Light Bulb Question - BMW Forum

4evrwyntr · 07-26-2005, 09:51 AM

Well. A middle bulb in my spoiler went out, and rather than having to pay labor for installing this (which supposedly is a touch more difficult to replace than the other bulbs), I would like to replace it myself. While I am more than confident in my abilities to replace the bulb, I have no clue what kind of bulb I've been looking for. I've perused Sylvania's replacement guide, as well as doing numerous google searches. What kind of bulb to I need? The spoiler is a stock spoiler with third brakelight - it's a low profile wing with a slight depression in the middle/front portions, and I think 7 bulb housings in the middle/back.
I can get pictures uploaded this afternoon if necessary.
I know, it doesn't help that I don't know the name of the spoiler - I did a look on google for that as well and came up with 3 different identities.

e36surge · 07-26-2005, 05:08 PM

Stop Lamp for rear spoiler (click top link) Part number 63252489862. Second link just shows what type of spoiler you have. I thnk you have to change the whole strip. I don't have an M3 unfortunately so no experience in the matter.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?mo...276&hg=63&fg=25

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?mo...851&hg=41&fg=60

hope it helps.

4evrwyntr · 07-26-2005, 06:48 PM

Well. From experience, I can say that it is possible to replace single bulbs rather than the entire strip. Unfortunately, it shows the strip as an entire part. Looks like I'll be adding a DIY soon on this forum - once I find out what kind of bulbs that thing uses, I'll post that as well.
Thanks for the link though - that's going to help alot. I've already bookmarked the page. Sweet.

Cruzin 323is · 07-27-2005, 07:46 PM

i am a bit confused.. take a pic... and i'll help u out!

4evrwyntr · 07-28-2005, 07:34 AM

I took some pics, but the lighting is horrible. I'll try to get some better lighting (the camera SUCKS), but it if that's not possible, I'll just post the pics anyway. Moot point, really, because it turns out that the window where I thought one of my brake lights was out, was apparently wrong? I stopped by an Autozone to pick up a K&N filter, harassed a customer about my brake lights, and apparently, none of them are out. Huh. Maybe a loose filament.

Anyway, this leads me into another question - unrelated to the lightbulb - where do you guys get a box air filter from K&N? Did you order yours on the internet or something? None of the Autozones here apparently carry the correct size filter (33-2070)! What the hell. Or was it 33-2050. I can't remember.

drz · 07-28-2005, 02:59 PM

I got my K&N from bavauto.com . The third brake light on the M3 spoiler uses LEDs, not bulbs. Take the strip out and take out the LED. Take it to Radio Shack and get a replacement. Before you even do that, ensure that the problem is not simply a lose connection or a short. LEDs last a very, very long time, so a connection problem is more likely than a bad LED.

4evrwyntr · 07-28-2005, 03:36 PM

LED, huh. I'll keep that in mind. No short that I know of, and like I said earlier, apparently I was just hallucinating about the light. I'll still put pictures up, just to placate everyone.
How much $$$ was the filter, and how long did it take to come in? I don't trust delivery, what with living in an apartment complex.

4evrwyntr · 07-28-2005, 10:00 PM

Well, the pictures turned out like crap. I will try to get better ones.
HERE'S THE BEST ONE.

[attachmentid=23092]

camnipotent · 07-28-2005, 10:38 PM

A K&N Filter will run you between 30-40 on eBay and 40 at bavauto.com. Bav always ships quickly and I trust their shipping. I live in an apartment as well and have never had a problem with them.

4evrwyntr · 07-28-2005, 11:42 PM

Oh, I am not worried about the shipping part. I'm absolutely positive that what I order will get to my apartment's atrium when it is supposed to. What with two of my friends having stereos stolen and a bank being robbed down the street since I've moved in, I just don't expect the items to stay where they are long enough for me to pick them up.
And while I'm generous, I'm buying these parts for my car, damnit.

camnipotent · 07-29-2005, 07:06 AM

You may be able to pay some extra cash and get signature delivery send it some place you know it will be safe at, like work or a friend's.

4evrwyntr · 07-29-2005, 08:05 AM

I actually had thought about that (good idea!), and decided that it would be a last resort. My friends have... interesting work schedules, and conflicts would mean at least a week before picking up the part... I was hoping to get it in a couple of days, but it looks like this might be what's going down.

drz · 07-29-2005, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 4evrwyntr@Jul 28 2005, 03:36 PM
LED, huh. I'll keep that in mind. No short that I know of, and like I said earlier, apparently I was just hallucinating about the light. I'll still put pictures up, just to placate everyone.
How much $$$ was the filter, and how long did it take to come in? I don't trust delivery, what with living in an apartment complex.

[snapback]365769[/snapback]

I'm treferring to a short or -- more likely -- a broken connection on the LED strip. Did you take it out and check for these things?

4evrwyntr · 07-29-2005, 10:08 AM

Like I stated before, there weren't any apparent shorts on the "outside." The only thing I haven't checked would be internal wiring (anything actually in the strip, because I haven't taken that apart yet.