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- Repair Summary
- Repair Difficulty and Cost
- Repair Video
- Parts Diagram
- Required Parts List
- Repair Steps
Repair Summary
The following article gives detailed instructions on replacing the xenon headlight bulb in BMW E9x 3 series vehicles. Even though we have used a 2011 335i sedan to perform this repair, this article can be applied to any 2007-2013 3 series vehicle with the optional xenon headlights with minor modifications.
See all vehicles this article applies to
E90 3 Series M3
E90 3 Series 318d
E90 3 Series 335i
E90 3 Series 335xi
E90 3 Series 335d
E90 3 Series 330xd
E90 3 Series 330xi
E90 3 Series 330i
E90 3 Series 330d
E90 3 Series 328xi
E90 3 Series 328i
E90 3 Series 325xi
E90 3 Series 325i
E90 3 Series 323i
E90 3 Series 325d
E90 3 Series 320i
E90 3 Series 320si
E90 3 Series 320d
E90 3 Series 318i
E90 3 Series 316i
E90N 3 Series M3 CRT
E90N 3 Series 318i
E90N 3 Series M3
E90N 3 Series 335xi
E90N 3 Series 335i
E90N 3 Series 335d
E90N 3 Series 330xd
E90N 3 Series 330xi
E90N 3 Series 330i
E90N 3 Series 328xi
E90N 3 Series 330d
E90N 3 Series 328i
E90N 3 Series 325d
E90N 3 Series 325i
E90N 3 Series 325xi
E90N 3 Series 323i
E90N 3 Series 320xd
E90N 3 Series 320i
E90N 3 Series 320d ed
E90N 3 Series 320d
E90N 3 Series 318d
E90N 3 Series 316i
E90N 3 Series 316d
E91 3 Series 335xi
E91 3 Series 325d
E91 3 Series 335i
E91 3 Series 335d
E91 3 Series 330xi
E91 3 Series 330xd
E91 3 Series 330d
E91 3 Series 330i
E91 3 Series 328xi
E91 3 Series 325i
E91 3 Series 328i
E91 3 Series 325xi
E91 3 Series 323i
E91 3 Series 320i
E91 3 Series 320d
E91 3 Series 318i
E91 3 Series 318d
E91N 3 Series 316d
E91N 3 Series 335xi
E91N 3 Series 335i
E91N 3 Series 330xi
E91N 3 Series 335d
E91N 3 Series 330xd
E91N 3 Series 330i
E91N 3 Series 330d
E91N 3 Series 328xi
E91N 3 Series 328i
E91N 3 Series 325xi
E91N 3 Series 325i
E91N 3 Series 325d
E91N 3 Series 320xd
E91N 3 Series 323i
E91N 3 Series 320i
E91N 3 Series 320d ed
E91N 3 Series 320d
E91N 3 Series 318i
E91N 3 Series 318d
E91N 3 Series 316i
E92 3 Series M3
E92 3 Series 325d
E92 3 Series 335xi
E92 3 Series 335i
E92 3 Series 335d
E92 3 Series 330xi
E92 3 Series 330xd
E92 3 Series 330i
E92 3 Series 330d
E92 3 Series 328xi
E92 3 Series 328i
E92 3 Series 325xi
E92 3 Series 325i
E92 3 Series 323i
E92 3 Series 320xd
E92 3 Series 320i
E92 3 Series 320d
E92 3 Series 316i
E92N 3 Series M3
E92N 3 Series 323i
E92N 3 Series 335xi
E92N 3 Series 335is
E92N 3 Series 335i
E92N 3 Series 335d
E92N 3 Series 330xi
E92N 3 Series 330xd
E92N 3 Series 330i
E92N 3 Series 330d
E92N 3 Series 328xi
E92N 3 Series 328i
E92N 3 Series 325xi
E92N 3 Series 325i
E92N 3 Series 320xd
E92N 3 Series 325d
E92N 3 Series 320d
E92N 3 Series 320i
E92N 3 Series 318i
E92N 3 Series 316i
E93 3 Series M3
E93 3 Series 320d
E93 3 Series 335i
E93 3 Series 330i
E93 3 Series 330d
E93 3 Series 328i
E93 3 Series 325i
E93 3 Series 323i
E93 3 Series 325d
E93 3 Series 320i
E93N 3 Series M3
E93N 3 Series 323i
E93N 3 Series 335is
E93N 3 Series 330i
E93N 3 Series 335i
E93N 3 Series 330d
E93N 3 Series 328i
E93N 3 Series 325i
E93N 3 Series 325d
E93N 3 Series 320i
E93N 3 Series 320d
E93N 3 Series 318i
A BMW E90 xenon headlight bulb replacement in your 2007-2013 3 series can be done in less than an hour and will save an expensive trip to the dealership.
