3rdgene

i am almost done with the conversion but i think i can make it fit alittle better..... What is the trick in making it as flush as possibe?? It seems the sides closest to the grill are out alittle to much.

mtnbikeair

iTrader: (4)

There is no trick. Its all about you looking at what you are givin and making it work. A custom conversion is never the same...

3rdgene

someone said hammering next to the radiator would get it done......

mtnbikeair

iTrader: (4)

Well when i put mine in i had to hammer alot of metal, and cut alot of metal, you just have to make room for the headlights, so where ever it touches you have to make room.

3rdgene

that what i was needing....appreciate the advice because it looks as if metal (not bracket) needs to be cut as well

mtnbikeair

iTrader: (4)

Yeah, i had to cut a decent amount of metal to make mine fit. Dont be afraid to cut stuff because its not meant to fit.

3rdgene

lol i hear that

aminus21

iTrader: (14)

to make them "flush" you can use WADE headlight covers. like awsm66, craig, and some other members.

Maximum Depth

iTrader: (1)

The hammering next to the radiator is to make room for the E36 lights which overhang the headlight bracket (the side towards the radiator) more than the stock lights. Find the screw hole for the radiator support (between the two screws for the headlight bracket on the drivers side), and pound that area between the screw hole and the radiator (stay at least a inch away from the screw hole). Give it some good, hard whacks to dent it in some. That metal post is very thick and doesn't move much, and you need just a little more room for the inside headlight to fit.

Just so you know, [almost] all of the cutting is done to the headlight bracket. If you make a mistake, it's only the headlight bracket and you can just pick-up another. There IS a small cut to some sheet metal on the car, near the passenger side of the radiator. Its not a support, just some sheet metal, and you need to cut away about a nickel-sized area. It's located around the same spot where the hammer was hitting.

For a picture of where to hit the hammer, access Craig Brace's page http://www.geocities.com/craigbrace/. Click the "Links" icon, then the "BMW headlight conversion (another page)", then "example 2" (in red). I couldn't paste his picture here from the website.

tripleGmax

iTrader: (8)

i didnt need to cut anything but the bracket, so i wouldnt cut anything if you dont have to.

goon9

iTrader: (13)

I had to cut my radiator suppot. Thats just me though..... I don't hesitate cutting much.

tripleGmax

iTrader: (8)

well i hammered my support, but didnt cut it, figured why cut an item that has the word support in it if i dont need to??

mtnbikeair

iTrader: (4)

Because how else will you tell if the support really does anything until youve cut it up. You gotta see if it will hold somehow haha.

tripleGmax

iTrader: (8)

haha

ME: "whats that thing back there that you ran over?"
MTNBIKEAIR: "dunno, could be my radiator, i cut the support, all well i guess when you cut it it doesnt support as well"

mtnbikeair

iTrader: (4)

Haha, yeah radiators are way over rated anyways.

But kinda on topic... all that i had to cut was the headlight bracket, the radiator stuff wasnt in the way at all...

Maximum Depth

iTrader: (1)

Two things you cut:

- headlight bracket
- radiator support (not an actual support, just sheet metal)

Besides, you only cut a little off of the radiator "support". It's nothing structural. Hitting it with a hammer might work, but for me it just bent the metal closer to the radiator, which I didn't like and cut it instead. Its a single cut about the size of a nickel, and you just cut a little off. You don't cut all the way through it.

Will

iTrader: (2)

Really? And you still had room and finger space to access the 9005s?

tripleGmax

iTrader: (8)

i didnt cut anything besides the bracket, thats it, and i still have room for both bulbs. if i need to change bulbs, i can take my corner light out and access really easy.

