2001 X5 tail lights

[benny224]

My 2001 X5 is still having problems with the brake lights and running lights. Does anyone have access to a video on tail light removal.

Thanks
John
[email protected]

[benny224]

My 2001 X5 is still having problems with the brake lights and running lights. Does anyone have access to a video on tail light removal.

Thanks
John
[email protected]

[PersonaNonGrata]

It's very easy. There are 3 nuts that hold the corner lights on. They are accessed around the backside. You'll need a 10mm or 13 socket. The inner lights are just as easy but requires you to pop out the center section of the lower tail gate. Be gentle and pry around the edges until it pops out. Move the foam aside and you'll see the nuts that hold the lights on.

[tmv]

Time to mod the taillight bulb sockets or upgrade to LED. I chose the latter.

[benny224]

Where do you mean back side of the tail light ??

John B

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by benny224

Where do you mean back side of the tail light ??

John B

The back side, as in opposite of the front.

Open the side panels in the cargo area to access.

[tmv]

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

The back side, as in opposite of the front.

Open the side panels in the cargo area to access.

Take it easy. Benny is a newbie
My next guess for benny's question is: "what do you mean by modding the taillight bulb sockets?" then "Are you serious that we're gonna use Mercedes part on a BMW?"

[TerminatorX5]

Hey John,
open the trunk, on your left and right side, there are panels that can be pulled open to access a CD changer and Nav computer on left (if you have them), and some fuses and subwoofer.

Open those panels, at look with a flashlight in the direction where your tail lights are - you will see the light bulb sockets and also you should three 10mm (or is it 13mm?) nuts that are holding the tail light assembly to the body. If you still have your original toolset, one of the wrenches will let you unscrew those nuts, or better yet, if you have a better set of tools, like sockets... As you are unscrewing those nuts, make sure you are not dropping them into the well cavity - it is a b!tch to fish them out...

once the nuts are off, wiggle the tail light - even though I would say it might be stuck to the body due to the time, make sure you secure them when the last nut is off, so they don't fall out on their own...

Once the corner tail light are out, you do with them what ever you were gong to do with them... Installation is reverse of removal...

The inner tail lights - you need to pull the plastic cover on the inner side of the lower tailgate... you can use a flat screwdriver, but i would suggest using a hard plastic "shovel" or something, so not to damage the cover. that cover is secured to the body by "push-in" pins, you will see once you pop the cover open... then you will need to remove a foam silencer that is laying there - that foam is fragile, do not tear it in pieces as you remove it...

Then you will see 2 nuts (are there two? it has been a while for me...)... Remove them in the same manner as the corner light - hold the plastic light assembly, so it does not come down crushing on the floor... Once you remove that one, and do whatever you were going to do with it, the installation is reverse of the removal...


Any questions? don't be afraid to ask - we can ocassionally bite, but we mean no harm, it is just a sport...

[UCrewX5]

removal is easy. Just unplug the harness and remove 4 nuts.

[rfdude]

I ordered new replacement ones for mine and was wondering how to get to the ones on the rear tailgate?