Front inside light removal?

[GmX5]

Originally Posted by BlackE32_SilverE53

Mine is off right now, I am in the process of mounting a monitor where the sunglass holder use to be.

But on one side of the light, there are non-moveable plastic clips which hold the light securely in place, on the other side are the metal clips (side where the switches are located) which allow you to take the light out by depressing them thought the other homelink, or sunroof switch holes. I included pics of the light on both sides

SEE, this is why i love this site! Guys/Girls willing to take a pic or give some pointers whenever they are able to. Also, theres always somebody into some project and willing to share what they've come across.
The sunglasses holder is pretty useless (i usually put my cell phone in there), and a monitor will look much cooler in there ! Good luck!

Thanks Rob

[X Foomph]

Black e32, thanks for that. Gives me some idea now.

[GmX5]

SO, I went to the bmw dealership this afternoon about the light removal since i tried it a few more time and couldnt seem to get it out. I didnt want to end up with something broken. Anyhow, the service department was very helpful sending two techs out to my car to figure it out. The tech was concerned about breaking the light out and the light having to be replaced since the two metal clips (can see in picture on previous page) were bent up and not easy to push and release. I went to the parts department to see how much the light was before we were going to attempt breaking it out to get to the bottom of the situation ($120.00 +. I was opent to the idea of breaking the light out and replacing it because i figured already ruined it out of its normal fitting and didnt want a loose fitting light anyway. So the tech bent the light out and showed me what had happened to the pins. I was convinced that after some manipulation with some pliers i could get them back to being able to fit snuggly before my decision to attempt to remove the light. I removed the two screws that i was trying to get to and there was nothing inside that front plastic piece rattling like i thought. I said "screw it" and went back to the dealership and payed for a one hour diagnostic to find out what the rattling was. I drove around with a tech for 10 minutes trying to figure out where it was coming from. Back at the dealership, while im waiting the first tech comes out and tells me it was my parking brake making the rattling noise, so it was adjusted an now NO MORE RATTLING ! I came home bent the metal pieces back to where they will fit snuggly ( i tried this with the whole plasic piece out so that i could remove and manipulate as needed before putting the whole piece back) and put the overhead piece back...Another journey down, hopefully no others soon!!

Sorry for long post, but was kinda a long story.

[BlackE32_SilverE53]

Glad to hear issue resolved

[X Foomph]

Congrats, well done. Hope I have a similar story.

[X5Dawg]

You should be able to remove the light without removing any switches AS LONG as those metal clips don't get damaged like yours were. They first time I replaced my bulbs with "ultra white" bulbs, my light popped right out with a screwdriver. But after being unhappy with the light output of these bulbs and ordering LEDs to replace them, I ended up breaking my light trying to get it out - ended up the clips had gotten stuck behind the plastic piece and would not let go. ~$90 for a replacement.

[X Foomph]

So Dawg, on a different note did you end up being happy with the LED's to the interior?? I just spent some serious coin on a full interior kit of Xenon Colored High Power LEDs and would be interested to hear your comment.

Sorry GmX5, don't mean to hijack this thread.

[X5Dawg]

LOVE the LEDs!!!! The "ultra white" bulbs were just regular bulbs painted blue which deteriorates their light output. I have piece by piece been replacing them all with LEDs and man the light output is incredible. My map lights are like a 3-D cell flashlight when they are on!!

[X Foomph]

Hey Dawg, good to hear you are happy with em.
Can I trouble you to take some after dark pics without flash please

[GmX5]