the normal ones are so dull and aren't bright enough, i really want to get something brighter. is there anyway i can get HID's or something? or am i stuck with basically getting new bulbs? they just seem so dim that sometimes i'm afraid it's not very safe...

is 88 the year they switched to ellipsoid composite headlights? My 87 has sealed beam and I was contemplating what kind of project it would be to swap them for the later lights - I was under the impression they would be an improvement over the sealed beam units.

If you have the later headlights I don't know why they would be so dim, unless you have a wiring problem. My 280Z gets just over 10V to the headlights due to nearly 30 years worth of corrosion in the connectors, and the headlights SUCK. I've been driving it around for two years with the high beams on and no one has EVER flashed me to turn them off. Even with the high beams on it gets pretty scary at 60mph on a rural (without streetlamps) Oklahoma road.

If you find that your ellipsoids are bad for some reason I have some in like new condition.
let me know!
thanks

anyone know if i can put HID's on it or something? or is my only option to just get brighter bulbs.

If you find that your ellipsoids are bad for some reason I have some in like new condition.
let me know!
thanks

Hey P.M. me, A rock hit my passanger side ellipsoid and cracked it. Now it fogs up when it rains and shit. If you want to sell just one, let me know.

I haven't heard of an HID conversion, but I'm pretty new to the 6ers. I have read that the eropean cars had H1/H4 lights which are supposed to be as close to HID's as you can get in terms of brightness. From what I remember, they are not direct drop ins, though. Meaning you probably have to buy the buckets and possibly do some re-wiring.

any word on whether the ellipsoid headlights will swap in to a car originally equipped with sealed beams?

BTW an H4 is pretty much the same as a 9003, same connector and its dual filament - meaning it has the high and low beams in one bulb. So yes, some rewiring would be necessary and I don't know what you would do with your existing high beam lights, I guess you could wire it so your outer lights brightened and the inner lights came on at the same time...

I think the US spec ellipsoid headlights are 9005 and 9006, don't remember which ones which though.

My e30 originally had sealed beams. I upgraded to some euro ellipsoids, (h1 bulbs), and then a few months ago I purchased hella ballasts and phillips xenon bulbs. The HID kit came off an audi and is the OEM 4300k temperature. The lights perform much better than the halogens and only cost me about $400 (both sets of ellipsoids+ HID stuff)