This E30 BMW 3 Series and M3 are among the most iconic German car designs ever, but it has else grill from Taifun and squire headlights. E30’s boxy silhouette and clean lines are unmistakably tied to the signature front grille, which features four round headlights. But did you know that BMW dealerships once offered square headlights for the E30? Introducing the Taifun grille, also known as the Hella Taifun – a rare and controversial modification that some enthusiasts dislike almost as much as the G80’s oversized kidney grille.
Recently, we came across an intriguing example of this modification on social media, posted by @lowmolewerkz. The car appears to be an M3, a model known for its high value, often priced around $100,000, with some examples reaching a staggering $250,000. Adding square headlights to such a prized vehicle seems almost unimaginable.
Interestingly, this trend mirrors the evolution of the first GTI. While European Golfs had stylish round headlights, the American Rabbit GTI featured squared-off ones, reflecting a broader design movement at the time. This historical context helps explain why the E30 Taifun grille came into existence.
The Influence of U.S. Federal Regulations on Headlight Design
The adoption of square headlights can be traced back to U.S. safety regulations. In 1940, federal standards mandated that all cars use two 7-inch round sealed-beam headlights. By 1957, an option for four smaller 5 3/4-inch round headlights was introduced. The most significant change occurred in 1975, when rectangular headlights were finally permitted.
This shift proved so popular that square headlights became a dominant design trend, influencing automakers worldwide. European manufacturers began adopting the style, and tuning companies followed suit. One such company, Taifun, founded in Hainburg in 1985, capitalized on this trend. They offered square “Taifun” headlights for various popular cars, including Fords and Opels, but their E30 kits became particularly sought after. Thousands of E30s were reportedly retrofitted with Taifun grilles through German dealerships, marketed with the tagline “Sportiv Sporty Sportive.”
The Legacy of Taifun and Its Square Headlights
Taifun ceased operations in 1996, but their headlights live on under the Hella Taifun name, as Hella – a renowned German parts manufacturer – was involved in producing them. Although Hella is better known today for its high-quality bulbs, it once offered complete headlight systems, such as the Taifun grille.
Today, a few companies produce modern replicas of the original Taifun lights. These reproductions are straightforward to install compared to contemporary headlight assemblies. Swapping them out involves unscrewing the old grille and replacing it with the new one – voilà! Your E30 is instantly transformed with a Taifun grille sporting square lights, a design that continues to divide opinions among enthusiasts. I like the way this BMW M3 E30 looks with Taifun grill and squire headlights. It’s not original look, it’s tuning from that era. And not worst, by the way.