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      03-04-2013, 01:44 PM   #11
fdpxfunix
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Drives: X3 xDrive 30d M Sport
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK - West Sussex

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Final got the pics off my camera, so here we go…

1) These are the tools I used, and yes that's one of my daughter’s rulers. I did also use a small pair of needle nose pliers...


2) This is what I'm installing. BMW OEM 10 pack LED light upgrade. 6 bulbs for the dome lights, 2 for the front foot well lights and 2 spares...


3) The round blub with the lens is for the domes, and the flat one for the foot well...


4) Behold the front dome light assembly...


5) Insert a flat bladed screwdriver in-between the frosted lens cover and the dome surround. Be careful as you can damage the plastic. I only used the screwdriver to open the gap a little and then slid the ruler in to pull apart. If you lever the ruler up you'll feel the cover come away from the surround and make a ‘click’ sound. Carry on doing this across the front of the cover until it pops out. Again be careful to hold on to the cover to stop it falling on something…


6) Here's the dome with the standard bulbs and black map reading light directors in place…


7) Remove the black map reading directors by giving them a wiggle and a pull. There’s a knack to getting them out which I found easier if you try to turn them as you pull. At this stage you can also remove the standard blubs. The middle one is easy, but I found the 2 map reading blubs easier to get out with some needle nose pliers covered in a rag or cloth…


8) Insert the LED blubs. The LED blubs had larger contacts than the standard blubs, so you may have to push a little harder to get them in. They do fit though and are made easier to fit by the flat lens covers. You just use your thumb and press up…


9) Testing, testing, and testing. I had no problems with the polarity on these blubs as they worked either way round, but check when you’re doing it…


10) Before you put the map reading directors back on, make sure they’re fitted correctly. They can be fitted slightly off centre which then causes the frosted lens cover to not fit correctly. Just try and keep them centred as you push them into the hole and you’ll hear a little click. The frosted lens cover is best put back on by starting at the back. Get the cover into the same angle as in picture 5 and press up at the back. Then push the whole lens cover up to where it should be and then press firmly at the front. You’ll press the light buttons in as you’re doing this, but don’t worry as you need to make the cover click back into place. If it looks to be a bit proud, then take it off and check those map reading directors! I had to do this a couple of times before I realised what was going on. The finished article…


11) Moving on to the foot well. This is the passenger side (please excuse my wifes boot marks!)…


12) Using a flat bladed screwdriver at one of the short ends of the lens, lever it away from its housing. Pull the rest of the lens out so you can work with it…


13) Twist the lens (or blub mount) until they can be separated and just pull out the standard bulb…


14) Insert the LED blub, but make sure the actual light part of the blub finishes facing outwards toward the frosted part of the lens cover when you twist them back together. I guess you could do it either way, but I’m sure you’ll get more light into the foot well if you use my method. Once the blub is back in the lens push one side of the lens back into its housing and then press firmly on the other to pop it back into place. The drivers side light is in a slightly different position, but the same fitting method applies...



And that as they say is that! Apart from the map reading directors giving me some grief, the only other thing was one of the dome blubs had a very slightly blue tint, whereas the other 5 were very white. All I did was make sure the blue tinted one went into one of the rear map reading lights, which are not going to get used much. I really could not be bothered to take the kit back to BMW for one blub!

Took me about 2 hours in all, but I did have to take the domes apart again when I found the blue tinted bulb, I did spend some time cleaning the lens covers and reflectors in the domes and of course taking these pics

I’ll upload some night pics when I get a chance.

Hope someone finds this useful. It's a really easy mod and transforms the interior at night. Just a shame the glove box and vanity lights now look totally sh*t. I'll be on the look out for some decent festoon LED blubs now


J.

Last edited by fdpxfunix; 03-04-2013 at 02:13 PM..
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