Great vid as usual, but I noticed you never show us the end result, i.e. the engine not rocking after changing the mounts or the head lights before and after changing the bulbs.
Yeah, this video was only really about that weird locking clamp on the bulb cover rather than the result of changing bulbs. But yeah, I’ll show the after results next 👍
Looks like you only got that on the pre-LCi version - I did a few repairs on my ex-Kent F11 and while I had the nosecone off (a lot easier than you think) I replaced both lamps along with the left headlamp unit and it's controller. There's no similar clamp on LCi units. Having heard nightmares from the guys on the BMW5.co.uk forum, doing it with the unit sat on my knee was a piece of proverbial. Loving the vids... trust me, you'll never run out of things to do.
You need to replace that clip otherwise come winter or two, your car headlight will suffer from condensation. Once you have condensation, you'll get water in the LCM. Once LCM starts bugging, you'll have dancing lights and check control all day before it fails and you have to replace it. That clip SECURES the seal and believe it or not, is a vital component. Also next time take the wheel off and use angled slim tools to get the bolts off. Both sides of the car had different bolts and one was easier because it had been worked on before. Both bulbs should have been replaced at the same time. That's why you're doing it now.
Good info, thanks 👍 Although I can’t help but feel this is a terrible design in terms of maintenance access... 🙄 Being my first BMW, you’d think I’d be fed up with all the seemingly ‘unnecessary’ difficulties in maintaining it... but actually the great handling, practicality & drivability keep me loving it! 😂 Maybe I’m just mad? 🤷♂️
I had the same problem with changing the angel eyes light bulb on my bmw e91 beter to remove the wheel then doing it on youre way, love youre videos keep up the good work 👍
Hi mate, I've been searching for some advice. I need to change the drivers side indicator bulb. I watched a few yt vids , and it was a case of taking the flap down and turning the smaller one on the right. But yours like mine has some metal thing in its place with like fins on. I could see it on the left of the bugger knob that you took out.. Any advise on why or what that is and how to swap a simple indicator bulb.. My old car was two screws and the whole headlight came out.. piece of piss. If you could sling a little help my way I would appreciate it very much.. Thanks mate.👍🏻
Thanks for video! But.. After watching a few videos, yours is yet again a different kind of problem to mine! My passenger side, once the flap is off, instead of a cap to twist anticlockwise for access, i have a cap with 4 tourqes bolts, 2 of which are in near impossible positions to remove without taking out the whole headlight assembly. This is crap!!
I did it in the end. Had to unscrew the bumper about 3 quarters to have enough room to get my arm behind the headlight. 4 bolts holding headlight in. 2 from the top, no problem. Last one of the 2 on the bottom! Bumper almost off to get at it. Headlight out to change the buld. Only way to do it on my model. Theirs a video on YT, can't remember the guys name! Ovitat or like that. His video is how to replace headlight lense seal, follow his guide on how to take off bumper (easy part), headlights out (much easier with bumper off). It'll take a few hours mate.
personally I hate HIDs as for oncoming traffic at night, they do actually boil your retinas. Great if you're driving but not if you're oncoming traffic
There’s one or two other cars now with faff bulb change have to go in via wheel arch, it should be as easy as open the bonnet and swap for such service items .
Still waiting on next video. If your car is too reliable, consider a cold start video or something, or better, buy my X5 diesel from 2002 (smiley face on the end of this sentence)
I think it is a safety tab with it being HID bulbs. Make sure you put the wheelarch flap back properly otherwise water gets in to the back of the headlight. The long flat oval access panel under the round bulb panel houses the headlight controller which are nortious for failing. Replacements are £200 plus they need coding to the car.
Get your self a little bit driver. Has saved me countless times. Or better still halfords did a little 10mm holder for a bit which fitted into a 10mm ratchet spanner. That got into some real tight spots!
I was thinking about changing these bulbs on my 64 reg f10 with extreme bulbs as my bulbs look a bit yellowy compared with newer model BM’s with Xenons. Every little bit you wanna do seems easy until you start doing it and wind up spending much longer. Surprisingly, changing the rear brake pads wasn’t that way. Thanks for the video.
