E86 Front fog lamp removal

[TOMGREEN413]

Hi guys,
As a newby I was wondering what I need to do to remove the above, the existing ones are in very poor condition and need replacement also any ideas on the best place to find new ones or alternative fog lamps? Many thanks Tom

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've never tried but I believe the bumper needs to come off to get to them.

Sadly they all seem to be in very poor condition now, and I think the only replacement option will be OE ones at BMW prices. Although I seem to remember reading that someone managed to take theirs apart, split them open and refurb them.

The other option is to just remove them and get blanking plates as some facelifts didn't have them as standard.

Last resort is to source an M front bumper as they don't have the hateful things.

 

[Zedebee]

You can get new Magnetti Marelli ones on the AUTODOC app for c. £80 each depending on the discount on the day. Or you can remove them and fit blanking plates from BMW.
Fitting them is easy, although it’s a bumper off job which is not difficult.

 

[TOMGREEN413]

The good folk on this forum never fail to amaze me........ask a question and BOOM! The answer arrives. EPIC
So I've got to remove the bumper to fit the fogs....yikes!!! Wasn't expecting that ........I feel embarrassed to ask but.........how do l remove the front bumper? And does anyone have a sound M bumper they'd like to sell me ? At least I'd save on the fog lights

 

[Mr Tidy]

This refers to a pre-facelift but I think the facelift is more or less the same:- https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79994

Be careful with the clips just below the front wings as they are prone to breaking - and good luck.

 

[lucasxdiniz]

I've never tried but I believe the bumper needs to come off to get to them.

Not at all. You can easily remove them in the wheel arch opening for the fog bulb. You don't even need to remove the wheel. There's one screw going vertically up in the exterior of the bumper and two inside. All very accessible.

Remove the fog lights and wash the inside with a toothbrush and drill two holes in opposing ends in a diagonal, it won't fog up again.

 

[TOMGREEN413]

Thanks Lucas......I'll try your advice before going for bumper removal.

 

[Zedebee]

Not at all. You can easily remove them in the wheel arch opening for the fog bulb. You don't even need to remove the wheel. There's one screw going vertically up in the exterior of the bumper and two inside. All very accessible.

Every day is a school day

 

[TOMGREEN413]

:roll:

 

[j24]

I've never tried but I believe the bumper needs to come off to get to them.

Not at all. You can easily remove them in the wheel arch opening for the fog bulb. You don't even need to remove the wheel. There's one screw going vertically up in the exterior of the bumper and two inside. All very accessible.

Remove the fog lights and wash the inside with a toothbrush and drill two holes in opposing ends in a diagonal, it won't fog up again.

Thanks lucasxdiniz - that’s really helpful. I’ve also got some pretty foggy/wet looking fog lights, so will have to give this a go!

Here’s my stupid question… When you mention drilling two holes in a diagonal, are you able to quickly point to the points where I should be drilling? Is it on the front facing part of the bulb? Or are you able to drill at the sides of the bulb?

Worried about letting in lots of dirt etc… but guess it might be a case of using the smallest drill bit possible?

Cheers for the help!

 

[lucasxdiniz]

Thanks lucasxdiniz - that’s really helpful. I’ve also got some pretty foggy/wet looking fog lights, so will have to give this a go!

Here’s my stupid question… When you mention drilling two holes in a diagonal, are you able to quickly point to the points where I should be drilling? Is it on the front facing part of the bulb? Or are you able to drill at the sides of the bulb?

Worried about letting in lots of dirt etc… but guess it might be a case of using the smallest drill bit possible?

Cheers for the help!

I don't remember exactly what I did. I just looked at the assembly and judged where I could drill holes and avoid getting anything inside the fog light. Definitely to the sides like so:

 

[j24]

Thanks lucasxdiniz - that’s really helpful. I’ve also got some pretty foggy/wet looking fog lights, so will have to give this a go!

Here’s my stupid question… When you mention drilling two holes in a diagonal, are you able to quickly point to the points where I should be drilling? Is it on the front facing part of the bulb? Or are you able to drill at the sides of the bulb?

Worried about letting in lots of dirt etc… but guess it might be a case of using the smallest drill bit possible?

Cheers for the help!

I don't remember exactly what I did. I just looked at the assembly and judged where I could drill holes and avoid getting anything inside the fog light. Definitely to the sides like so:

Cheers, makes a lot of sense. Will definitely give this a go sometime in the near future!

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

Deffo removeable without taking the bumper off. A little more awkward if you have headlamp washers fitted, and depending how supple you are it may be easier with the wheel removed. But much easier than removing the bumper.

 

[TOMGREEN413]

Great information (I've got headlamp washers)

 

[golfgeezer]

As mentioned it’s definitely a job that can be done without removing the bumper. You just need to be quite dexterous and patient as one screw is particularly a pain to get at. I replaced the fog lights on my E86 and drilled a couple holes in each before fitting. I’ve no idea if that helped or not as I sold the car not long after :roll: . I’ve got a pair of blanking plates which I kept. If I got another facelift E85/86 (likely) and the fog lights were in as bad a state (very likely) I’d just fit them and forget about it.

 

[TOMGREEN413]

Judging by utube videos the front bumper looks quite easy to remove so I'll probably go that route..................famous last words :roll:

 

[lucasxdiniz]

Judging by utube videos the front bumper looks quite easy to remove so I'll probably go that route..................famous last words :roll:

Have new brackets at the ready, they will most likely snap if not already broken.

 

[Mau]

I really would not go for the bumper removal route, also because new brackets do not come for free.

Just jack up the car, remove the wheel, so you have all the space needed:

Remove a single Torx 25 on the outside:



Two on the inside:



When opting for Magnetti Marelli's make sure you keep the tiny metal lip:



Re-mount your new light in reverse order and enjoy the difference (left = new):

 

[j24]

I really would not go for the bumper removal route, also because new brackets do not come for free.

Just jack up the car, remove the wheel, so you have all the space needed:

Remove a single Torx 25 on the outside:



Two on the inside:



When opting for Magnetti Marelli's make sure you keep the tiny metal lip:



Re-mount your new light in reverse order and enjoy the difference (left = new):

Awesome step-by-step guide! Thanks, massive help for when I do get around to sorting my foglights

 

[TOMGREEN413]

Stunning information, definitely going to go through the wheel arch as suggested now........it almost looks easy...... :wink:
Showing the images and fixing locations