BMW White Lights, how to change brake light bulb?

[The Works]

This may seem a silly question but how do you change the brake light bulbs in the BMW White lights?

I've just sold mine as I never got round to fitting them but the guy who's fitting them can't seem to get the brake light bulb out (sealed unit?).

Thanks

Michael

[cooperstan]

As I remember when I fitted mine, the bulbs are soldered to the bulb holder. The bulb holder itself is seperate to the lamp but it looks like individual bulbs cant be replaced and you have to change the whole unit, i.e the holder the bulbs actually fit into, god only knows why. He may have to change the entire holder or unsolder the bulb...

I've kept my old lights so I can use the old holder in the clear lamp unit when the bulbs blow. The same bulbs as fitted in the white light kit are available from most car shops.

Hope that makes sense, my old lamps arent here otherwise I would take a picture.

[The Works]

Cheers cooperstan,

Don't suppose anyone does have pics of this so I can send them to him.

Michael

[ALD0]

Thats correct-They are soldered for some stupid unkown reason! Though it might be fairly easy to remove with a solder iron?
Alternatively like cooperstan said, obtain a set of original pre 05 clusters off Ebay-Usually £20+Postage then swap the bulb holders across, you will have to buy the various buls though, Brake , Fog indicator etc in with silver coating like the ones in there now.
Only thing else could suggest is take them back to dealer and play hell that this is the most stupid design you have ever seen and you want replacements!

[StevePSB]

Not sure that would go down very well... It's not the dealers fault. If the lights are less than two years old and you have your original receipt (assuming they came from a dealer) then they'll be covered by warranty.

[StaticInnerClass]

I know this is way too late for you, but hopefully this helps others.

Just replaced the brake bulb on my '06 Cooper S. Here's the blow-by-blow:
1) Opened the access panel
2) Unscrewed the 10 mm hex nut holding in the brake light assembly
3) Detached the cable harness, pressed in the retaining springs and removed the assembly
4) Squeezed the clips to remove the bulb board (holding 3 bulbs) from the lens cover
5) Removed the brake bulb from the board (press in and rotate ~ 45 degrees)

Installation is the opposite of removal.

According to my Bentley manual, owners of convertible Coopers need to replace the entire assembly.

[ALD0]

Quote: Originally Posted by StaticInnerClass (original)

I know this is way too late for you, but hopefully this helps others.

Just replaced the brake bulb on my '06 Cooper S. Here's the blow-by-blow:
1) Opened the access panel
2) Unscrewed the 10 mm hex nut holding in the brake light assembly
3) Detached the cable harness, pressed in the retaining springs and removed the assembly
4) Squeezed the clips to remove the bulb board (holding 3 bulbs) from the lens cover
5) Removed the brake bulb from the board (press in and rotate ~ 45 degrees)

Installation is the opposite of removal.

According to my Bentley manual, owners of convertible Coopers need to replace the entire assembly.

Think thats for the normal lights not the White lights where BMW soldered all the bulbs to the light circuit board

[StaticInnerClass]

Quote: Originally Posted by ALD0 (original)

Think thats for the normal lights not the White lights where BMW soldered all the bulbs to the light circuit board

Ah, never realized there was an option when it came to the tail lights, and had not noticed any difference when it came to the lights on the 02-06 Minis. I'll be keeping an eye out for them... I'm interested to see what they look like.

[Bahnstormer]

I had exactly this problem with the JCW Clear rear lenses when replacing a stop/tail yesterday.

There seems to be no reason to solder the bulbs in, other than greed ! - get a solder gun and solder-sucker - and desolder the bulbs !

I guess you could always get a set of normal lights from a scrappy and use their bulb-holders if you don't want to desolder everything !

Nobody at the Mini dealerships I've called seems to even know of their existence or be able to supply the special bulbs !!!!

So, the solution. Buy two rear facing White LED's (That glow Red !). Amazingly, got mine at Halfords in the (ahem, do not tell anyone) Ripspeed section (£12 !) - they look better than the originals.

I still cannot find anyone that sells the individual pearlescent bulbd (Plenty of chrome ones, but no pearlescents !)

How do the white lights work without reflectors - I know JCW used to sell them (now obsolete !), but where did they go on the car ?

BTW the dealers wanted about £38 a side !!!! - daylight robbery !

[mab01uk]

More info here on replacement bulbs, etc:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-gen...t-problem.html

I think the red reflectors were stuck on the rear bumper for MOT purposes in the UK market.