How to change dome light & rear map light on E70

[Atomicteal_M3]

Hi, i just purchased a 2011 E70 for my wife and I will be doing a full led replacement of the interior lights. Does anybody know how to change the front middle dome light? In my e92, I just had to remove the front plastic to insert the replacement led. Is it the same for the X5? Also how do you get to the bulb behind the plastic in the rear map light?

here is the light I was talking about

[Atomicteal_M3]

Nobody....Anybody?????

[m5 guy]

Here you go. This pdf is from ECS tuning.

[Atomicteal_M3]

Originally Posted by m3 guy

Here you go. This pdf is from ECS tuning.

Thanks!

[larryv]

Great info m3 guy. Sure wish i had found that pdf when i did my interior leds.

[tceepa]

Hey guys,

I bought an E-Bay LED light kit for 2011 x5. I got all of the interior lights in except the rear map lights. My X5 has the sunroof and no dome light in the center. Instead it has the two rear map lights (two lights on each side - one for the map, one for entry) that are located on each side just above the door by the handle.

For some reason, I'm having a bitch of a time popping those light out so I can switch out the bulbs. I located the notch at the rear of the light (where it looks like a screw driver pops in) and tried pushing up to pry a clip loose. However the damn thing won't pop out. I even tried using a little bit of muscle to get the whole assembly out but I fear that if I bend it any more I'm going to break something.

Has anyone else experienced this problem and can anyone provide a solution?

I've tried searching Youtube for a video and have started searching the forums but haven't found anything yet. Any help someone can provide would be great.

[x5joe2013]

It's really difficult. I kept working at it with a trim removal kit and finally got it. Not easy.

[Bklynjoker]

You need removal tools. The plastic light housing sits in another metal housing that's built into liner. It's scary how much muscle you have to use. With the tool wedge ur way up rear of the light housing & slowly pull down Untill u can make a gap with fingers. You wanna get the tool between the 2 housings & hit that clip.. Make sure interior lights are off. Don't wanna pop a fuse (fucking glovebox)

[jfiore13]

Not easy at all!!! I recommend taking it to BMW to have then do it. I almost broke my clip doing it myself. Will never touch those bulbs again myself. Easier to let them do it.

[upstate650]

Originally Posted by jfiore13

Not easy at all!!! I recommend taking it to BMW to have then do it. I almost broke my clip doing it myself. Will never touch those bulbs again myself. Easier to let them do it.

There's an easy way to do it. Just pull the whole thing out of the headliner, then separate the pieces to get to the bulb. There are just thin metal clips bent over holding it to the head liner. Once out, you can easily separate the pieces, change the bulb, then insert the top piece and bend the clips back down, then insert the light housing. Easy as pie.

[X5MFan]

Upstate is right. I also pulled out the entire assembly with a plastic removal tool. Then I figured out how to separate the two pieces and used that technique to do the other side. It hen popped right out. It looks to me that it would be hard to damage the whole thing so keep trying.

[icj777]

Thanks upstate.
This save me a hours.
I say this because even when out,
it took me ages to separate the lights from the bracket.
This is because there is a design fault in the clip.
The centre bit prevents the clip from being depressed
far enough to remove the light.
When I cut the centre of the clip out, it worked like a charm.
I have a photo but it was too big to upload.
Hope this helps.