Back with a Tech

[m3f_cblock]

Did you pick those up used or order new?

I'm torn between stamped painted and unstamped polished.

Can't find the stamped polished any longer, at least at a price anyone can afford.

I picked these up yesterday off craiglist. Amazingly I was the first person to respond to the ad so the guy let me have the first chance at them.



3 of the wheels are damn near perfect, one of the rears has some paint chipping but no curb rash on any of them. They even have almost new Pilot's on them, albeit 235/40's all around, but they'll do for the time being.



I think either way you go will be win win.

[m3f_jayjaya29]

Don't want to derail, but I have a single stamped wheel for sale if you want a fifth for a spare.

[m3f_cmb5286]

Thanks! How's that Daytona coming along?

Slow lol. Hopefully should have some updates here in the next couple of days.

[m3f_cblock]

Don't want to derail, but I have a single stamped wheel for sale if you want a fifth for a spare.

Thanks! I'm a bit tapped out at the moment but I'd be interested in picking it up possibly in the near future. PM me with how much you want for it.

Slow lol. Hopefully should have some updates here in the next couple of days.

Nice, you need to post more pictures of that beauty!

[m3f_M_Parallel]

$500 for a ZKW lens? Seruously? Made of gold in US?



You car deserves more than DJ Auto lights. Keeping an E36 mint costs money, but you have the car.



If you want something cool and original, mainland Euro Bosch or ZKW H7 units. Won't be many, if at all, in the US. And much better light than the old tech H1 units.

[m3f_cblock]

Yeah...I'm not putting DJ Auto's in. I finally sourced a new lens for my ZKW and actually received it yesterday. My other post must have been unclear, I bought the ZKW's brand new for $500, the new lens ended up around $160.



I'm guessing the lights I bought are the old style,??? I'm running H1 bulbs. Are the actual projectors and housings different?

[m3f_M_Parallel]

Over here we had both ZKW and Bosch H1 and H7 units. The H7 units are the latest model lights offered here. Most people do not understand as the old H1 are projectors and the later H7 are open reflectors.


These all predate xenon technology (at least on the 3 series) but most just assume the projectors are the newer tech. Not on the E36.


So unit for unit, the H7 offer superior light output over the H1 units. I can tell as my 328i has ZKW H1 units and my M3 has Bosch H7 units. The difference is, well, uh....night and day.


The H1's are candles compared to the H7 units.


My 328i had ZKW H7 units, but I did a straight trade years ago for ZKW H1 units, as I wanted to fit xenon and doing to in H7 open reflector units, well, that would have blinded everyone.


In hindsight, bad move as even with the xenon fitted, in normal 4300k temp, the output is not better. The stock halogen H7 units are much better.


This goes to show they are not "true" projectors and xenon bulbs do not sit right in these units.


The H7 units look more like the stock US light with the lack of projector, but can't be compared.

[m3f_cblock]

Over here we had both ZKW and Bosch H1 and H7 units. The H7 units are the latest model lights offered here. Most people do not understand as the old H1 are projectors and the later H7 are open reflectors.



These all predate xenon technology (at least on the 3 series) but most just assume the projectors are the newer tech. Not on the E36.



So unit for unit, the H7 offer superior light output over the H1 units. I can tell as my 328i has ZKW H1 units and my M3 has Bosch H7 units. The difference is, well, uh....night and day.



The H1's are candles compared to the H7 units.



My 328i had ZKW H7 units, but I did a straight trade years ago for ZKW H1 units, as I wanted to fit xenon and doing to in H7 open reflector units, well, that would have blinded everyone.



In hindsight, bad move as even with the xenon fitted, in normal 4300k temp, the output is not better. The stock halogen H7 units are much better.



This goes to show they are not "true" projectors and xenon bulbs do not sit right in these units.



The H7 units look more like the stock US light with the lack of projector, but can't be compared.

Got yeah! Thanks for sharing that. I knew the Bosch were open reflectors, I didn't know ZKW made this style of light as well. Mine are definitely the H1 style.



I plan to simply run the H1's...output isn't as good as a proper HID projector or an H7, but it is hugely improved over the stock US lighting. I prefer the looks of this style as well.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

it's a tough call for me. The projectors do look nice. Seeing both my cars side by side it's a tough choice.


But since my M3 is totally original and have the Bosch H7 units, no way I'm going to replace those for projectors. I also can't stand the OBC error when the hid's on the 328i are turned on.

[m3f_cblock]

it's a tough call for me. The projectors do look nice. Seeing both my cars side by side it's a tough choice.



But since my M3 is totally original and have the Bosch H7 units, no way I'm going to replace those for projectors. I also can't stand the OBC error when the hid's on the 328i are turned on.

I have a newfound appreciation for Auto's now. They are more fun to drive than I thought, plus, like you, I still have a manual in the other e36. What diff are you running? I'm pretty certain I'm going to throw a 3.91 in mine sooner than later.



Would love to see what the SMG is all about, maybe we'll get some over here in 2020ish.

[m3f_andreialta]

Picked up some stamped style 24's tonight!

I'm pretty sure we were looking at the same ad. It was too good of a deal that I was planning a roadtrip from Norcal up to Seattle for those wheels haha

[m3f_M_Parallel]

I have a newfound appreciation for Auto's now. They are more fun to drive than I thought, plus, like you, I still have a manual in the other e36. What diff are you running? I'm pretty certain I'm going to throw a 3.91 in mine sooner than later.



Would love to see what the SMG is all about, maybe we'll get some over here in 2020ish.

Just to be sure, my SMG is no auto. It has an auto mode, but is nothing like an auto box.



I'm a stock guy, so have the 3.23 210 diff. Also SMG auto mode will screw up gearchanges if you alter the ratio. But it's low enough for my driving.



I love SMG. Cool old tech, obviously not as fast as later versions, but drive hard and shifts are still fast. And love the unique center console insert and gear display in the gauge cluster.



Two weeks ago when at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, I ran into a member of Bimmerpost, who was doing an ED.

I took him for a drive as he had never seen or driven with a Euro spec M3, let alone an SMG. He really liked it and found it sounded just like an S54 from inside. Not too strange as that engine is a further development of the S50B32.

[m3f_cblock]

I'm pretty sure we were looking at the same ad. It was too good of a deal that I was planning a roadtrip from Norcal up to Seattle for those wheels haha

Haha, I'm still shocked I got them. Probably the best thing I've ever bought from craigslist. I lucked out big time being the first person to send an email.

Just to be sure, my SMG is no auto. It has an auto mode, but is nothing like an auto box.



I'm a stock guy, so have the 3.23 210 diff. Also SMG auto mode will screw up gearchanges if you alter the ratio. But it's low enough for my driving.



I love SMG. Cool old tech, obviously not as fast as later versions, but drive hard and shifts are still fast. And love the unique center console insert and gear display in the gauge cluster.

For some reason I was thinking it didn't share the same gearing as the traditional manual but I know the transmission itself is the same so it must. Very cool anyways.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

Yes, exact same Getrag 6 speed, just with electro-hydraulic actuation. So still all the feel of a manual.

[m3f_tiltz]

Damnit, I emailed about those wheels 2 hours after the ad was posted. Congrats