03 3.0 X5 Tail light (lower bulb) problem
 

Hi,
Passenger side tail light (lower part) is not working. I swapped the bulb with other side and the bulb is working fine. In fact, I just replaced them about 2 months ago.

I tried to find a fuse or something but I don't see any fuse for it. The panel show the light bulb went out. What would be the cause?

search "tail light fix" or something similar, you probably need to sand the contacts of the circuit board and bend the contact up and add some more solder. It's a well documented issue with stock tail lights. Easy fix!

good luck!

Do the retrofit kit with a deadicated ground wire and you have solved this problem for good, Mercedes Benz part number 164-826-00-07, you will need 2 kits. They're inexpensive too.

LED tails rock.

Ditto

How do I do LED?

Buy LED taillights and replace the OEM ones

Can you elaborate more about it and may be detail DIY instruction?

x2 lovin mine for the past 6 months

I did "bend the contact up" on the socket and the warning sign went away! what a fix.

There are several posts on here about this already:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...il-lights.html << excellent and newer info than some of the older posts

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/86483-led-tails-capacitor-question-2004-e53.html

plus others.



But it looks like you aren't getting them, based on your fix. If you do, the hardest part is moving the one pin over to the correct contact, and getting whatever capacitor fix you want (lightwerkz vs DIY).

For those with clear lenses (sport package), installing Stealth bulbs will fix the "egg yoke" look in the rear, side and front indicator lights. Got all 6 bulbs from Stealth Auto for $90. Lifetime replacement if they fail, super bright and will not throw a code when installed.