BMW X3 Forum
BMW X3 Forum
Welcome to the ultimate BMW X3 community.
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      10-21-2015, 10:26 AM   #23
kmarei
Major General
kmarei's Avatar
Egypt
685
Rep
6,844
Posts

Drives: 2018 Audi RS5 coupe
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Reston, VA

iTrader: (34)

Garage List
2018 Audi RS5  [0.00]
here is the part that stops the outer tail lamps from working
circled in red


the area circled in red touches these contact points, which gives the LED power

on mine the contacts in the bulb holder were sort of corroded, and the circuit was intermittent
I used sandpaper and cleaned them all up
and also bent them upwards to so they would touch the contact points with more force, that worked initially
second time I got sick and tired of the LED going on and off
so I soldered a wire between the bulb holder and the tail light
now it works 100% of the time, forever
__________________
Appreciate 0
      10-22-2015, 06:16 AM   #24
derriktr
New Member
United_States
6
Rep
20
Posts

Drives: 2011 X3 35i XDrive
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pennsylvania

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Awesome post.

I looked into changing mine out, couldn't find anything online, and subsequently took it to the dealer. Luckily they did a goodwill repair since I was one month out of warranty.

I'll be using this guide next time though!
Appreciate 0
      10-30-2015, 02:11 PM   #25
smoothmoka
Private
Canada
22
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: f25
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (0)

I finally brought my (expired warranty) x3 to the dealership to see if they can replace my 2 tail lights through "goodwill" warranty. I know I should have tried the soldering method first but didn't have time for trial and error. Anyway, the dealership told me the final total would be $1,300 for the 2 tail lights...but since my warranty is only 5 months expired, they reduced the amount to $350. All in all, I'm pretty happy...at least the replaced lights have 2 years warranty. At least now if the other lights malfunction, I'll know what to do! Thanks for all your help!
Appreciate 0
      11-02-2015, 03:00 AM   #26
Tussy
New Member
Italy
2
Rep
12
Posts

Drives: X3 F25 2.0D XDRIVE WY31
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Italy

iTrader: (0)

My tail led lights are still working 100%. Thanks kmarei for your help! bye
Appreciate 0
      11-02-2015, 11:01 AM   #27
kmarei
Major General
kmarei's Avatar
Egypt
685
Rep
6,844
Posts

Drives: 2018 Audi RS5 coupe
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Reston, VA

iTrader: (34)

Garage List
2018 Audi RS5  [0.00]
glad to hear that

in the end I gave up on mine
so I ran a wire from the red cable inside the tail light to the wire coming from the factory loom that is for the LED
thereby bypassing the entire plug
works perfectly now
so something was messed up with the plug, and I couldn't be bothered to dismantle it and diagnose it
__________________
Appreciate 0
      11-02-2015, 10:16 PM   #28
wangt86
Private
United_States
13
Rep
79
Posts

Drives: 09 WRX, F25 X3, Lotus Elise
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Tristate

iTrader: (0)

Do i need to remove the interior trim to remove the entire taillight?
Appreciate 0
      11-02-2015, 10:31 PM   #29
kmarei
Major General
kmarei's Avatar
Egypt
685
Rep
6,844
Posts

Drives: 2018 Audi RS5 coupe
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Reston, VA

iTrader: (34)

Garage List
2018 Audi RS5  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by wangt86 View Post
Do i need to remove the interior trim to remove the entire taillight?
Nope
Open tail gate
Lift up the black plastic piece next to the tail light
Push it upwards
Undo 2x 10mm nuts
And the entire tail light comes out
__________________
Appreciate 0
      12-09-2015, 07:04 AM   #30
conalpatrick
New Member
United_States
0
Rep
8
Posts

Drives: 2011 X3 28i, 2007 335I Conv. 6
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Massatucky

iTrader: (0)

BMW X3 LED tail light repair

Hello All, new (2011) X3 owner and new to the forum. I just went through the LED tail light malfunction and successfully fixed both lights for less than $20.00 and about an hour of my time. Hope this helps someone else out. The fix is simple and the same component seems to be the common failure point from all the posts I have read. Anyway, saved me $500 +/-.

