Help. Melted reflector. Does anyone experience this.

Thavee · 10-21-2005, 07:00 PM

Hello,

I wanted to replace the reversing lights and found that both rear fog light reflectors had been melted. It seemed the 21watts bulbs are too close to the reflectors. Does anyone experience this? Sorry if i posted in the wrong place.

thavee

thd13 · 10-21-2005, 09:39 PM

Tell the dealer, they might be able to do something. If anything, it may trigger a big "recall" with BMW because it can pose as a potential fire hazard.

longtran · 10-22-2005, 01:20 AM

i doubt that. seem like you changed the bulb to an aftermarket one. better be careful. those aftermarket might have more watts, causing the melt down...

BMW Lawman · 10-22-2005, 01:20 AM

The big question is this....did you change the bulbs out and not put the right ones/correct wattage back in? I can't imagine something like this slipping past all the safety testing.

Tierfreund · 10-22-2005, 05:55 AM

Those are definitely not the factory bulbs.

LEDZEP · 10-22-2005, 07:53 AM

You're not telling us if the bulbs were stock or if you had previously replaced them. If they are the factory stock bulbs you should report it. That would be a design flaw. If you put aftermarket bulbs in, go back to the stocks and be glad there's not more damage.

Thavee · 10-22-2005, 12:41 PM

The bulbs are stock bulb H6W. Please look at the small long tiny one. Do not look at the blue one. The blue one is the reversing lights. I reported this to BMW Thailand. There are two e90s found the same problem. This problem happened both sides of the foglights. (I found this because I wanted to change the reversing lights. Without that intention, I would never know that the reflectors got melted.) Just want to learn if e90 in your area has the same problem. My e90 is assembled in Thailand, also some auto parts are made in Thailand.

Tierfreund · 10-22-2005, 01:55 PM

If only the foglights are at stake, the sample you´re going to get here is not very big. Many posters here are from the US and as far as I know US E90 do not have rear fog lights. I have such lights on my Euro spec E90 but since I will only use them when conditions really call from them (fog with less than 150feet of visibility) and immediately turn them back off when visibility gets better (those lights are really annoying to following traffic if there is no really dense fog), they will have very little "uptime". Come to think of it, In the 3.5 months I´ve had my E90, I don´t think I´ve turned them on yet. Your best hopes would probably be posters from England and Scottland. Famous for fog

puck724 · 10-22-2005, 02:56 PM

How do the rear fog lights look?

Tierfreund · 10-22-2005, 02:59 PM

They are part of the inner rear light cluster. Those look exactly the same on the US. They just have no function in the US version

puck724 · 10-22-2005, 03:09 PM

thanks tierfreund.

chamras · 10-22-2005, 08:08 PM

That rear fog light bulbs are OEM and it is the halogen type with 21 watts on it which created a very high temperature which you will notice after 1- 2 minutes after turned on. This is definately a defect from the BMW. If I remov the bulbs for safety purposes then the warning light in the cockpit will come on which is very annoying also. BMW Thailand should recall this incident and have all electrical thorough check.

In the pictures, they are OEM light bulbs.

Tierfreund · 10-23-2005, 04:25 AM

Why would you need to remove them? Simply do not activate the rear fog lights (they don´t come on automatically) and leave it to the dealer to find the problem

E90Fleet · 10-23-2005, 04:38 AM

Are you shure the bulb holder was properly installed in the beginning ?
Maybe it wasnt all the way in, causing the bulb to be too near to the plastic ?

Tierfreund · 10-23-2005, 06:08 AM

The reports are stating to drop in of more such occurences:

http://forum.e90fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=778

chamras · 10-23-2005, 09:49 AM

Yes, those bulbs are fully pushed all the way in from the factory. When I removed the light bulbs panel from the housing, I saw part of it started to melt but still in good condition. Looks like Mr.Thavee case is worse than mine. When the rear fog light were installed from the factory, when removed, I can see that the light bulb were installed quite near to the plastic. If only they use less watts or disable this function, then it shouldn't be any problem. I did tried removing both side bulb from the rear, but the warning light keep showing. I don't really need to use the fog light here in Bangkok, Thailand. But for safety purposes, I would rather have them removed. Will contact BMW Thailand next week. I am sure many people do not aware of this matter as they are installed all the way at the rear of the car. I don't think people will notice them until something happened. Maybe short circuit or the plastic started to melt all the way to the outside. I don't think BMW Thailand knew about this matters.

