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EnglishOwner service procedures -> Lamps and bulbs for your BMW 3 Series 1997-2006
Lamps and bulbs
135
The lamps and bulbs make essential
contributions to the safety of your vehi-
cle. Therefore, comply fully with the fol-
lowing instructions during bulb replace-
ment. If you are not familiar with any of
the procedures, consult your BMW
center.
Because of the extremely high
Low beams and high beams
voltages involved, any work on the
xenon lighting system, including bulb-
changing, should be carried out by
technically-qualified personnel only.
Otherwise, there is a risk of fatal
injury.<
>Low beams: H7 bulb, 55 watts
>High beams: H7 bulb, 55 watts
The H7 bulb is pressurized. There-
fore, wear safety glasses and pro-
tective gloves. Failure to comply with
this precaution could lead to injury if the
bulb is damaged.<
Do not touch the glass portion of
a new bulb with your bare hands
since even small amounts of impurities
burn in to the surface and reduce the
service life of the bulb. Use a clean
cloth, paper napkin, or a similar mate-
rial, or hold the bulb by its metallic
base.<
Please contact a BMW center in case of
a malfunction.
Parking lamps
5 watt bulb
Please contact a BMW center in case of
a malfunction.
A replacement bulb set is available from
your BMW center.
When cleaning the headlamps, please
follow the instructions in the Caring for
your vehicle brochure.
Before working on the electrical
system, switch off the electrical
accessory you are working on or dis-
connect the cable from the negative
terminal of the battery. Failure to
observe this precaution could result in
short circuits.
To prevent injuries and damage when
changing a bulb, be sure to comply with
any instructions provided by the bulb
manufacturer.<
Xenon lamps*
The service life of these bulbs is very
long and the probability of a failure is
very low, provided that they are not
switched on and off an unusual number
of times. If one of these bulbs should
nevertheless fail, it is possible to con-
tinue driving with great caution using
the fog lamps, provided traffic laws in
your area do not prohibit this.
136 Lamps and bulbs
Front turn signal indicators
4. Insert the 2 pins on the lamp into the Side turn signal indicators
guides on the vehicle
21 watt bulb
5 watt bulb
5. Slide in the lamp and screw the bulb
1. Use finger pressure against the rear
in place through the upper opening.
1. Extend a screwdriver through the
upper opening loosen the screw and
remove it
end of the lamp – see arrow – to
press it forward for removal
2. Remove lamp by pulling it out toward
the front
2. Apply gentle pressure to the bulb
while turning it to the left to remove.
3. Applying light pressure, turn the bulb
to the left. Remove and exchange the
bulb
Lamps and bulbs
137
Tail lamps
The illustration shows the right-hand
luggage compartment opening.
2. Take out the bulb holder
3. Unplug the power supply receptacle.
Set the bulb holder aside, on the lug-
gage compartment floor, for example
4. Applying light pressure, turn the bulb
to the left. Remove and exchange the
bulb
5. Plug in the power supply receptacle
6. Reattach the bulb holder until you
hear it snap into place – see arrow.
1 Turn signal indicator
2 Backup lamp
Bulbs in the fender:
All of the bulbs are integrated in a cen-
tral bulb holder.
3 Tail lamp
4 Tail lamp/brake lamp
Tail lamp 4: 21/4 watt bulb
Remaining bulbs: 21 watt
1. Release the bulb holder – see arrow
138 Lamps and bulbs
Bulbs in the luggage compartment lid
1. Using a screwdriver, loosen the clip
2. Fold the trim panel down – see
arrow 1. Disengage the bulb holder –
see arrow 2 – and remove it
3. Applying light pressure, turn the bulb
to the left. Remove and exchange the
bulb
Center high-mount brake lamp
LED strip in luggage compartment lid.
Please contact a BMW center in case of
a malfunction.
4. Press the bulb holder into position
until you hear it engage
5. Reinstall the trim with the clip.
Lamps and bulbs
Repairing a flat tire
139
Precautions in case of a flat tire:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible
from passing traffic; switch on the haz-
ard warning flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead position and engage the steering
lock. Shift into 1st or reverse and
engage the parking brake.
Using the M Mobility system
To repair a flat tire using the M Mobility
system, proceed as follows:
>Preparing the M Mobility system for
use, refer to the next column
>This is part of the M Mobility system,
refer to page 140
>Filling with sealant, refer to page 141
>Distributing sealant, refer to
page 141
>Inflating tire to correct pressure, refer
to page 142.
All passengers should be outside the
vehicle and well away from your imme-
diate working area – behind a guardrail,
for instance.
If necessary, set up your warning trian-
gle or portable hazard warning lamp on
the roadside at an appropriate distance
from the rear of the vehicle. Comply
License plate lamps
5 watt bulb
1. Place a screwdriver in the slot and
press toward the left – see arrow – to with all safety guidelines and regula-
tions.<
release the lens
2. Replace the bulb.
M Mobility system
You will find an M Mobility system in
your BMW M3 convertible for repairing
flat tires. With this system you can
apply a sealing liquid to the inside of
the tire that seals off the damaged point
and then continue driving.
The M Mobility system makes trans-
porting a spare wheel superfluous,
thereby reducing the amount of weight
you have to carry around.
