2003 X5 Blinker light change

[Otto the Viking]

Folks - right front blinker light is out and it appears it will take a Phd to change. How do I do this. thanks. OtV

[ncx]

:xoutpost:
It is not that hard of a process, but takes some time the first time you do it. You'll need to pull the headlight out a few inches so you can reach the rear of the assembly to replace the turn signal bulb. Or else take it to a shop and pay them a labor charge.

Check out this article which explains the process in detail: http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/l...placement.html

More good articles: www.xoutpost.com

[SuperGreg]

It's really not that bad. I have a 2002 and just changed mine. The best advice that I can give, is to make sure that you put a little chewing gum into your 8mm socket before removing the 2 lower bolts to make sure that they don't drop into the bumper. I simply used a 6" extension with a universal joint to get to the lower bolts. I also put a strip of blue 3M painters tape on the top edge of the bumper to make sure that my socket extension didn't scratch the bumper.

In addition, if you have the sport package, now is a great time to get the Sylvania Silverstar bulbs, which appear almost clear (kind of iradescent) but blink amber.



Let me know if you have any specific questions, and I will walk you through it .

[noncom23]

[SuperGreg]

Originally Posted by noncom23

Why are you confused Mikey?

[Zulu95]

You don't need to remove the lower nuts near the bumper. Two on top and two behind the lower rear of the light unit are all you need. When you open the hood look down behind the unit and you'll see how easy it is to remove. Takes all of 5 minutes to change the bulb.
In many cases you'll find it's not the actual bulb but the contacts between bulb and socket that are the problem. A little spot of high-temp. conductive grease should cure the problem.

[SuperGreg]

Originally Posted by Zulu95

You don't need to remove the lower nuts near the bumper. Two on top and two behind the lower rear of the light unit are all you need. When you open the hood look down behind the unit and you'll see how easy it is to remove. Takes all of 5 minutes to change the bulb.
In many cases you'll find it's not the actual bulb but the contacts between bulb and socket that are the problem. A little spot of high-temp. conductive grease should cure the problem.

Say what??? There are (4) 8mm bolts that hold the headlight assembly in place. Two on top, and two underneath. These are the ONLY 4 bolts that hold the assembly in place. I can assure you that my headlight assembly would not budge until I removed the 2 lower bolts. Could you please provide a photo of what you are talking about? Unless you clarify, this guy is going to be terribly confused. What year X5 are you referring to? Maybe you are referring to a later model. His is a 2003.

[Zulu95]

There are actually 6 bolts that hold the headlamp unit. Two up top and two down to the rear that hold the light unit in place in the light carrier. The two bolts behind the bumper (making six) actually hold the headlight carrier into the vehicle. If you remove the two on top and the two in rear the light unit slides out of the light carrier.
My X is 2001.

Rear mounts from above. (as if you were looking with the unit in the car.)



Close-ups of left and right rear mounts.






Lower mounts in front bumper area which retain the headlight carrier. The underside of the carrier is clearly visible in the photo showing the ballast mounting slot with ballast in place.



Ignore the mounting bolts near the bumper and just remove the two on top of the unit and the two to the rear.