Are Euro headlights plug and play?

[zmayne01]

Before I dive in and start removing my headlights and grill and install a Euro setup, I thought I'd better ask if this is an easy conversion. Is there anything special that needs to be done? Any mods to the wiring, mounting points, etc? Does everything just transfer over? Thanks in advance.

[Son of a]

No.
Now do a damn search.

[Coldswede]

Now do a damn search

Oh, It must be snowing in Connecticut, someones testy.

[sennasixty8]

Now do a damn search

Oh, It must be snowing in Connecticut, someones testy.

[demetk]

Before I dive in and start removing my headlights and grill and install a Euro setup, I thought I'd better ask if this is an easy conversion. Is there anything special that needs to be done? Any mods to the wiring, mounting points, etc? Does everything just transfer over? Thanks in advance.

Haven't done it on the e28, but on the 85 e23 I did a complete re-wire for the euro's. The original wiring was, well, old.

Here's a start: http://www.mye28.com/tech/rods_pages/id6.html

[Snakeyestx]

Speaking of "Testies" .. did you guys hear about this? The guy was on the radio this morning (94.5 the buzz morning show)

http://neworleans.craigslist.org/wan/1582695084.html

Legitimate ad!

[e9coupeguy]

Before I dive in and start removing my headlights and grill and install a Euro setup, I thought I'd better ask if this is an easy conversion. Is there anything special that needs to be done? Any mods to the wiring, mounting points, etc? Does everything just transfer over? Thanks in advance.

Haven't done it on the e28, but on the 85 e23 I did a complete re-wire for the euro's. The original wiring was, well, old.

Here's a start: http://www.mye28.com/tech/rods_pages/id6.html

demetk - heck of a write up. lots of great info!

[Jeremy]

No.
Now do a damn search.

Um, actually, the wiring is if you remove the Euro backing plate and plug the harness directly into the bulb.

Just sayin' ...

Jeremy

PS - I don't know about West Hartford, but it was lightly snowing most of the day where I live.

[BRRV]

the wiring is if you remove the Euro backing plate and plug the harness directly into the bulb.

Yep, it's true. Down and dirty would have you running these in about an hour if you take your time. Mind you, that does not mean that you can install the rubber shields on the back or anything, but they will work. I'd hate to tell you just how long I have avoided installing them "correctly"!

[duggi]

the wiring is if you remove the Euro backing plate and plug the harness directly into the bulb.

Yep, it's true. Down and dirty would have you running these in about an hour if you take your time. Mind you, that does not mean that you can install the rubber shields on the back or anything, but they will work. I'd hate to tell you just how long I have avoided installing them "correctly"!

That's really a shame, because installing them correctly only took me about 45 minutes. That includes the fuse box modification and getting the city lights wired in. It's super easy, go for it =)

[BRRV]

I just never got around to it. It's a project that I'm ashamed to say I just never finished, and now I need a new drivers side headlight to boot. Maybe that will motivate me to do it right. It's been... well, I bought them from Duke when he was in Germany. Does that tell you how long it's been?

[duggi]

I just never got around to it. It's a project that I'm ashamed to say I just never finished, and now I need a new drivers side headlight to boot. Maybe that will motivate me to do it right. It's been... well, I bought them from Duke when he was in Germany. Does that tell you how long it's been?

[zmayne01]

Haha, I know, I know about the search. There's a search function?
Thanks for the tips guys.[/quote]

[andy535iyes]

I thought that relays needed to be installed to handle the extra current that the Euro bulbs drew.

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

I hate being confused.

Andy

[Jeremy]

I thought that relays needed to be installed to handle the extra current that the Euro bulbs drew.

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

I hate being confused.

Andy

Not if you stick with stock wattage or mildly higher wattage bulbs. Anything more than that and it gets very debatable.

Jeremy

[John in VA]

http://www.mye28.com/tech/rods_pages/id6.html
demetk - heck of a write up. lots of great info!

That write-up is from Rod Paine's site.

