E36 Euro Headlights w/ Angel Eyes

E36 Euro Headlights w/ Angel Eyes
by Christian Behier
Round Rock, Tx.

Goal: To replace the US Spec E36 lights on the 1998 ///M3. The US Spec headlights are not very bright, even with the fog lights on. From reading about both the directional control and brightness of the H1 Euro setup - it was a worth a try. Also, the opportunity to update the lights to the 2001+ "Angle Eyes" look made this a more compelling update.

Parts Purchased from Turner Motorsports

E36 Euro Angel Eye Headlight Kit
Part #: 56550
Applications: 1992 - 1999 318, 323, 325, 328, M3 (E36)
This Euro H1 Angel Eye Headlight Kit comes with everything you need for installation. Headlight assemblies are pre-assembled for easy an install. Includes left and right Euro Ellipsoid headlight assemblies, fiber-optic "halo" rings and wiring kit. This is not a D.O.T. approved product, for offroad use only.
Price: $479.95


Installation:

Equipment provided: Left Headlight, Right Headlight, 2 4-pin connectors (plugs in the back of the headlight), 2 rubber boots (moisture protection for the connector), 8 pins for the connector.

Tools: Flash Light, 8mm socket with a 8" extension, Phillips screwdriver, Wiring crimper, electrical tape, wire connectors (in-line tube type), spare red/blue/black 16gauge wire, Soldering iron.

Note: The instructions have been leveraged from Turner Motorsports - the additional detail is to complement the areas that are not addressed in the wiring and testing of the installation.

1. Have the ignition on "OFF" position. Open the hood

2. Remove the relays for the low-beams and high-beams, including the fuses to the parking lights.

3. Remove the upper Radiator Plastic cover from the front of the car - using a Phillips screw driver (4 screws, 2 plastic clip-in screws). See Figure 1.

4. Remove the light bulbs, and disconnect them from the harness by turning the bulb counterclockwise with a simultaneous push (1/4 turn). Do this for all 4 lights.

5. Using a flashlight, remove the parking/turn-signal lights by slightly prying on the plastic clip and gently pushing the signal light forward (from the rear). It will just drop out, unhook the light bulb/harness so as not to scratch the car. You can leave the light bulb plugged in. See Figure 2.

6. Removing the light assembly: There are 5, 8mm screws holding each light assembly. Unscrew them; however be careful to not unscrew the adjustment plastic screw-receptacle. The locations are: 3 at the top, 1 on each side (facing down). Again, a flashlight is handy to locate the side screws. These receptacles will be used to adjust the new headlight assembly (except the top middle which will not be used). Note to take care on not dropping any tools or screws down below - if your bottom shroud is there to catch it. Unhappy thoughts may emerge.

7. Wiring Prep and recognition: Each headlight will have the following wiring layout with your US Spec lights…

Low-beam: Yellow/Brown wires
High-beam: White/Brown wires

You will only need to use the Yellow/White and the Low-beam Brown wire. You can cap off the remaining Brown high-beam wire (ground).

The fourth wire is for the parking lights live wire - you will need to use some spare wire (diff. color) to tap into the "parking light" live wire.

8. Insert through the boot over the 3+1(diff. color) wires.

9. Wiring the connector: Cut off about 2inches of wire the old connectors. Strip the ends of each lead a ¼" on both sides - cutting off the brown high-beam brown wire/capping it off. Using the connectors provided, crimp them on each wire (including the diff. color wire) - you should have 4 ready to be soldered wire connectors on each side. See Figure 3.

Look real closely at the back of the connector - at the corners, you will see small numbers 1,2,3,4.

Hole #1 - Brown low-beam
Hole #2 - Parking light (diff. color) wire (feeds Angle Eyes)
Hole #3 - Yellow low-beam
Hole #4 - White high-beam

Insert the wires w/ connectors through the back of the main connector in the right hole - push all the way until it "clicks" - tug lightly, it should not come back out. Visually check up front of the connector - the metal rings of each one should easily show.

Do this on both sides of the car.

10. Hooking up the parking light: Identify on each side of the car the live parking light wire. It should be Grey on the passenger side, Purple on the driver's side. To check this, insert the fuse of the parking lights back in, cut one wire at the desired location (2" up from the connector) and turn on the parking lights. The light should be off. Do the same on the other side.

Connect the parking light feed to the (diff. color) wire of your headlights.

11. TEST: Insert the low-beam H1 light bulb (don't touch the glass of the bulb) into the headlight assembly - connect the yellow wire at the back of the bulb. Carefully position each new headlight assembly and connect the connectors to the assemblies (match plug and turn clockwise). Insert the relays and fuses back in - turn on the ignition (DO NOT TURN ON THE ENGINE) - turn on the parking lights and the low-beams to check for proper wiring. Turn everything off when you are done.

12. Insert the high-beam light bulbs (same way as the low-beams) - connecting the white wire at the back of the bulb.

Note: This is a good time to use your electrical tape to protect all your wires.

13. Assemble the headlights - adjust the stand-off plastic receptacles to provide an even gap, and even position with respect to the front nose and hood panels. If these receptacles move as you screw the 8mm screw back in - use a long/thin screwdriver to keep them from rotating.

14. Insert the parking light back in - make sure you get 2 "clicks" when pushing back into the car - should be flush with the headlight, contouring well with the fender.

15. Adjust your lights - best to be done at a qualified inspection shop - of you are adventurous, in a residential neighborhood at night (horizontal straight road with a hex screwdriver). Standing in front of each light, will show the other light's beam clearly for adjusting.

Enjoy!...

Results/Impressions: Much better control over your low-beam beam using an H1 light bulb resulting in a nice horizontal light distribution that you can adjust. All the light goes to the ground. While before I would have to use the fog lights to enhance my visibility, this is no longer the case. The high beam, using an H1 light bulb is better that the US Spec assembly, also adjustable. The best part is the front glass shield - I no longer need to see the fogged up plastic shield. To keep it this way, I will be using some protective 3M shield. Last but not least, the angel Eyes are definitely a neat enhancement to the look of the car...