[rdub315]

can anyone out there shed some light on how the f you get to the "clips" behind the reading lights that apparently hold the front dome light on? trying to install LED's and i just can't figure this last one out. the DIY on here and the one on Bimmian have been quite helpful on the other bulbs, but i just can't get this one. i'm losing my mind, and i feel like i'm going to crack the silver piece.

[Cuba]

Pull the rubber thing in-between your sunroof and headliner. Then stick your hand all the way to the back of the light and push the clips with your fingers. It may take a few tries. I got it like 5 tries, 3 bloody knuckels and a cut up back of hand. But worth it

[Dark_Knight_335]

Nah no need to do all that. Just pop the frosted lens cover gently with a small flathead, then pop out the black map rings with your fingers. Using a latex glove or a needlenose pliers wrapped in a thin soft cloth or something just use a little elbow grease and a lot of patience and pop em out. I've done it a few times, even trying the headliner thing, nearly ripping it. This is far better.

[rdub315]

thx for the pointers, guys. will attempt it again tomorrow in the daylight.

[JayKay335i]

Forget all that.

Unclip the little screw cover on each visor. The headliner will drop down a few inches. The clips are facing the windshield. Get your fingers up there and unclip them.

[slimmie]

Originally Posted by SDeFranco1

Nah no need to do all that. Just pop the frosted lens cover gently with a small flathead, then pop out the black map rings with your fingers. Using a latex glove or a needlenose pliers wrapped in a thin soft cloth or something just use a little elbow grease and a lot of patience and pop em out. I've done it a few times, even trying the headliner thing, nearly ripping it. This is far better.

+1.. I have no idea why the DIY requires you to pull down the front dome.. this could all be done just by removing the frosted lens

[wpnx]

Use the frosted lens, much easier. I tried pulling down the headliner for a second after unscrewing the clips but it sounded like I was breaking it.

Small flat head to the side, pop it off. Although the map lights were a bitch.

[Dark_Knight_335]

Yea, be my guest if you want to play with clips and rip out parts of the car that can be easily damaged. Guess people like to do things the hard way around here (not referring to OP).

[Cuba]

Guess so.

Originally Posted by SDeFranco1

Yea, be my guest if you want to play with clips and rip out parts of the car that can be easily damaged. Guess people like to do things the hard way around here (not referring to OP).

[paulkim510]

I tried the way shown on the DIY by going through the Sunroof liner. It was nearly impossible and I scratched my hands all up!

Finally I tried the other way and waaaaay easier to do. By far the best way is to unscrew the two visor holding clips near the windshield and go through the liner from the front of the windshield to unclip.

[JayKay335i]

Originally Posted by paulkim510

I tried the way shown on the DIY by going through the Sunroof liner. It was nearly impossible and I scratched my hands all up!

Finally I tried the other way and waaaaay easier to do. By far the best way is to unscrew the two visor holding clips near the windshield and go through the liner from the front of the windshield to unclip.

Toldja so

[rdub315]

ok - so i may have released the clips, or i may have broken something. what happens after i release the clips? does the whole unit drop down like the rear dome? why am i such a tard when it comes to this?

[JayKay335i]

There are 2 metal clips. They easily depress and the dome drops.

I cant answer the second part of your question.

[rdub315]

wtf - dome no drop so i'm assuming i broke something.

[JayKay335i]

There isn't much up there. If you reach your fingers in there you should only really feel the two metal tabs that you depress slightly towards the dome. Nothing should click or snap. Press the two tabs towards the dome and then push down.

[ChasVS]

Use a small plastic blade and insert it from the windshield side. You'll need to rotate or remove the mirror to get as good angle but that's the best way without removing the headliner. Check out the location of the tabs by looking at the center dome light so you know where to insert the blade.

[JayKay335i]

...or read that the headliners been dropped a few inches and he can just do it with his fingers

[rdub315]

complete and utter fail... think i snapped both clips off or something. panel up by the windshield is loosened, but still have no idea how it drops down. and of course i can't put it back together now. so i can't wait to see what this part is going to cost me.

oh and on top of all this, my car won't pass inspection because of downpipes i recently installed. so i'll be paying to have those removed, and stock DP's re-installed. i think my modding days are over.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by SDeFranco1

Nah no need to do all that. Just pop the frosted lens cover gently with a small flathead, then pop out the black map rings with your fingers. Using a latex glove or a needlenose pliers wrapped in a thin soft cloth or something just use a little elbow grease and a lot of patience and pop em out. I've done it a few times, even trying the headliner thing, nearly ripping it. This is far better.

This. Clean Ez.

[JayKay335i]

Originally Posted by rdub

complete and utter fail... think i snapped both clips off or something. panel up by the windshield is loosened, but still have no idea how it drops down. and of course i can't put it back together now. so i can't wait to see what this part is going to cost me.

oh and on top of all this, my car won't pass inspection because of downpipes i recently installed. so i'll be paying to have those removed, and stock DP's re-installed. i think my modding days are over.

I'm assuming all of NYs inspections are the same. You dont go through a sniffer. You need a DP fix installed so no engine light comes on and then all the NY inspection is is hooking your car up to the computer and it scans to see if you have any CELs, if no lights are present, you pass. So get a down pipe fix, install it, clear any DP codes and get an inspection after you've put some miles on it.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Last I recall DP Fix will not allow the OBD to get into a "ready" state AKA Readiness Codes. which will be an automatic fail. If technology in those devices has changed recently then excuse this post.

[ShawnB]

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

Forget all that.

Unclip the little screw cover on each visor. The headliner will drop down a few inches. The clips are facing the windshield. Get your fingers up there and unclip them.

This is the way to go.... map lights are a b*tch otherwise... ended up breaking the plastic cover clips (so its loose) and I pulled so hard on the bulb that the socket came out with it and now I have to order one of those too...

ended up using this visor clip unscrew method and ... it's a 2 minute job and it's very easy... learn from me UNSCREW THE VISOR CLIPS PLEASE