank him! That is a great price and you will be Happy, Happy, Happy!

[DMGSI E_TREINTA]

What do you guys think about this

Look at this on eBay:

BMW / HELLA Headlight Kit E30 320 325 M3 for US-Models BRAND NEW! Left and Right

http://bit.ly/1kBw6OP

I just bought a 85 325e and headlights are the first in my upgrade list