changing lightbulbs - e46

[gizmowp]

damn....

i must sound like a total dummie...anyways...i go to autozone and buy a set of replacement bulbs..all of them are different as the points differ on all 3. which is cool. this is for the tail lights by the way.

anyway, they look identical to the ones i have the car at the moment....all the points even match up...but they just don't seem to fit and stay in the housing,...one of them were loose and fell inside the actual light cover...so i have to remove the whole tail light to get it out...

help...or should i just go to forsdicks bmw and purchase them?

 

[gizmowp]

nobody have this issue i take it:mmm::thinking:

 

[ZlinG]

mmm... not quite sure about the lighting, but in the e36 you have to press down and then twist the ligth to get a tight fit... maybe a pic of the lightbulbs holders (can't think of the real name right now)

 

[CreamyGoodness]

which one fell in - was it the brake light bulb (the one with 2 filaments inside)? That one should have two little contacts on the side of the bulb, one being higher than the other.
Because of the staggered contacts, it can only go into the socket one way, and I've seen worn out sockets where it sorta fits the wrong way around but the bulb looks a little skew - also very prone to fall out of the socket.

As far as I know, all the reverse and indicator are single filament, and are not fussy about which way they go in. Fog light bulbs (I think) are the same as the brake light bulb mentioned above.

hope this helps!

 

[gizmowp]

its both the single filament and the bdouble ones. all 3 bulbs have staggered fitment on them and ive tried pressing down and fitting them in? maybe i should have a couple of beers to make me think better:spit:

 

[CreamyGoodness]

its both the single filament and the bdouble ones. all 3 bulbs have staggered fitment on them and ive tried pressing down and fitting them in? maybe i should have a couple of beers to make me think better:spit:

ummm...I think you better post a pic of the holder like ZlinG said, cos now I feel like I need a beer.

 

[gizmowp]

its both the single filament and the bdouble ones. all 3 bulbs have staggered fitment on them and ive tried pressing down and fitting them in? maybe i should have a couple of beers to make me think better:spit:

ummm...I think you better post a pic of the holder like ZlinG said, cos now I feel like I need a beer.

lol. gr8 minds think alike:excited:

but i'll take a pic

 

[Crashappy]

Hi

i changed my bulbs a month ago and had the same issue.
Finally after going to Midas and Autozone the guy at Midas pointed out that there is a slight difference in the bajonet spacing on the bubls, the two points are not only the on slightly higher than the other one (normal for most bulbs) they are also no directly opposite each other but slightly off set at about 30 degrees when you view the bulb straight on from the connector side.
Was forced to buy from BMW, it was R64 for the complete bulb set for the rear excluding fog lamp.

Hope this helps

 

[gizmowp]

Hi

i changed my bulbs a month ago and had the same issue.
Finally after going to Midas and Autozone the guy at Midas pointed out that there is a slight difference in the bajonet spacing on the bubls, the two points are not only the on slightly higher than the other one (normal for most bulbs) they are also no directly opposite each other but slightly off set at about 30 degrees when you view the bulb straight on from the connector side.
Was forced to buy from BMW, it was R64 for the complete bulb set for the rear excluding fog lamp.

Hope this helps

Damn dude....i reckon that is what im going to have to so as well....i thought as much. thanks