US and Euro Lighting Differences

scottyD

Member
 Washington DC
Hey, can some of you guys across the pond confirm the correct operation of the exterior lighting on the European Z4?

I have a US car, but have been able to modify the light system settings to have the car think it is a European model, but now some of the lights don't work like they did with the US programming. I did this to enable the rear fog light on my US model and it worked (I have a Euro light switch installed, too), but I'm now checking the other effects of making that change:

1.) When the light switch is moved to the first "parking lights" position, the front has angel eyes lit up, and the rear has taillights and license plate lights. Nothing else, correct?

2.) When the light switch is moved to the "lowbeam" or "dipped beam" setting, the only thing that comes on in addition to the "parking lights" is the halogen/xenon headlights. Nothing else, correct?

3.) Turn signals (front, side, and rear) look exactly the same whether the headlights are on or off - correct?


On the US models, the front turn signals illuminate but dimmed (50%) when the parking and headlights are on. When the turn signal is activated it flashes 100%/0%, and then once the turn is completed, the lights return to the dimmed 50% again.

Also, you guys dont have the additional front and rear side marker lights that are required over here in the US - there's one amber one on the side of the headlight and they add a red round light to the side of the rear bumper. They are constantly on whenever the parking and headlights are turned on and never flash.


Anyway, I'm just looking to confirm the operation with 1.) 2.) and 3.). It just looks weird to me (used to the US standards) to have the headlights on and nothing else showing in the front except the angel eyes.

Are all of the European countries the same with their lighting standards? (i.e. does the UK have the same as Germany, France, etc...).

Thanks!

ScottyD
 
Are you fixing to PCS to Europe? I'm assuming your military and coming overseas? At any rate, I'm not sure on your technical questions (there is a post in the how-to concerning light conversions which might have the technical bits) but I can give some info. When I took my truck to Germany, I didn't have to do anything with the lights to bring into spec to drive.
To bring the Z4 to the UK you do have to do some modification. You'll need:
a rear foglight installed (can take out a reverse light and put it there, the trick is wiring it to the front fog lights or a switch in the car)
marker lights installed - though I think if you have euroheadlights you can put the marker light there (they can be ran off the license plate circuit if I recall what the indy told me)
 
Hey Aebous,

thanks for the info - I will check out the post you mentioned in the how-to...

I am not military, actually, and not planning to come overseas. Rather, I just wanted to enable the rear fog light for my US car over here in the states, and the only way I've found to do it is to trick the car into thinking it's a Euro car long enough to upload new light system software, and then tell it that it's a US car again, but not re-load the US light system software.

I just made the switch over the weekend, and the rear fog light works great, but now I'm just trying to check what lights I have and make sure they are what is meant for a European Z4.

Can any of you guys check out your lights sometime at night at let me know if what I said in the original post was correct?

Also, do all the UK, Germany, France, etc. Z4s all have the same exterior lighting or are there differences even within Europe?

Thanks!

ScottyD
 
I found the thread about the light conversions but it didn't cover what I wanted to know...

Can anyone verify how their lights normally operate? I have a US car that is been converted to ECE lighting standards, but I'm not completely sure what is correct.
 
UK Lighting:

1. Sidelights front a rear (either lamps or angel).
2. Dipped beam – no control panel indicator but full panel illumination (speedometer), in this position front and rear fog lights can be operated but independently (with control panel indication for each) only legal in conditions of reduced visibility.
3. Main Beam – control panel indicator (blue), fog lights (front/rear) cannot be operated and if on when switching to full beam should switch off automatically.
4. Turn signals - operate independently, not normal in UK for side turn signals to operate at 50% as side markers when lights are operated but acceptable.
5. In all 'light' positions rear number plate illumination should operate.

Hope this helps. :)
 
Hey thanks man....that is what I was looking for

so you guys have the amber side lights on the corner of the headlight unit or not?
 
scottyD said:
Hey thanks man....that is what I was looking for

so you guys have the amber side lights on the corner of the headlight unit or not?

No - no amber side lights.
 
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