license plate lights failure. how to replace?

[328iThizz]

I dont have a manual and i tried searching but got nothing car specific. How do i replace my bulbs for my license plates? both of them are out. Is it possible to be a fuse? if so, which fuse would it be? thanks for any help.

[Qsilver7]

Try searching to the bottom of the left column at this site: www.e38.org/e39 and download the 2000 manual to your desktop. It is in PDF format which makes the manual searchable using key words. It takes less than a minute to download.

I do believe the manual has instructions on how to change out those lights...look under "lamps and bulbs".

[GuapOh]

insert flat blade screw driver into slot on the LP light's black plastic surround, slide entire assembly left. Don't be afraid to apply big pressure. When I had to repalce mine, I damn near thought I was gonna break something before it came free. No probs. Once the assemoly has been moved, the thing just falls apart and the bulb is accessible. Easy 3 second change out.


Edit: PLEASE READ POST #6

[328iThizz]

thanks for the info. ill try it first thing in the morning

[mcdonaldb]

My car does the same thing, but my lights both work?

[jamesdc4]

insert flat blade screw driver into slot on the LP light's black plastic surround, slide entire assembly left. Don't be afraid to apply big pressure. When I had to repalce mine, I damn near thought I was gonna break something before it came free. No probs. Once the assemoly has been moved, the thing just falls apart and the bulb is accessible. Easy 3 second change out.

This post is incorrect according to the manual.VVV

License plate lamps
5 watt bulb
1 Insert a screwdriver into the slot and
press to the right (arrow); this disengages
the lamp.
2 Remove the lamp and replace the

bulb.

[jamesdc4]

I pushed so hard, the screw driver was bending. No luck.
Anyone have any tips or tricks?

[Steve530]

Maybe the 98 is different, but the 2001 manual says press to the left.

[Petes540i6]

I pushed so hard, the screw driver was bending. No luck.
Anyone have any tips or tricks?

As I recall, you have to push pretty damn hard. You may want to put some tape on the end of the screwdriver in case it slips.

[jamesdc4]

Maybe the 98 is different, but the 2001 manual says press to the left.

Thanks, Steve.

My 98 manual and the 2000 are to the right.
This is turning out to be a good thread, Lol.
Regardless, I can't get mine loose.

[Steve530]

Interesting. Maybe that changed with the "facelift". My car has the LED taillights.

[ViolinARC]

Interesting. Maybe that changed with the "facelift". My car has the LED taillights.

Yo Steve...he's talking about the license plate lights specifically, which has nothing to do with the LED tails. Just FYI...

I, too, tried to remove my license plate light covers and also had NO luck. I pushed and pulled HARD and they won't budge. I even tried tapping the screwdriver with a hammer (as close to the screwdriver slot as possible) and still the damn thing won't move. I suggest using a rubber mallet as I was really paranoid about smashing the trunk in some way. After tapping with a hammer, the right side was starting to move but since my lights are working fine, I didn't continue. J, it appears, with some major muscling, that you will be able to remove those covers but you're gonna have to be AGGRESSIVE! As GuapOh pointed out, he thought he was gonna break something. Funny how something that should only take a few seconds to replace turns into a MAJOR project.

BTW, look carefully at the indentation for the cover and you will notice that there is additional space (1/8-1/4 of an inch) to the LEFT of the cover. That would indicate to me that the cover slides to the LEFT and not the right, however, I have seen parts that move in just the opposite direction from the logical one. Stay the course and you will succeed with this simply difficult task.

[BigLoggerhead]

This is bull#%$*! I just scratched my decklid trying to get those god forsaken license plate lamps off! Why in the #$*! would they make that so hard to take off? Piss on those bulbs for now. If anyone figures it out, please let me know.

[s4moore]

just did mine..the post really helped!

[gurmukhbhogal]

Maybe the 98 is different, but the 2001 manual says press to the left.

