[Bimmer325]

Cant find a DIY thread on this. Anyone knows how to replace the H7 high beam bulbs?
many thank

[rikuF10]

There is a section in the owner's manual about it.....it is very straight forward.

I just follow the instruction and it is easy.

[Bimmer325]

nope, yesterday i notice the H7 bulb location, they are hiding deep inside the headlamp housing and cant even reach with my fingers.
Even if you could reach them, that thing is sitting tight and cant seem to move.
Now who can show me a DIY H7 changing chapter?

[RodyP]

just pull the black thing in front of the h7 bulb

[Bimmer325]

did you mean the flat "black stick" thingy, well i managed to pull out that thing (that's the plug with wires to the bulb), or do you twist the "black piece" rather than pull out straight?

[RodyP]

well i just pull it and the bulb came right out

[Bimmer325]

Originally Posted by rody

well i just pull it and the bulb came right out

weird thing, i pulled out but only the black piece came off...the bulb still sits there..

[rikuF10]

After you pulled off the black plug, you have to unmount the wire bracket. Just push on one side, and it should fold down easily. Then you can take the bulb out.

[bavarian19]

For the Xenon setups, the high beam bulb is actually only used for 'flashing.' The actual true high beams are still the xenon bulbs that are reflected upwards...

[nyc3r]

I'd be interested to see some DIY guide with pictures. Also, mine are always on as they're default day time running lights.

I am looking to replace with some xenon gas H7 bulb.

Also, how many watts is the H7 bulb? 55W or 100W?

[SMOKE EM IF U GOT EM!!]

i cant get the fuckin water seal cover off! thing is like melted together from the heat or sumthin. tried my damndest and the f'in thing just wont budge!

[ChineseGuy]

i'm stuck too!!~....

anyone post 1 picture of how it's done, then you make us all happy....only 1 picture is enough...

i have no idea wehre that CLIP is to unfold....and for the left light, i can't even stick my hand inside

[LarryK1000]

I had the same problem. Can't seem to locate the High Beam Cover since the Xenon system seems to take up the entire compartment.

The bulbs are 55 Watt. But, when you get PIAA or Sylvania H7's, even tho they are 55 W bulbs, they say the light output is 110W.

So, disregard this reference to 110W, they are still 55W bulbs.

Idiot that I am, I left my H7 bulbs in my E320 I just turned in to get the new 330i. I could have used them.

Incidentally, I researched the bulbs and the ones to get are the PIAA Xtreme White Plus (about $73 for two ) or the Sylvania Silver Star. Both are 4,000K or so.

I want to replace the high beams, because they are also the Daylight Running Lights and are VERY YELLOW. They will look much better during the day if they are WHITE.

So, may have to pay the BMW dealer to put the PIAA's in for me. But, you all know they'll probably charge $50 to do it -- the jerks....

So, if someone can help out with some good pictures of the engine compartment with a step by step picture book, it would be GREAT. Some of us are pretty lame and this will make it a lot easier for us.

Thanks in advance.

Larry in Los Angeles

[pokerface]

bump. same for me. I have BIX and cannot access the H7 flasher/high beam compartment.

I tried going in from the wheelwells, but when I opened it up, it's a flat black plastic cover (same housing cover you see if you try to go in from above), but the cover is bigger than the opening via the wheel well and thus you can't do jack from down under anyway.

Dealer suggested removing the bumper o_0

[SMOKE EM IF U GOT EM!!]

Originally Posted by pokerface

bump. same for me. I have BIX and cannot access the H7 flasher/high beam compartment.

I tried going in from the wheelwells, but when I opened it up, it's a flat black plastic cover (same housing cover you see if you try to go in from above), but the cover is bigger than the opening via the wheel well and thus you can't do jack from down under anyway.

Dealer suggested removing the bumper o_0

mine too, but i think that s a lil rediculous, just to change a fuckin light bulb

[nyc3r]

Well, I tried to replace my H7's to match my xenons today without luck. The manual was totally useless as the picture is for halogen headlights and nothing for xenon.

I finally got the black plastic cover to open but I couldn't get the bulb out. I could push and see the bulb move but I couldn't get it out. Gonna see if someone who's replaced the lights could help us out.

[Bimmer325]

you're almost there, just pulled the black piece/stick out and the bulb should come off together...in case the bulb sits tight within the housing, you gotta use a longer flat-head plier to take out the bulb...just pull it off with slight force. try it, it works for me.

[LarryK1000]

And, very IMPORTANT, DO NOT touch the glass part of the bulb with your fingers. You HAVE to wear gloves or don't touch the glass.

If you DO, the bulb will fail prematurely. The oils on your skin reacts with the glass and heat and it fails.

Good luck.

I can't believe that BMW designed this system to be so difficult to replace a simple bulb. In my 528i, it was a totally accessible area and I put the H7's in without any problem at all. The same in my E320. Went in without incident.

Larry

[pokerface]

for bix models, do you pull the black plastic cover out of the engine bay when you get it off? is it hinged? i dont want to drop it out from underneath! lol.

[Bimmer325]

nope, its hidden. the only way to access from underneath with front wheel off the car!

[Sho]

I changed my flasher to yellow bulbs. It was not easy, and took me nearly an hour. You can access the high bean/flasher from the engine bay. For US driver side, you need to remove the air box.
When you want to pull the light out from the hosing, you want to lift the black piece up a little then pull it out. Now, you will have the light bulb and the piece come out together. To put it back on is very difficult. First, you want to be sure the H7's base is point up (the little piece of matel pointer is up) and put the new bulb on the black piece. Then you want to slide the bulb in angle down a little. When you see the bulb in housing, you want to push the black piece down. And you will hear the matel click locking sound. You are done. It is not easy, and I would not want to do it again.

[ChineseGuy]

i'm paying someone to do this

too ridiculous