FL116
03-16-2016, 07:50 PM
First things first, I know Dane already has a DIY of this procedure, but this is a DIY using the Tail Light Repair Kit. I bought this kit off ECS Tuning for $4 (and $8 for shipping of course :D )
I had plans to finally repair the issue tonight, and of course on my way home, I get pulled over for my tail light being out... but when I told the police officer that it was a recall issue from BMW, he confessed that he owned a ZHP a few years back and had to deal with the same issue. He let me off! :thumbsup How Ironic! Still very cool! And no ticket! Lol
Also, I know most people have had this done on recall by their BMW dealership, but unfortunately the dealer near me refuses to fix it so I had to take it upon myself to fix it.
This install took about 10 minutes total to complete, maybe a little less.
Here is what the kit comes with:
25078
Remove the bulb housing of your tail light and disconnect the plug. This is what you're replacing. The ground terminal cannot support the amount of current running through it, which causes resistance and heat to build up. A melted connector and corrosion is what you end with.
25079
Slide the pin out, mine came right out, and this is what will need to be upgraded. That will be cut off and the new ground wire attached to it.
25080
Cut some of the wire off and strip the wire back a little. Then attach the new terminal that comes in the kit to the wire like so.
25081
25082
Once you attach the new terminal, slip it onto one of the ends of the spade connector that comes in the kit.
25083
Once the terminal is attached to the spade connector, slide it into the black case that is included in the kit. It just slides right in, and you will here a small click.
25084
The final step of this repair is to attach the new comnector to the ground pin on the circuit board (very nice of BMW to just ironically have that ground location there). Very easy, the connector just slides on.
25085
And now you are finished! After months of this issue of having a tail light dash light on, it is finally gone, and its so nice to not have it there. And all tail light functions work great! :cheers
25086
I hope you all enjoyed this simple little DIY and I hope someone can make use of it.
I had plans to finally repair the issue tonight, and of course on my way home, I get pulled over for my tail light being out... but when I told the police officer that it was a recall issue from BMW, he confessed that he owned a ZHP a few years back and had to deal with the same issue. He let me off! :thumbsup How Ironic! Still very cool! And no ticket! Lol
Also, I know most people have had this done on recall by their BMW dealership, but unfortunately the dealer near me refuses to fix it so I had to take it upon myself to fix it.
This install took about 10 minutes total to complete, maybe a little less.
Here is what the kit comes with:
25078
Remove the bulb housing of your tail light and disconnect the plug. This is what you're replacing. The ground terminal cannot support the amount of current running through it, which causes resistance and heat to build up. A melted connector and corrosion is what you end with.
25079
Slide the pin out, mine came right out, and this is what will need to be upgraded. That will be cut off and the new ground wire attached to it.
25080
Cut some of the wire off and strip the wire back a little. Then attach the new terminal that comes in the kit to the wire like so.
25081
25082
Once you attach the new terminal, slip it onto one of the ends of the spade connector that comes in the kit.
25083
Once the terminal is attached to the spade connector, slide it into the black case that is included in the kit. It just slides right in, and you will here a small click.
25084
The final step of this repair is to attach the new comnector to the ground pin on the circuit board (very nice of BMW to just ironically have that ground location there). Very easy, the connector just slides on.
25085
And now you are finished! After months of this issue of having a tail light dash light on, it is finally gone, and its so nice to not have it there. And all tail light functions work great! :cheers
25086
I hope you all enjoyed this simple little DIY and I hope someone can make use of it.