Sun visor part number
 

I want to buy new sun visors without the airbag warning on them. I know the labels can be removed but I just want to buy new visors. Looking at RealOEM,

X5 E70 LCI X5 35dX > Vehicle trim > Interior equipment, upper > Sun visors,

there are two piece numbers shown, 1 and 2, with identical part numbers for the SCHWARZ/anthracite headliner (S775A) equipped vehicles:

Piece 1 and 2: 51 16 7 278 613 LEFT SUN VISOR MAKE-UP LAMP
Piece 1 and 2: 51 16 7 278 614 RIGHT SUN VISOR MAKE-UP LAMP

They are listed identically so why the two piece numbers? Looking at the illustration, I assume that Piece 1 does not have a lamp in it while Piece 2 does.

Those above are for the USA-market version anyway which will have the warning pasted on there so it's not a critical question to answer, however looking at the EUR-market version listing, only confused me more.


Looking in:

X5 E70 LCI X5 30dX (left-hand drive) > Vehicle trim > Interior equipment, upper > Sun visors,

there are still two piece numbers but now there are FOUR different part numbers SCHWARZ/anthracite headliner (S775A) equipped vehicles:

Piece 1: 51 16 8 037 379 LEFT SUN VISOR MAKE-UP LAMP
Piece 1: 51 16 8 037 380 RIGHT SUN VISOR MAKE-UP LAMP
Piece 2: 51 16 8 037 381 LEFT SUN VISOR MAKE-UP LAMP
Piece 2: 51 16 8 037 382 RIGHT SUN VISOR MAKE-UP LAMP

ALL of the part numbers above list as a VINYL SUN VISOR. What I guess the real question I have is, do I need Piece 1 or Piece 2?

The light is in the headliner. The difference between Piece 1 is that it is non-extendable/fixed and Piece 2 has an extendable bar to pull the sun visor further toward the middle of the windshield.

Whether you want Piece 1 or Piece 2 depends what you want from your sun visor.

Thank you for the information. I was aware the light was in the headliner but the visor has some electrical contacts in it to make it work. The picture you posted along with the illustration on RealOEM makes it very clear now. Thank you again.

sun visor
 

Any ideas where can I purchase this visor with P/N 51 16 8 037 381. My wife car has it and by mistake I ordered the P/N 51 16 8 037 385. Could not find places selling it in the US. Thanks

ALX5

OK only thing I will say, as I tried this recently and for time being I just removed the stickers with rubbing alcohol -

Make sure you order the part number that does NOT have the extra wiring harness piece hanging off it if yours doesn't have it (you can unscrew it to check) -

My visor light is wired up in the headliner, i.e. I did not need to unplug it to remove the sunvisor -

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/TikAAO...axI/s-l500.jpg

^^The used one from Europe I bought looked like this.

Mine did NOT look like that, looked like this (notice no wiring hanging off the screw side) -
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNj..._id=8800005007


So either I'm an idiot, but I couldn't get it working. It mounted fine, but I couldn't get it mounted with that wiring piece in the way so I took it off - the only thing I can think of was I needed to plug that piece in to the actual sunvisor light?

Because when that wiring piece was not plugged in to the light (and the light stayed plugged in to the factory wiring), the visor did not operate like factory, the light just stayed on and did not shut off unless you unclipped the visor as if you were rotating it -

So I gave up on it and tossed it lol - but now I'm thinking about it I probably should have just tried to plug that piece into the factory sunvisor light -

Pretty sure the visor has a permissive switch for the vanity light. At least mine does. When it rotates down two contacts rotate into place completing the circuit. It may be different on certain vehicles and visors.

ETA: Plus, isn't there another switch inside the visor for the mirror cover? I think the connector is required. I only reviewed the thread briefly since I last posted so I apologize if I'm covering treaded ground.

I never got around to replacing mine, by the way.

ETA2: Never mind. All they have to have done from an electrical standpoint is to put the internal mirror cover switch in series with the two contacts so no connector would be required. Yeah, so make sure you order the right one.

Buy the time you took researching this you could have have the stickers off by now with a little acetone.

I'm fully aware of that method, have tried it and it looks terrible. Further, as I said in the original post, that's exactly what I didn't want to do. How long do you think it takes to look up these parts on realOEM? I probably have 15 minutes invested in this total including the thread and had my answers months ago.

I've done this to a 335i, e70 X5, and e92 M3 all black vinyl visors with perfect results.
I take no responcibily for any damages to your vehicle following this procedure and it will probably not work with cloth visors.
1) Remove visor, 2 T-20 screws and power connector. there is enough slack in the wires to disconnect the plug easily.
2) Use a small cotton rag (old t-shirt) folded to the size of the sticker and saturate cloth with acetone. Place saturated rag over sticker and allow it to penetrate the sticker for 10 seconds and then lightly wipe the sticker. it will bubble up and wipe off easily. do not pour the acetone directly on the visor and use only enough to soften the sticker. If the acetone is left on too long it will also soften the vinyl. You may need to use some Goof-Off to remove any residual adhesive.
3) Finish with some 303 or other quality interior protectant.
4) Reinstall visor.
If the visors are sun faded there may be slight color differences under the stickers.
If your going to replace the visors anyway what's the risk?
Are you sure the Euro parts are without the warning stickers?

For the other vehicles I've ordered them for, yes they are without the warning stickers. I did end up trying on my X5. There is a glossy shadow that I never got to go away. I used acetone and a terry cloth and finished with Goof Off which is very strong stuff. I definitely recommend doing it outside the vehicle so it doesn't drip anywhere you don't want it to. Similar experience with my M5 and a 328xi. I got Alcantara ones for the M5 and leather covered for the 3er. Both have no stickers.