NOTE: the title was changed in my original thread (it now reads "HEY BT, Can i get some help??"), so I created another thread with the original title and post. Thanks m3mobbin for the reply in the original thread.

I have been trying to read as much as I can about replacement headlights for the E36 series and am not sure what to buy. Below are some things I think are correct and some questions and would appreciate if someone could correct my statements/provide answers. The lights would be for a 98 M3 convertible and I am looking for everything pre-installed in the headlight so it would be plug-n-play:

1. Installing 35w or 55w HIDs may or may not throw a low-beam failure and it can happen anytime (i.e., right after installation to weeks/months later).

2. I have heard there are ways to correct the HID low-beam failure (read the LBF fix), but I would only want a solution that would not require cutting, splicing, etc. (i.e., just plug something in). I saw one kit (not complete headlight) had a LBF eliminator that appeared to just plug-in.

3. For HIDs I believe you need to change a fuse, so my question is if there is a risk shorting the eletrical system (or some other problem)?

4. HIDs require the ballast to be mounted somewhere in the car, usually behind the bumper or under the bumper mount. What works best to secure them - heavy-duty double-sided tape?

5. I thought I came across a thread mentioning a problem fitting the headlights, ballasts or something on the passenger side due to the factory alarm. Is this an issue? Any other similar mounting problems?

6. I am interested in Angel Eyes but it sounds as if you need to splice into the corner lights (or some other factory wiring) to power them. Is this correct? No other non-splice plug-n-play option?

7. If I got replacement headlights (DEPOs, Gen4, etc.) with the standard halogen bulbs I am guessing there is not an issue with low-beam failure. Would it also be correct to say that no fuses would need to be changed and therefore the load on the electrical system would be the same as stock?

8. Do halogen projectors provide significantly better lighting than stock?

9. Are the HIDs difficult to adjust the beam properly (and I guess this can apply to halogen replacements)?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Jay

[B]NOTE: the title was changed in my original thread (it now reads "HEY BT, Can i get some help??"), so I created another thread with the original title and post. Thanks m3mobbin for the reply in the original thread.


No, problem Jay. I would recommend calling up one of the sales reps at DDM, talk to my friend Marcus is a fellow e36 enthusiast and has done countless DEPO installs on all of the local cars. They have no problem taking care of every single question you have and they have the most understanding/no questions asked customer support possible.

I know most vendors website's are pretty useless for tech support and Q&A, so calling them up will be the most effective way to answer your questions.

Here is there number: DDM Tuning - 858.565.1742

No, problem Jay. I would recommend calling up one of the sales reps at DDM, talk to my friend Marcus is a fellow e36 enthusiast and has done countless DEPO installs on all of the local cars. They have no problem taking care of every single question you have and they have the most understanding/no questions asked customer support possible.

I know most vendors website's are pretty useless for tech support and Q&A, so calling them up will be the most effective way to answer your questions.

Here is there number: DDM Tuning - 858.565.1742

and you call other people fan boys, lol :lol

yes HID's can throw codes at random times, though i never used HID's i've heard of it happening. There is an LBF eliminator but i don't think it works on 100% of cars. I dont know about any other LBF fix nor about the fuse.

The Ballast probably can be mounted using double stick tape as long as you thoroughly clean both surfaces.

I had a problem with my alarm system, all i did was unscrew it and moved the siren.

Angel eyes do require splicing and there is no way to get aroung that BUT you can get a clip that clips both wired together and takes all about 5 seconds. Or if you really dont want to splice, you may be able to hook up a switch to the angel eyes instead.

halogen bulbs dont need any fuse replaced and the projectors are supposed to direct the light better and give you better beam patterns. Halogens are easy to adjust but im not sure about HID's.

and you call other people fan boys, lol :lol

:lol:lol :lol I used to buy stuff from your best buddy.

Just trying to get a fellow enthusiast some actual CUSTOMER SERVICE.

:lol:lol :lol I used to buy stuff from your best buddy.

