Fitting the '05 lights.
I walked into my BMW dealer in Exeter and found the lights for sale, including an additional wiring loom to add to the current one.
The first kit had only just arrived and no one in their service department had tried to do it yet and they wouldn't have been able to attempt it for a couple of weeks. I got them to print out the pages from their on-line manual, negotiated a "parts only" price and off I went for a late night in the garage.
It took about 3 hours and would probably take about 1 1/2 hours to do it a 2nd time! The additional wiring loom was essential. I can claim no particular skill here, so most people should be able to do it.
I'm very pleased with the result, especially as what was the reversing light is now effectively "invisible" (the car being red as well).
I am not at all convinced about most of the '05 facelift, but the rear lights are much more visible at night and the 2 reversing lights will be a great help here as it can get very dark here at night (very little light pollution).
As far as the warranty is concerned, I will be relying on the fact that I've fitted BMW approved parts and hoping that they are reasonable. Normally they only usually throw out claims where it is a direct result of the customer doing something stupid and this could just as easily have been done whilst fitting an aftermarket ICE.
The kit was £229 fitted, or £105 parts only (all including VAT). Personally, I think they messed the parts only price up! According to the instructions, it then needs about £25 worth of workshop time to change the software on the car to adapt to the new lights. From a wiring point of view there is no obvious reason why this should be necessary and all systems are now working perfectly without any reprogramming having taken place. From my previous experience of working on multiplex wired cars the is one instruction that you must follow: disconnect the battery -ve lead before starting work.
The instructions from BMW are needlessly complicated and in some places they are even wrong! If anyone wants a few hints before trying it themselves you are welcome to pm me.
Tigger.