Replacing E60 front parking lamp
04-13-2013, 04:27 PM
#1
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My Ride: 2004 545i
Replacing E60 front parking lamp
A quick writeup on how to replace the parking lamp (angel eyes) bulb on a 2004 545i. I will attach some photos and a description of the process. Some people have done this without removing the headlight assembly, but they must have extremely tiny hands. Removing the headlight is not challenging and it certainly makes replacing the bulb much easier.
OK..... Remove the large plastic cap that covers the bulbs to get a little room, then remove/loosen the four screws that hold the headlight assemble in. There are 2 T-30 screws on the top, and two T-25/8mm screws/bolts below that are circled in the photo. While the top two are easy, you would need a really long torq driver to get to the lower one. I used a 1/4 inch ratchet and a 8mm socket to loosen the lower screws. Don't remove the lower screws, just loosen up so the tab can slide out.
I have seen people unplug the light unit, but I just pulled mine out so I could get to the bulb. A slight twist will remove the main light - pull it aside and don't get dirt or grease on it. The parking bulb is below it - it is orange/brown in color and there is a photo that shows it. It comes out with a slight twist on the tab and can be pulled up where you can unplug it. I replaced mine with LED lights purchased one Ebay item: 390570979937 Plug in the new light and work it back into place. It is a pretty tight fit so be patient. Once the light is in the socket, push it in a little and give it a slight turn to lock it in. I cleaned the main light with alcohol before inserting it. It also lines up with tabs, push it in a touch and give it a twist.
The bulbs I purchased have three tabs compared to the two shown in the photo on the old light. Wish I had taken a photo before I installed them, as two of the tabs are angled and one is straight. If you look at the socket you can see how they line up (straight tab to the top).
The new light is more white than amber like the originals....I like it :-)
Good luck...write me if you have any questions.
OK..... Remove the large plastic cap that covers the bulbs to get a little room, then remove/loosen the four screws that hold the headlight assemble in. There are 2 T-30 screws on the top, and two T-25/8mm screws/bolts below that are circled in the photo. While the top two are easy, you would need a really long torq driver to get to the lower one. I used a 1/4 inch ratchet and a 8mm socket to loosen the lower screws. Don't remove the lower screws, just loosen up so the tab can slide out.
I have seen people unplug the light unit, but I just pulled mine out so I could get to the bulb. A slight twist will remove the main light - pull it aside and don't get dirt or grease on it. The parking bulb is below it - it is orange/brown in color and there is a photo that shows it. It comes out with a slight twist on the tab and can be pulled up where you can unplug it. I replaced mine with LED lights purchased one Ebay item: 390570979937 Plug in the new light and work it back into place. It is a pretty tight fit so be patient. Once the light is in the socket, push it in a little and give it a slight turn to lock it in. I cleaned the main light with alcohol before inserting it. It also lines up with tabs, push it in a touch and give it a twist.
The bulbs I purchased have three tabs compared to the two shown in the photo on the old light. Wish I had taken a photo before I installed them, as two of the tabs are angled and one is straight. If you look at the socket you can see how they line up (straight tab to the top).
The new light is more white than amber like the originals....I like it :-)
Good luck...write me if you have any questions.
Last edited by MitchG; 04-13-2013 at 04:30 PM.
04-13-2013, 07:29 PM
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Learning the hard way
Thanks for posting this, Mitch. I guess you discovered what I did... that the parking light bulb is not the 2825 or the W5W or the T10 as our owner's manuals state, but is actually Hella-made BMW OEM part # 63126929309, which is not just a bulb, but a bulb and socket assembly (see attached photo and #5 in illustration.) Although you can loosen the bulb, it will not come out of the assembly and is therefore, apparently not replaceable by itself. You would need to buy the whole assembly, which dealers sell for about $35 EACH. I only discovered this by pulling the headlight assembly off, as I couldn't get a clear answer on this. Maybe because I have Xenons and adaptive headlights the part numbers are different?
Like Mitch, if I'm going to do this, I'm going to upgrade to LEDs. I was able to find a seller here. The part number you quote, Mitch, only seems to be available from that one eBay seller. If you do a Google search on "63126929309" and "LED", you get more possibilities.
I haven't pulled the trigger yet, so if anyone else has already done this, I'd like to hear from you.
Like Mitch, if I'm going to do this, I'm going to upgrade to LEDs. I was able to find a seller here. The part number you quote, Mitch, only seems to be available from that one eBay seller. If you do a Google search on "63126929309" and "LED", you get more possibilities.
I haven't pulled the trigger yet, so if anyone else has already done this, I'd like to hear from you.
04-14-2013, 12:36 PM
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For pre-LCI E60 I'd not go with LED AEs unless they are 12Watts EACH. Even these are barely visible during daylight. I think Oreons 2 are the only viable LED option.
When mine went out I got "Xenon Miniature Bayonet Clear Light Bulbs 10W 12V" pair for $11 shipped from a marine store online. It took some wiggling to get the burned bulb out from reflector but it can be done. Again, it was done out of curiosity. Had I do it again I'd get 63126929309 online for $22 and call it the day.
When mine went out I got "Xenon Miniature Bayonet Clear Light Bulbs 10W 12V" pair for $11 shipped from a marine store online. It took some wiggling to get the burned bulb out from reflector but it can be done. Again, it was done out of curiosity. Had I do it again I'd get 63126929309 online for $22 and call it the day.
