$3,500 to replace a turn signal bulb and other dealer hilarity

[ctrzaska]

Yep, $3,500 give or take, they say. 08 135i.

Backstory: front right turn signal out. Socket apparently melted a bit, so cleaned up contact, shaved plastic and replaced bulb, and no go after a couple of days. New socket installed, still no go. Popped by dealer for a quick look as I had an hour to kill nearby, and was advised the following:
- Contact inside the housing probably bad.
- Overheating and melting not uncommon.
- Need a new front headlamp assembly for the right as contact can’t be fixed.
- Will notice a difference in lighting strength, color, etc, so probably want to do both.
- Xenons are $$$ (nevermind that these are fine, just the turn signal is an issue).
- Whole front clip needs to come off to access/replace, so several hours of labor.
- Probably $3,500 all in, need to confirm parts cost.

Um… thanks.

Talk to parts guys for the hell of it. Ask if I can just order the housing or whatever the hell this bulb connects to. Pop the existing headlights, ballast, directional stuff, etc in, along with my new turn socket, and go. No such animal, they say.

So… a question— this can’t possibly be the only solution to this, so what to do? Anyone know the part number (assuming one exists) for whatever holds the turn signal contact? Other ideas?

[Almuliman]

Stealerships...

RealOEM lists the socket stand-alone (https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...&q=63126940665), but that's it (without diving into the whole Electrical System section).

[ctrzaska]

Originally Posted by Almuliman

Stealerships...

RealOEM lists the socket stand-alone (https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/par...=63126940665), but that's it (without diving into the whole Electrical System section).

Thanks. I replaced that already when the contact couldn’t be repaired… it’s the part that it screws into that I need, which has its own metal contact to complete the connection. And the diagram doesn’t seem to show anything, just the socket floating by itself.

[xrockoutx]

I have no help...but can confirm mine has melted too...I just clean it up every once in a while...and pretend it's not there when it goes out again.

[Almuliman]

Originally Posted by ctrzaska

Thanks. I replaced that already when the contact couldn’t be repaired… it’s the part that it screws into that I need, which has its own metal contact to complete the connection. And the diagram doesn’t seem to show anything, just the socket floating by itself.

Ugh. Haven't had my headlights opened up for a while, so I don't remember, but is that part of the larger assembly (reflector or housing or whatever)?

[ctrzaska]

Originally Posted by Almuliman

Ugh. Haven't had my headlights opened up for a while, so I don't remember, but is that part of the larger assembly (reflector or housing or whatever)?

Apparently so, per the service tech who wasn’t 100%, parts didn’t think that was true, and I honestly have no idea.

[krhodes1]

Solder a couple wires to jump the connection?

Where there is a will there is a kludge.

But this is why I am perfectly happy with the halogen headlights in both of my BMWs.

[NorthernDancer]

Can you not get the piece you need out of a BMW in a wrecking yard?

And I too like my halogen lights.

[ctrzaska]

Originally Posted by NorthernDancer

Can you not get the piece you need out of a BMW in a wrecking yard?

And I too like my halogen lights.

I would, but I’ve yet to figure out what the part even is— whether I can get just the housing with the receiving connector attached (and what that comes with) or the whole assembly.

Have no issues with the Xe headlights— they’re fine on this and the X3— and did also have no issues on my 325xi with halogens— but I’m working with what I’ve got unfortunately.

[nevetstoj]

I literally just bought the indicator housing form the dealer a few months ago.

Same exact issue in the same headlight.

Take your phone camera and turn on video with flash on. Point into the housing from the wheel well. You will most likely see that the metal contact on the headlight housing, where the burn mark was on the socket, is loose. I played the game of reseating it for so long.

Turn on your park lights manually, reach in with you finger and bend the contact on the headlight back into its original position. Test fit the socket to make sure its contacting. Remove again and clean housing contact point with alcohol, and the rubber on the socket with alcohol.

Do a final fit and you will have no problems I promise.

[jcandido]

Guys, these are BMW's. Who cares about turn signals, amiright?

[mikegsx]

I had the same problem with my turn signal as well. I bought a valeo headlight off rockauto and replaced my original headlight. When i took off the old one though I could see the turn signal contact was burnt/ material missing but I was able to just lay down some solder to replace the contact basically. I still have the original but never powered it up to see if that actually fixed it.

[ctrzaska]

Originally Posted by nevetstoj

I literally just bought the indicator housing form the dealer a few months ago.

Same exact issue in the same headlight.

Take your phone camera and turn on video with flash on. Point into the housing from the wheel well. You will most likely see that the metal contact on the headlight housing, where the burn mark was on the socket, is loose. I played the game of reseating it for so long.

Turn on your park lights manually, reach in with you finger and bend the contact on the headlight back into its original position. Test fit the socket to make sure its contacting. Remove again and clean housing contact point with alcohol, and the rubber on the socket with alcohol.

Do a final fit and you will have no problems I promise.

Thanks for that. Much appreciated. I think the last effort was just to bend it a bit but we didn’t spend too much time getting it 100% as it seemed ok. Will give it a shot in the next few days.
Just to know, what’s the p/n for the indicator housing?

[nevetstoj]

Originally Posted by ctrzaska

Thanks for that. Much appreciated. I think the last effort was just to bend it a bit but we didn’t spend too much time getting it 100% as it seemed ok. Will give it a shot in the next few days.
Just to know, what’s the p/n for the indicator housing?

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...or-63126940665

63126940665

You'll see a ridge where the metal contact should be sitting. My thoughts are that someone must have replaced the bulb at one point and either twisted too hard or with the socket incorrectly seated and broke the tab.