E36 HID Conversion Step By Step Guide

[Byron]

As told by Teddy to post it here, here it is:

Ok so here is my installation process for a HID Conversion on a E36 BMW Saloon (Can also be used for Coupe)

I bought a H1 8000k configuration, bought them for £55 of a business in Edenbridge, Kent. If anyone wants to know his details PM me.

This kit doesn’t require the change of…well anything. It’s a pure plug and play kit that will easily plug into your existing stock harness. It uses less wattage then the existing halogen bulbs so you wont have to worry about upgrading your fuses. The *only* modification that you will perform is drilling the dust cap so the HID bulb’s grommet (To ensure a proper seal) fits properly.

So here is the kit:

The instructions were very good, I was expecting to figure it out all my self but one read and you’re on your way.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HIDBOX.jpg

The kit comes with all the components you need, 2 x Ballasts, 2 x Ballast Holders, 2 x Wiring Harnesses, 2 x H1 8000k Bulbs, Screws/Bolts for holders and Instruction Manual.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HIDKIT.jpg

So here goes… First thing to do is disconnect your battery, just to be safe it’s worth doing. Remove the plastic base plate in the front of the engine bay, this requires 6 screws to be un-done.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HID1.jpg

Next remove the light units (this makes fitting the HID Bulbs much easier) you do this by getting a ratchet and 12mm socket I think it was. The lights are secured by 4 bolts, two on the top and one either side. When removing the lights disconnect the side lights/angel eyes in my case and main connection to the lights so the unit comes right out with no wires attached.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HID2.jpg

Next take the cap off the back of the lighting unit, the next bit is the only modification you will make to the car.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HID3.jpg

Drill a 25mm hole in the back of the cap, then use a gremel on a drill to widen the hole (as shown in pic) it doesn’t have to be perfectly round as the grommet is pretty thick and will cover small inconsistencies. (Ignore the hole at the bottom of the cap, that was from something else)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HID10.jpg
Once you have made your hole. Take out your old halogen bulb and disconnect the spade connectors from it. Insert the new HID bulb very carefully, it just fits perfectly, the HID bulb will have two connections on the end, attach these to the existing spade connections on the unit, make sure they are secure.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HID4.jpg

Insert the grommet through the drilled hole and then feed the wires through so that they don’t bend. They need a bit of slack when the case is on the lighting unit.

Once done it should look something like this:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HID5.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HID6.jpg

Next step is to connect the wires from the HID bulb to your HID ballast units, this isn’t hard, it’s like putting shapes through shapes. Then put the light back on the car. (before screwing it all into place test the HID light comes on)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HID7.jpg

Once the lighting unit is in place get the mounting brackets for the ballast and find a nice spot in the engine bay for it to be mounted. I didn’t mount the ballasts as I didn’t have time. For a temporary hold I got some zip ties and secured them in the engine bay so they don’t move around and fall.

Here are the ballast locations, good doubled sided adesive velcro is good. Other ballast i installed under the front bumper.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/Ballast1.jpg

Below are the end results:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HID8.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HID9.jpg

All pictures were taken with my 2.0 megapixel phone camera so apologies if it’s not clear, but from what I can see you can get a basic idea.

Hope this guide helps anyone intending to install HID’s into there E36.

I will get some better shots of the lights in action at night, phone is not good enough for night time shots.

Remember to re-level the lights up against your garage as the lights could be out of align. These HID lights would blind other road users.

Over and out! :D

[Mikey_Bwoy]

I've gotta fit mine soon, so might useful :cool:

[big pimp]

nice improvement mate, and very good write up and pics!

[Stock323iSaloon]

55 quid is very cheap! who makes the bllasts? did u get the filter with this kit to bypass the lamo error or does it not matter on e36?

[CA Automotive UK]

nice write up, nice install :)

[Byron]

Thanks everyone.