Hi Nut Job, I find your videos really useful. Your enthusiasm to tackle the bigger jobs is inspirational. I have just bought a 640d and intend to maintain it myself. May I ask which (online?) workshop manual do you use for the technical information? Thanks John
Hi John, the 640d should be an awesome machine & nothing to be afraid of maintaining yourself 👍 Two free sites you should bookmark which have everything you’ll need are: www.newtis.info (BMW workshop info) www.realoem.com (diagrams & parts) All the best 😀👍
Good thing that drl keeps xenon bulbs alive much longer than before... The best solution would have been if that police department have ticked (x) in "adaptive led headlights" option box. No need to change anything, anymore. 😇
I can tell you that they didn’t appear to tick many options boxes at all on this car... (except M-Sport Suspension, Sports Transmission & some extra power wiring)
I don't see the point of that suspension in police car but it chewed away the budget for better lights... 🤔 My F11 with those leds is soon 5yo and not a single burnt, front nor back. And it has hours on it, its a taxi.
It would be pointless doing a bulb replacement video on the L322. Just pull the 2 clips and take the whole headlight unit out. Can’t beat Land Rover simple engineering
Yes, the police order them direct from BMW like this. There’s virtually nothing on the ‘comfort’ side of things, but there’s additional power cabling, sports suspension, sports gearbox & a few other bits. Mine handles really well to be honest. For the size of car, I’ve never had a car that handles as well as this in the corners. I know this for sure because there’s a few country routes I frequently drive & this car can take some of the tight corners much quicker than my other cars 👍
On mine , its not those locks , it needs THEM the covers fall off letting water into the headlights !!! 2 new control boards and front of car off to get head lights out !! Aparently its not over as they also leak round the lens seal 😭
Don't be frustrated... In my past 2005 I have to remove the bumper and headlights, you just cannot remove the bulb without removing the headlights.. That only get out removing the bumper Clever engineering's :)
It’s true, routine maintenance is often not so straightforward on BMWs. Things like headlight removal are made quite tricky in comparison to other manufacturers
Please reply , Bmw f10 Rear Windscreen Heater works but its not getting hot enough, also left mirror heating not work at all, they say it could be bad earth or whay but i cant find where to check for the rear Winsdscreen??
Sorry I’ve been a bit busy since the end of 2019... yes I have plans to cover a few new things this year 👍 I just want the weather to improve a little bit first 😁
In have also the F11 (2011) but no clamps here only the round cover. For more easy working you can flip the cover under the hood and put the round cover open
I'm thinking of doing mine as well, I think they are ds2 bulbs. Wonder if they loose brightness over time as I'm sure mine are the originals so a good 7 years old!
Lol that’s the way to sort it mine had it done same 😂 And also now I have issue what every f10 have but can’t find answer to that anywhere on forums on Facebook groups?? Boost control (can’t figure out electrical or manual pressure can you help
This seems a bit excessive.. My guess is that it's something to do with it being an ex police car.. In my experience it's actually easier to take the bumper off and remove the headlights to change bulbs on most modern cars.. I don't do well in tight fiddly spaces haha
2017 550iGT, US dealer said $800 to change 1 HID bulb for parts and labor. I also have the locking mechanism. The cap could have been locked by BMW with an easy to reach screw or release clamp or something similar.
You have only problems with your BMW,you spend more time to fix it than driving,and i discover something yourfront tyres are n legal limit and they are almost bald on inner side this means you have problem with your front suspension maybe you have to change something ball joints, wishbones , how i supose to buy a BMW if i wathing your videos you have problems all the time with your BMW omg i will change my mind for BMW i will buy audi or vw
Great vid as usual, but I noticed you never show us the end result, i.e. the engine not rocking after changing the mounts or the head lights before and after changing the bulbs.
Yeah, this video was only really about that weird locking clamp on the bulb cover rather than the result of changing bulbs. But yeah, I’ll show the after results next 👍
@@Nut_Job. give us the video of engine movement
Looks like you only got that on the pre-LCi version - I did a few repairs on my ex-Kent F11 and while I had the nosecone off (a lot easier than you think) I replaced both lamps along with the left headlamp unit and it's controller. There's no similar clamp on LCi units. Having heard nightmares from the guys on the BMW5.co.uk forum, doing it with the unit sat on my knee was a piece of proverbial.