Please note that this article is for replacing the optional HID (High-Intensity Discharge) xenon lamps that serve as both the low and high beam headlight bulb on 2007-2013 3 series cars. Vehicles with halogen headlight bulbs use a different procedure not covered in this repair article. If you are not sure which headlight bulbs your E90 has, please read below to learn how to quickly determine if it is xenon or not.
The BMW E90 xenon headlight bulb is a High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamp that was available as an option on most 3 series vehicles produced from 2007-2013. It produces a distinctive "blue-white" light that is superior to regular halogen bulbs in terms of visibility, especially during night driving. It is also popular among driving enthusiasts for its more appealing aesthetics over the standard "yellowish" light the halogen bulbs emit.
The xenon headlight bulb serves as both the high and low beam lamp on your BMW E90 3 series.
Replacing the xenon bulb on your BMW E90 3 series requires removing the front fender liner. The bulb must be removed from the rear of the headlight assembly, and even though there is an inspection cover in the front fender trim, it is unfortunately not large enough to remove the xenon lamps protective cover.
If you are not sure which headlight bulbs your 2007-2013 3 series vehicle has, simply look inside the engine compartment at the interior side of the headlight assembly. All BMW E90s with the optional xenon headlight bulbs will have a control unit that is easily visible (see following image).
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View the video version of this repair.
View the detailed parts diagram for this repair.
Includes detailed part diagrams, part numbers and links to purchase all of the required components needed to complete this repair.
Before starting this repair, you must have the following required parts.
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Commonly used in many different models.
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Section 1 - Removing the Front Fender Liner
Even though the front fender liner has a removable inspection cover, the xenon bulbs can only be accessed if the entire liner is removed. The inspection cover is just not large enough to reach all of the bulbs' mounting screws. It is not necessary to remove the front wheel to complete a BMW E90 xenon headlight bulb replacement - we removed ours so we could better photograph the repair.- Turn the front wheel all the way out on the side of the car you are replacing the xenon lamp on. This will allow you enough space to remove the front fender liner.
- The BMW E90 xenon headlight bulb is located behind the front fender liner. Note that the inspection cover is too small to access the xenon bulb through...you must remove the fender liner.
- There are seven 8mm screws, two 7mm screws, and one plastic nut attaching the front fender liner to the body of the vehicle. Use a socket wrench and/or nut driver to remove all of the screws.
- Grasp the front fender liner and remove it from the vehicle. The fender liner should come out easily...if it doesn't then you may have missed a fastener.
- Locate the back of the xenon bulb. Use a T20 Torx bolt or T-handle to remove the covers fur mounting screws.
- Remove the xenon bulb's electrical connector by gently lifting its metal locking clip and pulling the plug out of the lamp.
- Remove the bulb's locking clip by pushing it forward and to the left until it releases from the headlight assembly.
- Grasp the xenon bulb and remove it from the vehicle.
- Reinstall a new bulb following the above directions in reverse. Never touch the xenon bulb with your bare hands...the oil from your skin can cause the bulb to overheat, drastically reducing its lifespan.
BMW E90 Xenon Headlight Bulb Replacement Finished
