Low beams so dull

[e30onBBSs]

Hey r3v I have 9006 bulbs in my e30, I think they aren't supposed to fit but it looks like they've been ground out or something to fit. They seem to function fine, but they are worthless for seeing at night. Is it because they are a cheap bulbs? Does different bulb size affect aiming? I've been working all day and this is the only problem I've encountered so far that seems like a dead end. My high beams are probably comparable to others' low beams, could I just aim the low beams but roll with the high beams on all the time because they are as bright as modern day lights?

[ELVA164]

Uh...so you have U.S. ellipsoids? Are you saying someone put high beam (9006) bulbs in your low beam (9005) buckets? If so, that's no bueno. If the light output seems very dim, it could be a variety of things. The reflectors in the lights could be cloudy or dirty, the glass could be cloudy and/or sandblasted from road debris, the gauge of wire to the lights could be too small, the wiring might not be sufficiently grounded, the bulbs may be off-brand or old, the adjustment could be (and most likely is) off...no matter what, don't drive with high beams on. Dim or not, they point right at other drivers and that's a safety hazard.

[e30onBBSs]

Uh...so you have U.S. ellipsoids? Are you saying someone put high beam (9006) bulbs in your low beam (9005) buckets? If so, that's no bueno. If the light output seems very dim, it could be a variety of things. The reflectors in the lights could be cloudy or dirty, the glass could be cloudy and/or sandblasted from road debris, the gauge of wire to the lights could be too small, the wiring might not be sufficiently grounded, the bulbs may be off-brand or old, the adjustment could be (and most likely is) off...no matter what, don't drive with high beams on. Dim or not, they point right at other drivers and that's a safety hazard.

Thanks ELVA16! I guess my first step is to get some 9005's and check all of those things. I read about aiming lights and it said to aim the hi-beams and low beams are aimed differently, the hi's are obviously higher so it illuminates up. If I aim the hi-beams to the same height of the low beams, so they will not be in other's eye is that fine? It's not inspected yet so no one is getting blinded :D

[e30onBBSs]

Location Qty Specs Generic Sylvania BMW Comments
================================================== =======================================
Headlights - Sealed Beam, Low 2 35/35W H5006 H5006 63121468226
Headlights - Sealed Beam, High 2 50W H5001 H5001 63121468272
Headlights - US Ellipsoids, Lo 2 51W HB4 9006 63217160786
Headlights - US Ellipsoids, High 2 60W HB3 9005 63217160785
Headlights - Euro Ellipsoids, Low 2 55W H1 64150 63217160777
Headlights - Euro Ellipsoids, High 2 55W H1 64150 63217160777
Headlights - Euro Ellipsoids, City 2 5W W5W 2825 63217160797
Fog 2 55W H3 64151

Why does this say 9006 if they don't fit, and it says 9005 for hi beams?

[nick_318is]

Swap out for a Hella h1/h4 combo.

[agent]

If I aim the hi-beams to the same height of the low beams, so they will not be in other's eye is that fine? It's not inspected yet so no one is getting blinded :D

Again, do not do that. Isolate and address the actual problem. Don't create another one by using some workaround. Start with replacing the low beam bulbs and aiming them correctly.

If you want to upgrade to an HID kit, the ones Halston sells are very good and won't break the bank:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=323967

[M-technik-3]

Clean the contacts and make sure you are seeing 12V at the lights. Are your lenses pitted? They will defuse the amount of light projected to the road.

[e30onBBSs]

Again, do not do that. Isolate and address the actual problem. Don't create another one by using some workaround. Start with replacing the low beam bulbs and aiming them correctly.

If you want to upgrade to an HID kit, the ones Halston sells are very good and won't break the bank:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=323967

Thanks agent!

Clean the contacts and make sure you are seeing 12V at the lights. Are your lenses pitted? They will defuse the amount of light projected to the road.

THanks m-technik! I will get to work after school today

[e30onBBSs]

I'm very close to getting the h4's. Will I be able to pass inspection? They are not DOT complaint, but I feel like no one would know/ care?

[DRTSRFR]

...and...How to aim your headlights...

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

[MPLFoster]

...and...How to aim your headlights...

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

+1
Really good info here.

[M-technik-3]

Most would not even notice the difference.

[Mo Brighta]

Headlight problems

Again, do not do that. Isolate and address the actual problem. Don't create another one by using some workaround. Start with replacing the low beam bulbs and aiming them correctly.

Ditto on that, it is NOT a simple matter of aiming highs up and down, because the distribution patterns of high and low beams in decent lights are totally different. Highs have no restriction on glare above a certain elevation, because they are supposed to light up everything when no other driver is within sight. Lows have a very specific function and performance profile including glare restrictions above the 'Cut-off' elevation, which is why there are specific aiming instructions (which could use some revision in the US, but that's another topic). Daniel Stern is a great resource, we talk alot.

9005 is the bulb number for high beams, also called HB3. 9006 is for ellipsoidal lows, also called HB4. The highs usually have a slightly higher wattage and output, and are made to fit high beam housings ONLY. And yes, filament location is critical to good lighting performance. Headlight bulbs are not interchangeable for the most part, though there are a few exceptions like the 9011 high beam and 9012 low beam lamps from Philips. Those are new, and use HIR technology to make LOTS more light - but they MUST be adapted to the light housing to work effectively. And HIR is NOT HID. HIR is for Halogen Infrared Reflector lamps, they have filaments, and a special coating inside the glass envelope to reflect heat onto the filament for more light. HID is for High Intensity Discharge, a plasma discharge based lamp, it has no filament.

If your bulb has been 'ground down' by someone, I suspect there was experimentation going on. Since you complain of totally inadequate light performance, you clearly still have problems to solve.

Here is a true story - my wife bought a car that used H7 in the highs, but I couldn't tell if they were on because there was no significant difference in light on the road with them on or off. I chalked it up to poor lighting design, and because I almost never drove her car I left it alone. Eventually it got under my skin so I took a close look - the lights were connected, the bulbs were glowing, but practically NO LIGHT made it onto the road. Turns out the bulbs were in their sockets, but neither of the spring hold down clips had been secured to hold them in place against the flange, so the filaments were out of place -- by a few millimeters! This misalignment was enough to make them totally useless.

It seems you are new to the car, so I'm glad you are seeking to learn about it here, bravo! Hope you can resolve this quickly and easily. If the lights are in decent shape physically and the lenses not too badly pitted, maybe a pair of high performance lamps like the 9012 will do the job for you. If they are trashed, then a decent pair of properly fitted Halogen reflectors like the Hellas may be the best answer.

Good Luck, and many happy miles!