[Quasimodem]

Nuff Said:

[natefank]

Head light?

[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by natefank

Head light?

More specificity. The most commonly needed fix in that area.

Edit: If I was changing the headlight (the bulb to the HID main beam) the car would be jacked up and the wheel removed because access to this is through an access door in the wheel lining.

[335dM]

Angel eyes!

[Mark M]

Changing out the old winter blinker fluid over to fresh summer blinker fluid? And also installing a clothes line to freshen your garments while on the go?

[WreckerX5d]

Instructions not clear enough. Dick is now stuck in toaster.

[dzlmoose]

Originally Posted by Mark M

Changing out the old winter blinker fluid over to fresh summer blinker fluid? And also installing a clothes line to freshen your garments while on the go?

Thanks for reminding me. Winter is almost done gotta get that fresh blinker fluid on there.

[ram_g]

BMW introduces new anti-gravity hood liner and replaces all struts and hood-rods with hold-down string...

[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by 335dM

Angel eyes!

Cigar for the man.

On the driver's side, to gain access for my normal size hands, I have to remove the bracket holding the ATF reservoir and a relay of some kind, and loosen the coolant reservoir and have them pulled out of the way (they are all still attached by their hoses below) to merely change a H-8 bulb.

This is the second time that the driver's side bulb has burnt out in five years. The second one didnt last long, maybe 20k miles -- it was an OSRAM Sylvania. I replaced it with a Phillips, hope it lasts longer because it is a PITA.

One of the problems is that there are three leads going to the bulb, two black and one red. One of the black leads is significantly shorter than the other two leads -- leaving barely enough wire to pull the socket out of the access hole. I was about to solder on an extension, but everything was taking longer than expected and it was getting dark.

The passenger side is much easier.

[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by dzlmoose

Thanks for reminding me. Winter is almost done gotta get that fresh blinker fluid on there.

Make sure you use only BMW approved blinker fluid or you will void the warranty.

[dzlmoose]

I have to do this soon my bulb is out.

Originally Posted by Quasimodem

Cigar for the man.

On the driver's side, to gain access for my normal size hands, I have to remove the bracket holding the ATF reservoir and a relay of some kind, and loosen the coolant reservoir and have them pulled out of the way (they are all still attached by their hoses below) to merely change a H-8 bulb.

This is the second time that the driver's side bulb has burnt out in five years. The second one didnt last long, maybe 20k miles -- it was an OSRAM Sylvania. I replaced it with a Phillips, hope it lasts longer because it is a PITA.

One of the problems is that there are three leads going to the bulb, two black and one red. One of the black leads is significantly shorter than the other two leads -- leaving barely enough wire to pull the socket out of the access hole. I was about to solder on an extension, but everything was taking longer than expected and it was getting dark.

The passenger side is much easier.

[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by dzlmoose

I have to do this soon my bulb is out.

What you need to focus on is to NOT drop any bolts or nuts which have to be removed to get the ATF bracket out or to loosen the coolant reservoir. I dropped one bolt and I was tremendously relieved when I heard it bounce of a few things and land on the pavement below car. Whew.

The nuts holding the bottom of the bracket to the frame are a bit difficult to get to and easy to drop when you try to bring them up. You need a long extension with a 10mm socket.

[Chief Orman]

Trying to get your fish stick out of the radiator...

[335dM]

Originally Posted by Quasimodem

Cigar for the man.

On the driver's side, to gain access for my normal size hands, I have to remove the bracket holding the ATF reservoir and a relay of some kind, and loosen the coolant reservoir and have them pulled out of the way (they are all still attached by their hoses below) to merely change a H-8 bulb.

This is the second time that the driver's side bulb has burnt out in five years. The second one didnt last long, maybe 20k miles -- it was an OSRAM Sylvania. I replaced it with a Phillips, hope it lasts longer because it is a PITA.

One of the problems is that there are three leads going to the bulb, two black and one red. One of the black leads is significantly shorter than the other two leads -- leaving barely enough wire to pull the socket out of the access hole. I was about to solder on an extension, but everything was taking longer than expected and it was getting dark.

The passenger side is much easier.

Buy LUX and forget about them!
They will last for ever.
I've had those since 2011 now...

[malibulivin]

How many nuts do you need to remove, and how many do you need to loosen? I need to do this too.

[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by malibulivin

How many nuts do you need to remove, and how many do you need to loosen? I need to do this too.

I forget, but around 6 to 8 nuts and screws/bolts can be removed to give better access.

Okay, look closely at the top photo, you will notice the bracket sitting on the top of the fender with the two long studs coming out. That is because I removed the bracket completely and it is now sitting on the top of the fender. When that is installed, those studs stick straight up and they go through the two holes you see (immediately below) on the side of the ATF reservoir.

When installed, the bottom of the bracket (the right side as it is pictured sitting on the fender) has two holes, one on each "foot". A bolt goes through each hole and into the frame or some kind of secure location. These bolts are tough to remove and reinstall because they are so far down -- a long magnet would be good for bringing them up. You might be able to create enough room for you hand to install the Angel Eye bulb just by loosening the bracket and removing the ATF reservoir and other items in your way -- without removing that bracket -- but it is sure nice to have all that crap out of the way when working on the Angel eye.

As 335dM said, if the LED lights last longer than these Halogen bulbs, it might be worth the $90 or whatever they cost just to avoid doing this procedure every year or however the H8 bulbs last (which doesnt seem very long).