Just trying to get a fellow enthusiast some actual CUSTOMER SERVICE.

ya, so he can pay and wait two weeks to get his shipment bc some1 doesnt have money to stock parts and has to have the consumer pre-pay.... ya great idea!

ya, so he can pay and wait two weeks to get his shipment bc some1 doesnt have money to stock parts and has to have the consumer pre-pay.... ya great idea!

Had the quote you so the mods have something to see when this thread gets locked for going completely off topic...:wave

And for what it's worth, I would wait a month for parts I already paid for as long as I was treated like valued customer instead of an idiot.

thats great, quote anything you want. quote this for all i care. you want to help him with customer service and i wanna help him with a quality product.

thats great, quote anything you want. quote this for all i care. you want to help him with customer service and i wanna help him with a quality product.

There is no such thing as a quality lighting product from China, I don't car who sells it to you it's gunna be junk DDM, BT, Umnitza, etc. Hella's and ZKW's are the only lights I would consider a quality product.

The customer service for the junk everyone is buying and breaking is what differentiates the different sellers here.

There is no such thing as a quality lighting product from China, I don't car who sells it to you it's gunna be junk DDM, BT, Umnitza, etc. Hella's and ZKW's are the only lights I would consider a quality product.

The customer service for the junk everyone is buying and breaking is what differentiates the different sellers here.

*cough* Bosch *cough*


;)

There is no such thing as a quality lighting product from China, I don't car who sells it to you it's gunna be junk DDM, BT, Umnitza, etc. Hella's and ZKW's are the only lights I would consider a quality product.

The customer service for the junk everyone is buying and breaking is what differentiates the different sellers here.

Bav Toys gets there headlights from Taiwan.

Bav Toys gets there headlights from Taiwan.

A DEPO is junk no matter where it comes from. The DEPO logo = junk. There is no product differentiation in the lighting market, anyone with any sense knows everything is the same minus the catchy names.

*cough* Bosch *cough*


;)


Sorry, I have to add that one to my list of quality lighting:

Bosch, Hella, ZKW


/end rant, throwing in the towel... etc.

thats great, quote anything you want. quote this for all i care. you want to help him with customer service and i wanna help him with a quality product.

you havent helped him get a "quality" product at all nor did he ask for a quality product.

I'm not trying to enter this fight, but lately all people have been doing is jacking threads to b*tch about other vendors. Like Habbie said himself "You get what you pay for" so if people want to pay for something cheaper that is their lost.

Anyways, either answer the OP's question or dont post.

EDIT: just for the record i'm not biased and i would buy from either vendor if i had to.

Man, the lighting forum is garbage

so why are you posting in it? i just find it funny how the same people who claim they dont support any specific vendor... seem to always recommend them. hmmmmmmm...

1. yes you can get a LBF, however, myself nor many of my friends who have e36's have gotten it. I guess either we've been lucky or it doesnt happen that often.
2. since i've never had the problem i cant help you there.
3. I believe you do have to change 1 fuse (can't remember if I did this for the fogs or the headlights or both since I have HIDs in both), but I'm sure install instructions from wherever you choose to buy in the end will have info on it.
4. Usually the bumper support bar is the best place to put them. And yes, I think I used some sort of heavy duty tape and zip tied them onto something somehow in case they ever came loose.
5. I dont think you'll have any issues with the alarm horn piece, but if you do, its very easy to relocate, just unbolt it and attach it somewhere else.
6. You can get PNP angel eyes with your headlights I believe (ask whoever you buy them from).
7. You are correct.
8. They provide better lighting since the projector will be better, but to really see the difference I'd recommend HIDs.
9. No there are lots of writeups on this, just fine a wall you can shine the lights at.

I'd recommend either buying a set of ZKW or Bosch headlights if you have the $$ for them, otherwise, just choose which Depos you like best. I recommend BavToys for your lighting needs since they deal specifically with lighting products and have good customer service, but i am biased :D
Whatever you choose to do, upgrading the lights will definitely increase your light output and make the car look better aesthetically. Also, if you were to buy a fog light HID kit as well as the headlight setup, you could probably get a better deal if you ask.

you havent helped him get a "quality" product at all nor did he ask for a quality product.

I'm not trying to enter this fight, but lately all people have been doing is jacking threads to b*tch about other vendors. Like Habbie said himself "You get what you pay for" so if people want to pay for something cheaper that is their lost.

