Why yellow "Frenched" headlights?

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  • and_e30
    Member
    • Oct 2014
    • 94

    #1

    Why yellow "Frenched" headlights?

    Found this great article explaining the purpose to having yellow or "Frenched" headlights.

    You see a lot of E30 guys running them and I thought it was because they are hipster, but it turns out they have an interesting origin.

    There is also a cool retro Top Gear link explaining it.

    Just thought I would share, something for you to bring up at your next cars and coffee ;D

    Commonly, European cars from the 1930's through the 1990's feature yellow tinted headlights. It is even more common to see cars of all generations, even
    1991 E30 318is - Project car
    1995 E36 M3 - Impulse buy
    1998 E36 M3 - Weekend car
    2002 E46 325i - Daily
    --------------
    1991 E30 325i - Sold
    2003 E39 540i Msport - Sold
  • MR E30 325is
    No R3VLimiter
    • Dec 2008
    • 3299

    #2
    Interesting.

    Thank you for sharing!
    My previous build (currently E30-less)
    http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=170390

    A 2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD 4x4 Offroad in Inferno is my newest obsession

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    • Vincent Brick
      E30 Modder
      • Feb 2013
      • 879

      #3
      Those are French headlights, "frenched" headlights are something else, where you sink the headlights into the fenders like on a car from the late-'40s through '50s.





      Great info though regarding the yellow French lenses.
      sigpic
      1991 325i Sport - Calypsorot Metallic - DAILY DRIVEN

      WTB in SoCal: 8"/10" Lukebox, leather Sport steering wheel, 60L MotoMeter fuel gauge, Thule/Yakima roof rack

      Comment

      • and_e30
        Member
        • Oct 2014
        • 94

        #4
        Originally posted by Vincent Brick
        Those are French headlights, "frenched" headlights are something else, where you sink the headlights into the fenders like on a car from the late-'40s through '50s.











        Great info though regarding the yellow French lenses.


        Oh cool, I never knew that! Thanks for the history.


        Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
        1991 E30 318is - Project car
        1995 E36 M3 - Impulse buy
        1998 E36 M3 - Weekend car
        2002 E46 325i - Daily
        --------------
        1991 E30 325i - Sold
        2003 E39 540i Msport - Sold

        Comment

        • slammin.e28
          שמע ישראל
          • May 2010
          • 12054

          #5
          AKA urinary headlights.
          1974.5 Jensen Healey : 2003 330i/5

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          • nando
            Moderator
            • Nov 2003
            • 34827

            #6
            I still think they're fugly. and yeah, they probably are hipsters. :p
            Build thread

            Bimmerlabs

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            • stonea
              R3VLimited
              • Jan 2012
              • 2892

              #7
              Originally posted by Vincent Brick
              Those are French headlights, "frenched" headlights are something else, where you sink the headlights into the fenders like on a car from the late-'40s through '50s.
              Well I learned something new today
              My Garage
              2001 Z3 2.5i Steel Gray/Black (Lexi)
              1988 325ix Diamond Schwartz/Black (Izzy)
              1989 325i Cirrus Blue/Houndstooth (Stitch)
              Feedback

              Instagram: Stone.Hopkins

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              • 2mAn
                Señior Mod
                • Aug 2010
                • 20096

                #8
                Originally posted by Vincent Brick
                Those are French headlights, "frenched" headlights are something else, where you sink the headlights into the fenders like on a car from the late-'40s through '50s.
                QFT

                you can also do this with taillights
                Simon
                Current Cars:
                -1966 Lotus Elan
                -1986 German Car
                -2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

                Make R3V Great Again -2020

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                • JasonC
                  Site Manager
                  • Aug 2006
                  • 14451

                  #9
                  Originally posted by 2mAn
                  QFT

                  you can also do this with taillights
                  Also antennas

                  1992 BMW 325iC
                  1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
                  1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 140hp

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                  • 2mAn
                    Señior Mod
                    • Aug 2010
                    • 20096

                    #10
                    Originally posted by JasonC
                    Also antennas
                    forgot about those, love seeing that
                    Simon
                    Current Cars:
                    -1966 Lotus Elan
                    -1986 German Car
                    -2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

                    Make R3V Great Again -2020

                    Comment

                    • e30austin
                      I waste 90% of my day here and all I got was this stupid title
                      • Sep 2010
                      • 15382

                      #11
                      I can't stand yellow high beams. Looks like someone pissed in the fucking headlights.


                      Comment

                      • Cayoncrusier93
                        Wrencher
                        • Jan 2013
                        • 204

                        #12
                        Yellow light is better when driving in fog, you guys didn't know that?

                        Comment

                        • Vincent Brick
                          E30 Modder
                          • Feb 2013
                          • 879

                          #13
                          Originally posted by JasonC
                          Also antennas
                          And I imagine most here have seen a frenched license plate, even if they didn't know what it is called:





                          A more tasteful, traditional example in case you need some eye bleach after that:

                          sigpic
                          1991 325i Sport - Calypsorot Metallic - DAILY DRIVEN

                          WTB in SoCal: 8"/10" Lukebox, leather Sport steering wheel, 60L MotoMeter fuel gauge, Thule/Yakima roof rack

                          Comment

                          • Colby.325e
                            E30 Addict
                            • Apr 2012
                            • 414

                            #14
                            I run frenchies, I bought them at first simply because I love the look, no other reason. I have authentic yellow lows/highs. Turns out, the yellow light is better in the fog, as mentioned before. Also, have you ever noticed with regular lights when its night, and wet, the lights seem to do NOTHING! The way it glares makes it almost useless, but the yellow lights don't do that. Way better vision on wet concrete at night.

                            .....and they look cooler, so. ;)


                            1986 325e - RIP
                            1987 528e - Sold
                            1989 325iX - Parted Out
                            1991 318iS - Sold
                            1991 325iS - Current

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                            • e30rapidic
                              R3VLimited
                              • Oct 2003
                              • 2167

                              #15
                              I have yellow high beams on mine; reminiscent of when we used to drive the e30 from England to France back in the early-mid 80's.

                              I remember helping my dad paint the headlights yellow and adding a black strip to block part of the light pattern the night before every trip across the channel.

                              Only picture I could find on the web, not our vehicle.

                              '87 325ic, powered by S50.

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