Is there a way, with the headlight assemblies in the car, to tell whether I have Bosch AL or ZKW headlights?
Thanks!
Ken...
Soldier
Is there a way, with the headlight assemblies in the car, to tell whether I have Bosch AL or ZKW headlights?
Thanks!
Ken...
Capo
The quick way to tell (assuming your headlights are not modified) is to look at the projector lens. Bosch/AL units have a line through the middle of the projector lens. ZKW units have a clear lens.
Also, look at the cutoff of your headlights. ZKWs will have a defined, sharper line at the cutoff, where ALs are blurrier and don't have as well of a defined line.
Looking for the line through the projector lens is the easiest way though. Note: I am not talking about the whole headlight assembly lens... only the small rounded one that covers the Xenon projector.
This is the line I'm referring to (ignore the green arrow, borrowed the pic):
BP
2005 330i ZHP / 6MT
Imolarot / Naturbraun
2003 330iT / 6MT
Orientblau / Naturbraun
It's not the car you drive, it's how you drive it.
Big Earner
For AL (maybe for Zkw too) the alphabets AL are are sort of etched on the headlight lens on the side closer to the grill...
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2006 Coupe | Black Sapphire Metallic | Natural Brown | Gruppe M Intake | Corsa TSE3 | Michelin PSS on Apex ARC-8 | Koni Yellows |
Capo
Also forgot to mention - if you have a 2-door variant, then you definitely do not have ZKW.
BP
2005 330i ZHP / 6MT
Imolarot / Naturbraun
2003 330iT / 6MT
Orientblau / Naturbraun
It's not the car you drive, it's how you drive it.
Messaggero
Can you see at night? If yes, you have AL! If not, you have ZKW! Hahaha
Big Earner
Originally Posted by theothersawyer
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2006 Coupe | Black Sapphire Metallic | Natural Brown | Gruppe M Intake | Corsa TSE3 | Michelin PSS on Apex ARC-8 | Koni Yellows |
Soldier
Cool - thanks! It's Bosch/AL for me. May save the hassle of a projector retrofit. I need to check the reflectors, but hopefully they'll be good.
Ah! The master of DARK humor.
Ken...
Boss
Iseewhatyoudidthere
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Randeaux/Rando/John/jr - '06 Cic ZHP; Southern California
"ZHP or not, I still like you"
ZHP Performance Package, Cold Weather Package, Leather, Jet Black/Black/BlackCube, NAV, Anthracite Black "my individual" interior trim
ESS Stage 1 Twin Screw Supercharger, Sprint Booster, BMW Perf Intake, Magnaflow Exhaust, Dinan TB & STEP S/W, UCC Sway Bars, Apex EC-7 18x8.5 ET38
Suspension: AST 44100 dampers, Bimmerworld front adjustable end links, Swift springs (8K front, 10K rear), Vorshlag camber plates
Dynavin D99+, Hardwire V1 (w/V1 Connection), BSW Stage 1 Speakers, Kicker Amp/Subwoofer
BMW Performance Strut Brace, Orion V2 Angel Eyes, No-holes License Plate, SMG Paddle Shift Mod, Besian VANOS, Gold DISA, Fan Delete, M3 Side Mirrors
Note: Actual car no longer resembles signature picture
Messaggero
Har har har! That was punny!
Capo
You can retrofit the ZKW lens into the AL projector assembly. This is what I did so I could retain the ZKW lighting but have the superior AL projector bowlsI liked it so much in my ZHP I retrofitted ZKW lenses into my M3's headlight assemblies. Light output of the ZKW lens thru the AL projector bowls are amazing.
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