TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page 1: Current mods and pictures - 02/01/2005
Page 2: Before and after shots - 06/23/2004
Page 3: Some semi-"glamour" shots with a friend - 07/15/2004
Page 4: DIY Write-up #1 - HIDs in High Beams (or Low Beams) - 06/04/2004
Page 5: DIY Write-up #2 - HIDs in Fog Lights - 01/24/2004
Page 6: DIY Write-up #3 - Fogs On With High Beams Mod/"Fix" - 07/27/2004
Page 7: DIY Write-up #4 - "TAIL LIGHT FAILURE" Mod/"Fix" - 01/02/2005
Page 8: DIY Write-up #5 - Valentine One (V1) "Stealth/Less Clutter" Hardwire Install - 01/30/05
Page 9: DIY write-up #6 - Remote Angel Eye Fade On/Off - 09/06/05
Page 10: DIY Write-up #7 - Aftermarket Sub and Amp Install into Stock System (09/21/05)
Page 11: DIY Write-up #8 - VIS Carbon Fiber Trunk Install (Requires Drilling - TO BE ADDED)
Page 12: DIY Write-up #9 - 1998-1999 Rear Headrests Install Into 1992+ E36 (TO BE ADDED)
Page 13: DIY Write-up #10 - UUC Clutch Pedal Bushing Install (TO BE ADDED)

*NOTE: All DIY Write-ups are provided here as a GUIDE. I will NOT be held responsible for any damage you may cause to your car by following these write-ups. In other words, you perform them at your own risk. BE CAREFUL!
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DIY Write-up #1: HIDs in High Beams (or Low Beams) - 06/04/2004

Hey all!

Finally got around to typing this up and organizing the pictures. I recently purchased a new HID kit and decided to put these in my fogs since my fog HIDs started to turn greenish-yellowish (originally blue-ish 6000K). I then decided to put my HIDs from my fogs into my high beams instead of just throwing them away or selling them.

Anyway, my NEW setup is:

- Low beams --> Philips 6000K capsules with Hella ballasts (came with headlights) - ~6 months old.
- Foglights --> Xtec 6000K capsules with Osram ballasts (recently purchased for $290 shipped :D ) - Brand New
- High beams --> Osram 6000K capsules with Hella ballasts - ~1-2 years old (estimate)

This write-up will document how I installed the Osram 6000K HID kit into my HIGH beams. This will be essentially the same for installing ANY generic HID kit into the low beams since they are the same bulbs and utilize the same housings. The headlights are ZKWs and the vehicle is a 1997 M3/2.

For those wondering how to install HIDs into the fogs, see my other write-up here (or Page 5 of this site or DIY #2): HIDs in Fogs.

Another helpful link for those trying to solve their "LOW BEAM FAILURE": "LOW BEAM FAILURE" Fix.

This entire DIY can also be found here: Bf.C Write-up

Please bear in mind that this write-up was written June of 2004 by myself. These pictures are really outdated but it's enough to give you an idea. :)

TOOLS USED:

- Wire strippers (scissors can also be used)
- Scissors (or wire cutters)
- Wire connectors (I used female/male connectors)
- Double-sided tape or Velcro (screws can also be used but more permanent)
- Dremel (or some other method to drill a ~1.0" hole into plastic)
- 9mm (or is it 8mm?) socket (to remove top two headlight bolts)
- Ratchet and 6" extension (for bottom two headlight bolts)
- Screwdriver (to remove front side corners)
- Long pliers or adjustable wrench (to adjust headlight bolt backings)
- HID kit with grommets, xenon capsules, ballasts, and connecting wires

This is the kit I used (NOTE, this kit is now in my FOGS - the ones currently in my high beams are the Osram 6000K kit):

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INSTALLATION:

The main difference between an HID kit and a regular halogen bulb setup (other than the filament and the gas in each of the bulbs/capsules) is that the HID capsule needs 10,000+ volts initially to ignite the gas in the capsule. This power is provided by the ballast which takes the normal 12 volts from the battery and increases it briefly to ~12k volts, I believe. What you're basically doing is swapping bulbs but, in addition to this, you're going to have to wire a ballast between the battery and the HID capsule. This is done by rerouting the original power and ground wires BACK OUT of the high beam cover (the ones that normally power the halogen bulb) to the ballast and then BACK IN to the HID capsule (to power the HID capsules). You'll need a nice set of projectors to project the HID light (e.g., ZKW, Hella, Bosch, Depo, DJ Auto) vs. the stock headlights which will not be able to disperse the light from the HID capsule properly. Then you'll have to find a nice location to mount the ballasts. :)

