Put me out of my misery - E39 headlight bulb change- how to

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Guys

Has anyone got a 'how to' on changing the lightbulbs in your e39? I'm really struggling!

Thanks

Oi_Oi

[TEKNOPUG]

"how to change headlight bulb bmw e39" returns 340,000 pages in Google....

Just saying like

Have you tried this yet?

Instructions

Things you need
New bulb

1 Open the bonnet and remove the electrical connector running to the back of the headlight ballast.

2 Turn the headlight bulb counterclockwise with your hand to unlock the bulb.

3 Pull the bulb out of the housing.

4 Insert the new bulb into the headlight housing, and align the tabs on the bulb with the notches on the housing.

5 Turn the bulb clockwise to lock it into the housing.

6 Reconnect the electrical connector to the back of the headlight bulb ballast.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Techno - I know it sounds st but I have googled it etc etc. Trouble is - the bulbs themselves are really, really tight. I'm worried I was doing something wrong. But I'll persevere!

Thanks though - appreciate it.

[TEKNOPUG]

Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:

Techno - I know it sounds st but I have googled it etc etc. Trouble is - the bulbs themselves are really, really tight. I'm worried I was doing something wrong. But I'll persevere!

Thanks though - appreciate it.

You are turning them the right way? Things can get confusing when you aren't facing the same way...

Failing that, try a squirt of WD40 or similar.

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

TEKNOPUG said:

You are turning them the right way? Things can get confusing when you aren't facing the same way...

Failing that, try a squirt of WD40 or similar.

I think I am - I try to stand facing the same way as the headlights (so my back is to the windscreen) and then turn the bulbs left and down (anti-clockwise). I'll have to spray some WD40 on them however - feels like I'm bending them but no give at the moment.

[TEKNOPUG]

Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:

I think I am - I try to stand facing the same way as the headlights (so my back is to the windscreen) and then turn the bulbs left and down (anti-clockwise). I'll have to spray some WD40 on them however - feels like I'm bending them but no give at the moment.

Try removing the whole headlamp, will make it easy to get access to the bulbs.

[mark.c]

IIRC, if its the bulb for an angel eye you are trying to change, then you have to 'persuade' the bulb carrier out from its housing as BMW would much rather you bought the complete bulb holder and bulb from them. In the past Ive used a small knife to tease away the moulding that holds the bulb so that in future bulbs can be changed in the time honoured fashion!

Hope this helps.