[seanay12]

I was changing out my cornering H3 bulb and trying to clip the little retaining clip and it popped off it's hinge and I have no idea where it went. I looked all over the headlight assembly for 20 minutes and gave up. I think there is a square hole at the bottom of the housing and it fell in there.. . I went to the dealer and they won't sell me another one and said I would have to buy the entire assembly for 1k... Does anyone have a spare one they can sell or know who might carry something likeit? I'm at a loss, searched online and no luck either. I'm not talented enough to make one out of a paper clip as I found out earlier during my pathetic attempt to fashion a reasonable facsimile...

[roundle]

I am sure that you will be able to source a clip from a junkyard.

I changed all my light bulbs earlier in the summer. Between the cheap, brittle plastic covers and the wire retaining clips I was really shocked. Everything felt poorly designed and cheap compared to every other car I've owned since 1996...

[Efthreeoh]

I checked realoem. There are no separate clips sold for the headlights, however there is a "Headlight Repair Kit" P/N 63117182519, for about $10. There is no description of what it in the kit. Maybe the dealer was unaware of this kit. You could e-mail getBMWparts and ask Jason or Evan what is in the kit.

Hope you work it out.

[seanay12]

Thanks so much I will try both suggested advices above on Monday unless I get lucky and someone on forums has an extra spare part they can part with.

[seanay12]

No luck with part. Anyone have a broken headlight assembly with an extra spring clip they want to sell?

[seanay12]

Wonder why when I Google it only universal ones are only sold by UK vendors on ebay

[Built My Way]

Try using a cheap thin coat hanger (the ones with the plastic coating). Remove about an inch of the plastic off the end and gently fish it into the housing, bending it as you go. Move it around and listen carefully. You should be able to hear/feel the bare hanger making contact with the loose metal clip. If you you've located the clip, pull out the wire and secure something sticky to the end of the hanger. Go back in to retrieve.

Or you could try remove the housing.

[seanay12]

Thanks will do