BMW 5 Series: Lights and bulbs

General information

Lights and bulbs

Lights and bulbs make an essential contribution to vehicle safety.

Some items of equipment use light-emitting diodes installed behind a cover as a light source.

These light-emitting diodes are related to conventional lasers and are officially designated as Class 1 light-emitting diodes.

The manufacturer of the vehicle recommends that you let a dealer's service center or another qualified service center or repair shop perform the work in case of a malfunction.

A spare light box is available from a dealer's service center or another qualified service center or repair shop.

Follow the safety information.

Headlight glass

Condensation can form on the inside of the headlight glass in cool or humid weather. When driving with the lights switched on, the condensation evaporates after a short time. The headlight glass does not need to be changed.

If despite driving with the headlights switched on, increasing humidity forms, for instance water droplets in the light, have the headlights checked.

Safety information

Warning

Bulbs can get hot during operation. Contact with the bulbs can cause burns. There is a risk of injury. Only change bulbs after they have cooled off.

Warning

Work on switched-on lighting systems can cause short circuits. There is a risk of injury or risk of damage to property. When working on the lighting system, switch off the lights in question. If necessary, heed the bulb manufacturer's instructions.

Warning

Intensive brightness can irritate or damage the retina of the eye. There is a risk of injury. Do not look directly into the headlights or other light sources. Do not remove the LED covers.

Warning

Focused laser light can irritate or permanently damage the retina of the eye. There is a risk of injury. The manufacturer of your vehicle recommends that the work on the lighting system including bulb replacement be performed by a dealer's service center or another qualified service center or repair shop.

NOTICE

Dirty bulbs have a reduced service life. There is a risk of damage to property. Do not hold new bulbs with your bare hands. Use a clean cloth or something similar, or hold the bulb by its base.

Front lights

Adaptive LED headlights

Follow the safety information.

All lights feature LED technology.

In the case of a malfunction, contact a dealer's service center or another qualified service center or repair shop.

LED headlights

General information

Follow the safety information.

All front lights are designed with LED technology, with the exception of the two turn signals.

In the case of a malfunction, contact a dealer's service center or another qualified service center or repair shop.

Turn signal, bulb replacement

Follow the safety information.

21-watt bulb, PY21W.

1. In the wheel house, press the two retainer tabs and fold down the cover.

2. Unscrew the bulb holder.

3. Press the bulb gently into the bulb holder, turn counterclockwise and remove it.

4. Insert the new bulb.

5. Mount the bulb holder.

6. Mount the lid.

LED front fog lights

Follow the safety information.

LED front fog lights are made using LED technology.

In the case of a malfunction, contact a dealer's service center or another qualified service center or repair shop.

Tail lights

General information

Follow the safety information.

All tail lights are designed with LED technology, with the exception of the two reversing lights in the trunk lid.

In the case of a malfunction, contact a dealer's service center or another qualified service center or repair shop.

Reversing light, bulb replacement

General information

Follow the safety information.

21-watt bulb, H21W.

Without a warning triangle: removing the panel

1. Opening trunk lid.

2. Press the latch, arrow 1, and remove the panel, arrow 2.

With a warning triangle: removing the holder

1. Opening trunk lid.

2. Remove the warning triangle.

3. Press both retainer tabs in the direction of the arrows, arrows 1, using the screwdriver from the onboard vehicle tool kit and remove the holder of the warning triangle, arrow 2.

Removing the hinge covers

1. Open the two clamps on the hinge cover.

2. On the expanding rivet, carefully pry out the inside pin by a small distance using a screwdriver.

Then carefully pry out the expanding rivet all the way using the screwdriver.

3. Carefully lift off the hinge cover from the hinge arm, arrow 1, until the holding pin, arrow 2, behind the trim panel is released.

4. Pull the hinge cover downward and remove.

5. Remove the second hinge cover in the same way.

Removing the interior trim

1. Carefully pry out all eight expanding rivets using the screwdriver. Remove the expanding rivets as described above.

2. Reach into the handle recess on one side and carefully pull the interior trim downward, arrow 1, to the point where the two holding pins, arrows 2, behind the interior trim are released.

3. Proceed accordingly on the other side.

4. Carefully release the interior trim from the trunk lid, arrow 1, and, if necessary, pull the cable with the plug from the switch unit, arrow 2.

5. Remove the interior trim.

Replacing the reversing light

1. Turn the bulb holder in the direction indicated on the reflector and remove it.

2. Press the bulb gently into the bulb holder, turn counterclockwise and remove it.

3. Mount the bulb holder.

Installing the interior trim

1. Connect the cable to the switch unit, if necessary.

Make sure that the plug engages.

2. Position the interior trim on the trunk lid and secure it with two expanding rivets.

3. Press against the interior trim, arrows, so that the four holding pins engage in the trunk lid.

4. Fasten the interior trim using the remaining expanding rivets and press the pins into the expanding rivets.

5. Attach one side of the hinge cover on the interior trim, arrow 1, and fold the hinge cover onto the hinge arm, arrow 2.

6. Fasten the hinge cover using the expanding rivet, arrow 1, and press onto the hinge cover so that the holding pin engages in the trunk lid, arrow 2.

7. Close the clamps on the hinge cover.

8. Attach the other hinge cover accordingly.

9. Fasten the holder for the warning triangle and attach the warning triangle or mount the panel.

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