Headlights

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pete325i
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 7:24 pm

My headlights (dip) are amazingly dim, so much so that I put 100w bulbs in and this seemed to make little difference.
So....
I ordered some "head light units" from gsf - and when they arrived all that they contaned was the glass part of the lights - I wanted the whole lot.
Good old gsf happily refunded me and even seemed suprised they didn't stock the whole thing.
So....
I phoned BMW today, who told me it's Ԛ£245 a side. I presume this is for the main beam aswell, but seems so expensive.

My questions - Where can I buy new dip units cheap?

Can the old ones be reconditioned?
Would second hands ones be ok? and does anyone have any?


Thanks


Pete
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 7:52 pm

Im no sparky but either the reflective bits on the back of your lights are busted or your wires are worn out or something. You can always get 2nd hand headlights for little if you want to test em.
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Simon
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 8:05 pm

What type are they? Early metal bumper type, or are they the projector type with/without smiley?

I find a good clean out can work wonders, I took mine off, and filled them with soapy water and then let them dry, and then cleaned all the accessible reflective parts of the light. I then bought some phillips blue vision bulbs and the difference was very noticeable!
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johnono
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 8:11 pm

si, are those phillips bulbs blue or white when they light up, and r they 55w or 100w
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pete325i
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 8:13 pm

Cheers Simon, I may just give that a go.

They're the plastic bumper - projector sytle without the smile.
Simon
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 8:15 pm

johnono wrote:si, are those phillips bulbs blue or white when they light up, and r they 55w or 100w
They give a nice crisp white light and they are the legal 55w bulb too....

they look purple in this pic mind!!

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johnono
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 8:48 pm

lookin goood there myman!! did u use leds for the position lights or are they bulbs too. also if i wanted to do the fogs, how big a deal are we talkin
Simon
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:02 pm

johnono wrote:lookin goood there myman!! did u use leds for the position lights or are they bulbs too. also if i wanted to do the fogs, how big a deal are we talkin
The sidelight bulbs are 5w phillips blue vision bulbs too, they came free with the dipped beam bulbs.
What do you want to do with the fogs? Clean them you mean? If so yes just as easy, remove them and fill with soapy water give them a shake!
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johnono
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:21 pm

no , i mean, if the side lights, positions and main beams are white white, itԚ´ll look a little odd with yellow fogs, are there bulbs i can use on them too?
Simon
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:40 pm

johnono wrote:no , i mean, if the side lights, positions and main beams are white white, itԚ´ll look a little odd with yellow fogs, are there bulbs i can use on them too?
Ah sorry, got you now!

Yes they sell the H3 bulbs too!
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Demlotcrew
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:42 pm

johnono wrote:no , i mean, if the side lights, positions and main beams are white white, itԚ´ll look a little odd with yellow fogs, are there bulbs i can use on them too?
Yellow fogs are so cool! :cool:

and very functional
johnono
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:49 pm

not as cool as your siiiig , mmmmm winkeye
Demlotcrew
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:50 pm

johnono wrote:not as cool as your siiiig , mmmmm winkeye
:lol: the turtle on the right is so a chick!
johnono
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:54 pm

cheers si , so i need

* pair of H1 sidelights 55w
* pair of little blues ( ill find out the watts)
* " " main beam bulbs (H1 or H3?)
* " " H3 for the fogs

im sure thatԚ´ll cost a bit but they look worth it
Demlotcrew
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:56 pm

Full beam are also H1.

Andrew
Simon
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:56 pm

johnono wrote:cheers si , so i need

* pair of H1 sidelights 55w
* pair of little blues ( ill find out the watts)
* " " main beam bulbs (H1 or H3?)
* " " H3 for the fogs

im sure thatԚ´ll cost a bit but they look worth it
Sidelight bulbs are 5w capless

Main beam bulbs are H1 also.
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johnono
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:56 pm

dems, i remember the video, was a crack up with the teddys in a low rider and the breakdancin bear, that shark was good too

i wanted to be the tiger :banana:
johnono
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 9:58 pm

nice one si :notworthy:

howԚ´s it goin with the 3 anyhow?
Simon
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:01 pm

johnono wrote:
howԚ´s it goin with the 3 anyhow?
:P

Awesome!! I can't get enough of it!
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johnono
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:04 pm

sheԚ´s a beuty!
Demlotcrew
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:05 pm

johnono wrote:sheԚ´s a beuty!
I do like the white cars just something about them, like Roys are just amazing.

Andrew
Simon
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:13 pm

Never been a huge fan of white myself, but it's growing on me, and the screaming 4 pot makes up for it :wink: !
I'm surprised Roy hasn't had his B6.S re-sprayed yet :lol:
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johnono
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:26 pm

when theyԚ´re clean, they look beutiful. also at sunset when they get that blue, orange tone...mmmm.

i used to have a white car... looked nice at night, but i got pulled alot by old bill :?
Demlotcrew
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:27 pm

hes too busy fitting Air con. :lol:

White is a very nice colour! Red, White and Diamond black are my fav
Simon
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:33 pm

Demlotcrew wrote:

White is a very nice colour! Red, White and Diamond black are my fav
You looking at my sig pic!! :lol:
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Demlotcrew
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:35 pm

oh yeah :cool:

Well i got two just need a white M3 now. :bling:
johnono
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:37 pm

donԚ´t we all fella, donԚ´t we all :roll:
Simon
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:41 pm

....oh yeah...headlights!! :roll: :lol:
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Brianmoooore
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Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:27 pm

Getting back to headlights - the reflective bit on projector dipped beams don't do anything - they're just there for the sidelights.
If they are dim, first thing to do is measure the voltage actually at the lamps, and to check there is no significant voltage between the brown wire at the lamps and the car body/battery neg.
Demlotcrew
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Fri Feb 11, 2005 12:35 am

Brianmoooore wrote:Getting back to headlights - the reflective bit on projector dipped beams don't do anything - they're just there for the sidelights.
If they are dim, first thing to do is measure the voltage actually at the lamps, and to check there is no significant voltage between the brown wire at the lamps and the car body/battery neg.
Well they do actually, they are there to prevent glare from the Projector escaping. (im sure it called a shroud)

Andrew
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Fri Feb 11, 2005 8:04 am

Johnono - i`ll be going the same route as you with the bulbs mate.

Simon - thanks for the info on the bulbs 8)
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pm9575
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Fri Feb 11, 2005 8:53 am

As well as Philips - check out Osram 'Silverstar' (German made):
This H1 55W packs a bright white punch with no side affects on the electrics.
The price may also be more favourable than the Philips type.

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Fri Feb 11, 2005 4:59 pm

Anyone know the cheapest place online to buy the Bluevision and Silverstar bulbs?

I'd look myself but if someone else already knows, why bother? :rock:
johnono
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Fri Feb 11, 2005 5:03 pm

cheeky brsted :lol:
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M3RAGS
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Fri Mar 04, 2005 12:14 am

powerbulbs.co.uk i think?
Sideways S14
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