Headlight Bulb Replace - 2002 2.2i

[Vic-Z3]

Hi
Just bought a couple of Dipped Headlight Bulbs from Halfords ( BOGOF).
Claim to be 90% brighter which will hopefully improve on the one's currently in there.

Hit a bit of a snag as in the Air Intake that wraps around the rear of the nearside cluster. (2002 2.2i)
So I am guessing the headlight has to come out via the four holding screws.
No problem so far, as I have the tools for the job.

My question is this.
Is there enough extra wire on the back of the Light Cluster Unit from each bulb fitment to allow
the pulling of it forwards to disconnect each wire/plug?

Any advise here is gratefully needed.
Thank you.

[Robert T]

I partially removed the airbox when I did mine. From memory, two nuts and it will lift up and slight back about an inch, which was all I needed. Mine is an M44 1.9, but the airbox is pretty similar.

Cheers R.

[Vic-Z3]

Behind the headlight is not like this .............



But like this ..............



The air intake cowling that wraps right round the back.
Unless there are holes in it to allow the removal of the bulbs ?

[Robert T]

I avoided removing the headlamp (at least until I had to - top photo is my car) as the plastic screws want to move when you unscrew the headlamp bolts, thus upsetting the angle of the beam - and they were not fully home. If you carefully hold them with a spanner, you might be able to stop the top two turning, but the bottom two are not accessible with the headlight in place.

As you can see from my car, there is not a massive amount of free cable on the connectors, however, if you can get you hand in and remove the indicator bulb, the headlamp will turn slightly and you should then be able to get at the headlamp bulbs. You won't have the one with the shortest cable - that is the in-headlamp sidelight which is only on the M44 1.9.

I'm sure someone with another 2.2 will tell you how they did it shortly.

Cheers R.

[peter2b]

Hi ,I have a 2001 z3 2.2 post face lift, i will have a look on my car tommorow to cold/windy to do it tonight

Peter2b

[Vic-Z3]

I appreciate the help so far chaps...........................

I had a casual look between the Air Box and the rear of the Light Cluster but it was
turning a bit low light and I came to no solid conclusion to my dilemma.

Must get to the absolute bottom of this one.

[mwpe]

It is easier to remove the air filter box, one nut and a couple of clips. Be careful with the coolant pipe, it gets brittle and can crack. My car is a 3.0 but I think the 2.2 is the same.

[Vic-Z3]

Roll on sat morning and I can get a look ..................

[peter2b]

just had a look at my zed i can just get my hand to the dip bulb twist the bulb holder clockwise (turn to n/s) and pulled it out easier if you unplug it first , i got the main out by going through a gap between the slam panel and lamp unit twist the other way , this is for the near side head light unit, but it is much easier if you unscrew the the lamp unit first but as said before hold the plastic lug the the mounting screw goes into as it can rotate mucking up head light alignment
peter2b

[Mint]

I had exactly the same issue when I changed mine. I did it by removing the air box, but be very careful when removing the coolant pipe - it will be brittle.

Best of luck.

[Vic-Z3]

BMW Z3 2.2i March 02 Build.
Dipped Beam Bulb Remove and Replacement.

This is how I did mine:
Note: If you have shovels for hands it might be a bit of a struggle on the passenger side.
Not impossible just a tad tight for space. Do wear a pair of throw away latex/vinyl gloves as
new and old bulb glass lenses don't like oil, grease and dirt.

Drivers side (off side). No problem here, simply reach in and twist anti clockwise until released, pull free of
headlight housing. Whilst poking the end of your finger under the holding tab, pull the wiring plug away from the bulb unit.
Replacement is just a reverse of the removal procedure. Take a look at the three tabs on the new bulb, two are larger than the
third so you cant put it in situ unless the tabs are in the correct alignment.

Passenger side (near side). Just to the outside (looking from front of vehicle) of the air box, you will see a wire going
into the rear of a black triangle shaped removable bulb replacement panel, which if you pull rearward from the front of the
vehicle will give access to the bulb. Reach in with whichever hand you feel like using (left was my choice) twist anti clockwise
until released, pull free of headlight housing. Whilst poking the end of your finger under the holding tab, pull the wiring plug
away from the bulb unit.
Replacement is just a reverse of the removal procedure. Take a look at the three tabs on the new bulb, two are larger than the
third so you cant put it in situ unless the tabs are in the correct alignment.

The reason for changing mine was to improve the night driving vision as the standard bulbs are not up to todays expected spec
or have lost some of there crispness since there placement (they look like the original BMW ones that came with the vehicle).
I went with the 90% brighter than original ones, made and bought from Halfords.
Only time will tell if they are up to what I was expecting from an advertised 90% increase.
Soon as I do some night driving with them I shall update this post with my personal findings.

Just come home (21.35), I can report the way home was indeed brighter ...............
90% improvement however is something best left to an expert, which is not me.