Upgrade headlights

[Rob D]

Hey guys,
I just got myself a 1999 M Roadster. The low beam headlights are very lacking. What are folks doing to upgrade their headlights situation?
Cheers
Rob

 

[GazHyde]

Hi Rob & welcome

Various options available depending on how hands on you are with stuff. You can split the headlight units open and then fit pretty much what you want inside them. The other alternative is aftermarket headlights which generally produce more light. A couple of options usually found on eBay or Amazon.

Gaz

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Hello and .

 

[t-tony]

Hey Rob, I fitted some aftermarket all chrome Angel Eye headlights on my Z3 a few years ago which I sourced from California. They were around £225 at that time but when fitted I was very pleased with them. I hope you find what you're looking for, and a warm welcome to our forum .

Tony.

 

[Rob D]

Hi Rob & welcome

Various options available depending on how hands on you are with stuff. You can split the headlight units open and then fit pretty much what you want inside them. The other alternative is aftermarket headlights which generally produce more light. A couple of options usually found on eBay or Amazon.

Gaz

Thanx Gaz! I will probably go with something aftermarket because I am looking for more light.

 

[Rob D]

Hey Rob, I fitted some aftermarket all chrome Angel Eye headlights on my Z3 a few years ago which I sourced from California. They were around £225 at that time but when fitted I was very pleased with them. I hope you find what you're looking for, and a warm welcome to our forum .
View attachment 66943

Tony.

Hi Tony,
Those look awesome!! Do the low beams put out enough light? The problem I was having was out driving the headlights even at lower speeds....and it's not because they are not aimed correctly.

 

[t-tony]

I found them an improvement on the original lights Rob.

Tony.

 

[Rob D]

I found them an improvement on the original lights Rob.

Tony.

I like those LED driving lights you have on there too! Do you have the contact info on both?

 

[t-tony]

I like those LED driving lights you have on there too! Do you have the contact info on both?

I'll see what I can find for you.

Tony.

 

[Davyhoogy]

I had the similar lights as Tony, and they were great I found.
Chrome z3 headlights on ebay. Prices have went up from when I bought them to around 300

 

[t-tony]

Hey @Rob D , I found these on eBay.com Rob. Not far from you? (maybe ) in Walnut CA.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/96-02-BMW-Z...ash=item2cc047cdbd:g:LboAAOSwEHpZMEcK&vxp=mtr

Decent price too.

These are equivalent to my DRLs Rob, priced about the same (£-$) and located in GA.

Tony.

 

[buze]

I had a pair of these on for a while, but I reverted to OEM -- somehow I didn't find them better, the 'angel eyes' weren't terribly bright and they weren't contructed as sturdy as the OEM ones...

 

[Nodzed]

Decent bulbs, night breakers or similar, the lights on my 99 M are excellent dipped and mains

 

[5harp3y]

Decent bulbs, night breakers or similar, the lights on my 99 M are excellent dipped and mains

This! if you want the car to look original just whack some Osram nightbreakers etc in, i have them in mine and they are great (not amazing compared to modern stuff)

 

[Sean d]

You could always take the route that I did, look great but don't add anymore light,

 

[Bumpa]

I agree with the OP. The headlights on my 2002 2.2 are terrible. Poor on dipped beam and no penetration at all on main beam. Its difficult to see a difference between dip and main, and yes, all bulbs are working. I think they are poorly aligned - too low and the right lamp seems to be aimed way over to the left, so I need to sort that out. Whereabouts are the beam adjusters? Quite honestly the lights on my 48 year old MGB are far superior. You would think a much more modern car would show improvements all round. Not always true!

 

[t-tony]

I agree with the OP. The headlights on my 2002 2.2 are terrible. Poor on dipped beam and no penetration at all on main beam. Its difficult to see a difference between dip and main, and yes, all bulbs are working. I think they are poorly aligned - too low and the right lamp seems to be aimed way over to the left, so I need to sort that out. Whereabouts are the beam adjusters? Quite honestly the lights on my 48 year old MGB are far superior. You would think a much more modern car would show improvements all round. Not always true!

They definitely will be better when correctly adjusted, no way are sealed beam units better than Z3 lights.
The adjusters are shown here with different methods of adjusting them.

Hope these help.

Tony.

 

[buze]

Are these just the left/right adjusters? last time I looked, the up/down you could only do properly using the mounting screws/pads for the whole unit... am I wrong?

 

[Bumpa]

no way are sealed beam units better than Z3 lights

Thanks for the pics Tony - very useful. My MGB's lights are Cibie 7" units with plain H4 bulbs. They are the best lights I have ever had on any car including my 2011 VW and the 2002 Z3.

Buze, Tony's first photo shows both the adjusters. According to the TIS information one of the adjusters is for vertical adjustment and the other for vertical. Also in the documents is a diagram showing exactly how the beams should be aligned. Very handy.

 

[t-tony]

Yes you are mate. The mounting pads etc. are for locating the lamp assembly in line with the bonnet, wings etc.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md9rW-tCwPk


Tony.