I have a 2004 e53 x5 3.0 D
Ive noticed that a couple of bulbs are out.
Can someone tell me
Is it a single strip of led lights or are they individual bulbs?
And how do i access them? Looks like a panel on the inside of the top of the tailgate but cant see how to pop it off - feels like it would snap?
Thanks
Smee
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Changing high level brake light
Re: Changing high level brake light
It's a single (expensive) strip of LEDs and I think you have to remove the tailgate spoiler and get at it from there. I don't have the details though. You might be able to take it to bits to change individual LEDs though.
Richard
Richard
Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.Re: Changing high level brake light
Ok can you advise on removing the tailgate spoiler? And does anyone know part number /cost of led light strip. There are only two out so it isn't an MOT fail but if it isnt silly money id like to do it
Smee
Smee
Re: Changing high level brake light
Parts here on Realoem. I selected my old VIN as that was a 2004 build.
I'll have a look at my copy of the TIS to see if it tells me how to get at it.
R
I'll have a look at my copy of the TIS to see if it tells me how to get at it.
R
Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.
Re: Changing high level brake light
Open the hatch and you'll see some torx screws and another 2 under some rubber grommets. Then the spoiler comes off and you can see the LED light inside.
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Re: Changing high level brake light
I cant see any torx screws at all adjacent to the led lights when I open the hatch
Re: Changing high level brake light
[quote="X5Sport"]
Parts here on Realoem. I selected my old VIN as that was a 2004 build.
I'll have a look at my copy of the TIS to see if it tells me how to get at it.
R
[/quote]
Looking at US prices its not cheap is it? Seems to be some cheap breakers ones on ebay
Parts here on Realoem. I selected my old VIN as that was a 2004 build.
I'll have a look at my copy of the TIS to see if it tells me how to get at it.
R
[/quote]
Looking at US prices its not cheap is it? Seems to be some cheap breakers ones on ebay
Re: Changing high level brake light
[quote="Smeeagain"]
I cant see any torx screws at all adjacent to the led lights when I open the hatch
[/quote]
Open the upper hatch and at the far left and right side verticals (outside the rubber door seal) at what would be the top on the inside face you should see a rubber cover - remove the cover and undo the screw underneath. Lower 'down' the hatch - an inch or so away - is another screw. Undo those two as well. There is one more screw at the upper centre of the hatch. Remove that too.
The spoiler is held by those screws and some double sided (BMW call it lock tape) tape. Be prepared to replace the tapes when you re-assemble the spoiler. The centre screw MUST be put back first when re-assembling.
Disconnect the plugs and clips. The brake light is held on by two sheet metal screws.
The screws are just hand tight (3nm) when you put it back together.
Straight from TIS.
Richard
I cant see any torx screws at all adjacent to the led lights when I open the hatch
[/quote]
Open the upper hatch and at the far left and right side verticals (outside the rubber door seal) at what would be the top on the inside face you should see a rubber cover - remove the cover and undo the screw underneath. Lower 'down' the hatch - an inch or so away - is another screw. Undo those two as well. There is one more screw at the upper centre of the hatch. Remove that too.
The spoiler is held by those screws and some double sided (BMW call it lock tape) tape. Be prepared to replace the tapes when you re-assemble the spoiler. The centre screw MUST be put back first when re-assembling.
Disconnect the plugs and clips. The brake light is held on by two sheet metal screws.
The screws are just hand tight (3nm) when you put it back together.
Straight from TIS.
Richard
Last edited by X5Sport on Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.Re: Changing high level brake light
Great thanks
What is TIS?
Smee
What is TIS?
Smee
Re: Changing high level brake light
Technical Instructions System. It's a copy of the BMW service manual, repair manual, service bulletins etc up to around 2008/9. Not seen a newer version yet......
You can buy it on the web for a couple of quid. But you need Windows XP, or a machine that can run 'Win XP Mode' on Windows 7 (needs Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate) as it was written to run under Windows '95. I don't think it will run on Vista and it definitely won't run on Win 7, or any 64-bit system.
If you have a copy of XP then you can run it in a virtual machine as well.
Richard
You can buy it on the web for a couple of quid. But you need Windows XP, or a machine that can run 'Win XP Mode' on Windows 7 (needs Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate) as it was written to run under Windows '95. I don't think it will run on Vista and it definitely won't run on Win 7, or any 64-bit system.
If you have a copy of XP then you can run it in a virtual machine as well.
Richard
Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.Re: Changing high level brake light
Bizarrely all the led lights have started working again ........
Smee
Smee
Re: Changing high level brake light
Condensation perhaps, or perhaps a cracked circuit board. Could be any number of possibilities but for now as long as it's working then great 
Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.Re: Changing high level brake light
If it aint broke .......