04-14-2013, 01:05 PM
#4
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Not sure I follow you at all. Isn't it overloading the circuit to put a 12 watt bulb into a 5 watt socket? Also, I wasn't able to find any references to an Oreons LED product.
04-30-2013, 02:21 PM
#7
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Update
Well, I finally got closure on this. I went with the BMWLED units I mentioned in my 4/13 post.
It took about 45 minutes from start to finish to remove the headlights, replace the bulbs and put everything back together. I'm happier with the white Angel Eyes now, rather than the incandescent yellow I had before, but in no way is it as bright as the ones you see on the F10s. Still, I can't believe I spent 40 bucks for a PARKING LIGHT set of bulbs, but that's the price of owning a bimmer I guess.
It took about 45 minutes from start to finish to remove the headlights, replace the bulbs and put everything back together. I'm happier with the white Angel Eyes now, rather than the incandescent yellow I had before, but in no way is it as bright as the ones you see on the F10s. Still, I can't believe I spent 40 bucks for a PARKING LIGHT set of bulbs, but that's the price of owning a bimmer I guess.
02-26-2016, 06:42 PM
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My Ride: 2004 545i Sport 6MT (Black of course)
Back from the dead, but still useful hopefully...
As noted previously, it is possible to remove the bulb from the housing if you care to. Look at the picture and you'll see a black crosshatched dot where the black plastic meets the brown metal (yes, it is metal). Take a dremel (or a knife if you're brave) and buzz off the crosshatched plastic on both sides. Once you do that you'll expose little serated teeth in the brown metal. You can then gently pry the black plastic bottom away from the brown metal. I did it in less than 5 min and was super easy. Now the bulb is just a BA9s style 12V 10W that you can probably land at radio shack (if they're still in business anywhere). The bulb itself has part number 12082 Philips stamped in tiny characters on it. If you can't find it in a local electronics store (oh how I miss Fryes) you can probably get it here: #64113 10W/12V HALOGEN BULB BA9S BASE, H10W 12V 10W BA9s,12082,#12082,64113,#64113,#64113 BULB, #64113 LAMP, #64113 MINIATURE, #64113 HALOGEN,#1000810,#39423,#17833
The brave could try these LED bulb replacements, but I'm not sure if they'd consume enough wattage (the LEDs only eat 1 watt instead of 10) to prevent the computer from thinking you have a bulb burned out; might have to put a resistor inline, but now you're just asking for a headache:
I know that most prefer to just replace it with a cheapo Cree LED, and I get it; I'm just morally opposed to spending $20 x 2 for bulbs plus shipping to replace a freaking tiny flashlight bulb. I'm also a huge cheapskate.
As noted previously, it is possible to remove the bulb from the housing if you care to. Look at the picture and you'll see a black crosshatched dot where the black plastic meets the brown metal (yes, it is metal). Take a dremel (or a knife if you're brave) and buzz off the crosshatched plastic on both sides. Once you do that you'll expose little serated teeth in the brown metal. You can then gently pry the black plastic bottom away from the brown metal. I did it in less than 5 min and was super easy. Now the bulb is just a BA9s style 12V 10W that you can probably land at radio shack (if they're still in business anywhere). The bulb itself has part number 12082 Philips stamped in tiny characters on it. If you can't find it in a local electronics store (oh how I miss Fryes) you can probably get it here: #64113 10W/12V HALOGEN BULB BA9S BASE, H10W 12V 10W BA9s,12082,#12082,64113,#64113,#64113 BULB, #64113 LAMP, #64113 MINIATURE, #64113 HALOGEN,#1000810,#39423,#17833
The brave could try these LED bulb replacements, but I'm not sure if they'd consume enough wattage (the LEDs only eat 1 watt instead of 10) to prevent the computer from thinking you have a bulb burned out; might have to put a resistor inline, but now you're just asking for a headache:
I know that most prefer to just replace it with a cheapo Cree LED, and I get it; I'm just morally opposed to spending $20 x 2 for bulbs plus shipping to replace a freaking tiny flashlight bulb. I'm also a huge cheapskate.
Last edited by zamoti; 02-26-2016 at 06:49 PM.
02-27-2016, 06:54 AM
#9
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Never Again
Just a word to the folks out there who have not attempted to do this angel eye replacement yourself – it is a real pain! I replaced the left bulb on my 06 550i myself a while ago and swore I'd never do it again! I like saving money as much as the next guy, but it took hours, stooped over, backache, and scraped hands. I perfected my swear German words from "Hogans Heroes." When the right one failed a month ago, I decided to let the dealer do it for 120 bucks. (I locked in the price before they started and halfway through the job, I got a call from the service advisor, stating that it was taking longer than expected and that the technician was swearing at the service advisor. I pretended I was surprised.) Money well spent.
By the way, still going smooth and strong after 180,000 miles!
By the way, still going smooth and strong after 180,000 miles!
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donpb (05-13-2020)
02-27-2016, 07:36 AM
#10
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Just a word to the folks out there who have not attempted to do this angel eye replacement yourself – it is a real pain! I replaced the left bulb on my 06 550i myself a while ago and swore I'd never do it again! I like saving money as much as the next guy, but it took hours, stooped over, backache, and scraped hands. I perfected my swear German words from "Hogans Heroes." When the right one failed a month ago, I decided to let the dealer do it for 120 bucks.
https://5series.net/forums/e60-discu...5281-a-137638/
When I changed out my angel eye bulbs for LEDs, it took me 3/4 of an hour to do the 1st one, and then only 20 minutes for the second, since I knew what I was doing.