I don't know where you got that picture from, but that is definitely wrong. The screw driver is on the left side & there is no room to move to the left. Where you insert the screwdriver is an indenteded STOP behind, The opposite side behind it is spring loaded that flexes a little. The only reason it is not moving is because the dirt around it is caked hard like clay. Throw a lot of WD 40 around, wiggle it and it should come loose. Here is a correct picture from the '98 manual. Easiest way is to use two screw drivers, one for pushing to the right and the other for prying it out. I'm going to attach another picture of the inside of the lens

[gurmukhbhogal]

Some how I could not attach the pictures to my previous thread, but here they are, see the steel spring on the right, it is pretty stiff and flexes only a tiny bit enough to pry it out. This has been discussed so many times before.

[rrcompton]

Whatever direction the '01 manual says to push it do the opposite. I replaced mine w/ OEM BMW LED modules.

They are a pain to get out, just be careful you dont push too hard or the metal pressure clip will pop off into the hole and the bulb housing wont be able to stay in place once you pop it back in after replacing the bulb.

[ECSTuning]

For anyone looking for an LED upgrade, we have them available below!

Give your car a bright new look with these LED license plate light conversions. These come as complete assemblies so all the hard work is already done. Simply remove your original light, and replace with Racing Dash LED light.

Included is the correct wiring plug specific for your vehicle so no wiring modifications are needed. Simply put, these are plug and play.

* Specially designed circuit for no O.B.C. errors
* More than twice as bright as stock bulbs - 50000 mcd, 7000K
* Long lasting LED reliability
* Kit includes 2 lights and harness adapters

Click HERE for more information.


Please let us know if you have any questions! Feel free to shoot me a PM or email.

Best,
ECS

[MarioPro]

I have a 2001 530i. The manual says put a flat blade screw driver in the slot and push left. That's what I did until I nearly ripped the darn thing a new slot. What they *really* mean is tilt the screwdriver to the left, pressing against he right side of the slot with the tip. Pry it out while applying pressure toward the right - screwdriver handle pushed to the left and up. It popped out like it was buttered. Mine is looking pretty ratty, but at least the bulb is fixed. Terrible design and instructions.

[Qsilver7]

Interesting...this is what my 99 manual says...along with having an arrow that indicate which direction you should push the assembly so that you can disengage it from the the spring that holds it up inside the car's body. Someone on the editing committee must have not been paying attention on the 01 owners manual.

[sealbeach740]

The ONLY way I could get mine out (2003 540) was to spray WD40 around the edges of license plate bulb holders. Before that, those holders weren't moving at all.

[tonyg99]

I just replaced one of the rear license plate bulbs in my 2001 E39 530i, and after quite a struggle I can confirm that the bulb holder needs to be slid to the RIGHT -- not the left, as stated in the original owner's manual (and suggested by the larger indentation in the metal to the left).

Unfortunately I scratched my trunk lid slightly learning this!

[bcain79]

I just replaced one of the rear license plate bulbs in my 2001 E39 530i, and after quite a struggle I can confirm that the bulb holder needs to be slid to the RIGHT -- not the left, as stated in the original owner's manual (and suggested by the larger indentation in the metal to the left).

Unfortunately I scratched my trunk lid slightly learning this!

This is correct, I just put in new bulbs. Screwdriver in slot, push to the RIGHT and the left side lifts out first. With minimal pressure, mine came out like butter. And if you have any questions on why a new bulb doesn't work, I can answer that too. (No it is probably not the housing unit, it is the ground wire - common problem is the ground wire cracks somewhere causing the circuit to not complete. Just cut the ground and find a new place to mount it in the deck lid - problem fixed)

[bimmer540eye]

my left side socket doesnt work . can i splice the ground wire to the right side ground wire ? do you know what color the ground wire is ? thanks . my sockets were very hard to remove also

[TriniSpeC]

slide to the right and use another screw driver to lightly pry it down, dont go crazy on the sliding or you might scratch the paint