Indicator replacement

Wed Dec 17, 2014 12:51 pm

Hi Guys.

After a few issues with my indicators this week I have narrowed the problem down to the connectors housing the bulb, one is loose and so when I place the new bulb back in they are being pushed onto eachother and are shorting the circuit, the relay is buzzing and i have no indicators on the left hand side or Hazards.
The bulb will now no longer go far back enough into the socket to slot in position and turn to lock it.

Do I have to take the bumper off to replace the unit.

Can anyone give me a quick step by step guide of how to replace the unit.

Thanks guys.

Wed Dec 17, 2014 1:14 pm

It would help if you told us if it's front or back, and facelift or pre-facelift.

Wed Dec 17, 2014 1:17 pm

oops sorry, its the front, 1991 318is

Wed Dec 17, 2014 1:18 pm

You could try gently bending the contact(s) up a little to give a more secure contact against the bulb.

Wed Dec 17, 2014 1:21 pm

I've tried to manipulate the contacts and had no luck. I have bought new units which have just arrived, so I'm going to try and fit them in next half hour.

just need to know if the bumper needs to come off. and a rough idea of how to do it

Wed Dec 17, 2014 1:27 pm

the new units are aftermarkets ones, they are in the link below

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Front-indicat ... 1c49ee2c8e

one thing I'm not sure on is, why they have a second bulb. there is a smaller bulb in the unit which has two wires leading out of the back of the unit.
The larger bulb just has a plug in adapter on the back to connect the loom

Wed Dec 17, 2014 1:42 pm

AFAIK, they are held on by a pair of 10mm nuts, accessible by reaching in from underneath the bumper.

I'm guessing the extra bulb is for running/side lights.

Wed Dec 17, 2014 2:07 pm

Thank you, with give it go and let you guys know if i'm successful

Wed Dec 17, 2014 9:25 pm

Well I'm all sorted.

If anyone else has this problem, you need to replace the whole indicator unit, you will also need to get the car up on stands to reach some of the bolts to remove the bumper.

I fitted clear aftermarket ones, but would have preferred the original BMW orange ones.
Just about got away with not chaving it up

Wed Dec 17, 2014 10:28 pm

Good work. I read somewhere that you can just loosen the bumper - no need to remove it entirely.

Now, just that cracked fog lamp lens to sort out...

Wed Dec 17, 2014 11:46 pm

The OE indicator unit isn't waterproof, and isn't intended to be. It's made from materials that don't corrode, and I've never come across a faulty one, although some cheap aftermarket bulbs can cause problems when they corrode.
I expect you could have obtained a second hand OE replacement for your faulty one by placing a 'parts wanted' ad. on here, for much less than you paid for these aftermarket ones, which I suspect won't be as corrosion resistant as the originals.

Only thing that needs to removed to take off a facelift bumper, front or rear, is the two T55 bolts (10mm hex. on early facelift). Bumper pulls straight off, sliding out of the guides at the sides.
Care is required not to stretch and damaged the wiring to the front indicators when you remove a front bumper.

While we're here, all you need to do to remove a front foglamp, is remove the plastic plug that is half way up the lens, and unscrew the cross head screw behind it. The complete light will then twist out of the front of the valence.