Converting your Driving lamps to RHD and Vice Versa

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Rav335uk
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Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 2:50 pm

Alot of people are asking about how to convert their E30 Dipped beams from LHD to RHD and vice versa
I have done a little write up, maybe can be used in the WIKI section if needed.


Firstly, this will only work on Bosch "Bulleyes" and "Smilie" headlights.

This can be done with the lights still on the car, so no need to remove them, but I have done this show it shows you what is needed to be done.


Firstly, looking at the rear of the unit, you will see 3 screws.

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You can see 3 plastic tabs sticking up, where these are, I have marked with a black marker pen to show the origional starting point.

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These will need to be unscrewed to a point where they will come out from the bottom of the unit, and no more, but will spin into the rear of the unit.

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Lift the housing, as shown, and turn clockwise or anti-clockwise, thus making them RHD or LHD, whichever you want to convert too.

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As you can see, the Black mark has now moved from the origional mark.
Congradulations, you have now converted the lights.
All that is need is to tighen the screws and refit to the car.

Image
Last edited by Rav335uk on Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:56 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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BenHar
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Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:18 pm

Rav335uk wrote:
Firstly, this will only work on "Bulleyes" and "Smilie" headlights.
Prefacelift units are sealed and cannot be adjusted.
Some prefacelifts have "Bulleyes" or "Smilie" headlights. Eg. post '88 cabriolets.

Not sure if this works on them or not.

Ben
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Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:19 pm

I did state "Prefacelift" units.

But any input on the years will help out too. :D
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BenHar
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Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:39 pm

Just been out and checked mine.

One's got bulls eyes and one smilies, both prefacelift cars.

The adjusters are present on both.

So I think you should just say it works on bulls eyes and smilies and remove the prefacelift bit.

Ben
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Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:43 pm

Removed the prefaclift bit.
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BenHar
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Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 3:48 pm

Perfect, ta. Now we just need Grrrmachine to wikify it.

Maybe worth mentioning that this can be done without removing them from the car, I think?

Ben
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Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 4:03 pm

BenHar wrote:Perfect, ta. Now we just need Grrrmachine to wikify it.

Maybe worth mentioning that this can be done without removing them from the car, I think?

Ben
Done, good job there's some input, I forgot to add that :mad:
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Brianmoooore
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Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:46 pm

You probably ought to amend "main beams" to "dipped beams" as well! As far as I'm aware, the main beam patterns are the same for both LH and RH drive.
Can be done without removing them from the car, and I have done many times, but things like ABS pumps and intensive wash dual screenwash reservoirs don't help.
If you're going to do the job regularly, then it's worth reducing the height of the tab that you have to clear to turn the back part.
Rav335uk
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Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:57 pm

Done Brian. :D
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Grrrmachine
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Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:32 pm

BenHar wrote:Perfect, ta. Now we just need Grrrmachine to wikify it.
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... Headlights :D
Rav335uk
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Post Tue Apr 03, 2012 7:40 pm

Coolio :cool:
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harry_p
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Post Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:47 pm

i adjusted a set of hella lights in a carpark on the way home from france. as far as i remember they didnt have the tabs in the screw slots, just a single seperate tab at the top which pointed to a moulded in lh/rh mark. they still used exactly the same lossen and twist adjustment method though 8)

just done some research, i was right :D

rear of hella lights, you can see the similar screw / slot layout, but no awkward tabs to pull the light back past
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and in this one you can see the small white tab just poking out from behind the plastic mount on the left hand light, it's set for driving on the right in the pic. loosening the screws, and twisting the light would make the tab point to the other raised notch.
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cheers,

harry
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Post Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:50 pm

Never had a Hella in my collection Harry, so couldn't comment on any info on it. :D
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d1mkaz
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Post Thu Apr 05, 2012 9:52 am

great topic, and wiki page too!