Headlight Question

[Paulaner]

This might be a stupid question, but I'll ask anyways, because I do not know the answer and couldn't find one when I searched around.

So I am trying to replace my 4 headlights. Upon removal of the first (inner), I noticed the one I bought, a Sylvania H5001, has two spade terminal connectors and the original Cibie that came off the car only has a single spade connector.

Will these work?
Do I need to buy a different ones?
Can the female part of the connecter be modified?

Appreciate your thoughts and recommendations.

 

[Paulaner]

Could a diode converter like this be fitted you think?
Tying to keep everything stock if possible, so would hate to have to go this route.

 

[jmackro]

I have no idea what a "diode converter" is, but let me ask some more basic questions:

- Are your old lights incandescent or halogen. Or, are they LED?
- Do your existing sockets just have one terminal as well? If so, I'm guessing that they have been replaced, since all bulbs back in the 1970s had 2 or 3 terminals.
- How were your old lights grounded? How many wires go into the existing sockets? Regardless of its technology, any bulb needs at least two connections (power and ground).
- Are your new lights incandescent or halogen. Or, are they LED?

 

[Paulaner]

I have no idea what a "diode converter" is, but let me ask some more basic questions:

- Are your old lights incandescent or halogen. Or, are they LED?
- Do your existing sockets just have one terminal as well? If so, I'm guessing that they have been replaced, since all bulbs back in the 1970s had 2 or 3 terminals.
- How were your old lights grounded? How many wires go into the existing sockets? Regardless of its technology, any bulb needs at least two connections (power and ground).
- Are your new lights incandescent or halogen. Or, are they LED?

Hey thanks for offering to help. Answers below:

Old lights are sealed halogens

Socket is single terminal as well for only the inner lamps. Outsides have the 3, which matches the new Sylvanias I bought.

2 wires into the socket

New lights are also halogens

 

[jmackro]

OK, so this issue only exists on the inner lights, which just have a single filament, so need only 2 connections: (power and ground). And both your old and new bulbs are halogen, so don't need any external circuitry (as LED bulbs sometimes do). So I think the issue boils down to your having some sort of odd (at least to me) socket for the inners that only has one connector. The ground must connect somehow, but I'm puzzled as to how.

My solution would be to buy two standard, 2 terminal headlight connectors (like what is in the photo below) and substitute them for your existing, inner connectors. An O'Rielys or AutoZone store should carry these. A three terminal connector will work too (like what's in the outer positions) with the middle wire unconnected.

Just out of curiosity, is your e9 a European-delivery car, or does the wiring for the inner sockets show any sign of being modified?

 

[Paulaner]

Here is Better picture of the terminal. It's original Cibie branded part, which would match the bulbs. It shows no signs of tampering or previous replacement.

The car is a 1972 e3 bavaria.

 

[rsporsche]

for the headlight connectors, i used these

Volvo Harness Parts

Dave's Volvo Page. Hard to find Volvo terminals and connectors.

www.prancingmoose.com

i also replaced the female spade 'flag' connectors - on the same link

 

[HB Chris]

I’ve never seen that type of bulb or Cibie adapter. It appears that the adapter body completes a ground to the bulb housing. Why not ditch the adapter and its rubber seal as it isn’t needed for any other standard H1 bulb.

 

[Paulaner]

Is there a recommended BMW adapter, or is the one that @rsporsche or @jmackro linked to acceptable replacements?

 

[stphers]

Isn't that the right connector that is shown in one of your pictures, the one with the two connectors, brown ( ground ) and white ( power ) Just remove it from the rubber seal as said earlier and plug it directly onto the new lamp Those were adapters that came with the Cibies when you bought the hi beam kit

Thanks, Rick

 

[HB Chris]

Here is common euro headlight adapter, there are wires inside to attach to the bulb unlike yours. There is no ‘BMW’ adapter and it isn’t needed, just plug yours in to the new bulb.

 

[Paulaner]

Yup, understand what you mean now @stphers and @HB Chris. Ill give this a try, thanks guys.

 

[jmackro]

Isn't that the right connector that is shown in one of your pictures, the one with the two connectors, brown ( ground ) and white ( power ) Just remove it from the rubber seal as said earlier and plug it directly onto the new lamp Those were adapters that came with the Cibies when you bought the hi beam kit

Thanks, Rick

Rick:

Were you referring to Paulaner's photo duplicated below? Yes, the backside of that looks like the usual connector. But I believe that only one of those wires goes to the type of 1/4" wide female connector that fits both sides of Paulaner's new bulbs. The other wire goes to some surface that contacts - rather than plugs into - the back of his old bulbs.

 

[stphers]

Yes that is the one I believe that if you separate that 2 wire connector from the rubber cover and the connector under the rubber It is the ground side that makes contact with e bulb, you will find that the connector in the picture is just 2 flag connectors I have from time to time wired a spade connector to one the bulb hold down tabs for a ground