"Check Side Lights" error code
 

Hi all,
I am going nuts trying to find out the cause of this error code. Does anyone have any clue as to where to look for a bulb that would be out and set this msg off? I have looked at ALL side marker lights and they ALL work. The only light out on my X is a headlight halo(Angel eye?) light around the driver side headlight.......Would this set off the code? Thanks for any help or advice!

Steve

That is exactly what set off the code. Replace halo bulb.

since the corona lights are about $15 - $20 (last time i checked), you might want to look into LED alternatives. Bear in mind, the LEDs will flicker on Cold monitoring and eventually may set off light out warnings... So, you need the ones with error canceling or you need to turn off cold monitoring of side markers - check the NavCoder software...

assuming that you have the E53 with halogen angel light bulbs...

add your car info to your sig line...

Hi all,
Terminator, Thanks for the info. I am interested in possibly changing to the LED's, but not if they are like $200 bucks(that's ridiculous for 2 bulbs!).......I saw a link to some on ebay from mtec or something like that. Anyway, I have the socket out of the X and I am having a difficult time getting the bulb out of it. I see it is spring-loaded in there, but when I twist it and it springs up, the two side pins on the bulb base are not getting past the socket reflector.......Do I just use lots of force to pop it out, past the socket reflector? I've already tried light force with a pliers, pulling it and it STILL won't come out. How does the bulb come out of the socket? :banghead:

this bulb is not designed to come out - BMW wants you to replace the whole assembly, hence the 20 price tag...

That light bulb is 10W, I was able to buy a 20W light bulb to replace the original one that I managed to rip out the socket - the 20W bulb was available at some fishing store online outlet... otherwise - almost impossible to source... I'll have to look up part number for that 20W bulb, when I get home... that option did not make practical sense, to be honest...

The LEDs come already with the assembly that plugs into the opening, you just plug-n-play... the $200 ones are just overhyped chinese-made-US-marketed units... you can get set of 2 from ebay for about $30 shipped... of course, they are chinese-made-chinese-marketed... once you get them installed, you will need to turn off cold monitoring of the park lights to avoid flickering of the lights - the LCM checks the circuitry for break in the line, and the LEDs are fast enough to light up and you will see the flickering - the regular bulbs are too slow to light up, thus people don't see flickering...

Thx, T! Time to play a little mod game with the socket......F'n RIDICULOUS that BMW wants to throw all that material in a landfill just for a stupid little bulb! It's pathetic to engineer it like that just to make a few more bucks! If you come across that name of the Co you bought the bulbs from, I'd appreciate the tip! ;)

Steve

When I first got my X5, the driver's side halo bulb went out and I got that error. I went to the parts counter at Otto's BMW in West Chester expecting to pay $10-20 for an overpriced bulb, but instead was told by the parts guy that the price was $50. I said no thanks and bought an error-free set from eBay for $60.

Stock angel eye bulb is Philips 12082, 12V, 10W (bayonette style bulb). I don't remember if you can or cannot just pull it out.

However, you can pull the bulb/bulb holder assembly from the reflector. You just have to cut two tabs on the sides of the bulb holder that keeps it from sliding out.

5 minute mod done.....bulb out.....2 tiny notches cut in reflector with tiny drill bit! Time to hunt down some bulbs......look like landscaping bulbs in there!

Relentless.........$50 dollars for A generic simple BULB, huh?........HAHAHAHAHAHA, Pa-The-Tic! It's sad what this world is coming to!

i did not find the seller, but here is the manufacturer of the bulb...

ANCOR Marine Grade Products
Halogen bayonet base bulb
part #529337
UPC barcode # 0 91887 80574 1

531 Mercantile Drive
Cotati, CA 94931

707-792-0312
707-795-7950 fax