Factory Original Headlight Example

[DiseaseWithNoCure]

In the final stretch of my 7-year M5 restoration project and hoping someone can set the record straight for headlights. Can anyone give some example photos or part links to what came from the factory?

It’s a standard, North American car so not looking for Euro or French headlights, just to get as close as possible to what would have come stock.

I’ve scanned many BAT listings since there’s lots of high quality photos there but there doesn’t seem to be much consistency between any of the listings on the topic of headlights.

Thanks in advance.

[Preyupy]

As a US spec car in 1988 they all came with generic sealed beam 5 3/4” headlights. If you wanted to put in Hella, Bosch or Cibie quartz iodide lights they would be totally period acceptable ( and a ton better lights). If I remember correctly most of the BMWs from that era used Westinghouse headlights from the factory in the US.

[tschultz]

I have a few Westinghouse sealed beams if you want them...

I pulled from my m5 when i went euro years ago...

[BMWCCA2]

It should go without saying that any US E28 had the same headlights as the '88 US M5.

[Preyupy]

In those days every BMW sold in the US had 4 headlights and they all came with sealed beam bulbs. They were all the same.

[BMWCCA2]

In those days every BMW sold in the US had 4 headlights and they all came with sealed beam bulbs. They were all the same.

I guess it all depends on what the original poster meant by "headlights". All the 5-3/4" halogen sealed-beams are the same between BMW models but do we know if that's all he's looking for? Maybe he needs the buckets, trim rings, who knows. Asking a vague question will usually return vague answers.

[vinceg101]

In the final stretch of my 7-year M5 restoration project and hoping someone can set the record straight for headlights. Can anyone give some example photos or part links to what came from the factory?

It’s a standard, North American car so not looking for Euro or French headlights, just to get as close as possible to what would have come stock.

I’ve scanned many BAT listings since there’s lots of high quality photos there but there doesn’t seem to be much consistency between any of the listings on the topic of headlights.

Thanks in advance.

Have you checked RealOEM.com?
All diagrams and part numbers are listed for the NA US M5 model. Take those part #'s and go to any online parts sellers or BMW dealer and see what's available and current costs.
As been said, ALL US-market bound BMW 5 Series shipped with sealed beam headlights and their corresponding parts (including the grilles) to meet then US DOT regulations.

[DiseaseWithNoCure]

In those days every BMW sold in the US had 4 headlights and they all came with sealed beam bulbs. They were all the same.

I guess it all depends on what the original poster meant by "headlights". All the 5-3/4" halogen sealed-beams are the same between BMW models but do we know if that's all he's looking for? Maybe he needs the buckets, trim rings, who knows. Asking a vague question will usually return vague answers.

Ha - understandable…no I was talking glass specific, I have Sylvanias in it right now as they came with the car when I bought it but always planned on replacing them with something closer to what it would’ve left the factory with (brand wise)…so it seems like Hella is the most close?

Mainly “concerned”/interested in is getting it as close to OEM and period correct as possible.

Thanks!

[DiseaseWithNoCure]

I have a few Westinghouse sealed beams if you want them...

I pulled from my m5 when i went euro years ago...

Thanks for the offer, much appreciated.

[BMWCCA2]

Ha - understandable…no I was talking glass specific, I have Sylvanias in it right now as they came with the car when I bought it but always planned on replacing them with something closer to what it would’ve left the factory with (brand wise)…so it seems like Hella is the most close?

Mainly “concerned”/interested in is getting it as close to OEM and period correct as possible.

Thanks!

You'll die trying to find a Hella sealed beam in a BMW. Your Sylvanias are probably the originals. Do you want to see, or be faithful to was used by law that everyone hated?

[Preyupy]

There was a time that to be “legal” cars had to have “sealed beam” headlights. That meant that the Hella/Cibie/Bosch etc lights with replaceable bulbs were not “legal”. Most states did not enforce this (although the state of Washington did try in the mid-late 70’s in some places). When the manufacturers started to build cars with headlights molded to the bodies they got the DOT to change the laws but that was not until the 90’s sometime. So all of the BMWs sold through the 80’s had to have Sealed Beam lights and BMW just put the same junk lights in their cars as every other manufacturer. Sylvania, Westinghouse, GE were probably the most common back then. They all looked the same (except for the name in the glass) and all worked exactly the same as well.