For those with xenon's, how the heck did you remove the DRL bulbs?

bob.g · 08-17-2010, 09:32 PM

If you have xenons, it seems like it's an even bigger pain in the ass to remove the drl bulbs then for those with halogens. My manual only covered how to do it with halos. btw i have an 06 325.

so i removed my wheel, got access to the area where the drl lights are. And after a while, finally noticed where the drl bulb was. Now, How the heck do u remove it?? I pulled and removed the long black stalk. But after thats out of the way, i cant even reach the bulb with my fingers, it sits like 4 inches deep into the housing. Is there some special tool you used?

heres the only DIY i found that explained how to swap the bulbs,
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...&highlight=drl
but didnt seem to address the problem. One person mentioned grabbing the bulb with a set of pliers and pulling..thats assuming im be able to get pliers into that confined space. How did you guys do it?

DESI4life10 · 08-17-2010, 10:41 PM

The black stalk is used to pull the bulb out as well. You need to put it back on the bulb and then bend the stalk down a bit to disengage the bulb from its clip. You will hear a little pop, which indicates that the bulb can now be pulled out with the black stalk piece.

Install the new bulb on the stalk and then guide the bulb back in place (make note of how the orignal bulb was sitting), once you have it aligned, push it in a bit till you hear the bulb snapping into place.

tybon · 08-17-2010, 11:16 PM

I have done it and yeah it's a pain to remove. The best way is to remove the head light completely so you have enough room to wiggle the bulb out with the black stalk from various angles. You have to remove the front bumper to remove the head light but that's pretty quick and easy.

bob.g · 08-17-2010, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DESI4life10

The black stalk is used to pull the bulb out as well. You need to put it back on the bulb and then bend the stalk down a bit to disengage the bulb from its clip. You will hear a little pop, which indicates that the bulb can now be pulled out with the black stalk piece.

Install the new bulb on the stalk and then guide the bulb back in place (make note of how the orignal bulb was sitting), once you have it aligned, push it in a bit till you hear the bulb snapping into place.

ahh that makes sense. Thanks man, im gonna try that out.

bob.g · 08-17-2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tybon

I have done it and yeah it's a pain to remove. The best way is to remove the head light completely so you have enough room to wiggle the bulb out with the black stalk from various angles. You have to remove the front bumper to remove the head light but that's pretty quick and easy.

nah im gonna pass on removng the bumper. Honestly if i gotta do that to change a light bulb, then bmw are real assholes. I tried turning the stalk clockwise and it didnt seem to budge, but ill try going up and down and see what that does. thanks man.

DESI4life10 · 08-18-2010, 07:15 AM

Removing the bumper is not necessary for just changing the DRL bulb.

LOL, I would be talking to some of the designers if I found out the only way to remove the drl is by taking the bumper off

Hope it works for you OP. Don't be afraid to apply a little more force to get the bulb to pop out.

DESI4life10 · 08-18-2010, 07:16 AM

You can bend it in any direction BTW (up, down, left or right).

exclusivo · 08-18-2010, 12:52 PM

how the heck do you guys get in there? i usually take the bumper off. i can get the bumper and lights off in under 15 minutes now. beats sweating on the ground trying to pull a bulb out that you cant see.

tybon · 08-18-2010, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemmegetatthat

how the heck do you guys get in there? i usually take the bumper off. i can get the bumper and lights off in under 15 minutes now. beats sweating on the ground trying to pull a bulb out that you cant see.

+1

Sometimes you are lucky if the DRL bulb comes out easily, but sometimes they are in really tight and you need more visibility and wiggle room. I remember when I changed my DRL bulbs, one side came out easily and I didn't need to remove the light housing, but the other side was very stubborn and just won't come out and I spent an hour trying. Then I removed the head light and got the bulb out in 5min. I didn't even have remove the whole bumper, just enough slack to slide the head light out.

I know that the next time I switch the bulbs I will just remove the head lights, which will also make cleaning and polishing them easier. Good luck.

08-17-2010, 09:32 PM	#1
bob.g Captain 21 Rep 677 Posts Drives: 2006 325xi Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: montreal iTrader: (1)	For those with xenon's, how the heck did you remove the DRL bulbs? If you have xenons, it seems like it's an even bigger pain in the ass to remove the drl bulbs then for those with halogens. My manual only covered how to do it with halos. btw i have an 06 325. so i removed my wheel, got access to the area where the drl lights are. And after a while, finally noticed where the drl bulb was. Now, How the heck do u remove it?? I pulled and removed the long black stalk. But after thats out of the way, i cant even reach the bulb with my fingers, it sits like 4 inches deep into the housing. Is there some special tool you used? heres the only DIY i found that explained how to swap the bulbs, http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...&highlight=drl but didnt seem to address the problem. One person mentioned grabbing the bulb with a set of pliers and pulling..thats assuming im be able to get pliers into that confined space. How did you guys do it?
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08-17-2010, 10:41 PM	#2
DESI4life10 Banned 203 Rep 3,328 Posts Drives: Coding: Desi4life10@gmail.com Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West of Toronto, Canada iTrader: (18)	The black stalk is used to pull the bulb out as well. You need to put it back on the bulb and then bend the stalk down a bit to disengage the bulb from its clip. You will hear a little pop, which indicates that the bulb can now be pulled out with the black stalk piece. Install the new bulb on the stalk and then guide the bulb back in place (make note of how the orignal bulb was sitting), once you have it aligned, push it in a bit till you hear the bulb snapping into place.
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08-17-2010, 11:16 PM	#3
tybon Private 4 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2007 328i E90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Burnaby BC iTrader: (1)	I have done it and yeah it's a pain to remove. The best way is to remove the head light completely so you have enough room to wiggle the bulb out with the black stalk from various angles. You have to remove the front bumper to remove the head light but that's pretty quick and easy.
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08-18-2010, 07:15 AM	#6
DESI4life10 Banned 203 Rep 3,328 Posts Drives: Coding: Desi4life10@gmail.com Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West of Toronto, Canada iTrader: (18)	Removing the bumper is not necessary for just changing the DRL bulb. LOL, I would be talking to some of the designers if I found out the only way to remove the drl is by taking the bumper off Hope it works for you OP. Don't be afraid to apply a little more force to get the bulb to pop out.
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08-18-2010, 07:16 AM	#7
DESI4life10 Banned 203 Rep 3,328 Posts Drives: Coding: Desi4life10@gmail.com Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West of Toronto, Canada iTrader: (18)	You can bend it in any direction BTW (up, down, left or right).
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08-18-2010, 12:52 PM	#8
exclusivo Lieutenant Colonel 137 Rep 1,904 Posts Drives: race car Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: queens, ny iTrader: (11)	how the heck do you guys get in there? i usually take the bumper off. i can get the bumper and lights off in under 15 minutes now. beats sweating on the ground trying to pull a bulb out that you cant see.
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