Front inside light removal?

[GmX5]

I tried to remove the overhead plastic piece(the one with the controls for garage door and sunglasses holder) by doing some of the instructions on the site. I was supposed to be able to pop the front light out with a flat-head but couldn't. SO now i have a loosely intact front light! Needless to say, i thought it would pop out if i tried it "one more time...and another". Im trying to take that plastic piece off because there is a rattling coming from inside there and its driving me nuts!!

Any comment or suggestions welcomed...Have a good weekend

[BlackE32_SilverE53]

It comes off but I think you have to take off the Garage door opener or sunroof switch first, then reach in there from those openings and push the light out.

[GmX5]

Originally Posted by BlackE32_SilverE53

It comes off but I think you have to take off the Garage door opener or sunroof switch first, then reach in there from those openings and push the light out.

How do i go about taking off either the garage door opener of the sunroof switch? I just went out to look at those and i dont know where and how to go about getting those things off.

Thanks for you reply

[BlackE32_SilverE53]

Sorry for the delay but I had to run out and look at mine also, because I could not find the article on the removal process. But you can should start by either removing the sunroof switch from the opening side (closest to the sunglass holder) or by removing the homelink switch, but you must remove that from the side closest to the light. The side closest to the sunglass holder will not come straight down because there is a extended plastic piece and wiring that goes toward the sunglass holder.

Hope that helps

Robert

[GmX5]

Originally Posted by BlackE32_SilverE53

Sorry for the delay but I had to run out and look at mine also, because I could not find the article on the removal process. But you can should start by either removing the sunroof switch from the opening side (closest to the sunglass holder) or by removing the homelink switch, but you must remove that from the side closest to the light. The side closest to the sunglass holder will not come straight down because there is a extended plastic piece and wiring that goes toward the sunglass holder.

Hope that helps

Robert

Have you actually removed this piece before?
Also, do you think i can manipulate the front light attachment once it is out so that i fits snuggly again (the way it did before i started messing around with it)?

Thanks for the reply

[X Foomph]

Hi guys,
The following are light fitting / bulb removal & replacement instructions from bimmian's instruction website.
I'd like to know how you go as I'm about to upgrade all interior lights with Xenon Colored High Power LED Bulbs & want to do it right first time.

http://www.bimmian.com/elements/page...ht/IXB/IXB.gif


http://www.bimmian.com/instructions

Good luck, don't break anything

[X Foomph]

Hey Gm,
I forgot to ask, if you don't mind could you take some progressive pics for me (us) as you proceed with removal of front centre console light fitting?? In particular exactly where the scewdriver should be placed to disengage housing.

In advance, thank you.

[GmX5]

Originally Posted by X Foomph

Hey Gm,
I forgot to ask, if you don't mind could you take some progressive pics for me (us) as you proceed with removal of front centre console light fitting?? In particular exactly where the scewdriver should be placed to disengage housing.

In advance, thank you.

Will do, i think im gonna take it by the bmw dealership around the corner from my house. These guys are pretty down to earth and are willing to help out if they can (from what ive experienced). Not like all bmw dealerships, thats for sure . Hopefully they will be able to help out

[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