New addition to the fleet

[Adam W in MN]

Still enjoy reading this thread, thanks for continuing to update on the progress. Seems like every time I see an E39 around these parts, probably due to winter grit and grime, the headlights are sandblasted to hell.

[Karl Grau]

In spite of being overserved on Thanksgiving, I decided to tackle the first headlight.

It came apart easy enough with a heat gun.






What’s left of the old adjuster pieces next to the replacements.




Humpty Dumpty all back together with upgraded bulbs.

[wkohler]

Those small pieces look more effective.

[waynet1]

In spite of being overserved on Thanksgiving, I decided to tackle the first headlight.


What’s left of the old adjuster pieces next to the replacements.




Humpty Dumpty all back together with upgraded bulbs.

Nice work You're a better man than I.
I'm expecting my complete new Xenon replacement set early next week from these guys, as you know already. I'll be sure and send you the pics when I get them.

[Justin_FL]

Charles, looks like you omitted the lens that goes over the turn signal reflector/bulb?

Since the plastic covers on mine are UV degraded (not just surface yellowing you can polish away), I'm going to order some of the DJ Auto replacement lens covers and tear into mine sooner or later. Those lenses are supposed to fit onto the OE lights. I did my adjusters back in 2007, so with everything else working fine it seems worth a try rather than spending $1200+ for a new pair of OEM xenon assemblies.

[vinceg101]

Nice work, Chas. You've got more stones than I to tackle that job. You might want to install Mr. Fixit's headlamp cover film to preserve those lenses.
When I got my 530 I caved and replaced them with Depo units; wish I hadn't but with Hella's costing what they do, there weren't too many options. The Depo's aren't bad, but the light patterns are a bit more pronounced and the turn signals are pretty weak. I was admonished by Daniel Stern for it but the cost difference was just too extreme; I couldn't justify (nor afford) several thousand dollars for replacement headlights.

You appear to be lucky with yours as your build-date is older than mine. There was a cut off date sometime in 2001 where BMW/Hella switched the Xenon units to "permanently" sealed units where they used an adhesive that turns to concrete when it cures. Removing and/or replacing the lenses is not really an option.

I have been finding some new Hella units on ebay lately (some even with the Euro clear side marker reflectors) for significantly less than through BMW. So there is hope that I might be able to switch back to Hella's sometime in the future.

This reminds me I have to adjust my lamps along with winterizing it sooner than later.

[Karl Grau]

Charles, looks like you omitted the lens that goes over the turn signal reflector/bulb?

Justin, it’s there, it must be my crappy photography skills.

Vince, I can’t remember, did your car originally come with Xenons?

Nice work You're a better man than I.

Nice work, Chas. You've got more stones than I to tackle that job.

Guys, it really wasn’t that bad (now having said that, I’ll probably completely screw up the next one ).

[vinceg101]

Vince, I can’t remember, did your car originally come with Xenons?

Yes it did.
Self adjusting and with the suspension load leveling feature also (which I think is standard for all Xenons and/or with the M Sport Suspension Package(?))

[Adam W in MN]

Great pictures and handiwork.

[Karl Grau]

[waynet1]

Talk about a teaser.....
If you're not going to open the damn boxes, you may as well wrap 'em up and shove 'em.........., under the tree .

[Karl Grau]

Like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning on an ever-spinning reel
As the images unwind
Like the boxes that you find in the windmills of your mind

Now THESE guys know how to package!

[vinceg101]

Mmmmm...looking like new headlights to me.
What flavor?

[Karl Grau]

Yes, it’s new lights. I just got direct replacement halogens.




When I was taking them apart to replace the adjusters, the twist lock plastic thingy (circled in pic) broke into pieces when I went to remove it. The drivers side completely disintegrated. The passenger side I was able to glue back together enough that it held until I went over the first bump.
If I can get replacements for those doohickys, I’ll sell the lights or keep them as spares.












When this weather blows over, I’ll mark up a wall and aim them.

[Karl Grau]

I marked up a wall in the back yard per Daniel Stern’s instructions but it’s been freakishly cold so I still haven’t aimed the lights.
Tonight it’s supposed to be above freezing at dark time so I was getting the car into position early and decided the ground is too uneven for aiming purposes.





I moved it over to the side drive and said, fuck it, and got the laser level out …




and transferred dead center of the beam to the aiming surface the way we used to in the Apollo Program.




