Need help with basic mods

Hi all,

I thought a good entry level mod (considering my total lack of knowledge working on cars) would be to swap the side indicators for clear and replace the interior lights for a xenon bulb set. I bought both kits from Bimmanian. Well, I was able to pop in all the interior xenon lights except the rear reading set and cannot figure out how to install the side indicators.

First the interior lights. I can pry the housing (over the shoulder of the rear passengers) open with a flat screwdriver just a little, before it gets very resistant and won't open any further. I'm hesitant to really force it because it feels like it's catching on something that may snap. Is there a trick or method to opening this housing? All the others popped open very easily.

Next the clear side lights. I tried to follow the install guide on Bimmanian's site, but can't really figure out what it's showing me to do. It looks like you're supposed to push or slide the light to the side to relase a catch then it is supposed to pull out. I can't get it to budge. Is it stuck on with an adhesive? Do I need to remove something from the interior of the engine compartment first? I have a 2005 E46, by the way.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

KH

Originally Posted by hecklerz

Hi all,

I thought a good entry level mod (considering my total lack of knowledge working on cars) would be to swap the side indicators for clear and replace the interior lights for a xenon bulb set. I bought both kits from Bimmanian. Well, I was able to pop in all the interior xenon lights except the rear reading set and cannot figure out how to install the side indicators.

First the interior lights. I can pry the housing (over the shoulder of the rear passengers) open with a flat screwdriver just a little, before it gets very resistant and won't open any further. I'm hesitant to really force it because it feels like it's catching on something that may snap. Is there a trick or method to opening this housing? All the others popped open very easily.

Next the clear side lights. I tried to follow the install guide on Bimmanian's site, but can't really figure out what it's showing me to do. It looks like you're supposed to push or slide the light to the side to relase a catch then it is supposed to pull out. I can't get it to budge. Is it stuck on with an adhesive? Do I need to remove something from the interior of the engine compartment first? I have a 2005 E46, by the way.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

KH

This thread should probably be moved to the DIY Forum. There should be some folks there who can help on this.

hecklerz, in regards to the side markers:

I don't remember whether the "catch" is on the front or the back, but when I did it, I found it useful to use a credit card do slide behind the marker to push the catch in.

Originally Posted by jetstream23

This thread should probably be moved to the DIY Forum. There should be some folks there who can help on this.

Ok, I see that it has, thanks for the suggestion. I posted it here because I thought the issues may be 3 series specific. But the DIY forum makes more sense.

Originally Posted by KrisL

hecklerz, in regards to the side markers:

I don't remember whether the "catch" is on the front or the back, but when I did it, I found it useful to use a credit card do slide behind the marker to push the catch in.

Ok, I'll try that when I get out of the office. Thanks!

Originally Posted by KrisL

hecklerz, in regards to the side markers:

I don't remember whether the "catch" is on the front or the back, but when I did it, I found it useful to use a credit card do slide behind the marker to push the catch in.

Yah those things are a pain! My drivers side is especially difficult.

Originally Posted by misterlance

Yah those things are a pain! My drivers side is especially difficult.

Just do it slowly or you might break the spring clip thing off and have it fall inside the body panel. Since you are putting in a new side marker, it'll have a spring clip of its own, but the old one would end up rattling around inside the body panel and will drive you nucking futs.

(Don't ask me how I know )

Originally Posted by operknockity

Just do it slowly or you might break the spring clip thing off and have it fall inside the body panel. Since you are putting in a new side marker, it'll have a spring clip of its own, but the old one would end up rattling around inside the body panel and will drive you nucking futs.

(Don't ask me how I know )

Hahaha, I can imagine how irritating that could be. Thanks for the tips

Originally Posted by operknockity

Just do it slowly or you might break the spring clip thing off and have it fall inside the body panel. Since you are putting in a new side marker, it'll have a spring clip of its own, but the old one would end up rattling around inside the body panel and will drive you nucking futs.

(Don't ask me how I know )

And how did you fix that problem? Or are you still futs?

Originally Posted by Spectre

And how did you fix that problem? Or are you still futs?

You make the person that lost the clip inside the fender fish it out!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by hecklerz

Hi all,

I thought a good entry level mod (considering my total lack of knowledge working on cars) would be to swap the side indicators for clear and replace the interior lights for a xenon bulb set. I bought both kits from Bimmanian. Well, I was able to pop in all the interior xenon lights except the rear reading set and cannot figure out how to install the side indicators.

First the interior lights. I can pry the housing (over the shoulder of the rear passengers) open with a flat screwdriver just a little, before it gets very resistant and won't open any further. I'm hesitant to really force it because it feels like it's catching on something that may snap. Is there a trick or method to opening this housing? All the others popped open very easily.

Next the clear side lights. I tried to follow the install guide on Bimmanian's site, but can't really figure out what it's showing me to do. It looks like you're supposed to push or slide the light to the side to relase a catch then it is supposed to pull out. I can't get it to budge. Is it stuck on with an adhesive? Do I need to remove something from the interior of the engine compartment first? I have a 2005 E46, by the way.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

KH

how much did you pay for your car out the door?

Originally Posted by misterlance

Yah those things are a pain! My drivers side is especially difficult.

Funny thing about those side markers...
When I installed mine, someone recommended I put a cloth around the end of the flat head screwdriver I used to pop my side markers off.
Unfortunately I used too much force, and the screwdriver ripped *through* the rag, and caused a 1.5" scratch on my car!

For anyone reading this who will change their markers in the future, don't use a metal object!