So, I'm a little pissed off right now.

About 1K ago, I took my X5 to a local mechanic to have the Alternator Bracket Gasket replaced. Everything seemed OK until this week when the driver side xenon started flickering. Assuming the bulb was going bad, I order two nw ones.

Today, the bulbs came in and I decided to install them.

I started by loosening all the screws/bolts holding the driver side headlamp in place. As I was loosening the lower bolts, the lower left plastic surrounding the bolt broke apart. I am not so sure it actually broke apart or if it just was already broken and sitting in place not really holding anything.

Next I noticed that the upper right screw holding the back headlight cover was replaced with a rigged screw and washer because the plastic surrounding that screw was broken, the right bottom screw came out and that whole corner of the cover came apart in my hands. Of the four screws of the low beam cover, only one was actually holding. So is this because the shop that replaced the gasket butchered the headlight while lifting the engine? Or was it because BMW put cheap plastic in place here? BTW, I know someone worked on the headlight cover because it did not have a rigged screw last time the bulbs were replaced by me.

Finally, I get it apart and while removing the old bulb, it falls into the bottom somewhere; I guess I'll have to take the front bumper off.

When putting the new bulb in, the cable comes off the igniter and I cannot get it back on. After futzing with it for a while, I realize there is a lock holding the wire to the igniter, it also blocks putting the wire back on the igniter when the bulb is not in place.

After putting it all back together, the new bulb will not light. Bummer.

So, it is together for now, I will leave it that way while waiting for the new replacement headlight covers to come in. Then I will have to figure out why it wont light.

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2006 X5 Sport 4.4i