Loving the vids... trust me, you'll never run out of things to do.
Great job, thanks for the video. Had the same problem, you helped me solve it. What was BMW thinking!
You need to replace that clip otherwise come winter or two, your car headlight will suffer from condensation. Once you have condensation, you'll get water in the LCM. Once LCM starts bugging, you'll have dancing lights and check control all day before it fails and you have to replace it. That clip SECURES the seal and believe it or not, is a vital component. Also next time take the wheel off and use angled slim tools to get the bolts off. Both sides of the car had different bolts and one was easier because it had been worked on before. Both bulbs should have been replaced at the same time. That's why you're doing it now.
Good info, thanks 👍
Although I can’t help but feel this is a terrible design in terms of maintenance access... 🙄
Being my first BMW, you’d think I’d be fed up with all the seemingly ‘unnecessary’ difficulties in maintaining it... but actually the great handling, practicality & drivability keep me loving it! 😂
Maybe I’m just mad? 🤷♂️
With winter coming you need some new boots... those Tyres are shot.
Hi any chance you can do something with your sound levels it is crap you are very quiet can just about hear you.
sounds fine to me....but I am listening through headphones
Sounds o.k to me
Police cant have people nicking bulbs can they..
Is it a safety related thing for HID bulbs, don't they work on very high amperages? Trying to steer you to going to main dealer for bulb changes.
I had the same problem with changing the angel eyes light bulb on my bmw e91 beter to remove the wheel then doing it on youre way, love youre videos keep up the good work 👍
I do own a f10 as well and worked on a couple but have never seen this clip holding the bulb cap😅
Me too. I changed mine in the summer and was able to take the caps off. Strange.
Hi mate, I've been searching for some advice.
I need to change the drivers side indicator bulb.
I watched a few yt vids , and it was a case of taking the flap down and turning the smaller one on the right.
But yours like mine has some metal thing in its place with like fins on.
I could see it on the left of the bugger knob that you took out..
Any advise on why or what that is and how to swap a simple indicator bulb..
My old car was two screws and the whole headlight came out.. piece of piss.
If you could sling a little help my way I would appreciate it very much..
Thanks mate.👍🏻
Thanks for video! But.. After watching a few videos, yours is yet again a different kind of problem to mine! My passenger side, once the flap is off, instead of a cap to twist anticlockwise for access, i have a cap with 4 tourqes bolts, 2 of which are in near impossible positions to remove without taking out the whole headlight assembly. This is crap!!
Yeah, I think I would have had to remove the whole headlight to do my bulb … if I hadn’t just wrenched the plastic piece off. Stupid bloody things!
I've just tried to change mine 2016 f10 ,same problem BMW quoted me 700 quid to change 2 xenon bulbs 😮
I did it in the end. Had to unscrew the bumper about 3 quarters to have enough room to get my arm behind the headlight. 4 bolts holding headlight in. 2 from the top, no problem. Last one of the 2 on the bottom! Bumper almost off to get at it. Headlight out to change the buld. Only way to do it on my model. Theirs a video on YT, can't remember the guys name! Ovitat or like that. His video is how to replace headlight lense seal, follow his guide on how to take off bumper (easy part), headlights out (much easier with bumper off). It'll take a few hours mate.
Absolutely crazy 🤦🏻♂️🤷♂️
personally I hate HIDs as for oncoming traffic at night, they do actually boil your retinas. Great if you're driving but not if you're oncoming traffic
Oooow.....i really prefer my E38
That locking mechanism is to stop non BMW trained riff raff like you from changing your own headlight bulbs 😭😃🤣
Well, just like the timing chain - it wasn’t tough enough to stop me! 🤣
@@Nut_Job. you a warrior
There’s one or two other cars now with faff bulb change have to go in via wheel arch, it should be as easy as open the bonnet and swap for such service items .
I agree 👍
Still waiting on next video. If your car is too reliable, consider a cold start video or something, or better, buy my X5 diesel from 2002 (smiley face on the end of this sentence)
I think it is a safety tab with it being HID bulbs. Make sure you put the wheelarch flap back properly otherwise water gets in to the back of the headlight. The long flat oval access panel under the round bulb panel houses the headlight controller which are nortious for failing. Replacements are £200 plus they need coding to the car.