REMOVING HEADLIGHTS:

- Okay, first off, remove driver's side headlight by unscrewing the two top bolts and bottom two bolts (need extension for bottom) using a 9mm socket and ratchet.
- Unclip front side marker using a screwdriver to hold clip back
- Remove headlights from car
- Take back cover off high beams by undoing top clip then pulling cover outward from the top down:

REROUTING WIRES:

- Drill hole about 1.0" or so in diameter in the back of the cover (sorry for the fuzzy picture):

- Push grommet on HID capsule through the hole (the grommet should have two of its four holes taken by the HID bulb wires - one for power and one for ground). First picture is before the grommet was pushed through (for estimate on how big the hole must be). Second is top view with grommet pushed through. Last is back side. (I already have male connectors on these wires since these bulbs were from my foglights.):

- Looking at the high beam wires from the back of the headlight, you should see one WHITE wire that is normally plugged into the bulb for power. Another wire is BROWN for the ground.
- Cut the WHITE wire, remove the stock high beam bulb, and reroute the wire out through one of the grommet holes (one out of the two unused):

- Tap into the BROWN ground wire using another wire and reroute that wire through the final grommet hole (I used good ol' speaker wire)

- All four grommet holes should now be occupied.
- Place and lock HID capsule into high beam bulb holder and clamp down (be careful not to touch the bulb as your natural oils in your hand will expand and cause damage to the VERY hot HID capsule).
- HINT: Do NOT make the power and ground wires directly from the HID bulb too short as it will be VERY difficult to place the cover back on the headlight but do not make it too long as you'll have to fit all of it into the housing (ask me how I know :( ).
- Connect the WHITE wire from the original high beam bulb to the RED (or power) wire going to the ballast via the "funny, very difficult to remove" connector (harness?).
- Connect the BROWN wire from the original high beam HOUSING to the BLACK (or ground) wire going to the ballast via the same connector (you'll see TWO white wires coming out as I extended my speaker wire using white wire with a black stripe).

- Add female and/or male connectors to these two wires and prepare to connect the ballast wires (I used female connectors since my ballast wires already had male connectors).

MOUNTING BALLAST AND REPLACING HEADLIGHT:

- Find a nice safe location to mount the ballast. I used the metal bumper support underneath the headlight. I already have one there for my low beams so this one was a tight squeeze. I had to position it accordingly to fit. I also used INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH Velcro to hold the ballast down (worked AWESOME).

- Replace headlight carefully and adjust so that the bottom of the headlight is 2.5mm from the bumper and 1.5mm from the top of the hood when closed (this is my passenger side BACK, by the way). See pictures below (bottom two below) for proper installation "gap" of the headlight.

Also, one VERY important modification you will need to do to actually keep your HIDs running. You'll need to change your fuses in your fuse box. I have a picture here of my fuse box. The RED circle you see in the lower right of the picture are the fuses to change. Change them to FIFTEEN amp fuses (as shown). If you were to add low beams, you'd change the two fuses circled in BLUE to 15 amps each (as shown). If you were to change your fogs, you'd need to change the ONE fuse circled in GREEN to THIRTY amps (as shown).

- Test lights and smile at how much brighter your high beams (or low beams) are compared to stock. :D

Here are some shots of the final product:

New fogs on LOW LIGHT SETTING:

Just my Lave Lighting Angel Eyes (LLAE) kit and new fogs on LOW LIGHT SETTING:

For those interested, here are the comparison pictures. I decided NOT to put each kit into the low beams and, instead, just take some pictures of the bulbs themselves when powered on. Here is the Xtec 6000K bulb (on left, blueish) and the Osram 6000K bulb (on right, greenish):

Philips 6000K bulb:

ALL THREE (From left to right - Philips, Xtec, & Osram):

Okay, that's it for now. I hope this was helpful. If ANYONE has ANY questions, please feel free to leave a message here or email me at: clumpymold@sbcglobal.net OR clumpymold@gmail.com :D

Here is one picture with fogs on, direct view (I have ALL three on in Page 6 of this site). If you're interested in rigging up your lights so that ALL lights will STAY on, see page 6 - DIY Write-up #3 or here: All On Mod.

If anyone wants wall shots, let me know (I have yet to take some good ones)! :)