Urgent please - sidelight bulb removal

[RyanB88]

Hi

I've currently got the car jacked up and the top inspection panel off to get into the back of the headlamp

I'm in the back of the headlamp but can't seem to find the sidelight - can anyone explain how to remove and replace the sidelight bulb?

Any help massively appreciated whilst my cars jacked up!

Thanks

 

[tom27]

Working from the wheel well, with the cover removed, the holders twist and pull out, putting the sidelights on might hep you find it.

Was fairly straight forward from what I remember, not sure if you got the right cover off if you cannot find it.

 

[RyanB88]

It's the top inspection cover I have removed from the wheel arch

I've found the back of the lights but can't find a way to get to the sidelight bulb

Problem is it doesn't work so I can't turn the bulb on to check which it is

 

[RyanB88]

Ok - so what I think is the sidelight bulb is now out, along with its holder. The bulb took a lot of persuasion to come out of the holder. Off to Halfords to buy a bulb, fingers crossed

What a ballache for a small bulb!

Update - Replaced the sidelight bulb now and the orange indicator is still on, even with the sidelight bulb replaced?

Any idea on why the indicator in the head lamp is stuck on when the ignition is on/off?

 

[Marlon]

Wait till you need to replace an indicator bulb :wink:

 

[bmwaddict]

It's the top inspection cover I have removed from the wheel arch

I've found the back of the lights but can't find a way to get to the sidelight bulb

Problem is it doesn't work so I can't turn the bulb on to check which it is

If it's the "angel eye" bulb, then it's next to the back of the headlight bulb, closer to the middle if the car. Should be a black circular plastic assembly - twist anti-clockwise and pull out.
If in doubt turn the other side on and check.

 

[philbo909]

At least you got the bulb out without modification! Bmw want you to replace the whole bulb unit for £30
No idea about your indicator situation though

 

[RyanB88]

Thanks for all the posts so far

So with the bulb replaced, I still have this situation (ignition on, engine on, ignition off, regardless)

Any ideas on where to trouble shoot next?

Still no fault codes on carly

 

[Joycey]

I just replaced that side light bulb with an LED type then coded out the light indicator on the dash. Seems to like going through those side light bulbs.

 

[Joycey]

 

[RyanB88]

Ok so for some closure to the worlds most annoying problem!

On Carly I coded out the voltage check for all lights in the headlamp - voila the indicator works as normal again!

Still no idea what the problem is but it's fixed now

Really appreciate everyone's help with this earlier, thankyou all!

 

[Joycey]

Ok so for some closure to the worlds most annoying problem!

On Carly I coded out the voltage check for all lights in the headlamp - voila the indicator works as normal again!

Still no idea what the problem is but it's fixed now

Really appreciate everyone's help with this earlier, thankyou all!

There will be a lamp out somewhere.

 

[RyanB88]

Ok so for some closure to the worlds most annoying problem!

On Carly I coded out the voltage check for all lights in the headlamp - voila the indicator works as normal again!

Still no idea what the problem is but it's fixed now

Really appreciate everyone's help with this earlier, thankyou all!

There will be a lamp out somewhere.

There's not - I checked sidelights, dipped, main and indicators. The sidelight was out but it's now been replaced

 

[Mr Tidy]

Ok so for some closure to the worlds most annoying problem!

On Carly I coded out the voltage check for all lights in the headlamp - voila the indicator works as normal again!

Still no idea what the problem is but it's fixed now

Really appreciate everyone's help with this earlier, thankyou all!

I'm guessing Z4s are the same as my E46 - when a bulb fails they are coded to use another bulb. I had a brake light fail and IIRC it used the tail-light instead. But when I replaced the brake light it reset itself - just lucky you have Carly!

Glad it's all sorted now.

 

[-banned-]

Thanks for all the posts so far

So with the bulb replaced, I still have this situation (ignition on, engine on, ignition off, regardless)

Any ideas on where to trouble shoot next?

Still no fault codes on carly

I bet it happens after you played with carly :lol: Any chance you activated bfd ?