BMW Convertible E88 - LED Dome light install question...

[methodz]

So I watched a couple of youtubes without even looking at my car on doing the LED dome light conversion. Then I go out to my car to give it a shot and I realize my dome light housing is different than the tut's I was watching. Most likely because I have a convertible. So my question is for my fellow vert brothers and sisters.

I noticed in the coupe the white plastic takes up the whole front part of the dome light housing. So my first instinct was to do the same on my housing by trying to remove the clear part first. My problem is I cannot budge the clear part of my housing making me think it may be glued in? None of my pry tools can penetrate the crease for the clear part. I even took some tiny eyeglass screwdriver to it and I couldn't even get that in.

Then I thought maybe try the black plastic housing and I was able to get my pry tool in there and get some movement. But before I went and pried it all the way out I wanted to check here first.

So, for my convertible people, do I pry off the part in green or the part in red? Please respond if you have the same dome light housing that I do. THANKS!!!

[methodz]

So this is the coupe version of the dome light housing which is different. I can even see little tab marks through the frosty plastic but I swear I cannot see any tabs on mine like you can here.

[litebulb]

I did mine a couple of years ago. You need to do the whole thing, so the red outline. The green outline area is screwed into base (red outline).

[methodz]

Originally Posted by litebulb

I did mine a couple of years ago. You need to do the whole thing, so the red outline. The green outline area is screwed into base (red outline).

Man!!! Your username is like the most fitting username for one to reply to this thread!!!

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I figured that clear piece wasn't going to come out. One question for you though. When I pry out the red outlined area is it just the face that comes out where the bulbs and buttons stay on the roof or does the entire housing come down and I put the bulbs in from the back?

Thank you again for giving me a great starting point.

[motley2012]

And it has a clip on the right hand end of the red outlined end that needs releasing as well as the spring clips around the edges.

[motley2012]

Sorry when the whole unit is dropped down the three bulbs have bayonet type fittings from behind.

[halfhalo]

Don't overly force it down. I managed to put a small crack in mine by pulling when one of the spring clips was stuck.

[methodz]

Originally Posted by motley2012

And it has a clip on the right hand end of the red outlined end that needs releasing as well as the spring clips around the edges.

Thanks for that tip about the clips on the right side! When I had it halfway pulled down I was able to see those 2 plastic springy clips. They put up a little bit of a fight but I was able to get them out. Then the whole thing slides diagonally out towards that right side.

Thanks guys for all of your help.

Now I just have to do the footwell lights and trunk. I had a quick look and I assume you just pop the covers on and replace the bulbs right? No panel pulling required if I have the lights there already?

Thanks again

[litebulb]

Originally Posted by methodz

Thanks for that tip about the clips on the right side! When I had it halfway pulled down I was able to see those 2 plastic springy clips. They put up a little bit of a fight but I was able to get them out. Then the whole thing slides diagonally out towards that right side.

Thanks guys for all of your help.

Now I just have to do the footwell lights and trunk. I had a quick look and I assume you just pop the covers on and replace the bulbs right? No panel pulling required if I have the lights there already?

Thanks again

Yup, everything other than the dome is easy

[motley2012]

You can just put bulbs in the foot well lights but 151339052373 on eBay UK are a better option where you change the unit. Having tried both the units are far better in the boot and footwell locations.

[motley2012]

From memory the footwell units are 18 SMD and the boot/trunk is a 24 smd.

[methodz]

Originally Posted by motley2012

You can just put bulbs in the foot well lights but 151339052373 on eBay UK are a better option where you change the unit. Having tried both the units are far better in the boot and footwell locations.

Thank you sir but I already picked up the OEM 10 pack. But I'm sure someone who reads this will take that route!

[alpha84]

did all my interior lights to led a year back but every time i turn on the dome light/map light they auto switch off after a while, anybody run into this issue?

[litebulb]

Originally Posted by alpha84

did all my interior lights to led a year back but every time i turn on the dome light/map light they auto switch off after a while, anybody run into this issue?

Does it happen engine on, off or both. I know my dome turns off after a bit, if I was to just have it on battery, i.e. Cleaning the interior.

[1junkie]

I know it's been a few years since anyone posted on this but I was just thinking the same thing. If I turn on my dome light or my map lights now that I have converted them to LED bulbs they turn off within about 5 seconds and do not come back on unless I turn the car off. Is there a solution for this? Is it the bulbs?

[________]

Originally Posted by 1junkie

I know it's been a few years since anyone posted on this but I was just thinking the same thing. If I turn on my dome light or my map lights now that I have converted them to LED bulbs they turn off within about 5 seconds and do not come back on unless I turn the car off. Is there a solution for this? Is it the bulbs?

It probably is. I've had LED replacements and they worked exactly the same way as the original