LED fog light upgrade DIY for the BMW F3X series

Hey all! First of all, make sure to click subscribe and the little alarm bell for notifications of upcoming videos, I have some HUGE projects coming. Also, search eBay for "BMW DIY GUY" and check out my new gear, hoodies, t-shirts and more!
This is a really quick and easy upgrade for your car, as I wanted both better light output AND color matched (or closer match) to my Bi-xenon headlights. I could retrofit the OEM LED fogs (at $$$ each) or just go for a good quality LED bulb replacement.
There are a MILLION choices for these bulbs in style and design but wanted a set that fit 3 basic characteristics: 1. NO FAN.. makes zero sense and can/could fail. 2. Ballast, better control of the light and power to the light 3. Reasonable price.
The model I selected fit those three wants, so I went for it and am very pleased!
Required parts and tools:
H8 style LED foglight bulb set (2)
www.amazon.com...
8mm socket and driver
Nice to have:
Good headlamp
www.amazon.com...
Good lighting
www.amazon.com...
Great music - Halestorm is always good for car work!
www.halestormro...

[@seifk7002]

Loved the detail to this video and how easy it was following your instructions. Keep it up

[@BMWDIYGuy]

@@seifk7002 thank you!

[@Scotford_Maconochie]

Did that and many other lighthing upgrades on my 2017 X5. 6000k HID , LED turn signals and LED H11 6500k fog lights.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Well done!

[@thefeeblesheep]

This is perfect. I just had an OEM fog lamp go out on vacation. Ordered these to change them out once I get home.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Nice!

[@MrVuittonDon]

How did they look? A upgrade or slight change?

[@marlotrot]

It would have been cool to see a difference on the street (OEM vs. LED-upgraded).

[@brooksbaby35]

Same issue with my 428i hardtop comb I just bought. I want them to match the fog lights are more yellow. Sending vid to my fiancé so he can fix this Thank you. U have a vid on replacing right turn signal?

[@BMWDIYGuy]

I don't sorry, but glad to hear this helps!

[@fredterranova3376]

Another great video thanks for posting. On your advice I ordered those LEDs they arrived promptly from Amazon. Then I did the disassembly just like you only to find that my fog lights had some huge contraption with a fan and the bulb as part of their stock fog light, needless to say I returned it for my money back.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Happy to help Fred.. but if there is a fan on the bulb already, then I would be surprised if you didnt have aftermarket bulbs already. Not seen every bulb, but NEVER seen an OEM bulb that isnt just the plug and bulb. Something is odd there.

[@drewhanks2736]

@@BMWDIYGuy I know im a bit late to the party, but here is the model I have and can't find info anywhere on how to replace a burnt out bulb. Any thoughts? www.carid.com/2017-bmw-3-series-fog-lights/tyc-factory-replacement-led-fog-lights-2449251513.html

[@holdenbraylen763]

Instablaster...

[@murat7570]

Hey i drive an f31 LCI. I live in germany? I don't know if there is any difference in the type of socket. What socket LED was it that you installed? Thank you sir and really really great video, great shown.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Thank you! I *think* the bulbs are the same but I would confirm before you order.

[@awperonline6576]

I don't think there is a single video on the internet on how to remove the entire foglight assembly on the F3x series. A ton of foglight replacement videos though.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Actually if you watch my diy on the front m sport bumper conversion, you will see that exact process.

[@awperonline6576]

@@BMWDIYGuy Sorry I didn't see that part I try to skip through videos with a lot of talking since I just need to get the info I want and get back to work. I was able to replace both fog light assemblies though just today. It was very easy and luckily I had the right tools laying around to get in that tight area without any problems.

[@michaeljemison4416]

Thanks for this video. I ordered cute same and took me exactly the time described!! Now I have to decide on changing the headlights to a clean white. Recommendations?

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Really depends on what bulb setup you are running and headlight color is SO subjective.. wish I had a good recommendation for you.

[@symonwright7981]

Coming in a bit late here...did you find the bulbs still glowed when the car was switched off?

