Headlight wiper system

[robeyff]

My '84 633CSi is wired/prepped from the factory for headlight wipers - fluid tank/hoses/electronics in place; also wired for remote headlight adjustment - in dash controls and headlight servo motors only thing not installed. Was this common practice or some sort of special order? - anyone seen an E28 with the same configuration? Have all the orig. paperwork except orig. sticker with options. Just curious.

[BMWCCA2]

Well, I've got the headlight wipers and none of the pump, reservoir or relays to make it work right for my E28. What can I swap you for it?

Was this maybe a gray-market car, or is it a U.S. model? Made for Canada originally? Weird.

-Phil

[JBort]

The retrofit of this system requires installing the sealed hydraulic system from the slave cylinders at the front to the control in the cockpit. This will probably require a large opening in the firewall to get through.

Yes and No.

It is a sealed pneumatic system.
There are already "knock-out plugs" in the firewall.
Even a new system lasts only about 8 months.


Complete "Headlight Aim Control"

Existing plus removed.

System as it passes thru the firewall

[cgraff]

Just a note about the E24 headlight leveling system...it doesn't come with the grommets like the E28 does. You have to pass it through the existing pass-through (by cutting a bit more out of the grommet), and not through the knock-out as shown in the pictures.

As for the wipers and the headlight adjusting system availability in the US, I seriously doubt that a US-spec car came with them since they were illegal. Euro-spec cars could have been imported that way though, and might have just had the headlights converted (leaving the original system inoperative).

My M535i came with the headlight wiper system, and the DOT conversion process basically got rid of everything except the wiring harness, washer bottle, and control unit. I have a wiring diagram on www.m535i.org, and I've also put that system back into my car, in fully working condition. The E24 system operates similarly, but since the intensive wash came standard on many E24s, the conversion process doesn't require wiring into the passenger compartment as it would for an E28. You basically just need the wiring harness, control unit, wiper motors, correct lights, washer bottle, and the plumbing to convert an E24. A full E28 requires wiring into the passenger compartment and a new steering column stalk (to signal the control unit). Also, sealed beams have a highly curved lens, where wipers won't work as on the flatter lenses of euro headlights.

The headlight leveling system is, as was said before, a single, fully sealed, unit. Installed in the E28 as shown in the picturs (great picts btw). There's lots of additional, small parts, that are required to install the system.

I *believe* that the fluid used in the leveling system is anti-freeze....although don't quote me on that. There are bleeders on the slaves and master, but I've not been able to get them off on my headlight leveling system, nor am I going to break it trying. List price is ~$170 for the main part of the headlight leveling system, plus about an additional $60 or so in additional parts for installation.

The parts are still available from your dealer.

-Chris

[Rich Euro M5]

My M535i came with the headlight wiper system, and the DOT conversion process basically got rid of everything except the wiring harness, washer bottle, and control unit. I have a wiring diagram on www.m535i.org, and I've also put that system back into my car, in fully working condition.

Chris,

When my Euro M5 was Federalized, the importing shop did the same thing to my headlight wiper / intensive wash system. The only thing missing from my system was the wipers, the PO had reinstalled Euro lights but didn't bother with sourcing the wiper parts. Well over the past three years the M5 has been in the garage sans engine, I've acquired (Thanks Duke !!!) a nice set of Euro lights WITH the wiper system. The system will be returned to operation and will probably be functional when I make the trek to 5er Fest.

Rich

[microq]

hi, i have a question regarding the headllight leveling system, it seems like it just plain doesnt work any more, not that i ever saw it working to begin with. It came with the car, but when you turn the knob nothing happens. Do i need to check things like if the tubing is still all connected and not broken anywhere, how would i re-fill the fluid?

Dave

[Blue Shadow]

it is a sealed system. you would need to replace the part from the slave cylinders on the headlights to the control mounted on the dash. All one piece, was about 150 bucks.