3rdgene

from what i am experiencing....it looks as if cutting some of the metal "support" is necessary for a CORRECT fitment regards to the light aligning better with the grill.

goon9

iTrader: (13)

I cut my grill too....

shavedmax

iTrader: (6)

in order for mine to be aimed right it sticks out a little by the grille, and i cut my support, and hammered it, and cut the e36 brackets, and cut the grille. i like cutting stuff up though

DMad8724

iTrader: (4)

all that work and your headlights arent even flush/projectors *sigh*

what is goldmember resting? ill trade you a crazy4maxima clone, HUD halfway done with injectors

shavedmax

iTrader: (6)

e36's never fit flush, i bought wade covers, but never got around to dooing them, besides, no one said e36's were the lfinal headlights on my car.

i got a 4th gen too, thats why goldmember is resting, besides i had crazy4maxima in my yard for 8 months, i dont want to see that thing again

Wiking

...your max does look neat! Can u also push it or did u assemble that masterpiece on that parking lot?

shavedmax

iTrader: (6)

huh?

Wiking

eh what can I say. Just watch...

goon9

iTrader: (13)

lol... wahhh?

DMad8724

iTrader: (4)

its gettin easier for me to understand wiking, i THINK hes saying that it looks so low he's not sure if you would be able to drive/push it without messing it up, so he assumes you built it in the parking lot in your picture

CyMax

iTrader: (5)

Ok just to note, I should be picking up my e36 kit (including precut to fit brackets, bulbs, wires, ect ) I'll post if there is any additional cutting I find necessary. Heck I'll borrow my friends digi cam and document the whole thing. That should help awnser Q's, but as another post said " All custom installs are just that, custom". I'll start a new thread when they come in.

ish

yeah dude i dont want to overdo mine and cut everything. please post pics. just started today.

3rdgene

you dont have to cut additional metal if u dont care if is angled right or not...some people are just fine with the lights popping out at the grill

Maximum Depth

iTrader: (1)

Where did you get a pre-cut kit?

Since cutting is the installation portion that most concerns people, I'm sure others would be interested (did mine already). How much was it?

CyMax

iTrader: (5)

Yippie!!! Mine came in the mail today, err actually Sat but the dang office was closed till today. Good looking wiring harness, just wich I knew which lead was which (high / low). Oh well I'll figure it out. Wish me luck!

whitemax28

good luck with that man. post some pics and lemme know how u got the pre-cut kit

CyMax

iTrader: (5)

Hey sorry I missed your post inbetween mine , I picked this one up from Wolfpack5150, he's around here somewhere.... Anyway, the bracket is going to take a bit of adjustment for my taste and it is now obvious that it will never fit really tight. My car has been in a front end collision, not bad but enough that when one side is sweet, the other is off by a touch. I guess thats ok tho, not like anyone is going to be measuring the light fitment. Looks like the wiring harness he (???) made will be a great help, tho I do have a question for him in his Pmail ( HEY WOLFPACK!!!! ) on which is the power lead to the relay's and which are the line in from the stock harness, but it's put togeather well and will save some time.

Also, I don't know where these came from origonally, but the front glass covers just snap on!! I had thought that was a euro only thing but sure will come in handy for cleaning.

A question for the electrical folks here...... The un used ( pass side ) Bulb socket... should I just lop off the wires, cap and tape them??

ish

Pics please. mY question is when you cut the maxima bracket do you take off all those screws that were used to adjust the angles. should there be just a bracket and nothing else?

3rdgene

everything but the screws that secure the bracket to the car..... 2 behind headlight......2 on the side next to the corner lights and u want to keep the pieces for the
corner light and for the grill.

Maximum Depth

iTrader: (1)

Everything gets removed from the bracket (all those white plastic parts) EXCEPT for the white plastic piece on the lower outside corner of the headlight bracket. That piece is held on by two screws, and is where the lower portion of the corner light rests against. All the other white pieces are used for alignment and are not needed for the e36 conversion.

CyMax

iTrader: (5)

Ok end of day 1, drivers side lights mounted, need a little adjustment to lower the beams a bit, but after redesigning the upper bracket and reuseing the lower bracket in a sligghtly different way they look very good. I'm extremely tired, going finish them tommrow. unfortunately the only pics I have are from my camera phone but if I can still post them somehow, someone let me know. Thanks and goodnight.

ish

This thread sucks without pics. i got those pieces off but it doesnt fit flush. was wondering what to do next. will show a pic later.