BMW E90 angel eye not working: how to replace the H10W bulb

On this BMW 3 Series E90 320d, one of the front angel eyes had stopped working. The fault was easy to see: one halo stayed dark while the other headlight lit normally.

The fix was to replace the bulb that lights the halo. BMW sells the complete bulb-holder assembly, but we were able to retain it and change only the bulb.

The bulb used in this repair was an H10W with a BA9s base, rated at 12 V and 10 W.

Check the exact headlight fitted to the car before ordering, as the BMW E90's specification and equipment can affect the required bulb.

The bulb is not easily accessible from the top of the engine bay. Work through the wheel arch on the failed side, making sure the car is supported safely before starting.

• Raise the vehicle safely with suitable lifting equipment.
• Remove the front wheel on the affected side.
• Remove the wheel-arch liner.
• Locate the rear headlight cover.

The rear cover is held by two tabs and there is not much room to work. A thin screwdriver helps release them carefully.

There is no need for heavy leverage. Ease each tab free a little at a time to avoid snapping it.

Once the cover is off, the two T15 Torx screws holding the assembly are visible. Undo them and pull out the angel eye bulb holder.

BMW supplies this as a complete unit, but for this repair we removed the H10W from the original holder.

The old bulb can be pulled from the holder with pliers. A bulb that has been fitted for years may break when force is applied, so wear eye protection and keep clear of any glass fragments.

After removing it, we trimmed a small amount of plastic from the opening—only enough for the new H10W to slide in and sit correctly.

Insert the new H10W into the holder, press it down and turn it until it locks securely.

Then refit the holder to the headlight and reconnect anything that was moved during access.

Before refitting the cover, wheel-arch liner and wheel, we switched the lights on and checked that the halo worked.

This takes only a few seconds and saves stripping everything down again if the bulb has not seated properly.

• Refit the bulb holder to the headlight.
• Install the two T15 Torx screws.
• Seat the rear cover correctly.
• Refit the wheel-arch liner.
• Install the wheel.
• Lower the vehicle.

After replacing the H10W, the halo lit up again. The original bulb holder stayed in place with the small modification made to its opening.

The Motores al Detalle video shows the procedure on this BMW E90 and the final result with both halos illuminated.

• Suitable jack or lift and wheel-removal tools.
• Tools for removing the wheel-arch liner.
• Thin screwdriver and T15 Torx bit.
• Pliers and eye protection.