Hood light install

Post your E12 technical questions and comments here. Please, no off-topic posts.

Moderators: Mike W., Pierre

Post Reply
User avatar
Lock
Posts: 456
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 1:51 pm
Location: Olympia, WA
Contact:

Hood light install

Post by Lock »

Stuck at home, for the fun of it I installed the Euro style under hood light. The cutouts and wiring is all present. I believe the factory hood light is the same as the trunk light, I used a spare license plate light. Ran a cable pair from the cutout on the upper drivers' side through the frame to the lower left where there's a cutout for a door switch. There is a white wire with a spade terminal by the carbon canister/ICM area, which is just hooked up to the marker lights. So when the hood is open and the marker/side lights are on, it will come on.

Image

Image

Image
1979 528i - M30B34 with 9.5:1 B35 pistons, 5-speed conversion G260/6, e28 rear subframe, e34 LSD 3.9:1, glass sunroof, e30 elec speedo, cruise control
canada karl
Posts: 1058
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:50 pm

Re: Hood light install

Post by canada karl »

A nice addition. It's always handy to have a light under the hood if something needs fixing at night at the side of the road. :D
1976 530i. BMW 59 Triumph TR3A(rolling resto). 67 Triumph TR4A(salvageable). 86 900S Winter car
User avatar
528i-1981
Posts: 557
Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2018 5:50 am
Location: Franklin, TN

Re: Hood light install

Post by 528i-1981 »

Always wondered about that spare wire by the carbon canister. Nice clean work as always, Lock. The only downside is having the light on all the time when the hood is up. A simple timer inline would solve that if it became an issue.
(oo=00=oo) Eric
1981 528i Manual
User avatar
Lock
Posts: 456
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 1:51 pm
Location: Olympia, WA
Contact:

Re: Hood light install

Post by Lock »

528i-1981 wrote: Sun Nov 08, 2020 6:56 am Always wondered about that spare wire by the carbon canister. Nice clean work as always, Lock. The only downside is having the light on all the time when the hood is up. A simple timer inline would solve that if it became an issue.
Actually with that factory wiring, it only comes on if the headlights are on, so usually it'll be off. But useful during a breakdown at night. I used the last LED I had in there so it's both bright, and won't drain the battery.
1979 528i - M30B34 with 9.5:1 B35 pistons, 5-speed conversion G260/6, e28 rear subframe, e34 LSD 3.9:1, glass sunroof, e30 elec speedo, cruise control
User avatar
REman
Posts: 107
Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2010 2:24 pm
Location: Orlando FL
Contact:

Re: Hood light install

Post by REman »

Hey nice tip Lock, you motivated me and I did the same this afternoon with extra parts I had lying around. A little tricky running the wire but not too bad. Only set back I had is the screw hole fittings didn't line up with my light fixture but one screw seems to be holding it in pretty well.

Thanks for sharing!

Ivan
'81 528i... mfg date 10/80...owned since 1990
User avatar
Lock
Posts: 456
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2015 1:51 pm
Location: Olympia, WA
Contact:

Re: Hood light install

Post by Lock »

Definitely. I used an e34 license plate light which is slightly too large for the hole, but does mean it's snug.
1979 528i - M30B34 with 9.5:1 B35 pistons, 5-speed conversion G260/6, e28 rear subframe, e34 LSD 3.9:1, glass sunroof, e30 elec speedo, cruise control
Post Reply