how many engineers does it take to change a Z4 lightbulb..

[ukpolak]

In all seriousness, my E89 today showed up the orange "external light warning" error light today. I've tried to locate the faulty bulb but no joy as need a second pair of eyes as I press the pedals, change into reverse for white light etc etc.

On previous cars I've owned (much more basic than this) I've been able to change bulbs myself and bought bulbs from Halfords and the like. I was just wondering with the fancy light housing on the Z4, are bulbs in general easy to change? I have MOT coming up next month so hopefully this isn't a bulb which would fail it, so I'd rather fix myself sooner.

Apologies if it sounds like a stupid question, it's just my previous cars have not had fancy light housing etc so were all easy to fix myself.

Cheers!

 

[James_P]

If you're still under warranty, it may be worth seeing what BMW think. I bought an ex demo AUC car and have had bulbs blow at all 4 corners and all were replaced under warranty.

 

[ukpolak]

Yes unfortunately out of warranty by a year or so.. i need to identify which light has blown (in the dark with someone!) but was wondering how easy a DIY fix would be with household tools etc.. thanks for your help All.

 

[srhutch]

Only bulbs covered under warranty are xenon, so you will be lucky to get a dealer to replace.

 

[Maniac]

Is this front or rear? Does the system say even vaguely which bulb is at fault?

Once we know which lamp has the issue we might be able to help more. Some lamps are easy to change others a bit fiddly and some are led and non changeable.

 

[ukpolak]

Thanks for your help... interestingly I had the amber "light warning" one evening last week and then the following (dark) morning, but then yesterday and again today no issue warning whatsoever so I don't know if it was a small intermittent sensor fault or something on one of the lights, as nothing for the past 2 days.

I'll see again what happens when I head out for work tomorrow morning to see if I have the warning light pop up again.

Car is just under 5 years old / 45k miles so not bad going as no lights have been changed so far (touch wood).

Cheers again

 

[flybobbie]

If you have a iDrive display it tells you which bulb.
If the standard car has only a warning light and it comes and goes, check out the tail light for condensation. As water in there causes a short and indicator failure which might correct itself when it dries out.
As my car did.