E30 Comprehensive Bulb/LED's Guide

[pac1982]

Currently in the process of upgrading my headlights to HIDS and also swapping out all the original style bulbs for LED versions, LED's have various benefits power saving, brighter light and they tend to last much longer than normal bulbs.

To make my process easier I have complied this list which I thought others may find useful......

Front End

Headlights - Sealed Beam Low 2x 35/35W H5006

Headlights - Sealed Beam High 2x 50W H5001

Headlights - Ellipsoids Low 2x 55W H1

Headlights - Ellipsoids, High 2x 55W H1

Front Fog Lights 2x 55W H3

Front indicators 2x 21/5W P21-5W



Rear End

Tail lights (Early) 2x 10W R10W

Tail lights (Late) 2x 5W R5W

Rear indicators 2x 21W P21W

Brake Light 2x 21W P21W

Back-up 2x 21W P21W

Rear Fog 2x 21W P21W

License Plate 2x 5W C5W




Cabin

Glove Box 1x 5W C5W

Interior light 2x 10W C10W

Interior light - Convertible 1x 5W H5W

Boot Light 1x 5W C5W

Ashtrays - Front and Rear 2x 1.2W W1.2W

Mirror Map Light 2x 10W H10W

Mirror Map Light (Alternate) 2x 5W H5W

Having played around with some bulbs already I can advise you avoid bulbs that are designed like this when upgrading your rear light clusters.........



Problem with this design is they send light directly outward but the inside of the rear cluster has mirrors that magnify/bounce the light around. To make full use of this you need LED bulbs that send light in all directions such as this...



Also make sure the bulb head will fit the hole in your cluster, the cluster can be modified to accept larger bulbs but you're better off finding a bulb that fits.

Reverse lights can be hugely improved by using bulb like these...



your essentially fitting Cree LED torches inside your reverse lights and they really cut through the darkness and give great vision for reversing.

I do not have any detail yet on the small bulbs used in the dash and clocks so if anyone could enlighten me?

[Grrrmachine]

Nice work - it'll fill in the gaps on this page, so I'll update it as soon as I have a chance:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Lights

[polsta]

I replaced every single bulb in my car for brand new, it wasn't cheap

[Blitz]

Some of these LED bulbs will look seriously council on an E30. I've seen LED number plate lights illuminate the the whole of the rear of the car which looks stupid.

[pac1982]

Some of these LED bulbs will look seriously council on an E30. I've seen LED number plate lights illuminate the the whole of the rear of the car which looks stupid.

If you use the right bulbs then I personally think it looks better, you don't actually see the bulb it's self just a crisp clean light that's better than standard and more reliable.

Due to the angle of BMW number plate lights it would be near impossible to light up the whole rear of the car regardless on the power of bulb.

[BenHar]

I don't use HIDs in the mainbeams. They don't like being flashed.

Ben

[miniblob]

Nice little guide and well timed!!!

I'll deffo be upgrading my reversing lights - especially as I only have 1 working a a tinted rear screen!!! Just a bit pricey at circa £25 on ebay - found any cheaper suppliers???

Prob do my fogs aswell, as they need bulbs anyway!!!

[pac1982]

Nice little guide and well timed!!!

I'll deffo be upgrading my reversing lights - especially as I only have 1 working a a tinted rear screen!!! Just a bit pricey at circa £25 on ebay - found any cheaper suppliers???

Prob do my fogs aswell, as they need bulbs anyway!!!

You can get them for about £5 each if your order from china just gotta be willing to wait about 14 days for them to arrive

[pac1982]

Here's a link http://bit.ly/19xSOCR

[miniblob]

Nice work - thanks!!!