US M3 headlights = euro ?

[ShinBalNom]

Will the new US spec M3 sedans have the euro headlights? If so, you think the price of the euro headlights will decrease since it will be easier to access?

[continentalg5]

Probably not seeing as the headlights must meet DOT requirements. Euro headlights have a differnt light cut-off I believe.

[canucklion]

the M3 sedans are shown to have the E92 front, so doesn't matter if it's euro or not, it's not going to fit existing E90s without modification

[Yvette]

Originally Posted by canucklion

the M3 sedans are shown to have the E92 front, so doesn't matter if it's euro or not, it's not going to fit existing E90s without modification

you sure it wasn't the facelift of the new 3 series....
only new M3 sedans have e92 headlights on???
cause that looked so good....

[nusevad]

Yea, the M3 sedans uses the same headlights as the E92 M3. There were spy photos posted of the M3 sedan floating around here somewhere...and it had the E92 front.

[canucklion]

courtesy of MarkE90M3's post in M3post
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67171

[MikeCCrutchfield]

As is, that car would not meet us DOT regs, no amber reflector on the front. From the pic, it LOOKS like it has the awful US Taillights with the red turn signal, but they might be the Euro with amber turn but look red until you look close.

SO, either it will get the fender-style E92 reflector, or more E90 style headlights with amber reflectors built in. And they won't actually be Euro headlights because as another posted said, the beam pattern is different. The Euro pattern has sort of elf ears at either side of the car that shine light up higher to the left and right of the car.


From ECS Tuning

[oldaccount]

Originally Posted by Mr Crutch 325i

The Euro pattern has sort of elf ears at either side of the car that shine light up higher to the left and right of the car.


From ECS Tuning

never knew that. i wish these headlights werent so expensive, id like i get a set of those ordered.

[bastula]

Originally Posted by Mr Crutch 325i

As is, that car would not meet us DOT regs, no amber reflector on the front. From the pic, it LOOKS like it has the awful US Taillights with the red turn signal, but they might be the Euro with amber turn but look red until you look close.

SO, either it will get the fender-style E92 reflector, or more E90 style headlights with amber reflectors built in.

Actually, if you look at it closely, the front fender has a piece of black tape on it, where a reflector should go. This is similar to the LCI M5, which has it's reflector in the same location. The regular LCI 5 series, similar to the E92, has the reflector on the wheel arch.

I can't imagine that they would specifically put red turn signals on just for european model for testing. This has to be a US-spec test mule.

I'm pretty sure it will have the same reflector as the M5 below.

Now that I think about it, all the recent M models have reflectors on the front bumper and not on the wheel arch. Check out the excellent pictures posted today by Rick Hunter for the M Coupe and the Z4.

LCI (2008) M5


LCI (2008) 5 Series

[MikeCCrutchfield]

Good catch....didn't look for a reflector there. I saw the tape over the roundels (who is BMW trying to fool) but not there.

Either way, the headlights won't be actual Euro-spec headlights. (not saying they won't be clear, just saying the won't be Euro's)

[bastula]

Originally Posted by Mr Crutch 325i

Either way, the headlights won't be actual Euro-spec headlights. (not saying they won't be clear, just saying the won't be Euro's)

That's right. I doubt that those housings would ever come to the US unless the NHTSA changed things.