Remove headlight for turn signal? Really?
 

I was just looking at the DIY for turn signal replacement ( mine just went out on the front passenger side). Do I really need to remove the headlight?

Any tips or recommendations are appreciated.

has been like that from day 1 when E53 came about...

there are four screws, holding the headlight... use a towel to put on top of bumper, so not to scrach the bumper when the light comes out... pull out just enough to get to the light bulb... if you have xenon ballast, there might be a grounding screw holding the ballast to frame...

Tips????? Drop the bumper and remove the headlights housing ...

Headlight has to come out. When my pass side front blew, out I ordered the set of 6 mirror bulbs from Stealth Auto ($80, lifetime replacement). You should, when one goes from age the others usually follow.

Mask off the top of the bumper underneath the headlamp housing, remove the 4 screws holding the headlamp and wiggle it forward. You should be able to just enough room to get a couple fingers from the side and top.....enough to unlock the holder and do a 3 point turn with it to get it out through the side. Ive swapped out many different LED bulbs for the sides, not once did I take the bumper off.

If you have short sausages for fingers though, you may have some troubles!

I use Blue Painter's Tape to tape the bumper under the headlight to prevent any scratches when removing the headlights. Thin enough to get under the headlight and won't leave any residues on the bumper. Plus it won't come off until you want it to come off.

Careful that you don't bend the painted lower trim at the bottom of the light.

You know what they say about men with short fingers........................they wear short gloves. :rofl:

You dont need to remove bumper even with headlamp washers. the light pulls out far enough to get to the bulb holder. Just wiggle it around

It's suck that you have to remove the bumper in order to remove the headlight assembly , on facelift model.

tips, buy some extra screws and/or a magnet rod. Just did replaced my blinker. And you will drop the bottom screws..

This is where vehicle ID in a permanent signature or in your car info plays an important roll for members that are reading the thread but may not be making any comments.

There is a difference between the 1st gen & facelift e53 X5. And some replies in this thread are specific to one or the other set-up...but its not revealed due to lack of vehicle's identification. If this applies to you :) then really consider adding your vehicles model/model year/build date in a permanent signature.

A signature with your car's info is not just for you...but it helps others, too...they can see if your reply is based on a particular set-up based on vehicle model year...or build date during the production run...and determine if something you've written applies to them or not. :)

Help the forum be all it can be by adding vehicle model/model year/build date so that others searching through old threads etc...can identify if what has been written applies to them.

For instance, the small trim below the headlights (items #3 & #4 in diagram below) are only used on e53s up to 10/2003 (00-03 model year). So if you have the (LCI) face-lift models...do you have to remove the bumper to change the bulb...or can you remove your headlight assembly without removing the bumper? :

No shiet we know what model and year that he have .( I do)
That y I said drop the bumper..

And you the one did not read his sig.

Yep, that's how I changed mine. Stealer had quoted $300- no kidding! BMW Bellevue, WA. Make sure to mark the position of the headlight screws before starting so that you ensure headlight alignment/aim is the same after pushing back the headlights and tightening up the screws. Also note the number of turns to unscrew the screws and make the same turns to screw back.

i am just happy that we don't have to remove the engine in order to change wiper blades!!!

Now you tell me! I had a hunch there may be an easier wAy....
:rofl:

ONLY if you have headlamp washers

Before pounding me for asking for more detail...perhaps you should re-read my original post...and this time instead try to see that I was only asking for clarification. It was a request to make suggestions WITHIN the thread understandable for ALL readers of the forum. That includes those that may be new e53 owners and are trying to grasp the differences in the e53 production run from 2000-2006 without having to ask a million simple questions.

First, it's plain as day that the OP has a signature...thus the mention of creating a signature did NOT apply to the OP. It was a request for some that were making comments about the bumper needing to be removed and some saying that it didn't. I've only been an e53 owner since Nov/2012...and the conflicting info was confusing to me. Trying to grasp why there was a conflict, I looked for a perspective that the suggesting forum member may have been coming from...and some did NOT have any model/model year/build date info...so that still left me wondering why would some say the bumper needed to be removed and some said it didn't.

Most of these forums have a small vocal minority that respond and engage in the day to day discourse...but there is a much larger non vocal majority that lurk and read but never or hardly ever respond. There's also those that come in and actually use the search feature...and when there's no vehicle information...it can push them into "dead end" searches due to lack of vehicle information from the originating posters because they don't know if a change during the production may or may not apply to their particular situation.

Again, my experience was slightly frustrating when I first started here...searching for information many times left me with unanswered questions...when trying to figure out which of the 7 e53 engines and multiple transmissions, and changes during the production run applied to my vehicle and circumstances...all because the reply in the thread gave no vehicle info other than it was an X5. Plus we are an international forum where some forum members have models/engines not sold here in the States:






Overall...I'm not sure why it would be a bad idea that vehicle information is listed...it's not for bragging rights, or a look-at-me point of view...it just helps others reading the thread know if the discussion applies to them or not. And is that not why many of us come here everyday...to not only ask for help...but to help others...and along the way we all learn from each other through the collective discourse that goes on. :)

Well then to clarify for those still in the dark on this....

Speaking from experience (and as someone who actually owns a facelifted model w/ headlamp washers); For the facelifted 2004-2006 e53, regardless of whether or not you have the headlamp washers, the turn signal bulb CAN (yes, CAN) be replaced without having to touch the bumper....

That being said, it Is a tight squeeze without removing the bumper, so if you find yourself needing that extra space to work, removing the bumper takes all of 10 minutes anyway with basic tools....there's plenty of diy's kicking around on how to do that.

:bow: ...for your experience, time, and patience to explain...I thank you (and I'm sure others in the future, too) thank you very much for clarifying this DIY that many of us may have to do at some point in ownership. Between having to wiggle the headlamp assembly out or taking the bumper off...I'd prefer to only have to do the former...so this make me ...:woohoo: happy to know.

X5SND any pics floating around regarding this? so 2 screws at top of light and 2 at bottom? from the engine compartment side?

answering my own question here, and this applies to the facelivft, not too difficult and bumper does not need to be removed even if you have washers...but you wont be able to do if you have sausage fingers as mentioned b4