E86 Front fog light removal

[DannyGartside]

Hi folks,

Not sure if this has been answered before (I've had a search but couldn't find anything)

My front fog light lenses are full of moisture so I'm wanting to dry them out. Is there a knack to removing the lenses? I'm thinking they're held in with clips etc as I can't see any screws from the front.

Any help much appreciated

Danny

 

[t-tony]

Fairly common issue Danny on E85/6 models I believe they're attached to the rear of the front bumper but not had to do anything with mine. . . . . . . yet.

Tony.

 

[DannyGartside]

Fairly common issue Danny on E85/6 models I believe they're attached to the rear of the front bumper but not had to do anything with mine. . . . . . . yet.

Tony.

Right cheers @t-tony, makes sense, I'm therefore thinking captive screws in from the back I may have to take them off and get the compressor in to dry them out and look at how to seal them

 

[GazHyde]

Front bumper needs to come off to take them out Danny. Whatever you do to them, they will fill back up again - a known design fault with face lift fog lamps. You can try drilling holes in the bottom of them which will give the water a chance to escape. Likely you will find they are pretty grotty inside, and there is little you can do to tidy them up. BMW make blanking panels so you can get rid of them if you want, or you can buy replacements (which will likely do exactly the same again!)

 

[DannyGartside]

Front bumper needs to come off to take them out Danny. Whatever you do to them, they will fill back up again - a known design fault with face lift fog lamps. You can try drilling holes in the bottom of them which will give the water a chance to escape. Likely you will find they are pretty grotty inside, and there is little you can do to tidy them up. BMW make blanking panels so you can get rid of them if you want, or you can buy replacements (which will likely do exactly the same again!)

Well that's just great @GazHyde do you need to remove the bumper to change the bulbs then? If not I wonder if I could get the airline in from the top

 

[GazHyde]

If you remove the screws at the top (just under where the bonnet ends, and the screws/clips in the arch liners you can tilt the bumper forward slightly. You may have enough access to get to them with an airline. Not sure if I have photos of the fog lamps from when we took them out of Lee's Si Coupe, if I can find them I'll post them!

 

[DannyGartside]

If you remove the screws at the top (just under where the bonnet ends, and the screws/clips in the arch liners you can tilt the bumper forward slightly. You may have enough access to get to them with an airline. Not sure if I have photos of the fog lamps from when we took them out of Lee's Si Coupe, if I can find them I'll post them!

Hmmm, Right ok, I'll have a look and see what's going on... Cheers bud

 

[DannyGartside]

Now then @GazHyde below is a link to a facelift fog light. Looking at it there's an adjuster screw. I'm wondering if that is totally removed from the front is it possible to unclip the bottom and lift the lens out of the front?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263206898182

 

[GazHyde]

I'll tag @Lee in on this thread, as I can't remember exactly what they look like as it was a while ago. He tends to have a better memory than me

 

[DannyGartside]

I'll tag @Lee in on this thread, as I can't remember exactly what they look like as it was a while ago. He tends to have a better memory than me

Cheers @GazHyde

 

[GazHyde]

Cheers @GazHyde

If not, I'll see if Lee kept his lights in his garage when I'm over there tomorrow. Will take plenty of pics for you.

 

[Lee]

Hi folks,

Not sure if this has been answered before (I've had a search but couldn't find anything)

My front fog light lenses are full of moisture so I'm wanting to dry them out. Is there a knack to removing the lenses? I'm thinking they're held in with clips etc as I can't see any screws from the front.

Any help much appreciated

Danny

I tried to open mine but the glue a near on melting point to the plastic. They are solid!

Some people have spent hours and finally got them open. If my memory serves me well the body is metal and the lense is plastic.

I gave up a fitted the BMW blanks and fitted some DRL's

 

[DannyGartside]

I tried to open mine but the glue a near on melting point to the plastic. They are solid!

Some people have spent hours and finally got them open. If my memory serves me well the body is metal and the lense is plastic.

I gave up a fitted the BMW blanks and fitted some DRL's

Right ok, I was looking at one that's for sale on ebay and it seems the lens is fixed to a black mount that's in turn fixed to the bumper. So I was wondering if removing the adjuster screw would allow the lens to tip forward and lift out of the supporting frame?

Here's the ebay item http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263206898182

 

[Lee]

Yeah it lifts out of the frame then your left with the lense and metal rear case.

 

[DannyGartside]

Yeah it lifts out of the frame then your left with the lense and metal rear case.

ah right so in theory then i'll be able to change the bulb etc and get the airline in the lens to dry it out. I've read elsewhere that the entire thing is accessible from a removable panel in the wheelarch?

 

[t-tony]

ah right so in theory then i'll be able to change the bulb etc and get the airline in the lens to dry it out. I've read elsewhere that the entire thing is accessible from a removable panel in the wheelarch?

There are two panels in the wheel arch Danny, the top one services the headlight unit and the lower one the fog lights. You need your wheel in full lock (outwards) when you take them off. Easier when jacked and wheel off TBH.

Tony.

 

[MD99]

Yes agree with above, no need to take bumper off if 2005 car, 2.2.
Take front wheel off and access the wheel arch panel below the headlights to see the foglight. There are 4 posi screws to remove then the light assembly falls back away from the front of the car. You can then take out the bulb assembly - this may need something like wd40 ( but I use PTFE spray now as my bulbs had weather and muck sealed themselves in) . You can then move a side clip and separate the two parts of the lamp assembly , having first moved the level adjuster screw out of the way. I drilled a 5mm hole under the black plastic part of the assembly. Will see how it lasts.

 

[DannyGartside]

Yes agree with above, no need to take bumper off if 2005 car, 2.2.
Take front wheel off and access the wheel arch panel below the headlights to see the foglight. There are 4 posi screws to remove then the light assembly falls back away from the front of the car. You can then take out the bulb assembly - this may need something like wd40 ( but I use PTFE spray now as my bulbs had weather and muck sealed themselves in) . You can then move a side clip and separate the two parts of the lamp assembly , having first moved the level adjuster screw out of the way. I drilled a 5mm hole under the black plastic part of the assembly. Will see how it lasts.

Sounds like a plan. I'm going to investigate doing this or something similar. I've driven round with the lights on to try to dry them out, but it's not happening

 

[t-tony]

Wrong time of year to be trying to dry them out Danny. Do you have access to compressed air?

Tony.

 

[Lee]

Even if you can dry them out within weeks they will be full of water again. Buy new or completely strip them down.