I have my headband flashlight from Nerd Industries® so I’m ready for sundown

[vinceg101]

I've got to do this for both the E39 and the Honda. I used an abandoned parking lot the last time just around the corner from my house; the blue tape was on the block walls for the longest time until they demolished the entire lot 4 months ago.
I'll use the hangar door this time.

[Karl Grau]

I've got to do this for both the E39 and the Honda.

That reminds me, I need to do the Honda too.

I didn't wait until it was completely dark but I think it went okay. Danny Stern probably wouldn't approve because I didn't have a full tank of gas and no weight in the driver's seat.

Shitty pic of driver's side.




Shitty pic of both lamps.

[waxonwaxoff]

Car is looking good, Charles!

I had a question regarding your Grom install. To use the factory wiring for the mic did you buy a BMW mic for up front, and then splice the respective wires in the trunk to a male stereo plug, and then plug it to the Grom's female stereo plug?

[Karl Grau]

To use the factory wiring for the mic did you buy a BMW mic for up front, and then splice the respective wires in the trunk to a male stereo plug, and then plug it to the Grom's female stereo plug?

Brady, I used the stock wiring and adapted the GROM microphone to the BMW grill thingy. In the rear, I adapted the grom wiring to a BMW plug I got from a junkyard. Everything can be returned to stock form easily.

[waxonwaxoff]

Thanks for the info, Charles. It looks like the X5 came with mics in it from the factory, so I'll look into trying to use them with the grom first, but probably will just end up using the grom mic.

[Karl Grau]

According to the ETK, the X5 uses the same stuff as the e39.
The BMW microphone is powered so it uses three wires, the GROM, only two. The plug I got from the junkyard plugs into the one in the trunk. You may have to dig around a bit to find it but I can get you a better pic and the wire color coding. To make it easy, the color coding changes from the trunk to the cabin.

[Karl Grau]

I ended up going with a cup holder from ‘Ultimate Cup Holders’. Not the best placement but I didn’t want something that could spill into anything electronic so that ruled out console mounted.

And get this…are you sitting down? It’s made in the USA!!??



While I was perusing the site, I saw they had umbrella holders which I thought would be perfect for my recently purchased El Niño umbrella.

And get this…are you sitting down? It’s made in Germany!!??



It’s made by the same company that supplied cassette and CD storage boxes to BMW back in the day.





It can be mounted in a bunch of different locations.



It just happens to be the perfect size for my M-Tech umbrella.

[tig]

You realize not even Seattleites own umbrellas?

What's next a vinyl landeau top?

[leadphut]

what's next, cucumber sandwiches?

[Karl Grau]

You realize not even Seattleites own umbrellas?

I bet they'd change their tune if they experineced an El Niño rain like we're having today.
I'm trapped in my truck because I have no umbrella.

What's next a vinyl landeau top?

The shop closed after the founder retired.

what's next, cucumber sandwiches?

Only if the crusts are removed. This isn't Seattle where apparently, anything goes.

[wkohler]

Lol. When I was in college, we often had the annoying BS sprinkling but not really rain, but more often than not, we had the "you get drenched" rain. I was given an umbrella by a neighbor and I never used it. I also wore shorts all the time. Sometimes a hoodie.

Did I mention how much I'm freaking LOVING this weather here?!

[Karl Grau]

The strangest thing happened this morning. About 5 minutes after calling in sick I made a complete recovery so I decided to use the lull between storms...





To install the umbrella holder. I used the Velcro so it sticks on just like the oil bag.




I also bought a 12 volt espresso machine to go with the cup holder. Apparently everyone in Seattle has these because they're always wet from being rained on and they need the warm-up I guess. BIG on coffee they are up there in Seattle.

[muleskinner]

Viva! Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva! Seattle Tacoma, viva viva Sea-Tac
Viva viva viva viva viva Sea-Tac
They've got the best computers and coffee and smack
Coming and going it has to be Boeing
The best form of defence is blow them up
In a regular cup
Have an espresso, You will? Oh I guess so
I feel my heart is gonna start to jump
'Cause it's wired to a pump

https://youtu.be/Go-wiS4JXWk

[John in VA]

I picked up this BMW bumbershoot, but haven't mounted it.

[Karl Grau]

That was a suggested location in my instructions but I thought it was a little obtrusive on Sandbeige. Plus, I don't think this whole 'rain' thing is going to last long.