[rodpaine]

http://www.mye28.com/tech/rods_pages/id6.html
demetk - heck of a write up. lots of great info!

That write-up is from Rod Paine's site.

Thanks, John. If readers are also considering using much higher wattage bulbs (I use 90 and 100 watt) you should also look at this page. This page is linked on the page John refers to, but many people don't seem to see it. Using high wattage bulbs greatly improves on the old optics design of the Euro lamps, by laying down more light, if that's what you're looking for. Used with stock wattage lamps, the Euros are still a good improvement over the stock 37 watt sealed beam lamps.
FWIW,
-Rod

[MisterFixit]

I just never got around to it. It's a project that I'm ashamed to say I just never finished, and now I need a new drivers side headlight to boot. Maybe that will motivate me to do it right. It's been... well, I bought them from Duke when he was in Germany. Does that tell you how long it's been?

Hmmmm, never heard of headlight protection film, have we? http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=72865

Seriously, I am sorry to hear of your loss... Let's see, I can cover all four headlights for $24, or let the Rocky Mountains (via the Colorado Department of Transportation) have their way with them, break my glass, and pay -- I don't know, what's a Euro headlight cost these days -- $50, $75, $90 each?

Peter in Taiwan has them, maybe he'll sell you one cheap.

[MisterFixit]

I thought that relays needed to be installed to handle the extra current that the Euro bulbs drew.

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

I hate being confused.

Andy

Um, Andy - take a look in the fuse box, towards the back. You should see a bunch of little square boxes that look like relays ... oh, WAIT -- They ARE relays! Should find two for the headlights, one for lows, one for highs, and one for fogs. US wiring has a funky backfed diode protected unit for low beams and for the fogs, I had to disable that 'feature' for my lows to work as intended.

One of these days, I'll do a write-up (for the FAQ) for anyone who wants to convert to Euros or CSRs, and wants their lows on at all times.

As you may suspect, these factory relays are rated for stock-ish bulbs, you should not have any trouble at 55 or 60 Watts per bulb. Go down the 90-130 Watt paint-melter route, and you will need to upgrade all the wiring from the fuses and relays to the headlights AND then to ground. I like to solder new connectors onto 12 ga. wires, maybe I like fumes, maybe it'll help reduce the potential for future problems. Maybe both, I don't know any more (too many fumes ???)

Daniel Stern's site is a good one, I spent alot of time there before I tricked out my lights, and I am very happy with the results, but you already knew that, I guess...

[BRRV]

Got the headlight film on - I DID do that. The problem is that the silver is slowly coming away from the reflector, probably due to corrosion. The lenses are fine. The drivers side lens tends to look cloudy in one lower area, is all.

[Jeremy]

Got the headlight film on - I DID do that. The problem is that the silver is slowly coming away from the reflector, probably due to corrosion. The lenses are fine. The drivers side lens tends to look cloudy in one lower area, is all.

Heh, I guess that's where that backplate comes into play, eh? I can certainly relate to the "oh, it's working well enough, I'll finish it off later" thing though.

Jeremy

[BRRV]

Got the headlight film on - I DID do that. The problem is that the silver is slowly coming away from the reflector, probably due to corrosion. The lenses are fine. The drivers side lens tends to look cloudy in one lower area, is all.

Heh, I guess that's where that backplate comes into play, eh? I can certainly relate to the "oh, it's working well enough, I'll finish it off later" thing though.

Jeremy

Yea, it fell off the priority list about 8 years ago and I never got back to it.

[BimmerJunkie]

I did this upgrade last year. I used Rod's site (listed above) and Daniel Stern's site. Since I used the higher wattage bulbs, I used upgraded wire, relays, etc. All electrical stuff (relays, terminals, bulbs) was sourced from Daniel Stern, except the wire.

I'm no electrical guru and am easily confused, so this isn't that hard.... Daniel Stern was very helpful with answering a couple questions. I love the result - both functionally and aesthetically.

Good luck.