Alternative fix for Euro turn signals.

[Emyers]

I looked at the popular Tap-a-lite option and decided to try something more along the lines of the original pre 1970 setup. I purchased two lamp sockets CALTERM PN 08593. "GM 90 degree angle socket assembly for sidemarker, license plate and cornering lights, from the local O'Reilly's. Use with bulb number:161, 168, or 194. A step drill makes drilling the 11/16th hole for the bulb socket a piece of cake. Drill the hole about midway along the lamp assembly inner structure. Connect the wire for the signal to the signal bulb and the other to the socket assembly wire. Take the ground wire from the socket assembly, drill a small hole on the same lamp assembly inner structure midway from the socket for the signal bulb and the new hole for your parking light socket and secure with a small sheet metal screw. Now pop in your parking light bulb, replace the whole assembly back on the fender and there you have it. No wires to solder on bulbs, no tape on anything. Looks just like to early two bulb setups.

Earl Myers

74 2002Lux

72 Volvo 1800ES

[themoose]

would you? I'm more of a visual person.

[Guest Anonymous]

I took my old bubble lights and drilled out the rivets. Then I drilled out the rivets on the Euro Lights(I had the Italian ones). I took the old sockets and brackets and attached them to the euro lenses with pop rivets. Took a while but was not too hard. I added a third wire as a ground wire.

[HarryPR]

I bought euro clear assemblies for my E21's and would like to keep the parking lights when I install them.

TIA,

[Emyers]

I will take some pictures this afternoon when I get home from the office. Have not had any success posting/attaching pictures though.

Earl

[mikem]

If you used standard pop rivets that have shaft in the niddle, how did you screw the light assy to the fender?

Maybe I'm missing something.

[Emyers]

All,

Pics as promised.

Earl

74 2002Lux

72 Volvo 1800ES

[Emyers]

(nt)

[GregR]

I had a '69 Bristol 02 that had some rough looking euros on it, only to discover they had a two bulb set-up. I ended up drilling out the rivets and gave them new lenses from a newer set. I didn't see an immediate need to re-rivet them so just screwed them on and everything held together just fine with no water leaks. I am curious though, are these euro two-bulb indicators rare? They where more flat than the bulbus US style ones (just the guts, not the lens).

[Zenon]

I am pretty certain the pre '69-ish turn signals were flat for north america, too. Somewhere in my stash I have some ancient flatties that have two bulbs and I seem to recall they have SAE markings on the lenses (can't confirm until I find them again) - which means they were made to meet a north american spec. My guess is that the specs were updated to require a wider angle of side visibility for the running lights and the bulbous lenses were BMW's most efficient (if not aesthetically pleasing) solution - perhaps that was cheaper to do than making the orange side reflectors light up like the rear red ones.

regards,

Zenon

[GregR]

That makes sense, dang wish I would have held on to those babies. Oh well.

[al]

I just got the Italian ones and was wondering how this would work. Those are great pics. I'll do the same.

[HarryPR]

Regarding flat signals on early US cars, IIRC the early car I used to own (1661508) had flat signals when I bought it from the oriiginal owner.

[jonny]

Good idea!

Just did mine.

Now you can see the signaling better!

[Scott Sislane]

Just thought I'd resurface this thread that was just sent to me. (thanks Shipm_8 ! / William)

This is a great way to convert the single light euro to the dual US. I love it.

Scott