Anyways, either answer the OP's question or dont post.

wow, a post that actually makes sense... hard to come by around here.
the cheerleading squad antics are really getting old.

ADDRESS THE OP'S QUESTIONS, NOT YOUR OWN PRIVATE AGENDA'S, IF YOU CAN'T THEN STAY THE HELL OUT OF THESE THREADS.
these is not the vendor comment forum, answer the specific questions or move along.

get ZKW's, you'll love them!

You will definitely need to relocate the siren from the stock mounting point. I moved mine between the strut and battery compartment, however this really silences the siren and I don't like it there.. Anyone else have location?

1. Installing 35w or 55w HIDs may or may not throw a low-beam failure and it can happen anytime (i.e., right after installation to weeks/months later).

2. I have heard there are ways to correct the HID low-beam failure (read the LBF fix), but I would only want a solution that would not require cutting, splicing, etc. (i.e., just plug something in). I saw one kit (not complete headlight) had a LBF eliminator that appeared to just plug-in.

3. For HIDs I believe you need to change a fuse, so my question is if there is a risk shorting the eletrical system (or some other problem)?

4. HIDs require the ballast to be mounted somewhere in the car, usually behind the bumper or under the bumper mount. What works best to secure them - heavy-duty double-sided tape?

5. I thought I came across a thread mentioning a problem fitting the headlights, ballasts or something on the passenger side due to the factory alarm. Is this an issue? Any other similar mounting problems?

6. I am interested in Angel Eyes but it sounds as if you need to splice into the corner lights (or some other factory wiring) to power them. Is this correct? No other non-splice plug-n-play option?

7. If I got replacement headlights (DEPOs, Gen4, etc.) with the standard halogen bulbs I am guessing there is not an issue with low-beam failure. Would it also be correct to say that no fuses would need to be changed and therefore the load on the electrical system would be the same as stock?

8. Do halogen projectors provide significantly better lighting than stock?

9. Are the HIDs difficult to adjust the beam properly (and I guess this can apply to halogen replacements)?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Jay

1. i have had my HIDs in for about a month now, and havent seen any LBF code.

3. the HIDs are suposed to draw less current than stock so why would you need to change the fuses. i didnt for either my lows or fogs and they are perfectly fine

4. i ounted my ballests to my bumper support. i used 3m double sided tape, just clean the surface before you stick the tape to it.

5. my headlights went in no problem, but i dont have a factory alarm.

6. for the angel eyes you splice into the parking light. i dont think there is anyother way around it. but make sure to test which wires you splice into, you dont want "winking eyes"

8. the projector is much better than the reflector housing in ever way imaginable, but to get the full potential out of that projector, get HIDs

9. its wasnt too har aiming my lights. just get a flat wall and start adjusting. it took me 3 nights to get it right.

6. You can splice into a variety of cords, the parking lights is simply the easiest and most economical method. Splicing requires little more than the (usually) included tap-ins in your lighting package.

bump for more answers because I'm interested as well

bump for more answers because I'm interested as well

Here is some general headlight information I like to share.

1.) Brands - ZKW, Bosch or Hella

2.) HID kits are decent nowadays. If I had to do it over I would stick with my H7 Hella lights. Buy an OEM set of ballasts, igniter's and capsules.

3.) Color - OEM = 4100-4300 Kelvin. If going after market 5000K is great balance of color and output.

4.) Depending on headlight make, going with a H7 headlight, you can use D2S OEM lights with an adapter.

5.) You can get OEM 2 position adjustable control for some ZKW and Bosch lights.

6.) Retro fit related - Bi Xenon is when the LB becomes the HB when a motorized shield moves to change the output pattern. Search You Tube for a demo of how it works. You will be able to accomplish BiXenon if you retrofit an OEM system in to your headlights, replacing the projector

7.) GOOD lights by ZKW, Bosch or Hella with AE will run between $400-$700 and a good quality after market HID such as Prolumen less than $300. OEM HID lighting can be purchased for about $400

Check the FAQ at the top of the forum, it is very helpful. :thumbup:

~Phil