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E30 Headlight FAQ

 
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dale



Joined: 22 Aug 1999
Posts: 3087
Location: Seattle, WA USA

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:02 am    Post subject: E30 Headlight FAQ Reply with quote

(incomplete)

I've been getting a lot of questions about my upgraded headlights,
so I decided to put together this FAQ on upgrading E30 headlights.

For the USA, in '88 and '89 only, BMW installed USA ellipsoids, distinct from euro ellipsoidal models.
They take 9006 low beam bulbs and 9005 high beam bulbs.

See Sylvania for a complete list of bulbs for your E30, and I've copied the 89 and 87 325i results below
http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/AutomotiveLighting/LampReplacementGuide/AutoLRG-Results.htm

I think the best bang-for-the-buck, are the Hella H1/H4 drop in replacements for sealed beam lights.
$146 here:
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/SOHi-Performance__W0QQ_armrsZ1
Add the 35W H1 and 35W H4 HID kits and you've got very good lighting for under $300.

The Hella Euro Ellipsoid after-market lights at Turner:
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=1DL005630-801
Very good lights, but not functionally much better then the drop in Hella H4/H1 lights
Cost, $637+$40 for the wiring, $677, plus another $150 for the HID kits, $827 total, wow.

Yes, you can HID the fogs, early style fogs take H1 bulb, so get another 35W H1 kit and install. Later style, in the valance fogs, take an H3 bulb, and you can get a kit for that as well.

Other posts on this subject:
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=32024
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=32519
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=32279
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=32024
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=31783
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=31005
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=29347

These Cibie CSR lights look cool(maybe discontinued), H4/H1 5-3/4" drop-in replacements:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/products/csr.html

Other articles on E30 headlights:
http://www.strictlyeta.net/technical/headlights.html

====================================
1987 BMW 300 Series
Low beam headlamp
H5006
H5006XV XtraVision Halogen - The Brighter Light
High beam headlamp
H5001
H5001XV XtraVision Halogen - The Brighter Light
Parking light
7528
7528LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Front turn signal
7528
7528LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Rear turn signal
7506
7506ST Silverstar Signal Lighting: Complete the Look: Crisp, Clean, Style
7506LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Tail light
5007
5007LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Stop light
7506
7506ST Silverstar Signal Lighting: Complete the Look: Crisp, Clean, Style
7506LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
High mount stop light
7506
7506ST Silverstar Signal Lighting: Complete the Look: Crisp, Clean, Style
7506LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Fog/Driving light
H1
H1ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: The Whiter and Brighter Halogen
H1XV XtraVision Halogen - The Brighter Light
License plate
6418
6418LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Back up light
7506
7506ST Silverstar Signal Lighting: Complete the Look: Crisp, Clean, Style
7506LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Front sidemarker
2825
2825LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Dome light
6411
Trunk/Cargo area
6418
6418LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Instrument-general
2721

====================================
1989 BMW 300 Series
Low beam headlamp
9006
9006SU Silverstar ULTRA for Ultra Night Vision - The Whitest and Brightest Halogen
9006ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: The Whiter and Brighter Halogen
9006EB EcoBright - Your Environmental Choice
9006XV XtraVision Halogen - The Brighter Light
9006CB Cool Blue Halogen - The Whiter Light
High beam headlamp
9005
9005SU Silverstar ULTRA for Ultra Night Vision - The Whitest and Brightest Halogen
9005ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: The Whiter and Brighter Halogen
9005EB EcoBright - Your Environmental Choice
9005XV XtraVision Halogen - The Brighter Light
9005CB Cool Blue Halogen - The Whiter Light
Parking light
7528
7528LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Front turn signal
7528
7528LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Rear turn signal
7506
7506ST Silverstar Signal Lighting: Complete the Look: Crisp, Clean, Style
7506LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Tail light
5007
5007LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Stop light
7506
7506ST Silverstar Signal Lighting: Complete the Look: Crisp, Clean, Style
7506LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
High mount stop light
7506
7506ST Silverstar Signal Lighting: Complete the Look: Crisp, Clean, Style
7506LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Fog/Driving light
H1
H1ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: The Whiter and Brighter Halogen
H1XV XtraVision Halogen - The Brighter Light
H3
H3ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: The Whiter and Brighter Halogen
License plate
6418
6418LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Back up light
7506
7506ST Silverstar Signal Lighting: Complete the Look: Crisp, Clean, Style
7506LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Front sidemarker
2825
2825LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Glove box
6411
Dome light
6411
Trunk/Cargo area
6411
6418
6418LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
Instrument-general
2721
=============
In these Hella's, I've added DDM Tuning HID kits.

The H4 is the extra-cost, bi-xenon, hi/low H4.
The H1 is the normal xenon.
Go for the 5k color.

http://www.ddmtuning.com/index.php?p=product&id=101&parent=85
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dale@unofficialbmw.com
sold in 2016
87 325 5spd eta
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