Re: H/L Wiring Question

["Mike Theuri" <mikesoft@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Brad,

My car is an e-36 318i. Your explanation helped me understand
the concepts better. I used to have an 86 325e (rip) whose headlights
used to work the same way if I remember as your e28. In the
newer model euros it might be a little different. Friday night was quite
a learning experience. I realized that I'd forgotten to adjust the new
headlights, yet I needed to drive 30 or so miles down the interstate.
So I did it the easiest way I knew, I drove down to a dark road and
adjusted the lights using an allen wrench. I'm pretty sure the bulbs
in the center are the highs and I believe I neglected to mention that
all four lamps across the board come on when on hi-beam.  In the
center lamps, whats puzzling is that instead of a double filament bulb,
there are two individual bulbs in each of the center lamps. There is a
bulb at the top and one at the bottom in each of the center lamps. The
puzzling thing is what the lower set of bulbs at the center are for, I'm
suspecting lows but again I'm not so sure. I hadn't seen the lower
bulbs on Friday so when I asked my mech about the extra wire he was
of the opinion that it might be something to do with a fail test system
that he has seen in the e-36 325's but since we hadn't seen the other
bulbs I didn't pursue it further. Thanks for your assistance and if you
do find more about it please let me know.

Mike Theuri
93 318i


- ----- Original Message -----
From: <BradSr2000@domain.elided>

> I own an e28, which might be slightly different from the BMW that you own
> (didn't you say it was an e30?  I haven't been following this thread too
> closely), but I would think that the euro lighting would still be the
same.
>
> I don't have euro lighting on mine, but, since I am a few months away from
> finding some, I've been doing my research.  I know the following:
>
> 1.  The outer lights have double-filament bulbs:  low beams and high beams
> 2.  The inner lights have one filament:  high only
> 3.  In some models, I believe you can hook it up like you're told and ONLY
> the center lights come on when you have your high beams on
> 4.  I've seen a way to re-wire it to make all four come on at the same
time
> when in high beam (main) mode
>
> >From this information that I've gathered from various places, I can
deduct
> that you MIGHT have them swapped.  You might have the hi's where the lo's
> should go and vice versa.  I would think that the double filament lights
go
> to the outside.  That way, you have just the OUTER ones on when the lights
> are dipped (low only) and you can wire it either a) to have just the
inners
> on in main mode (high) or b) to have all four on in main mode.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Friede,
> Brad Couvillon
> '87 528e
>

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