The answer to your question Stock323iSaloon is no, a filter kit is not needed for an E36, this kit is just plug and play, i imagine it should be plug and play for an E46 too, but im not sure on the connections.

Regarding your question of who makes them, im not sure, will have a detailed look at the box and instructions later when i get home.

[Byron]

Just so you know this is the website of the guy i bought them off:

http://220.225.85.234/lighting3/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=87&osCsid=9cc981e19ef4b83e0bfc554709d14501

As he is based in Edenbridge, Kent i went and picked them up, hence me getting them for £55.

Anyone know this site?

[acshnitz_328i]

i used to distribute those kits. they are not bad kits and i know the guy who sells them. hes a decent guy and sells at decent prices.

hes got an ebay shop too.

the only down side to the kits are they they WILL trigger the OBC off and will need to be bypassed. its very annoying i must admit, however they do wot they are made for.

personally i got a kyodo kit in my car, i believe teddy sells them as well. they are a but more pricey then the ones fitted by byron but virtually they dont show much difference at all other then the fact they dont trigger the error mesg to come up and a slight different colour (compared at 8000k)

all in all no massive difference and byron you got a good product there and it should last you some time.

but can you keep me update with this the following please.

there was only a slight issue with them and that was they used to kept constantly blowing the cars fuses esp when they where switched on and never turned off, cut the engine off and then turned the engine on again with the light switch in the on position. they used to blow the low beams fueses, not all the time but it did happen and was a known put down to the ballast. if you can let me know if you encounter this issue as i just want to know if that was jus me when i has a few of these fixed to sum cars.

[Byron]

Ok mate will do, just out of interest what BMW's were you fitting them too? My E36 doesnt have a OBC so that is not an issue for me.

I have not had no problems as of yet, hopefully it will stay like that but will let you know otherwise. (Touch Wood) :)

[bigshout]

byron, nice write up. It's good when people spend the time to assist others in carry out simular projects. A cheap and well worth upgrade IMO. acshnitz_328 do you know if this kit will work with the E46?

[Byron]

It will work with any car mate, it's just you need to get the correct bulbs. Are the E46 bulbs H1's? if so you could buy this as it is and it would work 100% fine.

OBC may only be a problem though if you have one.

[Stock323iSaloon]

byron, nice write up. It's good when people spend the time to assist others in carry out simular projects. A cheap and well worth upgrade IMO. acshnitz_328 do you know if this kit will work with the E46?
you need H7s

[Byron]

There you go, he does do this kit in H7's, see here:

http://220.225.85.234/lighting3/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=162&osCsid=9cc981e19ef4b83e0bfc554709d14501

Im sure you could windel him down to ;)

[acshnitz_328i]

i fitted them to an e36, infact 3 of them to date now and not a single one has got any major issues other then the OBC message but had that sorted buy a local garage who is a bit of a whiz when is came to car electrics lol the only other issue that we had was just the fuses blowing as stated earlier but it has seem to have stopped now so aint got a clue what was the issue there but hopefully you wont have that issue.

a for the question of fitment. any hid kit can go into any car so long as you have the correct bulb fitment. other then it rele is just plug, drill and play.

one thing i must say about these kits here is that the 8000k is unike any other i have come across. the color is as i would say, near perfect. it is ice blue to look at from the front but is icey white on the ground. other 8000k kits ive seen has been extremly blue to look at and from behind the wheel which i dont think will do you any good as the local police force will pull you over for.

all in all great write up, and wish you the best for the kits and im sure you have now relised the true power of hid and wont be going back to halogen lighting at all now!!!!!!

[Stock323iSaloon]

with these HID conversions, beams are usually not aligned properly or because it's fitted in a halogen-designed headlight, the glare on it is pretty mental. plus, it's so obvious it's an aftermarket mod. last night a Nova with 8000k HID was behind me and the beam was all over the place!

