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      09-17-2015, 11:50 AM   #1
smoothmoka
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LED tail lights (xenon) burnt out

Hi all,

Just wondering if anybody else had to replace the LED tail lights. I know it's very easy to replace but can they be fixed instead of the replacing the full assembly? My warranty expired as of May 2015 and my odometer is at 98000...not sure if dealership has any grace period on out of warranty replacement on them (wishful thinking).
Both outer left and inner right seem burnt out. I tried wiggling the wire on one of them and for a moment it lit up then dimmed out after 2 seconds.
Any advice would be very much appreciated!
Thanks.
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      09-17-2015, 06:19 PM   #2
02420X3
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I've had the same two replaced, one in warranty and one out. My recollection is that the inner one was priced at somewhere around $280 and the outer somewhere around $380. The problem appears to be with the control board, which is an integral part of the light and is not sold separately.
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      09-18-2015, 06:31 AM   #3
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Wink LED tail lights

Mine also died and I replaced the complete inner tail light unit with an expensive new one.

I dismantled the old one by heating it in the stove. Unfortunatly I used too much heat, so the grey back-part deformed.
Anyway, I manage to split it apart in the glue seam and I took out the lead light unit for closer inspection. I hooked up a 12v supply and checked that voltage supply to the leds was OK, but no light. However after playing with the internal connectors and pulling/pushing the internal wiring the leds came alive again. So the failure could likely be due to bad contact or wire connection on the electronic boards.
To make a repair, the trick would be to take apart the glued halves of the unit without destroying it in the process.
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      09-18-2015, 12:31 PM   #4
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thanks for the responses...I appreciate it!
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      09-18-2015, 04:21 PM   #5
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I had my passenger inner light replaced under warranty last year.
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      09-20-2015, 03:55 PM   #6
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My inner left LED light went out have yet to replace it under warranty.
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      09-24-2015, 10:17 PM   #7
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Below is my experience from another forum last year. I've since read posts that indicate that the problem is with cold solder joints on the rear-light assembly mini-circuit boards. Try searching for "cold solder joint"

""And here's an oddity. Over the past year, at four different times, all the rear lamps have failed except for the high-center brake lamp on the tailgate. The left outboard, right outboard, left tailgate and right tailgate lamps have failed which required replacement of the entire lamp assembly in each case. All covered under warranty.
We have Xenon headlamps which, I understand, gets you an upscale rear lighting package. LED maybe?
2011 X3 35i, bought new, now at 43,000 miles."
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      09-25-2015, 10:53 AM   #8
smoothmoka
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 96_Impreza View Post
Below is my experience from another forum last year. I've since read posts that indicate that the problem is with cold solder joints on the rear-light assembly mini-circuit boards. Try searching for "cold solder joint"

""And here's an oddity. Over the past year, at four different times, all the rear lamps have failed except for the high-center brake lamp on the tailgate. The left outboard, right outboard, left tailgate and right tailgate lamps have failed which required replacement of the entire lamp assembly in each case. All covered under warranty.
We have Xenon headlamps which, I understand, gets you an upscale rear lighting package. LED maybe?
2011 X3 35i, bought new, now at 43,000 miles."
Thanks for the info...I'll have to check it out!
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      09-28-2015, 08:15 AM   #9
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The mini circuit board is protected by a glued plate. How does is it possible to remove. Are there any images to see how to repair the "cold solder joint". Thanks to all and sorry for my english. Bye
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      10-11-2015, 05:04 PM   #10
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Hi to everybody. Today a friend of mine has resoldered all the joints on the circuit. The work takes above 30 minutes. After few minutes for dissipating the temperature caused by soldering i've mounted my tail led light and it is working very well! Cost: one beer! Bye
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      10-11-2015, 10:37 PM   #11
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Bravissimo!
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      10-12-2015, 12:26 PM   #12
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Thanks, it's only a suggestion for you! bye
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      10-13-2015, 11:10 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tussy View Post
Hi to everybody. Today a friend of mine has resoldered all the joints on the circuit. The work takes above 30 minutes. After few minutes for dissipating the temperature caused by soldering i've mounted my tail led light and it is working very well! Cost: one beer! Bye
Grazie... for sharing! Glad it worked out for you!
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      10-13-2015, 01:41 PM   #14
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Anybody know how to disassemble the lights???
Hot gun maybe? Our friends in the Fatherland tend to make it difficult...

Thanks
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      10-14-2015, 11:11 PM   #15
02420X3
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Are you asking about disassembly of the light module, or removal of the light module from your X3?

The failed taillight which I have at hand has a thumb-sized circuit board, which is held in place by a bit of melted plastic. Nothing major to deal with there.
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      10-16-2015, 08:51 AM   #16
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I was asking if you know how to get to the offending circuit board. Some posters indicated that they struggled to get to the board.

Thanks!
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      10-16-2015, 11:07 PM   #17
02420X3
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It's easy to access. It's only held in place by the melty bit on the left and one connector. The whole board is about the size of my thumb.
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      10-18-2015, 09:13 PM   #18
smoothmoka
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 02420X3 View Post
It's easy to access. It's only held in place by the melty bit on the left and one connector. The whole board is about the size of my thumb.
Awesome...this is a great help! Thanks for the pic!
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      10-19-2015, 08:09 AM   #19
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Perfect! Thank you !!!!
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      10-19-2015, 08:33 PM   #20
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The outer right hand side LED was intermittent on mine
I removed the tail light
You slide the black plastic piece to the left of the right tail light (or to the right of the left tail light) upwards
When you remove it, you reveal the 2X 10mm bolts
Removed the tail light, and since it was intermittent, I didn't think its was a soldering issue
Sure enough, the led panel has 2 gold colored contact points
I used sand paper on both of them
And cleaned the corresponding part in the cover that houses the bulbs
And bent them slight light outwards
So they would be touching those gold colored contacts points with more force when you reattach the bulb holder to the tail light
Sure enough, both tail lights work now
While I was there I also cleaned out all the bulbs with a tissue and some alcohol, since the bulbs were a little dirty
Also did the inner lights as well

Car looks good as new
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      10-19-2015, 08:44 PM   #21
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Link on how to remove the tail lights.
http://www.bavarianmw.com/guide-3549.html
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      10-20-2015, 12:44 PM   #22
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Duh < Why did not I check with the forum before? Just replaced

Part Number Part Description Quantity Core Price Price Total
63217217314 electrical, rear lamps, tail lamps, tail lamp assy LIFT GATE, w/xenon Right 1 $0.00 $146.91 $146.91
Sub Total $146.91
Shipping method - Shipping $0.00
Handling Fee $0.00
Tax $9.18
Total $156.09
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