Vanity light bulb replacement

[egs]

My vanity light doesn't work and the first two things I want to check are the bulb and power in the socket. My question is: how do you get to the #@%$ bulb? I presume you pry the clear cover off somehow, but some careful attempts didn't work and I'd rather not destroy the thing.

Also, I've read that the stock bulb is rather dim. Any suggestions on a brighter replacement?

Thanks!

[Dick]

My vanity light doesn't work and the first two things I want to check are the bulb and power in the socket. My question is: how do you get to the #@%$ bulb? I presume you pry the clear cover off somehow, but some careful attempts didn't work and I'd rather not destroy the thing.

Also, I've read that the stock bulb is rather dim. Any suggestions on a brighter replacement?

Thanks!
Hi, Eric - I assume you're talking about the one in the trunk? Should come out just like the one in the dash. A leetle notch can be found on the left side of the plastic lens - just insert sumpthin' in there and pry the lens off. It'll snap off, butt be held by the light & power bracket behind it. You'll see the ease of replacing the bulb then. I don't know of anyone who has gone with a brighter bulb - sorry. I tossed a small flashlight in the topcase, similar to the one that came in the oddments box. Rarely used it while I had the topcase on tho - I thought the vanity light wuz plenty, at least for my tired ole eyeballs. HTH.

[SilverBuffalo]

Like Dick said the light will "pop" out if you put a little screwdriver in there and push it over and out at the same time, here's a picture of what it looks like, the red arrows show you what's holding it in,

but before you do that check and make sure the "switch" is not stuck,
look towards the front right side of the trunk real close to the hinge,
there's a little plunger that gets pushed in with the trunk closed
and it should come out with the trunk open, mine "hangs up" once in a while too.

[dandiver]

After packing the top case a little too close to the top and my second mirror break, I simply removed both to my "to be installed for the next owner" box. Found that I never needed the mirror and the light was not necessary either. Nice weight reduction too!

[deputy5211]

I replaced the lamp with an LED replacement bulb, and did the same for the map light. More light, less current, and I won't have to change it for a long, long time.

[Shriker]

Good info guys, thanks.....my wifey was wondering about "her" light in the trunk! :bmw:

[egs]

Thanks for the advice - will look into a LED bulb, especially since my dealer wants $8.50 for one :eek:

While my wife doesn't worry too much about helmet hair she does like to pick the bugs out of her teeth after she gets off the bike :D

[gaghai]

Anyone know what kind of base the bulb has so I can order an LED replacement?? :confused:

[deputy5211]

Anyone know what kind of base the bulb has so I can order an LED replacement?? :confused:

I think it is the BA9s, which you can get http://autolumination.com/ . I use the superbright white with inverted lens to scatter the light sideways out the fixture.

[mjordans2000]

My vanity light doesn't work and the first two things I want to check are the bulb and power in the socket. My question is: how do you get to the #@%$ bulb? I presume you pry the clear cover off somehow, but some careful attempts didn't work and I'd rather not destroy the thing.

Also, I've read that the stock bulb is rather dim. Any suggestions on a brighter replacement?

Thanks!

As noted, the light pops out with the help of a small srew driver or similar tool. Having said that, mine is a major pain to remove. I ended up using three hands and an assortment of pointy things and putty knives. It helps to look at one that is not mounted so you can see exactly where the locking clip is. Next time mine comes out I'm cleaning the edge of the cut out with a file so it doesn't fit so tight.