E46 Exclusive package front fog lamp bulbs

[zippy320]

Hi Guys !

Car is an E46 318i Auto Exclusive package ,

After 12 years , 1 front fog lamp (golf ball type) bulb has finally given out .

went over to BMW to buy the bulb , thinking at most it would cost about R100 and was really really shocked to discover that its over R800 per bulb!

Exactly what is so special about this bulb?? Why is it so expensive ? If this is the cost of a fog lamp bulb , im afraid to think of what the xenon bulb replacement might cost me in the future

Any idea where I could find and purchase this bulb? Or what bulb it is?
Been everywhere and nobody has this bulb.

Im in durban.

 

[Tris]

Try your local Autozone/Midas?

 

[KPM3_30]

Rubbish. Double check the cost with them and if it is really R800, tell them to get stuffed. Those bulbs are cheap and a replacement set from a mod shop will cost nothing more than R80 bucks for a pair. I replaced my old bulbs with plasma bulbs for R80, 5 years ago.

PM me if you would like me to put you in touch with a durban supplier, he can fit as well for you.

 

[Teezy_F30]

after some research .. they are h11 globes ..
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AZ72&mospid=47632&btnr=63_0730&hg=63&fg=15

check with midas, autozone .. if u dont come right, u in durbs, check with max motorsport or autostyle .. they should have after market h11 bulbs that a whiter and brighter that oem .. should be around the R300-400 a pair price ..

 

[Spiro]

howzit


please put sample pic here, i have some globes at home...



let me know


:=)::=):

 

[Mohammed@Auto X-cessorize]

I sell the exact bulbs that the agents sell, Phillips , I sell them for R130 per bulb but a knock off could set you back about R60 - R70 rand.

As for the xenon D1S bulb, i had a lady customer come to me for the bulb, i gave her a price of R1100 per bulb, phillips, she thought i was crazy, she then checked with agents, they quoted somewhere in the region of 4k, She will be fitting the bulb by me on Friday...:biglol:

 

[Teezy_F30]

I sell the exact bulbs that the agents sell, Phillips , I sell them for R130 per bulb but a knock off could set you back about R60 - R70 rand.

As for the xenon D1S bulb, i had a lady customer come to me for the bulb, i gave her a price of R1100 per bulb, phillips, she thought i was crazy, she then checked with agents, they quoted somewhere in the region of 4k, She will be fitting the bulb by me on Friday...:biglol:

always good prices from Mo! .. and thats on Original Phillips :clapper: ..

 

[Yuben]

H11 u require and easy to fit. Not expensive at all...
In Durban, ur local spares shop should carry it or get the white light ones from Autostyle

 

[ernest maurice]

Changed one in 2011 when I had a similar car. Wasn't over R100 for a set of Osram, changed both in under 30min. Agents are crazy,they wanted R80 for an indicator bulb, just a normal offset single contact.

---

Got a friend driving a 2010 Corolla, his low beam bulbs burnt out and he replaced them with Midas bulbs, they burn out in less than 24 hrs, he was told that he must get original bulbs at the dealership instead, was quoted R1600 for each. He opted not to drive at night

 

[zippy320]

Hi Guys!
Sorry for the late update, Been a really busy week. Thanks for ALLL the input! I really appreciate it.

I went over to Midas , and they have "hella" branded bulbs for R148 per bulb , The box said Hella , but the parts guy said they were Osram bulbs, I havnt replaced mine as yet.

I still cant understand how the dealers can Justify charging over R800 for those bulbs, but anyway,

If the originals on my car are Phillips bulbs , wont there be a color difference between the Hella brand and the Phillips originals?

I wouldn't want to have two color fog lamps .

 

[ernest maurice]

I usually change both of the bulbs even if only one has blown. I suggest you just do the same as well.

 

[Spiro]

post pic of bulb you looking for...

 

[zippy320]

Hi guys, I was thinking about that, changing both at the same time, my original bulbs did last 12 years so those Phillips ones must be if really good quality. I use the fogs all the time. Even though I have xenons , It lights up the road in a way that I really can't explain.

So am going to try and find those Phillips bulbs again. At worst , buy the osram,

I don't have a picture of the bulb, it's an h11 w 55 bulb.

How do I get to them though? Do I go through the wheel well and move the plastic shroud aside or through the grill at the bottom?

 

[ernest maurice]

I don't remember how I changed mine but it wasn't via the wheel arches. I think I stretched via the open bonnet .

 

[Dewald Basson]

[video=youtube]

I always look at this guys widows for e46 DIY stuff, he is funny as well

 

[Spiro]

lemme see if i have the H11 55W at home, will let you know this evening..


T


:coolShake::coolShake:

 

[zippy320]

Thanks guys! that process seems simple! though when it comes to this car sometimes the simplest of tasks seem the most difficult.
Going through the bonnet / engine area wont work for me , I have all these plastic bits sealing up the area.

As soon as I buy the bulbs will try it out.

 

[zippy320]

@ Dewald Basson Thanks for your vid! I used that process to replace the bulb and it was really simple, Though a little bit of a squeeze as the plastic wheel shroud comes in the way , you have to wiggle it a little an tilt to the side away from the car to get it out .

I purchased two of the Hella Branded bulbs from Midas , They were R140 each

replaced the one , compared it to the other and the color was the same , On closer inspection of the bulbs , they look almost identical , colors , shape , filament , material used . Just the one had Phillips printed at the back and the other Hella .
I wonder if they are both manufactured by the same factory.

The problem though with my bulb , wasn't that it was shorted or fused , the plastic holder thats attached to it seemed to have become brittle and broke to pieces.Probably heat damage. The bulb is still usable though,As I plugged it in a little firmly and it worked perfectly , I decided to change it anyway.

Feels really good to finally have that fixed!

Thanks to everyone on for the help!!

 

[Dewald Basson]

@ Dewald Basson Thanks for your vid! I used that process to replace the bulb and it was really simple, Though a little bit of a squeeze as the plastic wheel shroud comes in the way , you have to wiggle it a little an tilt to the side away from the car to get it out .

I purchased two of the Hella Branded bulbs from Midas , They were R140 each

replaced the one , compared it to the other and the color was the same , On closer inspection of the bulbs , they look almost identical , colors , shape , filament , material used . Just the one had Phillips printed at the back and the other Hella .
I wonder if they are both manufactured by the same factory.

The problem though with my bulb , wasn't that it was shorted or fused , the plastic holder thats attached to it seemed to have become brittle and broke to pieces.Probably heat damage. The bulb is still usable though,As I plugged it in a little firmly and it worked perfectly , I decided to change it anyway.

Feels really good to finally have that fixed!

Thanks to everyone on for the help!!

:clapper::clapper:

That oke has lots of DIY e46 vids I always look as his vids and at BAVauto, their vids are very precise and professional.

 

[DieselFan]

Hi guys, I was thinking about that, changing both at the same time, my original bulbs did last 12 years so those Phillips ones must be if really good quality. I use the fogs all the time. Even though I have xenons , It lights up the road in a way that I really can't explain.

So am going to try and find those Phillips bulbs again. At worst , buy the osram,

I don't have a picture of the bulb, it's an h11 w 55 bulb.

How do I get to them though? Do I go through the wheel well and move the plastic shroud aside or through the grill at the bottom?

Osram is also an OE manufacturer. They are good quality bulbs. I'm sure BMW switch between osram and Philips as suppliers. So its not as if you're settling for 2nd best. They are both up there as the best.