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Re: E36 Headlights -- The housings & lights in U.S. & Europe

From: Peter Zangl                     ZNGL
 
Subj: Re: E36 Headlights -- The housings & lights in U.S. & Europe
 
NewtMan@domain.elided wrote:
>Hi folks. After following a string regarding the the E36 U.S. headlights, I
>noticed that the ORIGINAL problem became lost in a discussion over the
>various aspects of the Halogen lighting system vs the Ellipisoid system ---
>but the original problem which was pointed out by one list member was that
>the PLASTIC lens covers on the U.S. E36's get pitted, chipped and otherwise
>worn out after only a few years -- and if you want a nice smooth clean shiny
>plastic surface again, you'll have to replace the WHOLE PLASTIC ASSEMBLY.
>
>Now, I'm aware that the Euro-E36 headlight assembly's have GLASS covers. My
>questions to our German /UK based list member(s) [John F., Stuart M. are you
>there?] are the following:
>
>1) Do the glass covers on the Euro-E36 headlights chip, get pitted and
>otherwise SANDblasted just like the U.S. plastic ones??  Or are they less
>suseptible to this type of wear?
>
>2) And even if they do wear out, isn't it true that with the Euro-E36, you
>CAN replace JUST THE GLASS covers [at drastically reduced cost] without
>having to replace the whole assembly?
>
>Benefits [or otherwise] of the ellipisoidal lighting system notwithstanding,
>my point is this, for those of us in places where it snows & sleets a lot,
>where winter road conditions just plain suck, our plastic headlight covers
>can get really trashed [sandblasted and pitted] in only one or two years [my
>328is is eight months old, and the plastic lens covers are already worn from
>one winter's sand and crap] -- I'm thinking now that it might not be THAT
>silly of an idea to PAY DOUBLE for the Euro-E36 assembly.
>
>I'm not saying its NOT silly, I'm just suggesting that its not THAT silly of
>an idea -- especially if future replacement glass covers only cost $30 or so.
>
>Tom
 
About half a year ago I replaced the glass in front of the lights
(which you are reffering to, I think) on my (german) '90 E36. It
was more than five years old and still looking as new (except the
hole, caused from a stone). I don't know what it costs because my
dealer changed it for free (I just bought the car). On each side
of the glass where mountings to fit the glass in the housing. That
was all to be replaced. It only took a few minutes.
 
Hope I could help.
 
Peter Zangl
zngl@domain.elided