Cheers,

Brian
Attached Images
File Type: pdf BMW F25 X3 LED tail light repair.pdf (161.2 KB, 2882 views)
Appreciate 0
      04-06-2016, 11:34 AM   #31
smoothmoka
Private
Canada
22
Rep
78
Posts

Drives: f25
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by conalpatrick View Post
Hello All, new (2011) X3 owner and new to the forum. I just went through the LED tail light malfunction and successfully fixed both lights for less than $20.00 and about an hour of my time. Hope this helps someone else out. The fix is simple and the same component seems to be the common failure point from all the posts I have read. Anyway, saved me $500 +/-.

Cheers,

Brian
Thanks Brian! This is a great help!
My other 2 lamps are now out
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2016, 02:51 PM   #32
kmarei
Major General
kmarei's Avatar
Egypt
685
Rep
6,844
Posts

Drives: 2018 Audi RS5 coupe
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Reston, VA

iTrader: (34)

Garage List
2018 Audi RS5  [0.00]
yeah right now 2 of my tail lights are down
1 works 80% of the time
the other is more like 50% of the time
all 4 failed on that little circuit board
thinking of just replacing that board with something aftermarket
it's basically a board that takes 12v, and brings it down to 3v I think
and limits the current going to the LED bulb


something like this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400536123117...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
__________________
Appreciate 0
      04-08-2016, 04:41 AM   #33
Tussy
New Member
Italy
2
Rep
12
Posts

Drives: X3 F25 2.0D XDRIVE WY31
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Italy

iTrader: (0)

kmarei, you have to resold all the circuit boards. mine is still working 100%. another solution is this: http://www.bmwpassion.com/forum/show...riori-x3/page3

the post is in italian but the solution is to change the circuit board with a compatible one. bye
Appreciate 0
      06-18-2016, 01:02 PM   #34
Tussy
New Member
Italy
2
Rep
12
Posts

Drives: X3 F25 2.0D XDRIVE WY31
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Italy

iTrader: (0)

Hi to everybody... both of my external led tail lights had stopped to work.... a friend of mine resolded both the circuit boards and then all work fine.....that's all ! bye
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2016, 05:28 PM   #35
X3Bimmer
Private First Class
29
Rep
164
Posts

Drives: '13 X3 35i - %E2%80%9821 X3 M4
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Had the right inner lift gate light replaced today under extended warranty for a $50 deductible. Otherwise, it would have been $346 installed. Unable to keep original part to repair later.
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2016, 05:35 PM   #36
guyver626
Private First Class
26
Rep
130
Posts

Drives: 2014 35i m-sport carbon black
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: nyc

iTrader: (0)

What is the extended warranty you have? Is it the bmw extended warranty? If so, good to know it covers the lights
Appreciate 0
      07-01-2016, 06:41 PM   #37
X3Bimmer
Private First Class
29
Rep
164
Posts

Drives: '13 X3 35i - %E2%80%9821 X3 M4
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Our extended warranty is the Hendrick Autoguard for 100K miles. Our '13 X3 is at 60K miles, so far replaced under this extended warranty was the windshield washer fluid reservoir, both lift gate power spindles and now the right inner lift gate led rear light. Around $2K retail repair cost thus far under this warranty for a $50 deductible each time. Apparently for us, having a car like this we needed an extended warranty beyond the piece of mind. It's paid for itself thus far with a long way to go. Also, hasn't BMW stopped the included maintenance program. We may need to consider that as well when we decide to buy again...
Appreciate 0
      07-04-2016, 02:12 PM   #38
gareth12468
First Lieutenant
Canada
7
Rep
325
Posts

Drives: 2011 X3 xDrive 28i
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2011 BMW X3  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by X3Bimmer View Post
Our extended warranty is the Hendrick Autoguard for 100K miles. Our '13 X3 is at 60K miles, so far replaced under this extended warranty was the windshield washer reservoir, both lift gate power spindles and now the right inner lift gate led rear light. Around $2K retail repair cost thus far under this warranty for a $50 deductible each time. Apparently for us, having a car like this we needed an extended warranty beyond the piece of mind. It's paid for itself thus far with along way to go. Also, hasn't BMW stopped the included maintenance program. We may need to consider that as well when we decide to buy again...
The passenger side inner led of my 2011 28i has gone now and I also have a third party extended warranty.... Have to call the dealership and see if that extended warranty covers it.....
Appreciate 0
      08-02-2016, 11:13 AM   #39
greg2step
X3 Owner/Driver
greg2step's Avatar
United_States
211
Rep
785
Posts

