Here's a teaser preview of the lights on the wife's. Was originally going to do a polish, seal, and PPF on them but found the driver's side was cracked due to an undisclosed front fender bender by the PO (or some PO before him). So ended up rebuilding them with new lenses and doing some mods since they were open.

https://i.postimg.cc/qMyRjG2H/IMG-20200114-231830.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/cLcJN4DD/IMG-20200216-004957.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/q7MvBVSp/IMG-20200216-092151.jpg

Nice work! It's definitely worth it.

Just a heads up; something I didn't think about until after install is the adjustment of the beams.

These lights have two adjustment points, one for vertical and one for horizontal (circled in the attached image). The one for adjusting the beam up/down is easy and can be done after install no problem. The adjustment for left/right not so much. I marked everything before disassembly thinking I could just put them back in and be good to go. :doh: Just the act of removing the housing and reinstall will pretty much guarantee they won't sit the same way they were.

The left/right adjustment, per BMW, requires "plug" to prevent tampering and a special tool for that. I haven't attempted that adjustment yet, but you can see there is no white adjustment screw (not sure what to call it) but some sort of plastic cap, which will make adjusting rather difficult after installing the headlights.

Mine aren't drastically off, but could definitely use some tweaks. They probably needed adjustment before I even started but I just couldn't see the beams well enough to be aware. :rofl:

They look pretty clear to me

http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/image66.jpeg

And I'm sure you are not alone in that. Even in that distance shot though I can see the orange peel. Here is what my wife's look like. Maybe a little more pronounced than yours but that might be because I was actively trying to photograph the effect. It drives my OCD crazy. :dunno:

Nice car BTW. Is that a factory aero kit? I have been debating getting one of the Ebay aero treatments for the wife's diesel.

https://i.postimg.cc/1zyFmn02/Headlights-07.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/wvGRQWKY/Headlights-06.jpg

Replaced interior cabin air filter. Wanted to do the exterior filters but the new ones from Amazon had broken tabs. Back they go.

Thx and the aero kit is off ebay. Fits perfectly but I did buy additional hardware to attach the kit as the amount of hardware provided was insufficient. Definitely recommend.

Baselining the new 2012 35d(79k miles):


New vacuum hose all around with all solenoids. All hoses were extra crispy.
new filters (engine, cabin, recirc,)
Intake manifold gaskets and cleaning
Glow plugs and module
Mann Provent install
Charge hoses cleaned and new seals applied
intercooler inside washed and cleaned of oil
water pump, thermostat, transmission thermostat, water connection at block replaced- found it weeping when I removed the intake manifold.
fluidampr and alternator pulley installed
new drive belts

brake fluid changed
oil change due in 500 miles



Waiting on the transmission kit so the fluid, filter, and mechatronic seals can be changed. Still to be done are the 3.15 diffs and the transfer case fluid change.

Parts had been slowly collecting for the old X5 but that one was totaled so the new one is getting the benefit.

Replace the thrust arms and front sway bar endlinks. It’s been about 3 years/30k since I replaced them. The left bushing was leaking fluid and both bushing had excess play.

I’m using the lifetime warranty from fcp. Hopefully it doesn’t cost more than $30 to ship the old parts back to them for a refund.

What brand thrust arms and end links did you use?

All Lemforder. The ball joint seemed to be tight on the old parts, which were also Lemforder. Thought, the bushing only lasted a few months. The end links didn’t show much sign of wear, though the replacements had noticeably tighter joints.