HELP!

for the life of me, I could not take the dome light off. I found some DIY's here and some explanations, but it just wouldnt budge. Ive taken out coupe domes within seconds, but this one is a trick.

Im trying to help out a friend swap the bulbs to LEDs but its no dice. anyone in socal willing to help?

cheers

*sorry for posting in wrong forum*

 

On my 05 Cabrio, to get to the center dome light you will need to release tabs on the rectangular piece the clear lens is attached to. Once you have released this peice, the bulb for the dome light is removed from behind the lens.

I think the tabs ore on the side opposite the windshield but I'm not 100% sure about that. It's been 2 years since I changed my bulbs for LEDs.

 

thanks!

i did try that and kept coming back to the guide I saw here somewhere. i could just be either doing it wrong or just not applying the right pressure.

 

Correct. You can insert a credit card into the gap between the rectangular piece and the base. Do this on the side opposite the windshield, near a corner, and pull down along that edge. The rectangular lighting unit will tilt down, towards the windshield and come off.

 

I just tried this. still no joy. i think im doing it wrong

 

Really push the credit card into the gap, like an inch.

The basic idea is that you pry off the rectangular piece which is the lighting unit. Pry it off along the edge opposite the windshield. It's easier to start at one of the corners. I think I've been able to do it with no tools, just my fingernails, but a thin piece of plastic (like a credit card) gives more leverage.

 

I gave it a good push yesterday with an old gift card. it just goes in and slides around, but the housing itself isnt coming off. i had someone jam a flathead screwdriver along the edges as i ran the card back and forth - still nothing.

i think this one's a wednesday car.

 

Maybe something is catching. Insert and slide the card around as much of the perimeter as you can. I attached the official BMW instructions, which is very similar to what I was describing.

 

thanks rkw, i will give it another try over the weekend. i will post "after" pics if i do it

 

still no dice

 

One final suggestion. Try pushing it out from the inside, as described in this post: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...&postcount=108

 

The attached photo is what the light looks like out.

The tabs with arrows face the rear off the car. Using a small straight screwdriver pry the light out while rotating towards the front of the car.

 

is that one from an 06 Cabrio too?

 

thank you for being so patient with this noob.

I will give that a shot again tomorrow. Ive had my fair share of taking apart some rediculous light housings (like the one for the map lights on my TL) but this by far takes the cake.

never in my life has an overhead light housing give me so much grief.

 

The prying should require very little force, otherwise something must be jammed up. If I were to guess, one of the two spring metal clips may be crooked or misaligned.

 

05 Cabrio they are the same.