BMW Z3 Angel Eyes Headlights

[Mus Musculus]

Hi all, looking for a bit of advice.

The headlights on my Z3 (1998 1.9) are just pants. I don't do a lot of driving at night, but when I do, I would like to see the road… Duh!

Anyone with experience of the Angel Eyes Headlights (not Halo)? They seem to be quite good value for money, but I wonder if just keeping the existing headlights and replacing the bulbs with something like the Osram Night Breakers would do the trick.

Enlighten me please (pun intended).

 

[Zephyr]

The osrams were one of my first mods to the Z.
I live outside the town so really needed more light and didnt want to spoil the looks with predator headlights etc.
in very dark roads you can tell they are better than normal but still the beam is flat and not on par with my other modern cars.
so currently looking also for some decent projectors but not very “bling” ones.
Interested and subscribed to this thread.

 

[t-tony]

I used Nightbreakers not only on my Z3, but also on my E85 Z4 (the headlights on these early ones were notoriously poor). They literally transformed night driving for not much outlay.

Tony.

 

[Mus Musculus]

The osrams were one of my first mods to the Z.
I live outside the town so really needed more light and didnt want to spoil the looks with predator headlights etc.
in very dark roads you can tell they are better than normal but still the beam is flat and not on par with my other modern cars.
so currently looking also for some decent projectors but not very “bling” ones.
Interested and subscribed to this thread.

I also live in the middle of the sticks, so most roads are not illuminated. I will try the Night Breakers first, and if they are not up to standard, I will get the Angel Eyes replacement headlights.

I've successfully changed the headlights in my Triumph Spitifire, so they re now quite modern, but if I can keep the Z standard'ish, I will.

 

[mwpe]

If these are what you mean, I have had them on my Z for about 12 years and am very happy with them, a real improvement over OEM but some people don't like the look.

 

[Mus Musculus]

Ifthese are what you mean, I have had them on my Z for about 12 years and am very happy with them, a real improvement over OEM but some people don't like the look.View attachment 247927

Yeah, I don't care about the look so much, as I will keep the old OEM lights. If I sell the car, before it deteriorates to nothing, I don't think that's a concern.

Really, I should have joined a site like this before parting with my money, but now I am committed, money will be spent polishing the turd I have...

 

[t-tony]

I fitted the same type of headlights on myZ3 that Mike did. I bought them off eBay in the USA for around £225 the pair but that was probably around 2010 (ish).

Tony.

 

[Jam03]

Yeah, I don't care about the look so much, as I will keep the old OEM lights. If I sell the car, before it deteriorates to nothing, I don't think that's a concern.

Really, I should have joined a site like this before parting with my money, but now I am committed, money will be spent polishing the turd I have...

Have you already done the whole headlight restoration polishing exercise? That might help if the covers are cloudy or hazy.

 

[Mus Musculus]

Have you already done the whole headlight restoration polishing exercise? That might help if the covers are cloudy or hazy.

Funnily enough, the lenses are not milky or bad in any way. I believe it's just the bulbs, so I will follow the plan above...

 

[Mike Fishwick]

I have found that if used regularly, halogen bulbs have a life of about five years before the filaments sag a little and focus is lost. This can be seen on foggy nights. New bulbs should be the first step to improve your lights. Most people fit angel eye lights as a cosmetic thing.

Fitting HID dip lamps will not do anything for the main beams - but the dip bulbs will be new, so will be an improvement. New bulbs of a decent type will have the same effect at a lower price.

I find that BMWs do not have a problem with voltage drop in the cabling (VW are bad for this) If in doubt measure the voltage drop betwen the battery positive and the back of the bulb. Anything much over 200mV is bad. Also make sure that the battery voltage is in the 13 volt region.

I am currently using Philips Blue Vision, which give a really white light with a good beam spread. although the better bulbs from Osram are also excellent. Forget about brighter bulbs frm any other source, regardless of claims or higher prices.