DIY - Turn Signal / Parking Lamps with Euro Bumper install.
Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 6:30 pm
When doing the side marker / turn signal delete and the Euro Bumper install on 1st 5er I discovered an issue I wanted to address.
The issue was that the Euro turn signals were just that, turn signals with no provision for parking lights.
Here's what I started with, the stock Euro turn signal housing.
View from the rear.
View from the front. As you can see I bent back the tab to allow full light exposure to the outside of the lense.
After removing the old socket:
Decided upon the E34 Turn/Parking assembly as the replacement piece.
Not only is it a single unit 3 wire fixture, but the wiring harness colors match that of the E12.
I removed the foam ring from the socket...
...along with the bulb to begin the fitment procedure.
It fits well...
... just not deep enough into the housing.
To make it fit deep enough;
Step one, cut off a small section of the housing, (at an angle).
Step two requires an enlarging of the metal reflector plate.
I used a drill bit working around the edges until I got it to the appropriate size.
Sorry there's no pic of this process.
You'll know when you got this right.
How do you get the bulb socket to mount securely to the housing?
Well, do you remember that white foam cushion ring you removed earlier?
I Super Glued it to the housing.
I then Super Glued the fixture to the foam ring, after breaking off the 2 original mounting clips. (You may find a better way.)
I figure if it ever needs removing, the foam will be easy, and cheap enough to cut/tear through and repair or replace.
Guess what left that small circular spot on the housing.
Some things are "don't try this at home boys and girls" things.
Thank God my wife had fingernail polish remover at hand.
The next step is to wire the two pigtails together, which I don't have a picture of. Sorry.
But my good friend Pavel, who is a EE, did the solder work on the harness so I shouldn't have any connectivity issues down the road.
Here's you a Before and After pic.
It was a fun and satisfying project in so many ways.
The issue was that the Euro turn signals were just that, turn signals with no provision for parking lights.
Here's what I started with, the stock Euro turn signal housing.
View from the rear.
View from the front. As you can see I bent back the tab to allow full light exposure to the outside of the lense.
After removing the old socket:
Decided upon the E34 Turn/Parking assembly as the replacement piece.
Not only is it a single unit 3 wire fixture, but the wiring harness colors match that of the E12.
I removed the foam ring from the socket...
...along with the bulb to begin the fitment procedure.
It fits well...
... just not deep enough into the housing.
To make it fit deep enough;
Step one, cut off a small section of the housing, (at an angle).
Step two requires an enlarging of the metal reflector plate.
I used a drill bit working around the edges until I got it to the appropriate size.
Sorry there's no pic of this process.
You'll know when you got this right.
How do you get the bulb socket to mount securely to the housing?
Well, do you remember that white foam cushion ring you removed earlier?
I Super Glued it to the housing.
I then Super Glued the fixture to the foam ring, after breaking off the 2 original mounting clips. (You may find a better way.)
I figure if it ever needs removing, the foam will be easy, and cheap enough to cut/tear through and repair or replace.
Guess what left that small circular spot on the housing.
Some things are "don't try this at home boys and girls" things.
Thank God my wife had fingernail polish remover at hand.
The next step is to wire the two pigtails together, which I don't have a picture of. Sorry.
But my good friend Pavel, who is a EE, did the solder work on the harness so I shouldn't have any connectivity issues down the road.
Here's you a Before and After pic.
It was a fun and satisfying project in so many ways.
