Front and side indicator gone.

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:02 pm

EDIT........DON'T PANIC MY FINDINGS CATER FOR POSSIBLE WORST CASE SCENARIO - Hopefully it's just 2 bulbs

Okay I'm back again & I seem to be getting somewhere.

1st step must be you checking whether you have a bulb issue or other ( possibly LCM issue). As said you can swap around the small side indicators in the front wings. Be careful not to mix them up. If right bulb works in left unit then it's the problem may be other than bulbs..............In an ideal world you will merely find you have 2 defective bulbs.

I have just been out to mine, (not for 1st time today), & removed one of the small side indicators. I can confirm that when removed the front and rears still flash at the normal interval & the green dash indicator lamp does not increase in illumination frequency. Thus it is possible that you could have 1st had a defective side indicator but not been aware it had failed in abscence of physically checking or viewing the lamp in operation. Only when one of the front or rear indicator bulbs fail would the frequency of the dash display increased.

In a less than ideal world you may be looking at needing a new Light Control Model. I have looked up parts on realoem. link here. Which exact unit will depend on what headlamps are fitted to your car. The bad news is the cost of 523.67 USD.......I will leave you to do the sterling currency conversion if I may. Obviously on top of that there would be the labour to fit swap out old for new, ( negligible labour to swap as it's relatively easy to get to if situated in the footwell). Finally there's the issue of programming the unit. I don't know how a main dealer would charge for this. I know in past there has been deliberation from folk re what labour should be charged if a car is merely be hooked up to a dealer computer for hours rather than being physically worked on during that same time.

I hope this helps...........I need to get ready for work now.

Good Luck

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:11 pm

[quote=""pvr""]AW8 - are you trying to freighten Penny to death?

It should just be a bulb replacement, you make it sound like it is an engine replacement

[/quote]

Last thing I would want to do................ I sincerely hope it's just 2 bulbs

That said if its not bulbs then at least Penny will have some idea what she may be dealing with. In worst case scenario a correct LCM should be available from a reputable BMW salavage company though I have no idea what issues there ay be with programming a unit from another car.

Genuinely have fingers crossed that it's only bulbs.

Raj · Post by **Raj** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:58 pm

Been too busy to be able to log on as much as I would like.

As AW8 has stated above, the small 501 side indicator will not throw up any warnings it has blown so it could have been out for quite sometime. As the front indicator has now gone you have been made aware of it. I seriously doubt it will be more than just a simple bulb replacement as the LCM if faulty would probably manifest and more than just the indicators blowing.

Penny, you just need to replace the 2 indicators in the first instance. Once this is done (and not very costly), see how you get on. If they blow again then you will need to start to look into why.

The LCM is costly but the coding is not. I replaced the LCM on my 328 coupe a few years back when I upgraded to the OEM LED rear lights and the dealer charged me Â£45 all in to code it to the car.

Penny, also if you can hold out till Tuesday, I am heading down London way and am more than happy to meet up with you to change the indicators for you.

Raj · Post by **Raj** » Sat Jan 08, 2011 11:01 pm

[quote=""AW8""]In worst case scenario a correct LCM should be available from a reputable BMW salavage company though I have no idea what issues there ay be with programming a unit from another car.
[/quote]

Normally once an LCM is coded to a car it can not be used again. Well this is certainly true of the E46's.

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:13 pm

[quote=""Raj""] Penny, also if you can hold out till Tuesday, I am heading down London way and am more than happy to meet up with you to change the indicators for you.[/quote]

Raj, That's thoroughly decent of you to offer to do that for Penny.....I am sure your additional words may also provide some calm in light of me speculating as to what seems to be an unlikely worst case scenario.

Raj · Post by **Raj** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:58 pm

[quote=""AW8""][quote=""Raj""] Penny, also if you can hold out till Tuesday, I am heading down London way and am more than happy to meet up with you to change the indicators for you.[/quote]

Raj, That's thoroughly decent of you to offer to do that for Penny.....I am sure your additional words may also provide some calm in light of me speculating as to what seems to be an unlikely worst case scenario.[/quote]

This is what it's all about. I'm actually heading down to get my new rims.......

x555 · Post by **x555** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:44 am

[quote=""Raj""]This is what it's all about. I'm actually heading down to get my new rims.......

[/quote]

OOOOHHH you tease tell us more about these new rims then Raj

iirc youre going for 22" right?

ITBarbie · Post by **ITBarbie** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:48 am

Hi Raj

Thanks so much for your kind offer. I have been working yesterday and am working today but if I get home before daylight I'm going to give it a bash as the instructions seem clear enough

I will post back

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pvr · Post by **pvr** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 11:38 am

Nailvarnish will work as well to mark the bolts

ITBarbie · Post by **ITBarbie** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 4:20 pm

[quote=""pvr""]Nailvarnish will work as well to mark the bolts

[/quote]
Cheeky

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ITBarbie · Post by **ITBarbie** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 4:27 pm

I have an update.

I tried to open the light casing and was so worried about the little plastic carrier or whatever it is breaking that after about 10 mins I screwed it back in

Anyway I went to see my little local garage and they did it for me. I know I failed

Anyway apparently I had a loose connection on the side (wing) indicator and the bulb had blown at the front. They did it all for me and charged me a fiver!!! I know must be my dynamic personality and charm eh!

Everything seems fine at the moment so fingers crossed it's was just that.

Thanks so much for everyones help and offers maybe I should just stop thinking the car is going to fall apart every minute of the day!

Penny

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Raj · Post by **Raj** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 4:34 pm

[quote=""x555""][quote=""Raj""]This is what it's all about. I'm actually heading down to get my new rims.......

[/quote]

OOOOHHH you tease tell us more about these new rims then Raj

iirc youre going for 22" right?[/quote]

Decided on a set of 16's for a proper Eurolook...lol

I actually went up to Manchester to collect a set of 22's I won on eBay and found one of the rims had 2 cracks in it...bloody waste of time and fuel.

I've actually got a choice of a set of 22" AC Schnitzer Type 2 or 21" Alpina Dynamics. I prefer the Alpina for the look and staggered setup but tyres are an issue (and I mean a real pain to get hold of), but the AC's will set the brakes off a treat. Hmmm, decisions.

Raj · Post by **Raj** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 4:36 pm

Glad it's all sorted. Should be fine now.

I would have done it for free....lol. Now go get that fiver back...lol

ITBarbie · Post by **ITBarbie** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:18 pm

[quote=""Raj""]Glad it's all sorted. Should be fine now.

I would have done it for free....lol. Now go get that fiver back...lol[/quote]

Ah thanks Raj x

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x555 · Post by **x555** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:43 pm

Glad your sorted now Penny

@ Raj .........new thread and pics now fella when you decide

......gotta get me some new wheels ........when all the other bits are sorted out

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