How do you replace low beam headlight BMW X3?

Answer 1

I have a 2005 BMW X3 and searched the internet for the answer to this question, one answer I found for the 2004 year model showed pictures of the cover assembly for the low beam bulb and suggested prying the cover loose. BAD IDEA for the 2005 model as I soon found out. I can olny speak for the 2005 model, but the cover has a plastic clip at the top that breaks easily when pryed.. as I found out to my dismay. My bulb had to be replaced on the passenger side of the vechile, and looking in it seems to be quite a chore as it seems that much of the surrounding plates and harnesses will have to be removed. Not so! I was able to remove the window washer reservour tank by simply removing one bolt, it is secured at the bottom by plactic posts. Once the reservour is out of your way you will have plenty of room to get to work on replacing the bulb. It is quite straight forward and easy, less than a five minute job. Just be careful to open the clip at the top of the cover and the cover will open with little or no effort. If you have to force the cover you may be breaking something.

Great information above. I also removed the wiring harness on the reservoir to give me even more wiggle room, probably unnecessary. I would only add a few things:

Use a long skinny flathead screwdriver to gently lift the tab on the housing. Once inside the light cavity, everything pulls straight out. Jiggle a little and pull straight out. Lightbulb also pulls straight out. Wear some kind of gloves to keep your skin oil off the new lightbulb. When you put in the new light, make sure the round part is on the bottom and the flat part with the tab is on top.

This was very helpful. Thank you both. I'd like to add that you can do this with nearly no tools. The only thing I used a wrench for was to remove the bolt from the top of the windshield washer reservoir so that i could move it out of the way. I used my house key to pull up the clip on top of the housing. This part, actually was a little confusing. If you look at the top of the clip, you'll see a nub in the center of the U shaped clip. If you go in at an angle, the U will pop right up over the nub and everything will open right up. I also was extra careful when pulling the bulb out and putting it back in, which slowed me down --seems like I could have just pulled hard once to get it out, then lined it up and popped it back in, but it wasn't that easy. Also, I didn't have gloves, so I just used a paper towel to keep from touching the bulb. Worked like a charm and probably saved me 1/2 hour BMW dealer labor which is, I think, $75. Thanks again!