Thavee · 10-23-2005, 02:07 PM

Umm. LED would be safer.

Hornet · 10-23-2005, 03:44 PM

Hmm, I'm going to check this next time I wash the car. I've never used the rear foglights, though.

ska///235i · 10-23-2005, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thavee

The bulbs are stock bulb H6W. Please look at the small long tiny one. Do not look at the blue one. The blue one is the reversing lights. I reported this to BMW Thailand. There are two e90s found the same problem. This problem happened both sides of the foglights. (I found this because I wanted to change the reversing lights. Without that intention, I would never know that the reflectors got melted.) Just want to learn if e90 in your area has the same problem. My e90 is assembled in Thailand, also some auto parts are made in Thailand.

Just make sure the BMWs in Thailand are not made from China..

Thavee · 10-24-2005, 09:47 AM

Ha Ha Ha, you are right..

10-21-2005, 07:00 PM	#1
Thavee Private 14 Rep 85 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: BKK.TH iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 e90 [0.00]	Help. Melted reflector. Does anyone experience this. Hello, I wanted to replace the reversing lights and found that both rear fog light reflectors had been melted. It seemed the 21watts bulbs are too close to the reflectors. Does anyone experience this? Sorry if i posted in the wrong place. thavee Attached Images
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

10-21-2005, 09:39 PM	#2
thd13 Major 46 Rep 1,445 Posts Drives: A07 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Murrland iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Tell the dealer, they might be able to do something. If anything, it may trigger a big "recall" with BMW because it can pose as a potential fire hazard. __________________ My other ride is your mom.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2005, 01:20 AM	#3
longtran Lieutenant General 1431 Rep 16,628 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA iTrader: (105) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	i doubt that. seem like you changed the bulb to an aftermarket one. better be careful. those aftermarket might have more watts, causing the melt down...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2005, 01:20 AM	#4
BMW Lawman Supreme Commander of Allied Forces 24 Rep 283 Posts Drives: 2012 335i Sport Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Oregon iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 335i F30 [0.00]	The big question is this....did you change the bulbs out and not put the right ones/correct wattage back in? I can't imagine something like this slipping past all the safety testing. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2005, 05:55 AM	#5
Tierfreund Major 21 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	Those are definitely not the factory bulbs. __________________ No, not THAT kind of tierfreund!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2005, 07:53 AM	#6
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 418 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	You're not telling us if the bulbs were stock or if you had previously replaced them. If they are the factory stock bulbs you should report it. That would be a design flaw. If you put aftermarket bulbs in, go back to the stocks and be glad there's not more damage. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2005, 12:41 PM	#7
Thavee Private 14 Rep 85 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: BKK.TH iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 e90 [0.00]	The bulbs are stock bulb H6W. Please look at the small long tiny one. Do not look at the blue one. The blue one is the reversing lights. I reported this to BMW Thailand. There are two e90s found the same problem. This problem happened both sides of the foglights. (I found this because I wanted to change the reversing lights. Without that intention, I would never know that the reflectors got melted.) Just want to learn if e90 in your area has the same problem. My e90 is assembled in Thailand, also some auto parts are made in Thailand.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2005, 01:55 PM	#8
Tierfreund Major 21 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	If only the foglights are at stake, the sample you´re going to get here is not very big. Many posters here are from the US and as far as I know US E90 do not have rear fog lights. I have such lights on my Euro spec E90 but since I will only use them when conditions really call from them (fog with less than 150feet of visibility) and immediately turn them back off when visibility gets better (those lights are really annoying to following traffic if there is no really dense fog), they will have very little "uptime". Come to think of it, In the 3.5 months I´ve had my E90, I don´t think I´ve turned them on yet. Your best hopes would probably be posters from England and Scottland. Famous for fog __________________ No, not THAT kind of tierfreund!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2005, 02:56 PM	#9