Get your self a little bit driver. Has saved me countless times. Or better still halfords did a little 10mm holder for a bit which fitted into a 10mm ratchet spanner. That got into some real tight spots!
The lock is there due to the high voltage, that the xenon bulbs uses.. my old nissan had a lock as well
I was thinking about changing these bulbs on my 64 reg f10 with extreme bulbs as my bulbs look a bit yellowy compared with newer model BM’s with Xenons. Every little bit you wanna do seems easy until you start doing it and wind up spending much longer. Surprisingly, changing the rear brake pads wasn’t that way. Thanks for the video.
What's your opinion about these bulbs? It's almost the cheapest hids.
Right-angled hex bit adapters are a godsend for tight spots!
Hey hope you're doing good, it's been long time we didn't get any news from you.
Yeah, I’ve been having a break over the winter. Should be able to get a few things done & uploaded soon 👍
@@Nut_Job. Great, thanks for the update, we all like your videos w'll be waiting for the notifications !
Cheers 🍻
Hi Nut Job,
I find your videos really useful. Your enthusiasm to tackle the bigger jobs is inspirational.
I have just bought a 640d and intend to maintain it myself. May I ask which (online?) workshop manual do you use for the technical information?
Thanks
John
Hi John, the 640d should be an awesome machine & nothing to be afraid of maintaining yourself 👍
Two free sites you should bookmark which have everything you’ll need are:
www.newtis.info (BMW workshop info)
www.realoem.com (diagrams & parts)
All the best 😀👍
Great stuff, many thanks for your advice. I'm looking forward to getting stuck in!
Good thing that drl keeps xenon bulbs alive much longer than before... The best solution would have been if that police department have ticked (x) in "adaptive led headlights" option box. No need to change anything, anymore. 😇
I can tell you that they didn’t appear to tick many options boxes at all on this car... (except M-Sport Suspension, Sports Transmission & some extra power wiring)
I don't see the point of that suspension in police car but it chewed away the budget for better lights... 🤔
My F11 with those leds is soon 5yo and not a single burnt, front nor back. And it has hours on it, its a taxi.
I don’t have that lock clip on mine
It would be pointless doing a bulb replacement video on the L322. Just pull the 2 clips and take the whole headlight unit out. Can’t beat Land Rover simple engineering
Well, Volvo 850 is even easier. Open the hood, unscrew the headlight cover, pop the bulb out and thats it.
Takes about 1 minute😁
Does it have sport suspension because it’s ex police? I have a mint 2016 SE with 80k and it handles like crap
Yes, the police order them direct from BMW like this. There’s virtually nothing on the ‘comfort’ side of things, but there’s additional power cabling, sports suspension, sports gearbox & a few other bits.
Mine handles really well to be honest. For the size of car, I’ve never had a car that handles as well as this in the corners. I know this for sure because there’s a few country routes I frequently drive & this car can take some of the tight corners much quicker than my other cars 👍
Mine is a bit jiggly and floppy but also hard at times. I remember my e39 being better. Perhaps the shocks are gone at 80k? Or maybe the run flats?
Passenger side tyre is pretty worn inside.
I was going to say that....might need to get your tracking checked...inside edge is worn..
inside or outside tyres are a pain in the a.. in every bmw
4:07 that's what she said
He wishes😭
On mine , its not those locks , it needs THEM the covers fall off letting water into the headlights !!!
2 new control boards and front of car off to get head lights out !!
Aparently its not over as they also leak round the lens seal 😭
Don't be frustrated... In my past 2005 I have to remove the bumper and headlights, you just cannot remove the bulb without removing the headlights.. That only get out removing the bumper Clever engineering's :)
Couldn't you just of pulled the whole headlight assembly out?..
Yeah if you take the front bumper off
@@Schnitzer325ci wow Beemers are weird
It’s true, routine maintenance is often not so straightforward on BMWs. Things like headlight removal are made quite tricky in comparison to other manufacturers
@@Nut_Job. looking forward to another vid mate 👍
Please reply , Bmw f10 Rear Windscreen Heater works but its not getting hot enough, also left mirror heating not work at all, they say it could be bad earth or whay but i cant find where to check for the rear Winsdscreen??
