[DIY] E36 Underhood Lamp Retrofit (Pics!)

[m3f_Anubis]

So, um, if you have an M3 sedan, don't bother with this mod at all unless you have a proper mounting point on the bottom of your hood and not just a hole in the heat shielding. Learn from my mistake...

Good to know. Oh, well.

[m3f_Roland H]

Good to know. Oh, well.

Yeah......



Thankfully I'm repainting the hood anyways...

[m3f_fitchesbass]

You're far better prepared than most, I'll give you that.



This isn't just an emercency light source for roadside emergencies; it's like a little surprise party every time you pop open the hood with the light installed. No car nut should be without one.

I have a full set of tools in my trunk.... it's the only way to travel in an e36.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

Just to add some info to this topic in case anyone finds it like I did.


First of all no EU car I have seen so far had this light fitted from factory. So it was not like the US didn't get it and we did.


For extra OEM kudos, there is (not sure if it's NLA by now) an original retrofit wiring loom available and official instructions of how to route it. It taps into a parking/city light fan connector in the fusebox.

[m3f_^calypso^]

All SA ones I have seen have it.

[m3f_John Firestone]

For extra OEM kudos, there is (not sure if it's NLA by now) an original retrofit wiring loom available and official instructions of how to route it. It taps into a parking/city light fan connector in the fusebox.

The harness, 61 12 9 401 873, appears to still be available. The retrofitting kit (less harness) is NLA.

[m3f_enderw88]

If you ever fit a strut bar you may have interference problems. My mason bar did not like the good light


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[m3f_M_Parallel]

The harness, 61 12 9 401 873, appears to still be available. The retrofitting kit (less harness) is NLA.

Ha nice (albeit expensive).



I see the light itself itself is also still available (63 31 8 350 554) just not the set as you say. Which iirc is nothing but the light housing + bulb + the switch.



Which you can also buy seperately.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

Just checked on my car. The GT strut clears the space for the light more than enough.


So I'll definitely refit the underhood light onto the M3.