I was struggling as well, even when with this instruction. But than I took a look closely on the mechanics of those 3 parts. And I found the most important one(at least for myself). DO NOT PLUG IN THE POWER WHIRE UNTIL ALL PARTS WILL BE ASSAMBLED. Germans engineers are really cool, when you disassamble red part it will automatically disconnect the power cable.
I think this is my problem. The last part just won’t turn into place with the power wire already connected. Tomorrow I’ll try plugging in the wire AFTER putting in the last red/black part
The wire eject mechanism can also get out of synch if you test fit wire before reinstallation. Look closely at white ring in igniter module and be sure the slots line up. You can also see if the little white ejection pin is visible in wire slot in igniter. If not manually reset it. What a complicated system! HID by itself is great, but the complicated aiming systems on BMWs are not worth the price.
As already mentioned by others, key points arе: 1) DO NOT plug the power connector to the ballast before fully mounted to the headlight - there is a little lever inside the ballast's power socket that would push the power connector automatically out on removal. This lever is part of a plate that locks the bulb to the ballast. When you lock the bulb to the ballast, as a result of this plate rotation, the lever hides inside and then the power connector can be plugged freely. If you plug the connector before the bulb is mounted to the ballast and the assembly locked to the headlight, the connector would push this lever -> rotate the bulb lock plate, making then locking to the bulb impossible! 2) Plugging the connector then, will be much-much easier if you free yourself space to operate full hand - for the driver side put the coolant tank aside (2 screws and a rubber grommet) and for the passenger side - the washer liquid tank (held by one screw but you need to also unplug the headlights washer pump from the hose and connector). Thanks for making this vid!
They came out easy. I can not get them back in. I cant get the 2nd piece the plastic o-ring to latch back on. I did the light first. I can assemble the whole thing properly but it wont latch in there while assembled either.
5:53 do we push element #2 in there or do we push and turn? As a whole i can get the unit in there, but not sure if the ring stays in position by pushing only or something else.
@ 3:00 it was a pain to get the first one back in, the second went smoothly. you have to fixate on how tings were aligned on the bulb, it had a metal tab at the bottom. then the gray sprocket thing says top on it. i. that was the crux. the last piece has to reach the wire so it only goes on one way. like I said the second one wasnt hard at all. I was worried though for a few minutes though. dang bimmers
i took the headlight out though, made it easier to drop the bulb in( had it on a table facing down) then sprocket, then red power box. no scrapes on knuckles
hats off to you for doing this video. I have the $80 BMW X3 book and shows what to do but not how... was doing it by feel but see where I'm off. all elements need to aline and I think I have the bulb 90 degrees off. so tomorrow I will go at it again. tonight - I drink...
Been struggling with this for over 2 hours and scrapes my hand.
With this video got it done on less then 10 minutes.
Thank you so much.
My pleasure
I spent over 3 hours trying to change a bulb. 🤬Thanks for the tip. Took less than 10min.
I was struggling as well, even when with this instruction. But than I took a look closely on the mechanics of those 3 parts. And I found the most important one(at least for myself).
DO NOT PLUG IN THE POWER WHIRE UNTIL ALL PARTS WILL BE ASSAMBLED. Germans engineers are really cool, when you disassamble red part it will automatically disconnect the power cable.
I think this is my problem. The last part just won’t turn into place with the power wire already connected. Tomorrow I’ll try plugging in the wire AFTER putting in the last red/black part
The wire eject mechanism can also get out of synch if you test fit wire before reinstallation. Look closely at white ring in igniter module and be sure the slots line up. You can also see if the little white ejection pin is visible in wire slot in igniter. If not manually reset it. What a complicated system! HID by itself is great, but the complicated aiming systems on BMWs are not worth the price.
thx for that - saved me lot'sa time
Been struggling for 2 hours before I found this video!!! Thank you so much!!!
After 1hour trying decissed to search, and found this video.
After watch it, on 10min they are on place.
Thanks
Thank you man, I felt the same to scratch my hands burn my fingers, I gave up for couple hours but you are a good guide.
Glad it helped!
As already mentioned by others, key points arе:
1) DO NOT plug the power connector to the ballast before fully mounted to the headlight - there is a little lever inside the ballast's power socket that would push the power connector automatically out on removal. This lever is part of a plate that locks the bulb to the ballast. When you lock the bulb to the ballast, as a result of this plate rotation, the lever hides inside and then the power connector can be plugged freely. If you plug the connector before the bulb is mounted to the ballast and the assembly locked to the headlight, the connector would push this lever -> rotate the bulb lock plate, making then locking to the bulb impossible!
2) Plugging the connector then, will be much-much easier if you free yourself space to operate full hand - for the driver side put the coolant tank aside (2 screws and a rubber grommet) and for the passenger side - the washer liquid tank (held by one screw but you need to also unplug the headlights washer pump from the hose and connector).
Thanks for making this vid!
Ouch that was difficult, thanks for the instructions
They came out easy. I can not get them back in. I cant get the 2nd piece the plastic o-ring to latch back on. I did the light first. I can assemble the whole thing properly but it wont latch in there while assembled either.
5:53 do we push element #2 in there or do we push and turn? As a whole i can get the unit in there, but not sure if the ring stays in position by pushing only or something else.
@ 3:00 it was a pain to get the first one back in, the second went smoothly. you have to fixate on how tings were aligned on the bulb, it had a metal tab at the bottom. then the gray sprocket thing says top on it. i. that was the crux. the last piece has to reach the wire so it only goes on one way. like I said the second one wasnt hard at all. I was worried though for a few minutes though. dang bimmers
i took the headlight out though, made it easier to drop the bulb in( had it on a table facing down) then sprocket, then red power box. no scrapes on knuckles
@@jamesroberts7262 Good thinking
thank you very much hurt my hand too .😀
Thank you. Wouldn't do it without your help.
Cala przyjemnosc po mojej stronie :)
Thank you for the video. Much appreciated 🙂
You are welcome
Thanks for posting this video.
Helped a lot, thank you
hats off to you for doing this video.
I have the $80 BMW X3 book and shows what to do but not how... was doing it by feel but see where I'm off. all elements need to aline and I think I have the bulb 90 degrees off. so tomorrow I will go at it again. tonight - I drink...
That think is fuckin hard. I cannot change my d2s bulb on e46 coupe facelift
We all know that LOL. Note this vid is for E83 so there may be some difference vs. E46.
Glad to know it helped
yes, dang Bmw's , but I love them!
Awesome help !
Should I totally disconnect battery before changing it?
I don't believe it's necessary as longs as the lights are OFF.
Trying to change now, thinking to sell this shibtox becouse of that. 😄
Do you have a part number for the replacememt?
This is what I got: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J9V8LL6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Took me over an hour but just it won't work I hope I didn't mess up the bulb out there was $100
take the other side out and fixate on how it was aligned. the tabs and metal on the bulb and sprocket thing
stupid over engineering,,,tnx for video,,