Melting light cluster!

[nujon]

Noticed my rear n/s lower brake light/side-marker was out last night. Investigated just now to find the bulb and holder is OK but that the plastic frame of the cluster which supports the contact strips has bloody well melted away! - is this common and yet another indicator of the sheer quality the E53!!?

(Had the car 10 months now - 2006, bought @ 50K miles with full BMW S/H - just been one thing after another and is just about qualifying as the worst car i have owned - will be appearing in Autorader in the New Year at this rate!)

[X5eireann]

The samething has happened to mine, which I have just discovered tonight! Fecking nightmare.

Where art thou Sanj????? He'll save the day with a way to sort this out!!

[lezmtaylor]

Cause is usually bad connections leading to arcing/ overheating at the bulb connections which leads to melting of the plastic holders.
I always make the connections with Vaseline to make good connections and have no problems.
Lez

[X5eireann]

good point lezmtaylor, has anyone got any easy repair tips?

[mizen296]

Had same problems all the Time so replaced with aftermarket led ones look much better now

[nujon]

[quote=""mizen296""]Had same problems all the Time so replaced with aftermarket led ones look much better now [/quote]

What are your LEDs like re. intensity of side markers and brake lights + any recommended suppliers (this heap of mine is now off the road for the 4th time in 10 months!! - this time 'cos no n/s brake/ side markers )

[kena]

Had this happen to mine a couple of months ago. It appears to be a common problem on the E53.
I managed to catch mine before the plastic melted but the contact had burnt a hole through the metal contact plate. I just cleaned it all up with emery paper and then soldered over the hole and built it up so that there was a tight contact.
Never had anymore problems.
I should have checked the other side while I was at it but just couldn't be bothered at the time.

[pvr]

Are these all cars exposed to the elements by being parked outside?