E53 License Plate lights Not Working

[Mrblaze000]

I have a 2002 BMW X5 4.4i and my license plate lights only 1 works. With a truck like mine being tinted as it is, cops love to use this as an excuse to pull me over n give me a ticket for my tints. Anyways not only here nor there, Anyone has a fix on this? is it a rewire? or a replacement harness or something? Please help
Thanks again,

[bcredliner]

I assume you have verified the bulb is good. Check the connection for voltage. Often the cause is corrosion. Can also be bad ground.

[Mrblaze000]

Yea man, bulb is good there is just no voltage coming into that side of the lights.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Mrblaze000

Yea man, bulb is good there is just no voltage coming into that side of the lights.

You've verified no voltage with a multimeter?

If that's the case you will have to open up the tail gate hatch and find your broken/shorted wire causing the problem. It could also be corrosion on the circuit board that takes voltage from the driver's side of the license plate light harness over to the passenger side.

I did a writeup on the Avin Avant installation... there are some good pics in there that will help you diagnose the problem in the backup camera install section. It shows how the license plate light setup actually works.

[Mrblaze000]

U got a Link to that break down ?

[crystalworks]

Sorry, here you go... search would have come up with it too though...

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-detailed.html

[lhordmclain]

Code: CHECK LIC PLATE LIGHT

I ended up replacing the trunk lid grip ( the new part came is primed ready for paint/color matching), instead transferred all the new parts and kept the painted trim.

Like other forum members are saying it can be from the easiest replacing the bulb(s) to corroded contacts, connection, fuse and etc.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by lhordmclain

Code: CHECK LIC PLATE LIGHT

I ended up replacing the trunk lid grip ( the new part came is primed ready for paint/color matching), instead transferred all the new parts and kept the painted trim.

Like other forum members are saying it can be from the easiest replacing the bulb(s) to corroded contacts, connection, fuse and etc.

I was going to say this has the highest possibility of being the problem (unless the vehicle was hit from behind very hard in the lift gate). Much more probably something inside the trunk lid grip (that houses the circuit board) has corroded/failed.

Do you remember what you paid for yours in case it turns out to be what the OP needs?

[lhordmclain]

Part #27 primed trunk lid grip " assembly"

For my x5 I selected : genuine BMW 51137170840
Cost: 123 USD @ South Atlanta BMW Parts

[Ricky Bobby]

Also check the connectors where you pop the bulb cover off, there are little brass contacts that the plastic clip with the bulb clips into, make sure they are clean