Not heard anything new from you for a while now. Hope you’re ok, any plans to post any new videos this year?
Sorry I’ve been a bit busy since the end of 2019... yes I have plans to cover a few new things this year 👍
I just want the weather to improve a little bit first 😁
Nut Job look forward to seeing you back on the screen
Thank you 😊
Be happy that it was not as the one I change bulbs on today that lid had 4 screws had to remove the entire spotlight.
In have also the F11 (2011) but no clamps here only the round cover. For more easy working you can flip the cover under the hood and put the round cover open
I'm thinking of doing mine as well, I think they are ds2 bulbs. Wonder if they loose brightness over time as I'm sure mine are the originals so a good 7 years old!
That is just shocking poor design---on a BMW e30 from the eighties you can change the entire bulb set in the car in a few minutes.
Old is Gold... wonder why? ☺
Typical, and respected German over engineering at its finest
Yet another way to get folk to go to their main stealer to change the lamps.
You wont make it...not enough blogs..........
lol anyone found a way to actually remove that clamp? i just faced the exact same issue
I don’t know... but I was very happy with my ‘snapping it off’ solution 🤣
Hey great video and they all are... but how old is that car? Everything seems worn out or rusty.... 🤔 Love ya videos anyway.
It’s a high mileage 2012 car (ex police traffic car)
There’s not really any rust though...
Lol that’s the way to sort it mine had it done same 😂
And also now I have issue what every f10 have but can’t find answer to that anywhere on forums on Facebook groups??
Boost control (can’t figure out electrical or manual pressure can you help
FYI Its error 244C00
By the sounds of it the problem is usually related to worn vacuum lines, a broken vacuum canister or a faulty boost control valve (pressure converter)
You can check these with a cheap vacuum pump - I have one which I bought for bleeding brakes, although I never use it for that.
Didnt expect this 🤣
This seems a bit excessive.. My guess is that it's something to do with it being an ex police car.. In my experience it's actually easier to take the bumper off and remove the headlights to change bulbs on most modern cars.. I don't do well in tight fiddly spaces haha
You guessed wrong, I think it is a late pre lci modification or adaptive headlight thing.
My 2013 F11 with adaptive headlights does also have them
That's BMW added to the "sod working on one of those" list.
😂👍
Куда вы пропали?)
I wonder how much BMW would have charged you for fitting two headlight bulbs.
Roughly £210 plus vat with parts 😁
2020, I asked the BMW service in Sweden. The single lamp costs more than 200 euro, the labour costs 350 euro. So totally 550 euro.
2017 550iGT, US dealer said $800 to change 1 HID bulb for parts and labor. I also have the locking mechanism. The cap could have been locked by BMW with an easy to reach screw or release clamp or something similar.
Here in the UK, £1000 GBP to replace one headlamp, parts cost £720 - quote given May 2021.
We do alot of these jobs.
Sometimes a nightmare to do
Alot of useful information on my channel
I changed mine and i dont have that , thing i can freely remove the cap,,,
You have factory Xenons?
Yes 👍
Schnitzer325ci yes factory
miss you!...
Aaah... 😊 lol
I’ll be back soon(ish) when it’s not so damn cold outside 👍
When you back
It’s coming....
I promise 😎
Where you gone
Sorry, just busy with other things on the run to the end of the year...
Plus, not much wrong to fix & it’s really cold outside too! 😂
@@Nut_Job. Have a great Xmas and thanks for all the great content this year! atb snack
You’re lucky it wasn’t LCI
Sami Anttila why?
tofandao half of the front end have to be disassembled to change the bulbs in F10 LCI
Sami Anttila I see. I have an LCI :)
tofandao so do I
your wheels need alignment don't mess about find a hunter 4 wheel alignment specialist plenty about
You have only problems with your BMW,you spend more time to fix it than driving,and i discover something yourfront tyres are n legal limit and they are almost bald on inner side this means you have problem with your front suspension maybe you have to change something ball joints, wishbones , how i supose to buy a BMW if i wathing your videos you have problems all the time with your BMW omg i will change my mind for BMW i will buy audi or vw
Scotty Kilmer