hi folks,

i've been digging around the forum on this topic. so i need some help with this. my break lamp (right side) burnt out and needs to be replaced.

i've been explained/read that the OEM clear tail lamp is fused to the mother board. so before i take them out, could someone help me with these questions. if you have pix, that would be even better..

1. which bulb is the break lamp (top or bottom).
2. what is the size and type (is it a 21w?).
3. i read that polarg is one of the possible replacement (http://www.2kracing.com/index.php/cPath/27. does anyone know which one is it?
4. anywhere else i might be able to find this?
5. is this difficult?

thanks in advance!

cwlouis

 

CW, the OEM whites might not even have bulbs (might be LED). minihune has them so he can give you the lowdown on it. Didn't you get the whites installed by the dealer when you bought your car? If so, and the bulbs can't be replaced, isn't it a warranty item?

BTW, the brake lights are the bottom ones (along with the running lights). Middle are turn signals. Top are foglights.

 

thanks DaKine! i called the dealer and they said that it's a bulb. and my warranty just finished when this gave out. i wonder, when i have my lights on, the bottom light is on (when i turn everything on), but when i press the breaks, it's not responding...do you think it might be a fuse issue or the bulb?

any thoghts...

 

If that's the case, let's take it apart and figure it out. So they're saying it's a red bulb? You still off on Fridays? I'm game.

 

I've seen those bulbs and they are soldered to the board and cannot be easily removed.

Doesn't the brake light lower bulb have two elements. One is on when the lights are on and one comes on with the brake pedal for a brighter red on the lower portion of the light.

 

Shouldn't be too bad to remove if it's just soldered on.

Yes they are - that's what I meant by the brake lights being the bottom ones (along with the running lights).

So Brad are the bulbs red? I don't really see the red bulb from the back of your car (when lights are off).

 

thanks guys!

the folks at BMW said it's a silver bulb which glows red. if that's the case, i just need to find the replacement...any clue any one?

 

I've only seen the silvervision-type ones for the turn signal (my front turn signal) which are silver when unlit and amber when lit. Never seen or heard of the red version. Looking on RealOEM.com it looks like only the turn signal is like that and the red is LED (or something).

Anyway, let's take it apart and see Louis!

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...92&hg=63&fg=95

 

ok...will email you about it later.. thanks DaKine

 

Best way is to look at the bulbs by removing them from the tail light housing.

The bulb should be clear with a silver like reflective finish. On closer inspection the bulb is red on the inside and the reflective finish keeps the red from appearing unless the bulb is lit.
The bulb is P21/5W
If you cannot replace the bulb exact like I think a plain red brake P21/5W bulb will work but you may see a little red from the back. As it is now the red is present on very close inspection but only a little.

The black plastic mounting bracket has a different number on the back of it compared to stock-
(for the white tail lights)
89028605. DIADEM BULBS
MINI 63.21-6919915.9
Valeo
>PPTD20<

Looks like you can unsolder and remove the bulb then replace it.

 

OK, no problem then - let's do it Louis! And IF I screw-up, no sweat because it's not my car. Nah, J/K. Sort of.

 

gee thanks dakine! but yeah, maybe this friday or after when i return from my trip...lmk when will be the best time for you...

thanks again i think...i think my car is the offical HMMC "tester"..

 

Let's shoot for this Friday. I'm good for that day.

You need to get the bulb though. Not sure if NAPA/Checkers sell a dual filament red bulb.

 

i also just won this on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...0389824&rd=1,1

so if we are having problems, this might be my replacement....

 

Bad news, these don't come with bulbs. It uses your current light panel; therefore, to use these, you still have to get the colored bulbs.

[Edit : nevermind, I just read the ebay listing. Sounds like they are OEM ones. Sorry.]

 

minihune, each bulb had two tack solders on opposite sides of each bulb. It was easy to unsolder and remove the bad bulb.

The problem we had was finding a red bulb! No such luck! We went to the ricer shop in Pearl Ridge, Checkers, and Daiei (Waipahu) but no luck.

 

I got the OEM clear taillights and have my passenger side brake light go out as well. I had NO idea I was going to have to unsolder the light bulb to replace it! WTF??!! Why would they be designed that way? So I've basically got to disassemble the entire taillight housing and unsolder the old bulb and solder in a new bulb? And did anyone find a real replacement bulb for it?

I gotta say, I'm a little stunned that something as simple as replacing a brake light is so involved. I may just have to put my original taillights back in and not worry about. Kind of sucks.

 

delete, wrong topic.

 

Well yes you need to buy the whole bulb assembley from dealer for like $80 bucks, but if you are a bit of a DIY you can unsolder by reheating the bulbs off and simply replace bulbs, took me a trip to all 3 Auto Zone, Kragens, and Pep Boys to get all legal bulbs but cost less than $15 bucks.

 

I am having the same issue and I'm looking to replace the single bulb by unsoldering and resoldering.

Does anyone know if this/these bulb(s) is/are the correct bulbs to use?

http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/xtec-38...ke-tail-bulbs/

or

http://www.hids-direct.co.uk/xtec-38...-opposite-pin/

Thanks!

 

I had one lower bulb go out on my clear rear lights. I found that the replacement chromed bulbs I could find were too dim compared to the OEM bulbs that were still working.

So I unsoldered (you need a hot iron to do it) the top and bottom bulbs from both sides of the rear light assemblies leaving only the middle chromed yellow bulb soldered.

This allowed me to replace both tops and both bottom rear red bulbs with LEDs, one pair 1156 and one pair 1157. for each bulb base look at the locations of the small metal pins, on one it is opposite and on the other it is at different levels.

see difference for 1156 and 1157
http://www.chromeglow.com/store.asp?pid=26466

In your links the Diadem bulb has opposite pins like the 1156 base does.

In my case I ordered from-
http://www.autolumination.com/automo..._led_bulbs.htm

I used the Matrix II LED bulbs 32 bulbs total (18 facing forward, 14 facing sideways) for both 1156 and 1157 one pair each. I did have a few LEDs go bad and burn out but it still looks OK due to so many total bulbs. What I like about these bulbs is the sideways facing bulbs reflect against the walls of the light reflector. Overall the red color from the outside is good and even in color.

When I had tried the replacement chromed bulbs they were not as bright as the OEM bulbs and the two bulbs I did get did not even light up the same, one was dimmer than the other. Poor quality control.

I think you can spend more than the $7.99 for each bulb but don't spend less as the quality of the LEDs can be questionable.

 

Awesome, thanks so much Minihune! I appreciate your input on your experiences with other bulbs and what you chose to use. I'll definitely go with that option first since you had good luck with how it worked out.

Thanks again for the response