My bulbs are weak.....need some suggestions
09-14-2004, 12:45 AM
#1
My bulbs are weak.....need some suggestions
I have the e36's in and the light that is put is incredibly weak by my standards. I've tried higher wattage bulbs in which that case I have only ended up with a burnt plug on one side. I tried aiming them over and over but no matter what, the light sucks. I know I need a new plug to replace the burnt one (the bulb on that side is slightly dimmer becasue of it), but I need something good. I compare my lights to all cars at night and they are really weak to even the crappiest of cars. So what do you guys think?
09-14-2004, 07:16 AM
#3
how did you do the wiring? still using stock crappy wires?
you need to run a separate power line from the battery and hook a relay onto them.
my E36 lights (when I had them), I was lighting up signs on the highway over a mile away with only the low beams. on high beams, I could easily see the reflection off signs two miles away. (took me over 1:20 to get to at 115mph.)
you need to run a separate power line from the battery and hook a relay onto them.
my E36 lights (when I had them), I was lighting up signs on the highway over a mile away with only the low beams. on high beams, I could easily see the reflection off signs two miles away. (took me over 1:20 to get to at 115mph.)
09-14-2004, 10:45 AM
#9
Originally Posted by Matt93SE
how did you do the wiring? still using stock crappy wires?
you need to run a separate power line from the battery and hook a relay onto them.
my E36 lights (when I had them), I was lighting up signs on the highway over a mile away with only the low beams. on high beams, I could easily see the reflection off signs two miles away. (took me over 1:20 to get to at 115mph.)
you need to run a separate power line from the battery and hook a relay onto them.
my E36 lights (when I had them), I was lighting up signs on the highway over a mile away with only the low beams. on high beams, I could easily see the reflection off signs two miles away. (took me over 1:20 to get to at 115mph.)
. So then I need to rewire the lights with a different type of harness or do the relay thing?With the relay hook up, how do I do that because I suck at electric wiring if I don't know what needs to get wired...like I don't know how to use a relay or when you say wire a power wire to the battery, if that means wire to wires to the battery for each light or what?
09-15-2004, 02:14 AM
#10
xx bump bump xx
woah...wtf To tell you the truth, I don't know what a lot of that is . I could really use some help though. Is there a writeup type thing that will help me with the wiring so that I can get this going cuz that would help out incredibly. You all are right about the cheaper bulbs equaling crappier lights and I have learned it the hard way with a burnt plug and extremely crappier output in light. I see some of the pix of what they should look like on the .org and I'm just like WTF!?! I need some serious help in wiring.....
woah...wtf To tell you the truth, I don't know what a lot of that is . I could really use some help though. Is there a writeup type thing that will help me with the wiring so that I can get this going cuz that would help out incredibly. You all are right about the cheaper bulbs equaling crappier lights and I have learned it the hard way with a burnt plug and extremely crappier output in light. I see some of the pix of what they should look like on the .org and I'm just like WTF!?! I need some serious help in wiring.....
09-22-2004, 12:14 AM
#11
A halfway update:
So I haven't bought new bulbs yet, but I did replace the burnt plug and put normal halogens back in. The light is still pretty weak, not as weak as with the bad bulbs I had in before, but still pretty weak. I still compare to other cars on the road, especially the other stock US e36's on the bimmers and are still pretty weak. Though the new bulbs will be brighter, but I believe that there is something wrong with the wiring. No matter, what my light is weak....way weaker then a pair of stock e36's.
So I haven't bought new bulbs yet, but I did replace the burnt plug and put normal halogens back in. The light is still pretty weak, not as weak as with the bad bulbs I had in before, but still pretty weak. I still compare to other cars on the road, especially the other stock US e36's on the bimmers and are still pretty weak. Though the new bulbs will be brighter, but I believe that there is something wrong with the wiring. No matter, what my light is weak....way weaker then a pair of stock e36's.
09-22-2004, 05:07 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 588
Mine too are very weak. I can't see **** in the rain! I've got two pairs of fog lights just so I can see when I'm driving at night! lol My lighting is so bad, I have fog lights as headlights!! lol Someone, please help us in our wiring dilemma's!
09-22-2004, 07:44 PM
#13
Originally Posted by MaximaBalla
Mine too are very weak. I can't see **** in the rain! I've got two pairs of fog lights just so I can see when I'm driving at night! lol My lighting is so bad, I have fog lights as headlights!! lol Someone, please help us in our wiring dilemma's!
09-22-2004, 07:47 PM
#14
How are you guys having wiring problems?
I didnt do any sort of wiring 'upgrades' (ie I just soldered the stock wires to the new harness straight up with a shared ground) at all, and my stock e36's werent weak.
I didnt do any sort of wiring 'upgrades' (ie I just soldered the stock wires to the new harness straight up with a shared ground) at all, and my stock e36's werent weak.
10-27-2004, 03:31 PM
#16
Originally Posted by Matt93SE
how did you do the wiring? still using stock crappy wires?
you need to run a separate power line from the battery and hook a relay onto them.
my E36 lights (when I had them), I was lighting up signs on the highway over a mile away with only the low beams. on high beams, I could easily see the reflection off signs two miles away. (took me over 1:20 to get to at 115mph.)
you need to run a separate power line from the battery and hook a relay onto them.
my E36 lights (when I had them), I was lighting up signs on the highway over a mile away with only the low beams. on high beams, I could easily see the reflection off signs two miles away. (took me over 1:20 to get to at 115mph.)
sorry for bringing up an old thread, but would you explain this more and how exactly to do it?
