Assistance Please - Replacing Head/Side/Fog light bulbs on E83 X3

[D3NO_L]

Evening All!

I am the new owner of a 2004 BMW E83 X3... Its got a fully Aerodynamic Kit on and I have NO idea on how to replace the Full beam headlights, Side lights and Fog Light bulbs??

It's got factory Xenons fitted so the main beams are fine, but really want to upgrade the other bulbls...  I have looked under the engine bay and I cannot see an "easy" access way of replaciong a single bulb?

Please see below photos... Any Assistance would be greatly aprpeciated!!

Many Thanks.
Dean

[D3NO_L]

[jagr]

Nice looking X3 and good colour.

Drivers side, low beam, main beam and side:
 
1, Remove the screw from the washer fluid reservoir.
2, Pull the washer fluid reservoir out of the holder from above and wedge it out of place.
3, Two cover caps are located on the rear headlight housing. The outside one for the low beam, the inner cap
for the high beam and side light.
4, Use a screwdriver to push the "snap-fixing" of the respective cap upwards and pull off the cap to the rear.
5, Remove the bulb from the plug and replace.


Fog lights are different depending on kit.

On yours I believe (but go carefully as I have not done it) if you turn your steering wheel to full lock on each side and look inside the bumper you will see a flap on either side. I think you remove them and you will see the bulb.

Or

Another option would be to remove the under tray and reach up and pull bulb.


On mine I have replaced all with LED lights and they are very bright:

[D3NO_L]

Thanks Jagr!
Yes! Yours is exactly the look I want to suit the Xenon’s (the standard yellow bulbs look so dull in comparison)... Looks like you have the later E83 MSport kit, mine is the Aerodynamic kit, but I would think the fog lights would remove in the same way?
Also what LED bulbs did you get??

Dean

[jagr]

[quote="D3NO_L"]
Thanks Jagr!
Yes! Yours is exactly the look I want to suit the Xenon’s (the standard yellow bulbs look so dull in comparison)... Looks like you have the later E83 MSport kit, mine is the Aerodynamic kit, but I would think the fog lights would remove in the same way?
Also what LED bulbs did you get??

Dean
[/quote]

The Aerodynamic kit fogs are totally different. On mine you just clip the surround off and unscrew 2 screws and then change the bulb.
My friend had this but sold it before we changed his fogs



I bought 2 sets of these for main and dipped (I paid around £80 for both pairs from them so if interested question them)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Xenon-CANBUS- ... SwNSxUylbX

Fog bulbs I have these but remember you need a plug in resistor or you will get bulb failure messages:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01 ... UTF8&psc=1

Resistors

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... UTF8&psc=1

[D3NO_L]

Great Thanks Jagr!BMW really didn't want to make it easy to change bulbs!!

Do you know if you can replace the standard W5W side lights bulbs with LED versions or will it bring up an error light on the dash? The one's I am looking at getting say they are "Error Free Canbus" 12SMD LED. 

[jagr]

Yes I fitted these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... UTF8&psc=1

They are a bit bluer than I like but better than the standard yellowish:

[D3NO_L]

Thanks Jagr - I have bought some LED w5w bulbs this weekend based on your info! I am having the car serviced today, so I have asked my mechanic to fit them - I will let you know how we get on and post some pix if they work!

[D3NO_L]

Update... Unfortunately the LED w5w sidelight bulbs didn't work on my 2004 X3, well they worked but the dash 'bulb out' warning light came on! This is frustrating as they are advertised and sold that they are "Error Free" Canbus bulbs... So others please bear this in mind if you are thinking of doing the same, especially as it is a serious effort to change the bulbs in the first place!

I have therefore replaced my standard 'yellowish' w5w with these; http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/Acces ... 8177013B&0

And the High beam H7 bulbs with these; http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-a ... &0&cc5_847

While they are not new LED bright, they certainly compliment my factory Xenon headlights well enough to give it a "modern car" look.

Also a little tip, if you register with Eurocarparts you will get emailed a 30% dicsount code most weekends on all car parts, so this can make a huge cost saving!

......... Now I just need to try and work out how to get to the fog bulbs!  )

[XK8]

Jagr, what is the trick to getting the plastic mesh around the fog lights out, I also have the m-sport with angle eyes and xenon head lights and would like to replicate the look of the led lamps you fitted.

[jagr]

[quote="XK8"]
Jagr, what is the trick to getting the plastic mesh around the fog lights out, I also have the m-sport with angle eyes and xenon head lights and would like to replicate the look of the led lamps you fitted.
[/quote]

If yours has these fog lights



The covers are just clipped in. I pull from the top first.
The fog light then just has 2 bolts hiding the unit in.

[XK8]

Cheers jagr, I'll have a go tomorrow.