head light removal-legal?

[jondrift]

im thinking of removing the two lights closest to the grill in order to get more air to my nearly finished turbo setup. just wondering, is it an mot failure? which lights am i loosing and do i need to relocate the bulbs into the other lights at all?

jonathan

[StuBeeDoo]

I'm not 100% on this, but I think that the inner lamps aren't a legal requirement, but if they are fitted, they have to be working and aimed correctly.

[Steve-E30]

You must have highbeam for a mot , Think someone mentioned putting early golf lights in replacement with th outer e30 lights as they have all the elements for sidelights , low beam and high beam so you can lose the inner lights , Im sure someone will correct me on what lights are used

[hennabm]

As BMW see fit to put the high and low beam in separate lamps then to be legal your car must still have high and low beam, albeit combined. I remember there been a conversion for the E21 to make both in and outer lamps work on high beam for the 323 and 320 models.

[CraigG]

as said above, you can remove the light, but you have to convert the outer light to be both dipped and main, eg a H4 bulb format.

id imagine there are a few ways of doing this, but i couldnt tell you the best way to go about it, golf light sounds good, but size might be an issue.

[fuzzy]

the lights are easily removable so just keep them safe and refit them at mot time. theres a lot of plastic in the grill between the slats that can also be cut away carefully with a jigsaw and bigger holes can be cut out of your lower metal valance behind a tech2 kit if you have one. another option is air duct with directional piping in the lower valance.ive done those 3 things and kept the lights to keep the standardish look of the front end and have no cooling problems but my large twin cosworth electric fans help enormously and cut the temp from 3/4 to 1/4 in matter of minutes even in standing traffic. also a new or recon radiator also helps a great deal as your old one is bound to be clogged up after years of use.another option is air vents in the bonnet above the turbo pointing backwards to allow the hot air to flow out but if you do this a plate needs to be fitted under it to stop rainwater running in and onto your turbo,that quickly rusts up your turbo and causes lots of steam bellowing out at traffic lights

[jondrift]

ok sounds like i have a few options. i really need to do something as my intercooler is not front mounted, shame about loosing the standard look but i think i might have to! Ill have another think! thanks

[jondrift]

oh, and can anyone post some pics of e30s with removed lights? might help the descision...

[Colonel Sanders]

this is a pic of mine, had to remove the lights for the intercooler, looks a bit menacing i think...

[oze30]

How hard to change from H1 to H4 bulbs?

[Colonel Sanders]

havent changed the bolts yet, as im in guernsy an have no mot

[fuzzy]

ok sounds like i have a few options. i really need to do something as my intercooler is not front mounted, shame about loosing the standard look but i think i might have to! Ill have another think! thanks

how have you mounted your intercooler? i was also considering getting a custom cooler made to fit in the void between the lights directly behind the grill and full height from bonnet to bottom of valance so i could then also use a full height rad as i currently use a 2wd cossie cooler that is quite small and sits on top of the rad. ive also seen folk use 2 inline 2wd cossie coolers on e30's due to space restrictions. i have quite a lot of space at the front of my engine as mine is a little short 4 pot

[jondrift]

that does look good! mine would look a bit more messy cos my intercooler isnt quite as sexy as that!

[Colonel Sanders]

i wouldnt suggest getting an intercooler as big as mine though unless you dont mind cutting out half the front valence..... mine is 32"x11"x3.25"
its too wide really, you dont wanna go over 2.5" wide or you have to start cuttin.
other than that it didnt take long to fit and its so jammed in there i didnt have to bolt it in, but i did anyway just in case..

[zaust]

as said above, you can remove the light, but you have to convert the outer light to be both dipped and main, eg a H4 bulb format.

id imagine there are a few ways of doing this, but i couldnt tell you the best way to go about it, golf light sounds good, but size might be an issue.

You can use motor-bike light's. Honda, Suziki ect all have model's with the same diamiter.

And rossel, It does look very menacing. i like.

[ed325i]

I am going to use something like this.>> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=002