10-27-2004, 04:13 PM
#19
Originally Posted by internetautomar
try getting Wagner (?) Brite light bulbs.
Much better light output than regular bulbs. I think they have the gas mixture just right
Much better light output than regular bulbs. I think they have the gas mixture just right
I have been through so many bulbs, I'm curious if different bulbs even make a difference now
10-27-2004, 05:13 PM
#20
buy 12 gauge wire, relays, fuses and new 9006/9005 sockets. there is a write up to be found here: http://www.geocities.com/craigbrace/ go to the HOW TO section
Lots of good info if you read through it.
Basically what you need to do is rewire the light so they get power drectly from the battery (through the relays) and ground the sockets directly to the chassis. The relays get triggered from the stock wires and send power from the battery straight to your bulbs. I have made many upgraded harnesses in the past and i love them. You can always buy a ready made one, just buy the 9006/9005 BMW one. Many places carry them. They just plug right in.
Lots of good info if you read through it.
Basically what you need to do is rewire the light so they get power drectly from the battery (through the relays) and ground the sockets directly to the chassis. The relays get triggered from the stock wires and send power from the battery straight to your bulbs. I have made many upgraded harnesses in the past and i love them. You can always buy a ready made one, just buy the 9006/9005 BMW one. Many places carry them. They just plug right in.
10-27-2004, 05:30 PM
#21
Originally Posted by JSutter
buy 12 gauge wire, relays, fuses and new 9006/9005 sockets. there is a write up to be found here: http://www.geocities.com/craigbrace/ go to the HOW TO section
Lots of good info if you read through it.
Basically what you need to do is rewire the light so they get power drectly from the battery (through the relays) and ground the sockets directly to the chassis. The relays get triggered from the stock wires and send power from the battery straight to your bulbs. I have made many upgraded harnesses in the past and i love them. You can always buy a ready made one, just buy the 9006/9005 BMW one. Many places carry them. They just plug right in.
Lots of good info if you read through it.
Basically what you need to do is rewire the light so they get power drectly from the battery (through the relays) and ground the sockets directly to the chassis. The relays get triggered from the stock wires and send power from the battery straight to your bulbs. I have made many upgraded harnesses in the past and i love them. You can always buy a ready made one, just buy the 9006/9005 BMW one. Many places carry them. They just plug right in.
Sorry, I don't know much at all about wiring
10-27-2004, 05:43 PM
#22
Originally Posted by aw89maxSE
So I can by a harness at a local auto parts store and wheb you mean plus it in, you mean plug it into the lght bulb socket or is there another plug for it?
Sorry, I don't know much at all about wiring
Sorry, I don't know much at all about wiring
10-27-2004, 05:48 PM
#23
Originally Posted by aw89maxSE
I didn't wire it....MrGone wired it. hHould I go back over and solder some crap or someone mentioned something about adding a power wire from the battery.....
S
10-27-2004, 06:20 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Glenside PA, 19038
Posts: 582
im having the exact same problem only i have the e36 with projectors. upgraded sockets and all. my freind has a mustang with projectors and his are even worse than mine. what type of bulbs do the projectors use, (are they regular 9005 and 9006?) and where can i find some better ones?
10-27-2004, 07:56 PM
#25
This thread is very interesting. I'm curious why no one has measured the voltage at the plugs considering the complaints about output. I feel this would be prudent before eperimenting with relays. I've had both standard E36 and now projectors. E36 lights had good output for me, even before upgrading to high output, 80watt low, blue bulbs. I upgraded my driving lights and I simply ruled the road with illumination. As mentioned, I have now upgraded to projectors and have made no other changes. The projectors I have look nice, but the illumination is extremely disheartening - CRAP! My projectors use H7 bulbs and have been aimed. If not for my driving lights I would have to reinstall my original BMW lights. Therefore, I know voltage is not an issue. Something is up. I so suggest doing some more exploring before re-wiring, especially if you acknowledge not having the skill. Try rewiring your MAF! That was fun!
10-27-2004, 07:58 PM
#26
Originally Posted by maximase86
Interesting....why isn't he helping you fix it if he wired it?
S
S
....it's been since May too 
(no offense at all to him)
10-29-2004, 03:56 PM
#28
Alright, thanks to a lot of help from all you guys, my friend and I hooked up the relaies and yes they are very bright. Though they are bright, I have barley if anything of a beam of light and I have come to conclusions that the e36's do not have a very good beam. Though my friend and I are going to take them out and try to beam them as best as possible, but I got in his with a stock lights and the stocks do have a beam. If realigning the beam doesn't improved, no matter how good they look from the outside, I will put the stock ones back in and wait till I have the money to buy projectors.
10-30-2004, 11:35 AM
#29
Obeewan: Yes, on the projectors I have, both the low/high beams are H7 bulbs. In probably another year or so, I'll likely purchase an HID upgrade. Just something simply like 7k or something.
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