Drives: 2018 X3 M40i
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Thanks to everyone for this post. My left inner LED light stopped working on my 2011 35i (the one on the tailgate) and i searched the forum which took me to this thread. Today I had a coworker who has some soldering skills help out and he resoldered one connection on the little circuit board on the LED module after using an electric meter tester to figure out which one. All fixed. $0 and 1 favor for a coworker.

Greg
__________________
2018 X3 M40i G01 | Phytonic Blue | Mocha | Premium+Exec | Driver Assist | Adaptive M Suspension
2011 X3 XDrive35i F25 l Deep Sea Blue l Mojave Leather l Sport, DHP, Premium, Nav/Technology, Cold Weather, Convenience [traded in]
2008 328XI E91 Sportwagon l Sparkling Graphite [traded in]
Appreciate 0
      08-04-2016, 12:33 PM   #40
greg2step
X3 Owner/Driver
greg2step's Avatar
United_States
211
Rep
785
Posts

Drives: 2018 X3 M40i
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
and it didn't last - worked for a few days and stopped. any ideas on how to solder this to make it last? mine is left inner - on the tailgate
__________________
2018 X3 M40i G01 | Phytonic Blue | Mocha | Premium+Exec | Driver Assist | Adaptive M Suspension
2011 X3 XDrive35i F25 l Deep Sea Blue l Mojave Leather l Sport, DHP, Premium, Nav/Technology, Cold Weather, Convenience [traded in]
2008 328XI E91 Sportwagon l Sparkling Graphite [traded in]
Appreciate 0
      08-04-2016, 09:19 PM   #41
momoboy
Private First Class
69
Rep
162
Posts

Drives: F15 35i 2017
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NJ

iTrader: (2)

I had the same issue. I soldered it and it lasted only a day or so. I did it again (this time really heating up the solder and "pushing" the soldering iron down). I figured if it doesn't work I'll have to buy another light anyway. It's been working for weeks now. I assume by heating more and pushing a bit it filled the cracks better where the joint was failing.
Appreciate 0
      08-23-2016, 08:24 AM   #42
Tussy
New Member
Italy
2
Rep
12
Posts

Drives: X3 F25 2.0D XDRIVE WY31
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Italy

iTrader: (0)

The circuit board must be very hot while soldering joints. My friend has a heating plate on which he putted the circuit board....when the plate was hot he soldered every join on the board. He's an electrotechnical. My first repaired led tail light is still working 100% after over an year. Sorry for my bad english. Bye to everyone
Appreciate 0
      09-23-2016, 09:52 PM   #43
Dboyz321
Enlisted Member
0
Rep
40
Posts

Drives: BMW 135i
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Germany

iTrader: (0)

Very easy to do for an unskilled person like myself. Thanks for the info!!! Saved me some money.
Appreciate 0
      10-09-2016, 12:05 AM   #44
greg2step
X3 Owner/Driver
greg2step's Avatar
United_States
211
Rep
785
Posts

Drives: 2018 X3 M40i
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Baltimore, Maryland, USA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2nd attempt to fix mine lasted almost 3 weeks :/

I can't ask the same friend for #3. He is a hardware tech who solders all the time.

i figure i can either unplug the other side to make my X3 looks like it doesn't have the LED lighting package or buy the replacement part online. which i could just get the controller w/o the lense
__________________
2018 X3 M40i G01 | Phytonic Blue | Mocha | Premium+Exec | Driver Assist | Adaptive M Suspension
2011 X3 XDrive35i F25 l Deep Sea Blue l Mojave Leather l Sport, DHP, Premium, Nav/Technology, Cold Weather, Convenience [traded in]
2008 328XI E91 Sportwagon l Sparkling Graphite [traded in]
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:11 AM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST