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I'm trying to understand the factory front lighting setup on an 1981 E21 323i. My car was "federalized" when grey market imported to the US and it looks like the lighting was changed. On US E21s the front outside turn light/blinker is also a parking light so that when the headlights are on the parking light with amber lens is constantly illuminated. I notice the US blinker/parking light housings have 1 ground wire and 2 hot wires to accommodate the dual nature of this light. The euro housings have 1 ground and 1 hot wire. Where is the parking light on a Euro E21?

Parking lights in europe models are in the headlamp units integrated.

The Mobile Traditions parts catalog does not show any extra bulbs or anything in the headlights as you describe when I put in my VIN for my car, which again is a Euro delivered 323i. Ay thoughts?

Checked bmwfans, item nr 15 is the parking light bulb:

http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E21/E ... headlight/

Thanks. I have the same diagram showing item #15. I thought this to be the low beam light bulb. So on the euro E21 the high and low beams come from the same bulb?

Same type yeah, but low beam is outer lights, high beam is inner light, since they have double headlight...

Thats how you tell thrm apart, the low beam lights have the small bulb aswell, so 3 wires.

AdamB wrote: Mon Feb 08, 2021 11:24 pm Thanks. I have the same diagram showing item #15. I thought this to be the low beam light bulb. So on the euro E21 the high and low beams come from the same bulb?

Nope, 2 bulbs in the same headlight

BertjeConti wrote: Tue Feb 09, 2021 4:08 pm

AdamB wrote: Mon Feb 08, 2021 11:24 pm Thanks. I have the same diagram showing item #15. I thought this to be the low beam light bulb. So on the euro E21 the high and low beams come from the same bulb?

Nope, 2 bulbs in the same headlight

323i has double headlights. Inner ones are high beam. Outer ones are low beam and citylights or parking lights.

Thanks to everyone helping me get to the bottom of this. I am asking because I have an issue I am trying to track down. Understanding the factory wiring versus the US federalization done by someone later is my goal. Working off the information provided, the !982 323i came from the factory with the inner headlight for high beams, the outer headlight for low beam as well as parking/city lights. Please confirm. Where is the low beam bulb in the parts diagram provided in the link from bmwfans by BertiJConti??

You are correct. The low beam bulb is not shown in that diagram but is hooked up to the two lower wires in the image.

Thanks so much. I will do some more looking into my wiring issues to figure out what is going on with my federalized parking lights/turn signal wiring I will look for remnants of the factory setup to possibly understand how it was federalized. After that I may be back with more on this subject.

Jeroen wrote: Wed Feb 10, 2021 8:32 am You are correct. The low beam bulb is not shown in that diagram but is hooked up to the two lower wires in the image.

Jeroen is correct. The city light bulb (4 Watt front park light - #15) and socket (#13) are shown, the main bulb (H1 55 Watt - #10)) is not shown. The parts list for the diagram shows quantity 4 for the H1 lamp, that tells me all lights are H1. (Those were the good old days)

Seems both high and low beams use an H1 lamp according to the diagrams I looked at (realoem). The lamp has a positive terminal, the socket has a negative terminal. Both are 6,3 mm (US: 0.250 inch) flat spade terminals. This is the same as my headlights, though I am running Cibié CSR lights (owned by and labeled Valeo). Outer lights are low beam, inner lights are high beam.

Most four light systems, the outer lights are H4 (high and low), and the inner H1 (high only).

I have very nice high output lamps for both - H1 for headlights and 3886X for city (front park) lights, if anyone needs more light on the road... I can mail you some. I also do lots with with rear lighting, new brighter (safe wattage) lamps, and upgrades for more reliable, brighter, visually larger tail lights - all within the existing light, and all safely. I will be restoring a set of rear lights for a 1983 320iS, and will post pictures. "Should this be a new post?"

I look forward to helping E21 members with all lighting needs, as I have been for years with E3, E9, E10, E12, E23, E24, E28, E30, and others.

My next door neighbor has an E21 320iS for sale ??? Maybe, could I, should I ???

"Let there be Light!"

Andy

Hi Andy, welcome, so nice to see you here and get some in-depth info!

Also a nice suggestion are the Competition/Rally bulbs from Philips and the likes. Really good stuff, sofar fuses and wiring appear to be able to keep up but you may want to switch to low beam if you end up in a traffic jam to prevent the headlights from overheating haha. Need to ckeck to make sure but I believe I fitted these in my E21 several years ago and I think I never went back to standard haha

Yes, low beams in traffic is definitely my preference (and law in the US). High output lamps sure help as well, but I use the standard watt bulbs, I like the German Vosla for higher output from the same wattage, not those 'Rallye' high-watt lamps. I have seen some up to 130 watts! Standard watts are 55/60W, I have seen 65W, 70W, 80W, 100W, and 130W. New fuses, new wires, and new terminals would be advised for safety and effectiveness. Not all are willing or able to rewire the lighting circuits, and that's OK. I don't do brain surgery - I stick with what I know... Lights!