2005 4.4 Fog light cover removal

[Quicksilver]

I looked up this informative fog light removal DIY.
However my 2005 4.4 has a larger plastic cover covering
the lights and i'm not sure what to use and where to begin prying
off the cover. Anybody know how?

http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...bs-bmw-x5.html

[Roadkill]

Quick, if you take your finger and run it on the inside top edge of the plastic cover, you will feel an indentation. Place your finger in that groove and pull slightly down and out towards you and it will pop out.

[SlickGT1]

If you do a quick search on bumper removal by TwinsPoppa, there are pics too. But mostly like Dinan said, there is a slot for your finger.

[Quicksilver]

Thanks All

You are correct. However the doing isn't so easy. I got it out
but using a few fingernails to push down where that indentation
is located helped quite a bit. Then moving the fingers along the
groove until it loosen up was the key. I believe there are 6 tabs
that hold it in and it's a tight fit and finish. Putting it back was
easy but the fit and finish makes you work to get the cover back
on. No banging with the fist or rubber hammer.

The fogs are different than previous models also. The lamp holder
is shorter and after removing the bottom 2 screws the top retainer
which so many people had such a hard time breaking loose is a simple
wedge that slides into a space that was designed for it which is attached
to the vehicle body above the top of the fog lamp.

No need to push up to get it out. All one need to do is slip a long
screwdriver in the space right next to where the wedge goes in and
gently pull forward and it falls right out.

I did have to use that long screwdriver with a micro fibre cloth on the
end of it to clean the inside of the lens as it had become a bit cloudy over
the years.

Anyway there you are. Installed H11's. What a difference. Now If
I could only have some brand new bright Angle Eyes I would be looking
good. Guess I'll start looking to see who else has a 2005 and what they
did to install them. (If they did at all)

Finally I thought the dealer adjusted my head lights but alas I don't think
so. The passenger side is too high. But that's an easy task.

[SlickGT1]

Get some LED bulbs for the angel eyes. But before you proceed with that, disable the cold monitoring with NCS Expert on the drivers side rings, or you will be amazed at how quick you go through bulbs.

[Quicksilver]

Thanks for the suggestion:

Gotta be asking a dumb question though, looking at the headlight assembly
how does one get those 4 rings inside those light assembly that are essentially closed
and replace the old with the new? I haven't seen how the whole process is done.

[Qsilver7]

I'm new to this too...but I believe the AEs use a bulb that sends the light over optic fibers to the rings. When Slick suggested LEDs, you don't need to replace the rings, just the bulb that sends light to the rings.

If I'm wrong, I humbly will stand corrected. BTW, perhaps replying to you will help forum members not confuse us . They see the Q and assume I'm you since you've posted way more than me here and been around much longer

EDIT: see Lexicon740iL's thread on the first page of the X5 forum titled 12 w LED Angel Eyes Upgrade for an example of LED AEs.

[SlickGT1]

Yea we just have one bulb per side. So one bulb powers 2 rings. All you do is pop the cover on the back, and bulb is right there. I personally have Umnitza ICE VXX. Check em out on their site. You can also search for ice vxx to see a few of us instal them.

[Quicksilver]

If it's that easy then it's safe to say I'll be looking to do the upgrade ASAP.

Qsilver7 I didn't realize there may have been some confusion regarding
who we are. But anyone reading the two of us has to come to the conclusion
that you're younger, faster, more intelligent and prob better looking. So IMHO
I seriously doubt there will be any confusion.

[SlickGT1]

Get a room you two. Lol. Yea the AE upgrade for us facelift guys is that simple.