How to remove front indicators?

[ManiacGT]

So I bought some led lamps for the front headlamp indicators to replace the stock orange bulb.


I cannot get the OEM lamp out. The panel on the wheel arch comes off easy, then the indicator turns about 30 degrees and stops.

Has anyone else done this that can tell me if I need to turn harder or? (I've not tried this as I don't want to snap anything)

EDIT

I've sussed this now. Just needed to pull harder!

The Result:

[Lurcher]

look they are almost 2 stage. Any dash warning lights? 2 pairs I've bought - both send errors....

[Kessler35is]

You have done what I was planing since day one. I have just not had time to get to it.


Which bulbs did you buy and do they have built in resistors to eliminate the errors?

[ManiacGT]

No errors.. Ill try and find a link for you.. But here's the old and new bulbs;

Edit: http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/vie...d=370656141091

[InsanePineapple]

Looks the same as stock? What's the point of the replacement?

[jparnes1]

Yeah, I don't get it. They both look yellow.

[BMWZ4RIDER]

+1

[CedarZ4]

Originally Posted by morfinx

Looks the same as stock? What's the point of the replacement?

Hard to see in the video since it's flashing.. but to get rid of this yolk effect



Sorry for the the big picture, couldn't find a good example on Google when I searched for "Yolk Effect" so just used my own pic.

A simple mod that is on my list as well... but haven't had the time to do it yet.

[jparnes1]

OK I see what you mean. When the LED flashes off, there's no yellow color present. So the bulb puts out a yellow light because of it's temperature. I could be interested in this.

so Maniac, you access the bulb from the wheel well and turn it which way to loosen?

[ManiacGT]

The main reason I changed this was not to change colour, that would be illegal in the UK. This was to make the blinking of the light instant, not fade in and out like a normal bulb does. This then matches the rest of the car as the side repeaters and rear indicators/turn signals are LED and are instant off/on. Now too are the front indicators which BMW were too cheap to make LED and put normal bulbs in. They're also somewhat brighter, which can only be a good thing when it comes to indication.

[jparnes1]

FYI, I just bought this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GP-Thunder-P...ors_Car_Truck_

After some looking around, this was a great price for GP Thunder Cree bulbs. 30W was also the brightest I came across - most were 7.5W or less. Note they are amber. I'm pretty sure white turn signal bulbs are illegal.

I did a test uninstall of the OEM bulbs. Easy. Just use a pair of pliers on the plastic tab to pull the bulb aseembly out. The tab isn't quite long enough to really get a good grip on with your fingers.

[InsanePineapple]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

FYI, I just bought this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GP-Thunder-P...ors_Car_Truck_

After some looking around, this was a great price for GP Thunder Cree bulbs. 30W was also the brightest I came across - most were 7.5W or less. Note they are amber. I'm pretty sure white turn signal bulbs are illegal.

I did a test uninstall of the OEM bulbs. Easy. Just use a pair of pliers on the plastic tab to pull the bulb aseembly out. The tab isn't quite long enough to really get a good grip on with your fingers.

Yep, looks like any non-amber turn signal lights are illegal in the US:

We contrast this with clear replacement lenses and lamps for turn signal and parking lamps (and front side marker lamps, as well as front clearance and identification lamps on wider vehicles). The light from these lamps must be amber (also when amber is chosen over red for the rear turn signals). The amber light from these lamps furnished as original equipment is produced by either a white bulb and amber lens, or by an amber bulb and a white lens. The latter is permissible because amber bulbs meeting J578's color specification for amber are available. Lamps incorporating white lenses and amber bulbs are being certified as conforming to Standard No. 108. Thus, a clear lens for these specific lamps is permissible as original equipment, provided that the lamp with an amber bulb produces light meeting J578's amber color specification. It follows that replacement lenses or lamps for original equipment lamps with amber bulbs may also be clear, and that it is not a violation of Federal law to manufacture and sell them, provided that they comply in every way with Standard No 108.

http://isearch.nhtsa.gov/files/21575.ztv.html

[z4z4z4]

Originally Posted by morfinx

Yep, looks like any non-amber turn signal lights are illegal in the US:



http://isearch.nhtsa.gov/files/21575.ztv.html

White turns are legal in California. Side must remain amber.
The last sentence in quote above says clear bulbs are permissable ( meeting 108).

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by z4z4z4

White turns are legal in California. Side must remain amber.
The last sentence in quote above says clear bulbs are permissable ( meeting 108).

I don't think you read that correctly. what they're saying is that the lens or bulb can be white, but if you have a white bulb, you must have an amber lens (or vice-versa). The end result should be an amber color, which ever way you produce it is fine.

[Alpha_Zulu]

Ok now this is something I'm definitely interested in. I HATE that they used a normal bulb on the side indicators when you've got LED indicators on the fender and on the rear.

How easy/hard was it to remove the factory bulb?

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by Alpha_Zulu

Ok now this is something I'm definitely interested in. I HATE that they used a normal bulb on the side indicators when you've got LED indicators on the fender and on the rear.

How easy/hard was it to remove the factory bulb?

Easy peasy Japanesey. The flap in the wheel well is removed by turning the 2 hold-down tabs with a quarter. Turn the tab on the bulb assembly (it only goes about 1/4 turn and stops), then grab the tab with a pair of pliers and pull. The bulb is attached to a base which rotates about 1/4 turn and pulls off. Just reverse to re-assemble.

[Alpha_Zulu]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

Easy peasy Japanesey. The flap in the wheel well is removed by turning the 2 hold-down tabs with a quarter. Turn the tab on the bulb assembly (it only goes about 1/4 turn and stops), then grab the tab with a pair of pliers and pull. The bulb is attached to a base which rotates about 1/4 turn and pulls off. Just reverse to re-assemble.

Well that does sound easy.

Originally Posted by jparnes1

FYI, I just bought this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GP-Thunder-P...ors_Car_Truck_

After some looking around, this was a great price for GP Thunder Cree bulbs. 30W was also the brightest I came across - most were 7.5W or less. Note they are amber. I'm pretty sure white turn signal bulbs are illegal.

I did a test uninstall of the OEM bulbs. Easy. Just use a pair of pliers on the plastic tab to pull the bulb aseembly out. The tab isn't quite long enough to really get a good grip on with your fingers.

I take it you've already installed these on your Z4? If yes, how do they look? Any pictures/video?

[jparnes1]

They're being shipped. I imagine they'll look like the video above.

[z4z4z4]

V C Section 24953 Turn Signal Lamps

Turn Signal Lamps

24953.**(a) Any turn signal system used to give a signal of intention to turn right or left shall project a flashing white or amber light visible to the front and a flashing red or amber light visible to the rear.

white is alright!

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by z4z4z4

V C Section 24953 Turn Signal Lamps

Turn Signal Lamps

24953.**(a) Any turn signal system used to give a signal of intention to turn right or left shall project a flashing white or amber light visible to the front and a flashing red or amber light visible to the rear.

white is alright!

Is that a state or federal law?

[BMAFIEND]

Originally Posted by Alpha_Zulu

Well that does sound easy.




I take it you've already installed these on your Z4? If yes, how do they look? Any pictures/video?

Here is a pic and video of what it looks like. Purchased mine from IJDM. No errors or problems. One note I have is if you turn too hard the tabs on the light holder will break and the replacement part is not listed on the Z4 part list. I was found for a 5 series and was 9 bucks to replace.

[BMWZ4RIDER]

Very nice.
Add this to my ever growing list of upgrades.