puck724 COLTS 4 LIFE!!! 99 Rep 1,746 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: california iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	How do the rear fog lights look? __________________ 2006 330i --sapphire black--black leather --alumminum trim --premium package --cold weather package --park distace control --automatic transmission --navigation with iDrive
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2005, 02:59 PM	#10
Tierfreund Major 21 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	They are part of the inner rear light cluster. Those look exactly the same on the US. They just have no function in the US version __________________ No, not THAT kind of tierfreund!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2005, 03:09 PM	#11
puck724 COLTS 4 LIFE!!! 99 Rep 1,746 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: california iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	thanks tierfreund. __________________ 2006 330i --sapphire black--black leather --alumminum trim --premium package --cold weather package --park distace control --automatic transmission --navigation with iDrive
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-22-2005, 08:08 PM	#12
chamras chamras 3 Rep 41 Posts Drives: BMW 320iSE Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangkok, Thailand iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 320iSE [0.00]	That rear fog light bulbs are OEM and it is the halogen type with 21 watts on it which created a very high temperature which you will notice after 1- 2 minutes after turned on. This is definately a defect from the BMW. If I remov the bulbs for safety purposes then the warning light in the cockpit will come on which is very annoying also. BMW Thailand should recall this incident and have all electrical thorough check. In the pictures, they are OEM light bulbs. Last edited by chamras; 10-23-2005 at 01:26 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-23-2005, 04:25 AM	#13
Tierfreund Major 21 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	Why would you need to remove them? Simply do not activate the rear fog lights (they don´t come on automatically) and leave it to the dealer to find the problem __________________ No, not THAT kind of tierfreund!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-23-2005, 04:38 AM	#14
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	Are you shure the bulb holder was properly installed in the beginning ? Maybe it wasnt all the way in, causing the bulb to be too near to the plastic ?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-23-2005, 06:08 AM	#15
Tierfreund Major 21 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	The reports are stating to drop in of more such occurences: http://forum.e90fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=778 __________________ No, not THAT kind of tierfreund!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-23-2005, 09:49 AM	#16
chamras chamras 3 Rep 41 Posts Drives: BMW 320iSE Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangkok, Thailand iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 320iSE [0.00]	E90 rear fog light Yes, those bulbs are fully pushed all the way in from the factory. When I removed the light bulbs panel from the housing, I saw part of it started to melt but still in good condition. Looks like Mr.Thavee case is worse than mine. When the rear fog light were installed from the factory, when removed, I can see that the light bulb were installed quite near to the plastic. If only they use less watts or disable this function, then it shouldn't be any problem. I did tried removing both side bulb from the rear, but the warning light keep showing. I don't really need to use the fog light here in Bangkok, Thailand. But for safety purposes, I would rather have them removed. Will contact BMW Thailand next week. I am sure many people do not aware of this matter as they are installed all the way at the rear of the car. I don't think people will notice them until something happened. Maybe short circuit or the plastic started to melt all the way to the outside. I don't think BMW Thailand knew about this matters.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-23-2005, 02:07 PM	#17
Thavee Private 14 Rep 85 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: BKK.TH iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 e90 [0.00]	Umm. LED would be safer.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-23-2005, 03:44 PM	#18
Hornet Lieutenant 59 Rep 410 Posts Drives: g20 330d xdrive Join Date: May 2005 Location: Finland iTrader: (0)	Hmm, I'm going to check this next time I wash the car. I've never used the rear foglights, though.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-24-2005, 09:47 AM	#20
Thavee Private 14 Rep 85 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: BKK.TH iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 e90 [0.00]	Ha Ha Ha, you are right..
	Appreciate 0 Quote