[Byron]

Yeh, my beams were all over the place as well, went to an MOT garage, they sorted them out for a fiver, thats not a problem :)

[acshnitz_328i]

yeah thats it. but the reason why soo many cars that have the aftermarket kit in glare so much is that that where fitted into a headlight unit that had halogen lighting before WITHOUT the projector lense. in normal headlights there is a reflector back casing where the lights are bounced of and thrown forward. this is fine for normal halogen bulbs but when you but in HID the light is bouncing back in all directions causing glare to on comers and in rear view mirrors.

in general e36 cars all have the projector lense in the low beam and dont glare at you and dazzle you like any other cars with such a kit so long as the alignment was done. for a more accurate beam eliminate the potential for straying light, a projector shroud can be added which i have done.

i took mine to a local MOT centre and after alignment i was ready to go and the pattern was as it should.

"it's so obvious it's an aftermarket mod"

yes it is obvious thats its aftermarket and will always will be if you know your cars.. esp if it was in a nova lol but they are very benifitial to the driver and has no damaging effects to other drivers if done correctly and into the right type of headlight unit.

moral here...... if you are going to fit them make sure you have projector and not reflector, and get them aligned and your ready to go!!

[jerry318]

[QUOTE=acshnitz_328i]i used to distribute those kits. they are not bad kits and i know the guy who sells them. hes a decent guy and sells at decent prices.

hes got an ebay shop too.[QUOTE=acshnitz_328i]


Do you have a link to his ebay shop?

Also on his site it says £85 for the kit, does he do them cheaper if I contact him??

[acshnitz_328i]

he will do them for around £55 for you (depending on the spec) without a problem plus £10 if you want them delivered to you. he hasnt got any more in stock as far as i know as i asked him recently but expect them in stock again soon around a couple of weeks.

if you do want them then let me know and i will sort it out for you all and comfirm the prices too. else i get you contact details for you.

as for his ebay shop i get the info for u within the next 24hours as i dont remember what his ebay shop operates under but bare with me and will let u know.

[Byron]

It's here mate:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Expertautos

I got them for £55 as i went and picked them up from his house, he lives in Edenbridge, Kent.

[acshnitz_328i]

lol byron you got there a lil faster then me lol

logged on to leave the details and there you are before me........... lol

buy yeah thats his store and i spoke to him, he will do it for £55 if you want to pick them up else just add £10 if you want then delivered to you.

he is willing to do a group buy but wants to know the numbers so that he can order them in else just message him directly and im sure he will get them to you asap.

byron, also i got a spare GT front splitter that would look good on your car if you are interested. had loads in but last one left for now if you want one and its not like the cheap ones on ebay thats are floatsing about. PM me if you interested. i got it on my car so u can have a look at the pics too

[Byron]

Thanks but i have GT Corner Splitters on my motor now, thats an old picture in my sig.

How much would you do it for?

[Byron]

Have you got a bigger picture of your car?

[acshnitz_328i]

the gt splitter i have is the full length one and is very rigid, i have them made to order and had ordered a few too many when i was taking orders and now got just the one spare.. heres the pics

these are old pics... and where from my fone so they are fuzzy.

http://aycu17.webshots.com/image/18816/2004918109325622858_rs.jpg

http://aycu31.webshots.com/image/18390/2004940347575336700_rs.jpg

http://aycu26.webshots.com/image/20945/2004994101979837958_rs.jpg

i would have uploaded them direct but as i dont know where to start with resizing it i thought i leave it to its original size



im looking for £85 delivered as these are not the flimsy cheap ones on ebay...

you got pics of you car with the corner ones on? interested to see how they look..

[Byron]

Hmmm sorry mate, not sure if i like it? It seems to stick out to far. Funnily enougth like you i sell GT Corner Splitters, heres a pic of mine:

This pic was in this thread:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/HID8.jpg

This is an old one i took with my phone and when i was sorting my fog lights out:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/9d08_1.jpg

And this one was seeing what my eyebrows looked like: (one of them is wonky lol)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y188/p27xds/eyes.jpg