Front and side indicator gone.

ITBarbie · Post by **ITBarbie** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:19 pm

Hi

I noticed that when indicating my indicator on the offside the flashes on dash were more frequent as opposed to a steady tic tic. This prompted me to check front indicators as I thought this might indicate a problem.

I have noticed that both the front and side indicators have gone on offside. They may have gone in unison but I can't be sure as I never tend to look at side indicator.

Can you tell me if you would recommend an Indy to do this? I've read that it's a fiddly job with poss issues of realignment when putting light case back if removed. Also I naively thought I should get an error message as my car never fails to tell me when it's ill any other flipping time!!

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pvr · Post by **pvr** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:44 pm

Indicator bulb does raise an error message though, mine certainly did and it also stored it as a fault code.

I changed the front indicator in about 10 minutes, just marking the screw positions with paint and remove the bolts to move the headlight out by about 10 cm. Enough to get your hands in to remove the bulb, really simple. There are no wires to disconnect.

ITBarbie · Post by **ITBarbie** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 3:15 pm

Thanks for that PVR I had a look this morning quickly but could not really work out how to get in there so will have to look again. I replaced the Angel Eyes ages ago but of course you have the little flap down to get to the bulb so that was easy. Not very comforting that both have gone with no error messages

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AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 3:49 pm

Mechanical & auto eletric skills not my strongpoint, however, my thoughts follow.

The fact both seem to have failed will require some investigation.

In abscence of having a circuit testing device the easiest way to ascertain if it's down to bulb faults x2 or other electirical issue would as follows. Remove the offside, (side of offside front wingl), indicator 501 bulb making sure you remember which side it came from, (maybe place it in the drivers side door bin). Then simply remove the nearside item & put the bulb you know is ok in the offside. Then activate hazard control &/or move indicator stalk as if to try to illuminate the offside bulbs. If the small bulb, ( taken from nearside & placed in offside), fails to illuminate its a sure way to know the issue is probably elsewhere than with that bulb. If it lights up then it may just be a coincidence & you may have 2 defective bulbs.

Of course the only way to know for sure re whether the indicator bulb in the headlamp unit is defective would be to similarly repeat the process of elimination checking by swapping the main front bulbs & activating hazards & indicator stalk.

The biggest hassle in the headlamp indicator bulb change is getting to it & thus I can understand you wont want to pull headlamps out in abscence of having a spare new bulb to fit in the event you ascertain its a bulb issue.

I can fully understand why you suspect it might be more than a bulb as the chances of 2 going at same time are pretty slim. Perhaps before you start removing bulbs and headlamps it may make sense to check fuses.

I cant recall seeing a dash warning light when my frontmost indicator bulbs went on 2 occasions but mines a prefacelift.

I also cant recall fuse set up but this would be something obvious to check.......albeit you may have to substitute with a non essential fuse unless you have some pare ones.

There's a front indicator bulb change guide on xoutpost btw.

I've changed one before & in truth it can be a bit fiddly albeit you havent got the fragile trim issue as on the prefacelift cars .............If all else fails or too much hassle then go to dealer or ideally cheaper but competent bmw indy

I once asked a trusted one make garage not having experience of chaning same to do me a favour as I was en route to London that day & needed it sorted asap ......they lost a bolt fixing & in the end I rolled up sleeves & did half the job myself, (borrowing a bolt from the undertray), as they were clueless re correct procedure.

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 4:07 pm

The xoutpost bulb change guide is on the following link- scroll down for the faceift info. clicky

I just checked fuses on mine in trunk & glove box................no sign of indicator bulb fuses there - sorry I will post if I work out where fuse is situated.

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 5:25 pm

Facelift version a lot easier to change then the pre-facelift, I took mine out twice as the dealer provided the wrong bulb for my car.

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:35 pm

Worth checking on the bulb type.............pvr can you inform Penny re the right one ? - I think its a bayonet of sorts on yours whereas my 2002 is a rarer blade fitment but it woukld be good if thisn is confirmed.

Not got anywhere working out where the fuse/relays are despite looking at my car 3 times today.........I really should know where they are & hope that with all the knowedgable folk on here somone knows the answer.

I've even posted on xoutpost such is my frustration...Here I am one of the admin team & an E53 owner for 4.5yrs yet I dont know where my lamp fuses are

Anyone ????????????

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 6:51 pm

Standard bajonet but SILVER COATED bulb, not orange as the dealer gave me.

PhilT · Post by **PhilT** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 7:51 pm

I replaced my drivers side front a couple of moths back. As already said it's a bit fiddly but easy enough. You have to unbolt the headlight unit (remember to mark the bolts so it goes back in the same position for alignment) and pull forward to gain access to the inner wing. You can then just about squeeze your hand into the wing to get to the bulb holder and remove - don't let it go though as there are no wires on it and it will drop into the wing (speaking from experience here

).

I couldn't get a chrome coated buld so replaced it with a clear one - can't really tell any difference.

Not sure about the side repeater - not done that one.

HTH though thanks go to Sanj as he's the one told me

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 8:23 pm

Whilst comments on how to change a bulb are appreciated it still seems to be the case that nobody knows where the fuses/relays are.

ITBarbie · Post by **ITBarbie** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 8:26 pm

Thanks everybody for your help I'm going to investigate ASAP. That clicky was very informative AW8

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AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:03 pm

Hmm

I think I am getting somewhere re the great fuse investigation.

After 30 mins googling I seem to be uncovering various consistent posts suggesting that the cars bulbs are managed by a Light Control Module (LCM).

Others failing to rectify with bulb changes or having multi bulb failures have stated this item may have been faulty.

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:19 pm

Further to above I belive if faulty and a replacement fitted it needs to be programmed to the car & Zulu95 on xoutpost saying this needs 18hrs of programming time. Potential for a big bill at main dealers & thus a call to Jason may be worthwhile to weigh up what may be involved in terms of work & cost.

Must emphasise I am not knowedgable in this area & merely picking bits of the internet.

Hopefully someone other than me will be able to provide info too............

x555 · Post by **x555** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:43 pm

Don't know much re the lcm but it is picked up with the scanner that Lez and others have got.IIRC isn't there something in navcoder on the lcm??

perhaps a scan with the 1.4.0. may help if thats the case......you could always borrow Lez's.....if he ever gets it back that is

as for the bulbs these are the two mentioned above i think...

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:48 pm

AW8 - are you trying to freighten Penny to death?

It should just be a bulb replacement, you make it sound like it is an engine replacement

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