Really, Really Dumb Newbie Question

[1Joel1]

There are 2 pairs of headlights in front. The outer lights are the regular and high beams on my car. What are the inner lights for and how do you turn them on?

Z4MC E86 USA.

Thanks in advance,

Joel

[The HACK]

You don't.

The inner lights are dummies. BMWs traditionally has 2 pairs of lights dating all the way back to the 70s. In honor of tradition 2 pairs of lights were installed but only one set is active, the outer most projectors. Since they're bi-xenons, a mirror inside the projector flips the light beam up for high-beam purposes.

Think of the inner projectors as "vestigial" headlight, like the coccyx or the vestigial leg bones in whales. Legacies of an old past.

Now, if you have an eurospec Z4 M, the inner light houses a city light I believe. A low powered, low intensity halogen designed to be used in cities with well lit streets. But for eurospec Z4 Ms, you will have a different headlight switch I believe.

[1Joel1]

Thanks much for the explanation.I was going crazy trying to figure out where the switch was and searching all over the car and internet, haha. Might be cool if you could fit a colored light in there.

Cheers,

Joel

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by 1Joel1

Might be cool if you could fit a colored light in there.

Cheers,

Joel

You won't be able to fit anything there since what you see on the outside is the back of the reflector for the "angel eye" ring.

[Vanne]

Hack, I've got a eurospec car, I think my light switch is the same as yours mate? Can't say I've ever really taken note, but the inner lights in my car can light up as Parker's, so people don't run into your car when parked in buzy areas.

[StickMon]

I had the exact same question when I first brought my car home.
After futzing around with fuses I consulted the interwebs, and found this thread:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=130986

In fond memory of Ron Stygar. May his legacy live on.

[pungo]

Originally Posted by The HACK

You don't.
Since they're bi-xenons, a mirror inside the projector flips the light beam up for high-beam purposes.

Kinda, but there's no mirror, it's a metal shield, that blocks the light from the upper portion of the projector lens when on low beam.

Originally Posted by 1Joel1

Might be cool if you could fit a colored light in there.

Yeah, the Z4s got the short end of the stick with single headlight per side.
Do you have the angel eye rings enabled as DRLs? That's the best you're going to get stock without some modifications. Not too bright though.






You could do dual AE, but it's not plug and play.

[Huz-Z]

I was looking at Roadster Solutions website the other day and spotted these:

http://www.roadstersolutions.com/page73.html

Anybody have any experience with them?

[StickMon]

Those are really tempting, if they're all they claim to be.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by StickMon

Those are really tempting, if they're all they claim to be.

I agree. And particularly so, because if they fail at some future date, you still have your un-modified OEM lamps that you can simply reinstall.

[kihtay]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

I was looking at Roadster Solutions website the other day and spotted these:

http://www.roadstersolutions.com/page73.html

Anybody have any experience with them?

Those look really nice! I'd be curious as well!

[pungo]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

I was looking at Roadster Solutions website the other day and spotted these:

http://www.roadstersolutions.com/page73.html

Anybody have any experience with them?

I could be wrong, but I doubt these are compatible with the stock D2S Xenon bulb, igniter and ballast. If so, you'll need to purchase a Xenon bulb and ballast kit, which would make them illegal, not that anyone would know.

Maybe someone who has bought the Xenon ones can provide their experience, but I think they would be a downgrade in usable light performance over the stock Bi-Xenon headlights.

[StickMon]

After clicking on their installation instructions, I see that these are the "Spyder" lights.
Search the forum for "Spyder".

HID may or may not actually be HID as advertised, no auto leveling, they'll probably leak, they'll probably flicker, the "high beam" function may or may not work.

The large print giveth and the small print taketh away.

[Huz-Z]

I take it that the dictionary defines "spiyder" as crapola. Too bad, I thought we were on to something good.

I wonder if the halogen set would be a decent option for anyone with halogen headlights, as is the case with some Z4s.

[kihtay]

I had totally spaced, but my friend back in Boise has a shop where they specialize in stuff like headlight customization
http://traxcustoms.com
So I'm going to send the headlights on the e36 M3 and z4mc to him


Here's my buddy's M3 that he had done a bunch of stuff on..

[chickdr]

If so inclined to try them, Amazon has the Spyder lights for quite a bit less.

https://www.amazon.com/Spyder-Auto-H...004W4OA38?th=1

[pungo]

I did a pair of dual LED Angel Eyes for Redacre on his Z4MR. I'm down to my last few set of LED AE rings if anyone is interested. Takes around 3 days, no cutting of the lens is done and the work is completely reversible back to stock if wanted.

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1312568