Removing e36 front turn signals

[MPowerA7X]

Hey, I'm trying to replace my front turn signals with clear corners, but I can't seem to figure out how to properly remove the stock orange corners. It's a bitch trying to do so and I've been trying at it for hours. Almost at the point where I'm just going to break the damn lamp but really I would rather not. All the manual says is insert a screwdriver to remove a hook but I have no idea where exactly it is. I've messed around with what appears to be a black clip but no luck. Any help of some kind would be greatly appreciated, thanks

[newyorkm3]

1. Take a look at your new clear corner lights. You will see a tab in the middle of the back of the light. That tab should have a couple of notches on one side. This tab is what is holding your old amber corner lights in place. You should also see a long pin near the top of the light. This pin slides into a hole in the body of your car.

2. Now take a look down into the access hole above the corner lights in your car. With a long, flat head screwdriver and a flashlight (to see what you’re doing), GENTLY pry the tab on the corner light AWAY from the headlight. In other words, you should pushing the tab towards the outside of the car. You need to make sure you are only prying on the corner light tab and not the holding tab on the headlight housing. Prying from the very end of the corner light tab yields the best results.

3. Once you hear the tab snap free, you should be able to pull the corner light straight out.

4. Having a friend to help pull on the corner light while you work the tab can be helpful.

5. Take your time with these. It’s a pain for sure and the tabs break easily.


When you install the new lights, make sure the pins and slots line up with the car and headlight housing. Simply push in until you hear the lights tabs click into place. Using a little wax on the tab and pins will make it easy to remove them should you ever need to do it again in the future.

[MPowerA7X]

Thanks a lot bro, it was easy after you explained it in detail. Unfortunately after I removed it, it seems I have broken one of the guide pins on the stock corner lamp and also the black clip that holds the bulb onto the lamp, but much thanks!

[newyorkm3]

Originally Posted by MPowerA7X

Thanks a lot bro, it was easy after you explained it in detail. Unfortunately after I removed it, it seems I have broken one of the guide pins on the stock corner lamp and also the black clip that holds the bulb onto the lamp, but much thanks!

Well it's no big deal that you broke the oem corners since you're replacing them anyway.

Did you break the tab on the actual headlight housing too?

If you did, lots of people have used zip ties to hold the corners in place. It's not the end of the world.

It sounds like you snapped something on the tab that holds the bulb into the corner light though. If you did, this is a cheap part at your local dealer. You could also just rig something to hold it in place as well.

I hate ALL BMW tabs. They suck.

[MPowerA7X]

No I didn't break the tab holding the headlight, its the cylindrical pin that goes into the little hole on the side, and you are right it is the bulb holder. I ordered a new one from bavauto.com, and threw in some stealth bulbs while I'm at it, again thanks for the help

[newyorkm3]

Cool.

Post some pics up when you get it all put together. Clears make such a big difference.

[BadGTho]

i have actually found that greasing the clips and guides make removal/install easier and help prevent damage to the headlight.

[MPowerA7X]

Originally Posted by BadGTho

i have actually found that greasing the clips and guides make removal/install easier and help prevent damage to the headlight.

Sweet, I'll have to do that when my stealth bulbs arrive and I have to take out the clears, thanks