Lighted door handle retrofit..

[TerminatorX5]

that clear plastic light channel is super fragile!!! ask me how I know!!! lol... be careful handling it...

PS well, maybe it is fragile on a 12 year old car and not as fragile new from a box...

[Gregory891]

This could be handy on an X5 (inside illuminated door handle). My car is a 2002 (pre-face-lift) with basic options (which I've been upgrading).

I found the part numbers - you can do this for front & rear doors (all depends on your budget).

51.41.7.000.231 (left front)
51.41.7.000.232 (right front)

51.42.7.000.233 (left rear)
51.42.7.000.234 (right rear)

63.31.6.907.750 (LED)

The LED is apparently in nearly all E53 (pre & post facelight) cars and just taped over in the door harness. I need to check my car, but it's raining right now.

For those who have done this - you indeed simply found the electric connector (and the LED?) inside the door harness?

Might you have the part number of the socket (in the event a pre-facelift car doesn't have this installed)?

For those who have this option (or have retrofit) - I assume they light up with the dash & parking lights, correct?

[Kristophe]

Since it's only a small light at the end of a wire I'm not seeing how it would "clip" into end on its own. I suspect there needs to be something else attached at the end of the wire/bulb.

[tmv]

The LED should be in a blk housing that clip onto the end of the light channel.
I didn't expect the design would be that complicated. IIRC, on my daughter's 02, the light clip on right at the opening of the black housing. Maybe the design change for facelift. I have yet (knock on wood) need to open the door panel on my 06 to see. After traveling through that channel, there won't be much illumination left.

[Kristophe]

Ugh they went through the trouble of leaving a light and wire but no clip? Silly Germans

[Ricky Bobby]

Cadesto how much per handle were they? Last I checked they were like 50 bucks a pop, a nice retrofit for sure but a bit pricey for me. Although when I go to each of my doors to replace the regulator clips it would be a good excuse to retrofit these!

[X5SND]

Originally Posted by Kristophe

Ugh they went through the trouble of leaving a light and wire but no clip? Silly Germans

Iirc the clip is part of the light assembly, and is sold as part of the door harness. If you have the light it should already have the black clip on it. I know bmw sells sections of wiring harness's for out trucks, but I don't know if you can get just the light and/or clip without having to buy the whole upper door harness.

[Cadesto]

Well I'll let y'all know soon, I gotta replace a regulator clip on the front passenger side anyway.. Ricky ya I paid 50 per.. At parts.com. Just got the fronts for now. After driving an X with them it just doesn't feel right without. Really ads to the ambiance surrounded by orange glow. Subtle but classy looking

[j_lopez]

Hello guys i also, had successfully fallen as victim of this stashed led, but mine does not work? Its there but does not light up, any suggestion?

[gatojurko]

Originally Posted by j_lopez

Hello guys i also, had successfully fallen as victim of this stashed led, but mine does not work? Its there but does not light up, any suggestion?

U mean in handle doesn't work or where and what? U retrofited them?