M45 - No front parking lights

[Li'l Truckie]

Okay, so I've had my '06 M45 since 9 miles on the odometer and noticed the other day while on a parts run for my little 320s that the front amber parking were NOT on as I pulled up to the huge window and parked.

After looking checking each and all front light bulbs minus the HIDs with the multi-meter and looking at the fuse box all appeared in order. Light are in fact good - they still flash when setting the alarm and still work when signaling. Minus the blue light relay there is not a fuse for the lights in either the engine/battery compartment or the passenger compartment by the drivers feet or am I missing one somewhere?

So...I'm guessing the relay is bad or going bad though I cannot understand why just the front park lights do not work? Just do not want to buy a relay and find out this is not the issue.

Any thoughts or past issues out there on this one????

thanks
Andy

[StanR]

Forgive me if I"m wrong I'm new to the M familiy... The amber lights that flash when you hit your alarm are the signal lights. The parking lights are above your high beams. On my M35 they are very dim and I'm considering replacing them with LED's because I can't see them. I can only see them at night and they are still very dim then.

[Ilya]

Stan is correct. On top of the headlight, towards the middle, you'll see a little bulb knub at an angle. That is the parking light. It's quite hard to get out, I believe the passenger side was the harder side.

[James-4-Prez!!]

There are two amber lights on the side of the car that he could be talking about but only one flashes with the signals. Those lights only come on if you are signaling the other is located in the headlight assembly and comes on when you turn on the headlights or parking lamps, if you choose to rotate out of the auto setting.

[Li'l Truckie]

Got guys thanks, I'll take a look. Feel pretty stupid on this one.

Want to confirm the amber turn signal light only come on for the turn signals (l/r), hazards, and alarm. Pretty sure now that these are not the forward facing parking lamps.

Tracking the amber side reflectors/lights. These do work on the parking light setting, auto and full up headlight position.

Andy

[Ilya]

Got guys thanks, I'll take a look. Feel pretty stupid on this one.

Want to confirm the amber turn signal light only come on for the turn signals (l/r), hazards, and alarm. Pretty sure now that these are not the forward facing parking lamps.

Tracking the amber side reflectors/lights. These do work on the parking light setting, auto and full up headlight position.

Andy

Yes, the third 'inner most' light in the headlight is JUST the turn signal/hazard/alarm light. Almost immediately to the outside of that light (between the turn signal and high beam bulb) is the 'parking light'.

[Li'l Truckie]

I found the little boogers. Replaced both and both now work. Easy enough, twist and pull and then just pull the out the little lamps.

I think they are in series - so one goes bad (driver side) then the other one does not work either (passenger side).

Thanks for the help.

[WillV]

Hi guys. Ilya, you seem to know the sizes of some bulbs from other posts.. Do you know the size for 06 M35 parking lights? I tested mine today and they didn't come on at all, only the side orange ones came on, so I think I need to replace them. (Or maybe my switch wasn't on right?) Thanks.

[Larz]

There is an FAQ section that lists sizes of bulbs. If you changed the inner parking bulbs to LEDs, they can be polar and if you remove, then re-install the other way, they should work fine.

[WillV]

My current parking lights are not LED... I think they are original, so really old lol. But I was thinking of putting LEDs in place so they will last the rest of my car's life. I'll check the FAQ, thanks Larz.

[Ilya]

Off the top of my head, they should be 194/168. You can google "Sylvania automotive bulb guide" and that'll give you the sizes as well or use the FAQ. I have a list in there as well.

[BlackCat81]

I found the little boogers. Replaced both and both now work. Easy enough, twist and pull and then just pull the out the little lamps.

I think they are in series - so one goes bad (driver side) then the other one does not work either (passenger side).

Thanks for the help.

They are not. One will work without the other.

[BlackCat81]

Off the top of my head, they should be 194/168. You can google "Sylvania automotive bulb guide" and that'll give you the sizes as well or use the FAQ. I have a list in there as well.

Correct! This pic is with Sylvania 194 LED's.

[WillV]

[img][IMG]http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp9/ ... zuexc.jpeg[/img][/img]

[WillV]

Well shoot. I tried to do the photobucket acct to show you guys but it didn't work...