Lighting Explained (headlights, bulbs, etc.)

[erik325i]

Well, guessing by your name (323i) and the fact that you say you have city lights, I would say that you already have Euro ellipsoids. The highbeams and lowbeams both use an H1 bulb. If you are not happy with the lighting, get better bulbs. Osram Silverstars are the most popular H1 bulb that I know of. You can't get them in the states though.

-erik

[erik325i]

When the key is taken from the ignition but the lights are left on, this light shines along with a light in the tails. Both are low amperage as to not create a large draw on the battery.

Max, so is there a separate low amp city light in the Euro taillight, or does it use the normal taillight bulb?

What I am asking is, is there any difference between the Euro and US taillights, besides the rear fog light?

-Erik

[der affe]

ok, so what is your opinion of the bi-xenon hid kits that use a "shutter" or door to redirect the light by blocking a portion of it for low beam? i have single h-4 conversions in my outer headlights and deletes in my inners, i drive down some pretty dark roads and would like brighter/better lighting, and still want to maintain the ability to have hi and low beams. i know that they are expensive $300-$400 range, but if that 's what it takes to get a quality kit....so be it. i have some factory hid's from a 03 maxima that i replaced the lights on at work that i am going to install into my driving lights, if that will do the trick great, but i don't think it will completely solve my problem.
greg

[herragge]

For anyone that needs the real Osram's for H1 or H3 Super's, this is a GREAT place to get them!

http://www.powerbulbs.co.uk/

They are in the UK, but shipping was fast and even FREE for me...They also gave me some free blue tinted Phillips replacement H3 bulbs that I did not order...

So basically, great place to get cheap bulbs with fast and cheap shipping without having to worry about them being in Britain.

Mike

[Ryan Stewart]

Max, so is there a separate low amp city light in the Euro taillight, or does it use the normal taillight bulb?

What I am asking is, is there any difference between the Euro and US taillights, besides the rear fog light?

-Erik

No, it just uses the parking light in the rear but not the one on the liscence plate and only one side. I think total draw is 7.5 amps max so on a 650amphr battery you are good for a couple days.

[MikesJo]

So which 9006 halogen bulb would be the brightest of those three listed in 2004? :). The ones I have in my ellips are so bad.

[Febi Guibo]

you might want to try some 9011 or 9012 HIR lamps...

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...ulb_types.html

I had them in my US ellips, super bright.

[MikesJo]

Are they a direct fit for the 9006 housing? Is the only place to get them off that site too? Thanks!

I think I'll just throw a 9005 into the 9006 housing. Any 9005 bulb will do right? Or should I look for a specific one? Will the 65w do any harm to the car or electrical?

[Arkangel]

[quote=marakka]The difference between euro elips and us elips is the presence of a "city light" required for parking on unlighted Europe roads where your car would hang into the street. When the key is taken from the ignition but the lights are left on, this light shines along with a light in the tails. Both are low amperage as to not create a large draw on the battery. This brings the oncoming drivers attention to the auto and helps avoid a collision. Another difference is the bulb utilized in both. From what I understand, the US elips use a 9006/9005 combo while the Europe version uses an H1 design. [quote]

Question...so let me get this straight, the "city lights" stay on? So do they ever turn off? Explain please...(sry for the dumb question, I'm learning alot about bmw's...)

[Arkangel]

I guess no one's gonna answer my question..

[MrK]

The 'city light' is a light that is turned on with the first pull of the light knob. The second pull turns on all the other lights. All this occurs with the key in and in the 'on' position. Without the key, you can turn on the left or the right side of the 'city lights' in front, and the respective rear light as well, so that if your car sticks out into the road, oncomers will see that light marking the edge of your car. I THINK (haven't done it in so long) that you turn on your left or right city lights in a Euro e30 by switching the car off, removing the key, and pushing the indicator stalk up for right, and down for left. Correct me if I'm wrong ppl.

[s52e368]

you might want to try some 9011 or 9012 HIR lamps...

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...ulb_types.html

I had them in my US ellips, super bright.

where can these be purchased?

[mrLEE30]

MRK yes you are right, but personally have never heard of the phrase city lights, we euros call them side lights, and there are two types. 1st is a small 5W 12V bulb that comes on with the light switch in 1st position. 2nd type:. some cars have a resistor that dim the driving light so it appears to be dim. our indicators do not come on with the side lights like the US type with sealed beam.

to turn on the parking lights you turn off the ignition and and flick the indicator down for left and up for right (actually you move the stalk about an inch further then the normal indicator position as the contact is seperate from indicator contact), this will turn on the 5W front bulb and the normal (15W i think) rear driving bulb on the left or the right, but no license plate or interior lights come on. this draws about 20W = 1.6Amps

mrlee

[smonkbmw]

bimmerphile, youre links dont work in the section about retrofitting HIDs..im curious about that procedure.

[Beastolizer]

So my H1 HID kit will only work with euro ellipsoids? And If I got some U.S. Ellipsoids, I'd have to get the 9006's and 9005's?