I've done several Searches, here and elsewhere, and I've read and re-read the manual. Much as I hate to admit defeat, here I am.

The headlight on my passenger side, the inner one that does the DLR and high beams, burned out yesterday. I got the socket out without too much trouble and replaced the bulb, no problem. But I cannot, for the life of me, get it to go back into place. After a couple of hours yesterday afternoon and another hour this morning, it's still fighting me.

Does anyone have, or could somebody take, a photo of the socket in its installed position? I've tried every possible combination of "insert and twist" that I can think of, and it's just not working. I'd be forever grateful if somebody could help me out here.

Thanks,

Nick

I've done several Searches, here and elsewhere, and I've read and re-read the manual. Much as I hate to admit defeat, here I am.

The headlight on my passenger side, the inner one that does the DLR and high beams, burned out yesterday. I got the socket out without too much trouble and replaced the bulb, no problem. But I cannot, for the life of me, get it to go back into place. After a couple of hours yesterday afternoon and another hour this morning, it's still fighting me.

Does anyone have, or could somebody take, a photo of the socket in its installed position? I've tried every possible combination of "insert and twist" that I can think of, and it's just not working. I'd be forever grateful if somebody could help me out here.

Thanks,

NickCan't reinstall a headlight :rofl: thats a new problem.

Ok, first of all, you had to twist the grey or black housing to take the buld out right? And the housing came out with it? See the two little sliding clamps along the edge of the housing? Line them up to the headlight, push in hard, and twist clockwise. Look at your other one on the other side.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll try again.

thats a new problem.

I felt pretty stupid until I searched here and at E46 Fanatics. You'd be surprised at the number of people with the same problem. Some have even resorted to removing the entire headlight assembly, which I'd certainly like to avoid.

:rofl

you arent the only one. Took me 30 mins to twist it back in :mad..

Do it really slowly. Dont try to rush it. That passanger side got me so fustrated.

You can do it :buttrock

My headlight bulb was out when I got the car and I had the same problem when trying to put it back in. lol... I don't want any jokes please, but I put the bulb in the wrong way, i.e. the little rectangular groove that you see at the metal base should have been on the opposite side (twist 180 deg).. I had someone notice this, they put it in the right way, and then the socket twisted into place just fine.

p.s. the manual tells you how to take it out, but doesn't tell you how to reinstall it back into place, at least on mine..

Nope, the manual doesn't help me much in this case. I'm gonna have to wait until tomorrow morning to tackle this again. It's hotter than hell outside, and I've sweat enough for one day.

I did notice, on the socket part that comes out with the bulb, that there is the word "OBEN" (German for "open"?). But there are no arrows showing which way is OBEN. Also, on the black socket housing, there is a 1 and a 0 that coincide with a mark on the rotating collar. Again, don't know what that means.

I hate switching out the bulbs. A trick I learned was to not push the socket all the way in as you twist.

OK, are you guys twisting the socket itself, or just the rotating outer ring on it?

Outer ring. Should click when it's in place.

OK, thanks. And are you twisting the ring clockwise or counter-clockwise to lock it?

To tell you the truth, I don't remember. What I do is twist it off the car to see where it clicks to lock in place. I untwist it again and then I know which way to twist.

Thanks. I'm only asking all these questions because I've spent about 3 hours on it. I'll try again in the morning and report back.

To some of you, I probably sound stupid, but I've changed headlight bulbs in many other cars without having to get on the net to ask questions. IMO, BMW has made this harder than it should be.

yes they had. I believe you have to push in and turn clock wise. Push in hard twist slowly. Should go right in.

i remember i took the headlight off just to change a damn bulb cus of how much of a bitch it was :rofl i'm a pro at taking the headlight off now. once you do it once its a 2 minute thing.

Well, looks like that's my next project. I tried again this morning and the damn thing just will not snap into place.

I've got the bulb and socket duct taped in place for the time being, which bums me out.

turn it clockwise to lock it in

^^^ if only it were that easy :shifty

^^^ What he said.

I'm beginning to think something's broken on my socket or the plastic thing it plugs into. I might try lubricating it with something before I yank the whole headlight assembly. It's either that or drive 60 miles to the BMW dealership, and grovel. Hell, I've spent more time on this than I did on a window regulator!

I should have paid closer attention to princess20ny:

I don't want any jokes please, but I put the bulb in the wrong way, i.e. the little rectangular groove that you see at the metal base should have been on the opposite side (twist 180 deg).. I had someone notice this, they put it in the right way, and then the socket twisted into place just fine.

Actually, I did read that, but didn't realize she was talking about the H7 BULB itself, and how it plugs into its socket. It can plug in (as she said) in such a way that it makes it impossible to reinstall the socket. So, you got a 50-50 chance of doing it the right way. Maybe you guys who say it's so simple have never plugged it in wrong, who knows?

Myself, I think BMW might have made this more clear in the manual, or better still, designed the socket so that the bulb could only be plugged in one way - the right way.

Anyway, thanks for the responses, everyone. And, princess20ny, a thousand years of good fortune on you and your family! :worship:

:clap:

great man.

I should have paid closer attention to princess20ny:


:bash :)


Actually, I did read that, but didn't realize she was talking about the H7 BULB itself, and how it plugs into its socket. It can plug in (as she said) in such a way that it makes it impossible to reinstall the socket.



Not being allowed to touch the glass adds to the complexity of this rather "easy" task.



So, you got a 50-50 chance of doing it the right way.



Sucks when the glass is always half full.


Maybe you guys who say it's so simple have never plugged it in wrong, who knows?

Myself, I think BMW might have made this more clear in the manual, or better still, designed the socket so that the bulb could only be plugged in one way - the right way.


Amen, agreed! Manual does not tell you squat on putting it back.



Anyway, thanks for the responses, everyone. And, princess20ny, a thousand years of good fortune on you and your family! :worship:

I'll be relaying this to the sand people, they will be humbled by your kind words.

As I am humbled by your solution to my problem.

I was at a point of either driving a long way to the dealer, or pulling out the whole headlight assembly. Neither is acceptable for changing a freaking headlight bulb.

I shall now drink heavily in your honor.

I meant "half empty" before lol..

a drink fest? i'm there..

I'll leave the (head)light on for ya.