FAO: E30 Owners - Headlight Question

[steviec_lj]

To all E30 Owners,

Could you please take a look at your headlights and confirm 2 (two) of the following statements, also please state whether you own a Pre-Faclift or Facelift vehicle;


1: Low Beam stays on when High Beam is activated.

2: Low Beam turns off when High Beam is activated.

3. Low Beam stays on when High Beam is flashed.

4: Low Beam turns off when High Beam is flashed.


Reason I ask is that I have now found some information that throws a spanner in the works regarding the current wiring diagram I have designed for fitting Facelift headlights into a Pre-Facelift vehicle.

Many thanks,
Steve

[stonesie]

To all E30 Owners,

Could you please take a look at your headlights and confirm 2 (two) of the following statements, also please state whether you own a Pre-Faclift or Facelift vehicle;


1: Low Beam stays on when High Beam is activated. Yes

2: Low Beam turns off when High Beam is activated. No
3. Low Beam stays on when High Beam is flashed. Yes

4: Low Beam turns off when High Beam is flashed. No


Reason I ask is that I have now found some information that throws a spanner in the works regarding the current wiring diagram I have designed for fitting Facelift headlights into a Pre-Facelift vehicle.

Many thanks,
Steve

Mine is a 1989 facelift touring, hope that helps.

[steviec_lj]

It certainly does.

Thanks very much for taking the time to post up your answer.

Wiring diagrams will be a little easier to work on now.

[Brianmoooore]

To put it more simply, the dipped beams are turned on by the main lighting switch and nothing you do with the column switch turns them off.
The main beams can only be turned on when the dipped beams are on, or by use of the flasher switch.
The only 'fly in the ointment' you should find converting from pre facelift to facelift headlamps is that you end up with three brown earth wires to join together instead of two.

[steviec_lj]

Brian: I've been informed that in the Pre-Facelift Sealed Beam units, the Low Beam also houses a High Beam filament?

Thanks for the information though.

[Brianmoooore]

Brian: I've been informed that in the Pre-Facelift Sealed Beam units, the Low Beam also houses a High Beam filament?

Thanks for the information though.

Not in UK spec cars, AFAIK.
Different markets use different headlamp arrangements, and I think US spec cars are as you say.

[steviec_lj]

This is starting to get interesting.

The headlights I removed which were beyond repair, and interestingly priced to replace, were the following configuration;

SideLights - 2 Pin Connector
Lo-Beam - 3 Pin Connector
Hi-Beam - 2 Pin Connector


The headlights I'm looking to install, are the following;

SideLights - 2 Pin Connector
Lo-Beam - 2 Pin Connector
Hi-Beam - 2 Pin Connector

According to Realoem.com, the bulbs used in my vehicle are both of the H1 variety, which confuses me as to why there would be a 3 Pin Connector on the Lo-Beam.

[gafta]

Quick qestion guys as this thread Is on head lights , I own a 89 cab with smily headlights. I have addapted the head lights to zenons, using genuine BMW zenon packs and bulbs, when my side lights are swiched on , the zenons flicker, when the headlights are on everything is ok , I have checked the voltage to the headlamps when only the side lights are on and Im getting 10.5 volts if I can remember correctly, then when the head lights are switched on the volts jump to 12v is This normal ? ,
sorry steviec for hijacking your thread.

[mrLEE30]

us style lights have a duel filament sealed unit, so when the dip beam is on the outer lights are lit.

when the high beam is selected ALL four lights switch to high beam.

but this is the US style sealed beams only (suppplied by GE - General Electric ) most annoying thing about the US set up is the fog lights turn off when main beam is on.


It is possible you are trying to read a US wiring diagram.

[B7]

Quick qestion guys as this thread Is on head lights , I own a 89 cab with smily headlights. I have addapted the head lights to zenons, using genuine BMW zenon packs and bulbs, when my side lights are swiched on , the zenons flicker, when the headlights are on everything is ok , I have checked the voltage to the headlamps when only the side lights are on and Im getting 10.5 volts if I can remember correctly, then when the head lights are switched on the volts jump to 12v is This normal ? ,
sorry steviec for hijacking your thread.

You have dim dip on that vehicle. Which means that when the sidelights are on and you turn the ignition on, the low beams light at a reduced rate (with normal bulbs that is). when you switch to head light low beam at the switch, they come on full power.

You need to disconnect the dim dip module screwed to the inner wing behind the near side headlight. Then I don't have a clue what to do but brian can advise on this .

[Brianmoooore]

Just pull apart two round rubber plugs and sockets on the LH inner wing, just behind the headlamp area. Just leave the four ends hanging.

[gafta]

Cheers brian and b7 for your quick response, will try this,

[foggy50361]

A quickie regarding the dim/dip relay could you piggy back this to run the normal headlamps and the driving lamps at the same time ie. have the four headlights on sidelight mode only or would it be to much for the resistor

foggy

[gafta]

Brian, your a star , done what u said , all sorted thanks very much .