E30 lights conversion

[pistonheader]

i swear i've seen it on here before, and arguably i sort of need this done on my car (which, by the way, i've decided to keep. at least until after uni)

had it MOT'd yesterday which is passes but the guy said my headlamps are in need of replacement asap ideally due to the silver lining in them blistering. Now, E21 lamps are hard to find as i'm discovering, Hella do not make them/stock them any more. it's the 4 lamp hella conversion, but the inner 2 lights don't work due to faulty earth - but the outer lights work as full beams so it doesn't matter. it's these lights that really need replacing (though the centre 2 are also shot.

does anyone know how easy/hard it is to do and how long it should take to do, and cost of parts?

if anyone can help, i'd be very happy

Ross.

[e21-Mark]

Mr Murran has e30 lights iirc? It's not too hard and just requires some minor modificarion. You could even fit HID lights?

[rob0r]

The outer bigger lights are getting scarce, you can also find them on early Golfs I think. Maybe it's possible to open up the headlight and replace chrome lining that's blistering... E30s don't have these lights, though the inner ones lamps will be transferable. The inner ones should also be the same as the inner ones on the E21 320/323i, of which I have in stock.

[pistonheader]

The outer bigger lights are getting scarce, you can also find them on early Golfs I think. Maybe it's possible to open up the headlight and replace chrome lining that's blistering... E30s don't have these lights, though the inner ones lamps will be transferable. The inner ones should also be the same as the inner ones on the E21 320/323i, of which I have in stock.

are you saying the outer lights on my car, are not the same size as the outer or inner size lights from an E30? in that case, would i not need to replace the black trim, in which the lights sit? the inner lights on mine are a couple of inches (diameter) smaller than the outers. i've spoken to fritz, they say they have none in stock but are going to see if they can find someone to re-chrome it, failing that, they said they should be able to do an E30 conversion if i want them to.

cheers chaps

edit - i thought the inner ones of 320/323i's were the same as the outer ones of those cars? are those the same size as the smaller inner ones of my car then?

[pistonheader]

does anyone know if the chrome lining is metal or plastic? a company my dad uses for work do chrome plating and said they could do it, if it's metal, but not if it's plastic. the material behind the coating, is this metal or plastic?

thanks guys!

[e21-Mark]

If you can remove the reflectors you could probably re-do them with tin foil. I forgot you have Hellas. If they're beyond repair it might be simpler to just fit regular 320/323 lights or swap for e30 ones.

[pistonheader]

don't you just hate old cars some times.

need to find if they're metal or plastic chromed. if metal, i can get them repaired easily. also could do with new bulbs too! if not, rob - would i need a 320/323i grille too? how much for grille and lamps?

cheers

[rob0r]

No no no! Stick with what you've got! The big lamps are getting rare and one of the defining features of the 4 cylinder models. Swapping in the 320/323 dual smaller lamps will lose some of it's identity.

I can of course supply 323i lights and grilles, but as a last option!!

[pistonheader]

spoken to fritz again, they said they're really struggling to find decent big lamps. they did say it's metal inside, it's rust that lifts it up and causes it to blister.

the electroplater should be able to do it, but if it's rusty under there, then surely they'll struggle to coat it?

what a ball ache this is!

Ross.

[Jason_323i]

You have the big/little set up


the outers are the same size as mk2 golf, the inners are also a golf mk 1option but it will take a bit of digging and mix and match to get the right bits and a bit of fabrication for the brackets. I was goign to do but decided it was to much faffinf around

Simple solution late e30 smiley head lights and 323i/320 grilles, a bit of drillign for the mounting screws and crimp a few wires job done.

Jason

[pistonheader]

think i'll wait until i've got more time and see about getting it done. there is no urgent hurry really.