MyE28.com

I have a 1988 535is, and am looking for a complete set of Euro headlights for my car, but I am having a lot of trouble finding a set. If any of you have a set, or know where to get a set, please let me know.

Oh, my car has a set of 18x9" Mille Miglia wheels on it with 245/30/18 tires, and they are arduously working at destroying my suspension, fenderwells, and gas mileage. I am looking at a set of ASA AR2 wheels that are 17x8" with 215/45/17 tires, and I was wondering if I would run into any problems with that wheel/tire combo. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Jeezus, 18x9 wheels with 245 tires? Amazing you can even drive on it like that! You should run into no problems with the new setup you are describing...

Kyle in NO wrote:Jeezus, 18x9 wheels with 245 tires? Amazing you can even drive on it like that! You should run into no problems with the new setup you are describing...

I know, I had a wheel off while doing some work on my brakes (ABS sensor), and the lower part of my struts, the metal sleeve that the springs seat into, to be precise, were bent flat from the wheels rubbing them, and my rear wheels rub under heavy acceleration or when I go through dips at a local section of road that I like to play around in

ASA AR2s are heavy no matter what size. Those suckers will make the car ride like crap, even in 17" sizes. If you must have large wheels (larger than 16s), pony up the money for some lightweight BBS RKs or the like.

I just switched from my 16x8, forged E38 wheels with 225/50-16 S-03s to my 15x7 cheapie alloys and 205 snows ... every winter, I'm pleasantly surprised at how much better the ride gets and how much nimbler the steering feels. Overall grip is down, of course. I like the look and traction of the wider wheels enough to put up with the downgrade in ride, but the car is certainly enjoyable on smaller wheels.

-tammer

The problem is that I'm a kid with no income, and the money for the ASA's and tires is pretty much all I have saved, and it's more of an effort to save what's left of my fenderwells and front suspension. I would love a set of BBS wheels, but my budget won't allow it right now

Three words....used used used! They are all over California's Craigslist adverts. You should be able to score a set for under $500...

I'm having trouble finding a set of 17's on Craigslist. I searched for Southern California because I'm about an hour from Los Angeles.

Okay, maybe they aren't all over, but they can be found for sure...probably not in 17" though. The period correct wheels are going to be in 16" mostly....and they look great too!

Well, I could make up some kind of elaborate rationale as to exactly why I want 17's, but what it comes down to is that I am a "kid", and I prefer the look of 17's over 16's, but I'm not a complete idiot like the guy before me who wedged the 18x9's on it.

So, aside from being heavy (which the Mille's are), how would you guys rate the ASA's?

I have a set complete with grilles, but they're rhd and in the UK so you'd have to pay shipping. I'd throw in a set of headlamp converters (not this particular set but one that would fit). Price (not including shipping) £50/$100.

What is the difference between headlights for right and left-hand drive headlights, and what are the converters for?

CSDigg wrote:What is the difference between headlights for right and left-hand drive headlights, and what are the converters for?

The high beams are the same for both because the beams point straight ahead. The low beams for rhd point down to the left whereas lhd point down and to the right.

The converters remove that part of the beam that would dazzle oncoming drivers when driving on the "wrong" side of the road, leaving enough of the beam for safe driving. They're used in the UK by drivers travelling to the European mainland. Of course it isn't as good as the right one but it's ok.

Alright, I'm interested, but are they the ones with the wipers that are on the car in your gallery?

Sorry no, just regular lights.

Ah well I was actually hoping they weren't the one's with the wipers, so that's good. Other than having to tinker with the RHD/LHD business, they should otherwise bolt/plug right in, correct?

AFAIK, but check with others. I've no direct experience of US E28s.

Ok, well please PM me with some pictures and a price, and I'll see what I can work out, it sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.

The low beams point UP and to the left on a RHD car, to illuminate road signs. They point up and right on a LHD car. UK/Japan/Australia market lamps will blind oncoming drivers in the US.

For the price of a set of new ASAs, you can get a used set of 16s from an E38 with tires, probably. Then save up for a nice set of 17s, and you'll be able to sell the E38 wheels for as much as you paid for them as long as you keep them off the curbs. Seriously, I'm talking 4 good wheels for under $200 (if you are patient with eBay), and they'll fit right, look good, and ride well. If you still have the jonesing for the 17s, then do it a little later when you wear out the 16" tires. That's the quick/easy/cheap way to get off the 18s.

-tammer

Tammer in Philly wrote:The low beams point UP and to the left on a RHD car, to illuminate road signs. They point up and right on a LHD car. UK/Japan/Australia market lamps will blind oncoming drivers in the US.

-tammer

I stand corrected. For RHD lights, there is a 15 degree wedge of light above the horizontal (the'Kick up') towards the left, however the main body of the beam will be down (as compared to the high beam)...



This would blind drivers UNLESS the headlights were fitted with a converter mask which removes the beam 'kick-up'. A headlamp altered in this way will have a straight line as the top of the beam image. With the commercially produced kits the light output is not unduly reduced.

So if I were to use the mask kit, and adjust the alignment of the light, would it be possible to have an acceptably adjusted beam of light?