E21 three series mod- cheap, impressive

[MoBrighta]

Not a 2002 mod, let me know if this should go somewhere else on the forum, I'm new here. But an old BMW fan from way back.

Posted this on another forum, I was referred here because 'there's alot of E21 guys on BMW2002faq.'

I am a regular on 'mye28.com' and had a 2002 as my one and only, my DD for 28 years. Short background: dim lights on the back led to 5 (five) totals in that time, until I made a change ... which I now do for LOTS of cars, primarily BMW.

Here is what I posted over there...

"I was browsing the yard yesterday and came across a set of lights in an E21 320i, 1983. Naturally, I disassembled them to see what I could see, and found some very familiar parts inside... that's nice to see!

These lights are similar in design to the E23 seven series; not much of a surprise there, considering their vintage. They are Robert Bosch equipment, not the more common Hella. Similar to Mercedes Benz and quite a few other cars.

Good news is, they are every bit as 'adjustable' (double the tails, double the brakes, and additional functions) as other Bosch lights, which is to say, RIPE for improvement.

I didn't get any pics, no camera at the time. But if you are familiar with BMW lights, think E30 early lights, very similar layout. Inboard to out, they are Reverse, Brake, Tail, (nothing) and Turn Signal. Seems 'Nothing' is where a rear fog would live if installed, not in the US however, but here's the good news.

Upgrading the E21 light is very simple, and can be done with the lights in the car. Simple job, too, requiring only the lights harness (connector socket and four bulb sockets with wires) to be swapped out. Tools needed include a small socket and small screwdriver. Just remove all bulbs, pop out the old harness with connector and bulb sockets, snap in the new, reinstall bulbs, and go! I will be happy to do this upgrade as an exchange-- you remove your original harness and install the new one. The lights harness is exchanged to become the upgrade harness for the next guy in line, and the cost would be fairly low. Like under $50 with shipping for both sides.

Restoration of the lights would of course require removing them and sending them here, where I will restore the reflective surfaces (the way I do with E24 shark lights), install thehigh performace harness, High Output bulbs, and return all shiny new to you. Motivation is avoiding being hit from behind, keeping you and the car on the road!

Options would include the usual - add one tail, one brake, or both lights on each side. You could also add a rear fog light to utilise the lights as designed, one side or both, as you wish. Or, you could combine functions to add a tail light, brake light AND rear fog light, combining three upgrades in one. Three more light functions where none exist now.

As usual, I use all BMW parts, sparks/ fuse-popping/ melting are avoided, and the entire thing is reversable with no harm or change to the existing lights, wiring harness, or car.

I will post in the For Sale - Parts as well, and hope to get some pics up.

Have a nice Saturday, everyone!

[HarryPR]

Sounds like a worthwhile upgrade for my E21. I'll check your pics once you post them.

By the way, the most active E21 forum, at least in the U.S. is over at bimmerforums.com. you might want to post there too.

[MoBrighta]

Thanks, I do post in bimmerforums every twice in a while, I am trying to reach as wide an audience as possible.

I am working on LED upgrades to these old classics, too, as soon as I get enough of a deposit I will build one for pics. For now, I am doing it with high output light bulbs, nickel base of course, as closely to stock methods and parts as possible.

I have upgrades for about all the 'older' bimmers, and would like to keep more of them on the road. I look forward to posting more soon. With Pics, of course.

For example, here is a pic of an E30 tail light, high performance, that I just sold. One pic is tail lights, one is brake lights. Stock, you get one of each. Modified, you get two. ON EACH SIDE, that is. Similar effect on the E21, I think.

Notice how much brighter and bigger the added brake light is... it's the one closer to the license plate. That is the part of the light BMW never wanted you to see lighted, and is what I do for folks who don't want to meet people by 'exchanging information' over the trunk of their cars.

Plus, Murphy said it - if a bulb can fail (and they all fail) it will fail at the worst possible time. Having two bulbs for tail and for brake on each side, you will likely not see both of them fail at the same time, just common sense.