electrical and ignition Headlamp deeper than grille

[Mikan]

Hi all

 

Sorry in advance if I should have picked up the answer to this in the archives - I have looked, and found a few posts on the topic, I'm just not sure which of them apply to my situation. 

 

I have a 1971 2000 touring I'm slowly trying to get back on the road. One thing that had been bugging me about it is the grilles didn't seem to fit properly.

 

I had one of them off to bolt in a battery cage today and the problem was pretty plain - the headlamp assembly was pushing the grille out (and bending it, cool!).

 

The H4 headlamps dont look like photos of buckets I have seen in other threads. Is it possible this is an aftermarket upgrade the PO made? Or are the grilles somehow not seated properly?

 

If so, what an I shopping for to get a set-up that fits snugly? Headlights? Buckets (if so what type?) A 'deep' grille?

 

I appreciate it may be something obvious that I'm missing. I'm new. I know nothing. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

With thanks 

 

CJ 

71 2000 touring

[Simeon]

You have the desirable (for the US) 'eurobucket' H4's. The aluminium grilles in the round taillight cars (and I guess tourings too) come in 'deep' and 'shallow'. The deep grilles are fundamentally designed for headlights such as yours and shallow are designed for 7" sealed beam type headlamps (which can also be H4).

 

At a guess, you are trying to fit shallow grilles when you should have deep. Some cars were supplied by the factory with 7" sealed beam lamps and deep grilles. These came with chrome or stainless filler pieces.

 

Not sure what happened to cars with the euro buckets in Europe and whether they continued with the deep grilles until the plastic front grilles were introduced. 

[Mikan]

Thank you! I guess I'll keep my eyes peeled for deep grilles, or shallow buckets, whatever pops up first. 

 

[Mike Self]

The "shallow" headlight bucket grilles were used on US cars from about mid-1972 through the end of 1973 production and for sealed beam installation used a different inner retainer than the deep grilles that were used on earlier roundies.  If you measure the front-to-back depth of the headlight ring on the grille itself at the 6 o'clock position, you'll find the shallow grilles measure about 2.5 " and the deep grilles, 3.5 inches.  

 

I'm sure you can find someone who will swap grilles with you (I'd be glad to, as I have a '73 and wouldn't mind having a spare grille) so you'll have the correct one.

 

cheers

mike

[Henning]

At first, you can try if removing the black front rings brings some success. These rings were only used on 73+ cars with black plastic grilles, never in combination with the aluminium grilles.

Second, check out if the aluminium hooks threaded M4 on 9 o'clock (passenger side) and 3 o'clock (driver's side) position are present. They are located between the headlights and the fender next to the lights and pull the grilles back.

Third, try to find out if your car has enjoyed a nose job. Since there are no tourings delivered to the US, the nose may have been replaced here in Europe by a non-BMW spare part and the lights don't fit that well into such ones.

 

hen

 

[Conserv]

Following up on Mike S.'s post, here are deep (top) and shallow (bottom) grilles,

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[Mikan]

Thanks all - really appreciate the helpful responses.

 

mike, your offer is a generous one, and if I turn out to have the shallow grilles I will happily take you up on it.

 

I'm coming out somewhere closer to 3" (75mm) on both sides though - can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

 

Thanks again

 

CJ 

 

[Conserv]

9 hours ago, Mikan said:

Thanks all - really appreciate the helpful responses.

 

mike, your offer is a generous one, and if I turn out to have the shallow grilles I will happily take you up on it.

 

I'm coming out somewhere closer to 3" (75mm) on both sides though - can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

 

Thanks again

 

CJ 

 

 

That's a shallow grille in the first photo.  See my photos.  Part of the "shallow-ness" is that the headlight door on a shallow grille has been inset, and protrudes materially more from the reverse side of the overall grille than the headlight door on a deep grille.  In effect, the headlight door is embedded deeper into the grille.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited October 25, 2016 by Conserv

[MOJOJOY]

As @Henning said. The black trim ring on the euro buckets MUST be removed when using with deep early grills. 

See picture. 

Deep grills

euro bucket

no black trim ring  

[Mikan]

Ah, I see now - thanks all! I was worried the black band was holding the lens on, but I think I can see its residue in @MOJOJOY's last photo and that all looks ok. Any tips on removing it? I had a bit of a fiddle with it last night, it seemed rock solid.

 

Thanks again

CJ