How many noobs does it take to change a light bulb ?
- Thread starter Haywood Jablomi
- Start date
![[?|]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_banghead.gif "Bang Head [?|]"){kind=icon}
Not to sound flip, but have you tried looking in the owner's manual? It should tell you exactly how to do it.
But, if no such luck, here you go man.
http://www.e46fanatics.com/howto/howtodetail.php?howto_id=7
Good luck. And there is nothing to laugh at... we're here to help and learn; kind of the point of these forums.
But, if no such luck, here you go man.
http://www.e46fanatics.com/howto/howtodetail.php?howto_id=7
Good luck. And there is nothing to laugh at... we're here to help and learn; kind of the point of these forums.
Thanks Sean !
Boy that was easy...
I didn't check the owner's manual, because so far it has been pretty useless. I'll take a look next time I have it out, but the link that you sent made it simple. I was looking into that ovular hole, and thought that it must have something to do with it.
And thanks for taking it easy on me...
One problem solved. Now maybe I can get my rear wiper working, and my AC working in time for summer.
Thanks again
![[clap]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_clap.gif "Clap [clap]")
Boy that was easy...
I didn't check the owner's manual, because so far it has been pretty useless. I'll take a look next time I have it out, but the link that you sent made it simple. I was looking into that ovular hole, and thought that it must have something to do with it.
And thanks for taking it easy on me...
One problem solved. Now maybe I can get my rear wiper working, and my AC working in time for summer.
Thanks again
Here is a link to his original thread and the questions regarding his rear wiper.
well, front turn signal lamps on the e46, it can be a bitch. so, i think haywood deserves a bit of a break on this one.
having done this MANY times on my car- which eats these bulbs for lunch- it's never a quick 5 minute task. the rubber clip ends of the housing fall off very easily and like to roll down into the engine bay, where u then need a stick and a piece of tape to fish them back out. also, the plastic clips that hold the fixture in place often don't line up very easily either and can take some messing around with.
haywood> here's my advice. get the biggest possible flat head screwdriver u can find. after u pop the hood, there is an oval shaped opening on the car frame- just above/ behind the turn signal housing. what u need to do is insert the screwdriver and use it as a lever to release the plastic clip that holds the turn signal housing in place.
the owners' manual's diagram is fairly useless, because it shows a pix but then doesn't explain where to apply pressure. and, u don't want to apply pressure the wrong direction and then break the clip. the clip actually needs be levered slightly inward or outward away from the car to pry it loose. (sorry i forget which direction.) go gently and don't push too hard. make sure to kinda pull the housing at the same time.
when u've hit the right spot, it literally pops right out- and without a lot of pressure. (that's how you know.)
also, when putting it back in, be careful with the rubber ends. (they are suicidal and fall off very easily.) also be careful not to scratch the paint under the housing, as that part is very sharp.
good luck and let us know how it goes.
having done this MANY times on my car- which eats these bulbs for lunch- it's never a quick 5 minute task. the rubber clip ends of the housing fall off very easily and like to roll down into the engine bay, where u then need a stick and a piece of tape to fish them back out. also, the plastic clips that hold the fixture in place often don't line up very easily either and can take some messing around with.
haywood> here's my advice. get the biggest possible flat head screwdriver u can find. after u pop the hood, there is an oval shaped opening on the car frame- just above/ behind the turn signal housing. what u need to do is insert the screwdriver and use it as a lever to release the plastic clip that holds the turn signal housing in place.
the owners' manual's diagram is fairly useless, because it shows a pix but then doesn't explain where to apply pressure. and, u don't want to apply pressure the wrong direction and then break the clip. the clip actually needs be levered slightly inward or outward away from the car to pry it loose. (sorry i forget which direction.) go gently and don't push too hard. make sure to kinda pull the housing at the same time.
when u've hit the right spot, it literally pops right out- and without a lot of pressure. (that's how you know.)
also, when putting it back in, be careful with the rubber ends. (they are suicidal and fall off very easily.) also be careful not to scratch the paint under the housing, as that part is very sharp.
good luck and let us know how it goes.
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haywood> the bulb sockets "burn out" quite often too- meaning, you might get it to work for a while by cleaning the contact points. but, at some point that contact point will completely melt. and, you'll need to replace the entire socket.
i recommend keeping some handy for when that happens. they are about $25 each at the dealer. i've replaced both the bulbs and the bulb sockets at least 3 or 4 times over the past 10 years. >lol<
what can i say... e46's eat light bulbs for lunch.
glad it all worked out.
i recommend keeping some handy for when that happens. they are about $25 each at the dealer. i've replaced both the bulbs and the bulb sockets at least 3 or 4 times over the past 10 years. >lol<
what can i say... e46's eat light bulbs for lunch.
glad it all worked out.
haywood> the bulb sockets "burn out" quite often too- meaning, you might get it to work for a while by cleaning the contact points. but, at some point that contact point will completely melt. and, you'll need to replace the entire socket.
i recommend keeping some handy for when that happens. they are about $25 each at the dealer. i've replaced both the bulbs and the bulb sockets at least 3 or 4 times over the past 10 years. >lol<
what can i say... e46's eat light bulbs for lunch.
glad it all worked out.
i recommend keeping some handy for when that happens. they are about $25 each at the dealer. i've replaced both the bulbs and the bulb sockets at least 3 or 4 times over the past 10 years. >lol<
what can i say... e46's eat light bulbs for lunch.
glad it all worked out.
It is common practice among many that when you have to change a light bulb, to just go ahead and change the whole socket with it. It is known fact that the bulb will burn-in place and melt to the socket contact point. When you do have a burned out bulb, I would recommend to changing the other side at the same time. Just about every time (I actually have a higher failure rate that Detrich) one side has gone out the other is very close behind. It is a bit spendy, but you will be assured your turn markers and parking lamps will be good for a while....
I agree, it is ridiculous. I have never looked into aftermarket myself. I usually will get sandpaper and place on the end of a pencil and sand down the socket contact a few times (between failures). I would then do the same on the bulb before I go and finally replace the set on both sides. I have found my rear bulbs last a lot longer than the fronts. Not everyone has this issue as bad as others. However, I have had the issue so far with both E46's I've owned.....
I don't own an E46 so this may be a dumb question, are you guys using silver based bulbs? In the E36 and other models they say do not use American brass based bulbs. Also have you tried a spray electrical contact cleaner such as this Permatex brand? I looked in RealOEM and it said that the "bulb carrier", being the plastic housing with the sockets in it were only $32.00, is that the correct part?
Still on 8 yr old light sockets, had to take a pencil eraser to them once to clean corrosion, otherwise no problems whatsoever, and still on my same set of aftermarket lights I dropped in 3+ years ago.
No bulbs dead in 5 years ownership - at all.
If you are eating bulbs, I would think something is not right in the wiring, or using the wrong bulbs or somethin?
No bulbs dead in 5 years ownership - at all.
If you are eating bulbs, I would think something is not right in the wiring, or using the wrong bulbs or somethin?