[@BMWDIYGuy]

No but I also made sure to code the car to LEDs using bimmercode. It also avoids any flicker at starts as well.

[@goalseekerlimited871]

Can't seem to buy the bulbs you have suggested. Can you recommend any others please? I am in the UK. Loving the videos BTW.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Ah bummer you cant get them.. best recommendation is avoid any with fans.. I was shocked to see some with fans on the back which are a terrible idea in such a dirty and wet location.

[@goalseekerlimited871]

@@BMWDIYGuy Have you done a video regarding changing the front indicators? I have a BMW 4 Series Convertible F33

[@BMWDIYGuy]

@@goalseekerlimited871 I have not yet, sorry.

[@alschmidt8963]

Great video, thanks

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Glad you liked it!

[@jhcsolo]

any chance you could help me retrofit my F82 with these F3X fog set up? If you are near to NH I could bring the car and we shoot the video! LMK

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Well sadly I am outside Seattle

[@jhcsolo]

maybe we can jump on a zoom? Are you on bimmerpost?@@BMWDIYGuy

[@Twincam808]

Hi is coding needed or it’s just plug and play. Thanks. Great vid by the way, very informative and straight forward.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

So for it to operate, its plug and play. It MAY throw errors though if you dont code the car to LED bulbs. Two most common things that can happen, first is a flicker when the car first starts because it is doing a warm bulb check. Second the car can throw an error that a bulb is out, if still coded to incandescent bulbs and not LED. Easiest fix is to use bimmercode and similar and code out both warm checks and switch to LED type.

[@Twincam808]

BMW DIY Guy thank you!

[@devrancelebi773]

@@BMWDIYGuy Hello thanks for the great video. Do you have a tutorial for coding the bulb to LED ? Thanks and best regards from Germany

[@BMWDIYGuy]

@@devrancelebi773 Two options.. the app called Carly which I have a brief video on, or the app Bimmercode. Both are very good for changing coding in your car beyond just LED, and can do much more.

[@devrancelebi773]

@@BMWDIYGuy thanks for the quick response I have carly but couldn’t find the option tho change to LED

[@kain383]

Great video thanks for sharing. Your car looks slick. What hood do you have on it?

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Full carbon fiber replica of the M4 CS hood.

[@cheozaid4218]

Bulbs went out after few months.. before that a lot flickering on the left one.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

ah bummer.. hope this got worked out!

[@bulsaraxxx]

Looks good. You have any flickering or bulb out Warnings with these?

[@BMWDIYGuy]

No flicker or warnings on startup, but I went ahead and used bimmercode to change bulb type to LED and code off the bulb warm up.

[@Portracity]

@@BMWDIYGuy Hey man, so I have updated my fog lights using these same parts, I am getting the error code, I also replaced my DRLs to LED and lo-beams to LED. My Lo beams flicker whenever I start the car up. I have a 2014 320I XDrive, do you recommend a certain tool or app to fix this? Thanks!

[@BMWDIYGuy]

@@Portracity You can use bimmercode to change the car from bulb to LED, depending on what your car supports. Excellent tool that does many things!

[@michaelnikprelaj6679]

My F30 335 tripped a “fog light malfunction!” Message on my iDrive after installing these. Will can I use BimmerCode to remove this for good?

[@CookiesUnleashed]

Not just can you do it. You HAVE to do it. If your cars not set to take led’s it’ll burn them out I’ve seen it happen too quickly. Canbus and decoders never do the job right bimmercode will

[@MrVuittonDon]

@@CookiesUnleashed which site is reputable for bimmercode system?

[@CookiesUnleashed]

@@MrVuittonDon apple and android app store has it. You need to buy an OBD adapter bluetooth or wifi

[@MrVuittonDon]

@@CookiesUnleashed nice but who is the creator of the app so I know it's genuine?

[@robdolinar4852]

i have a 2017 440i x drive, i have the same yellow fog lights, do you happen to have the part number of the white fog lights so i can order them?

[@BMWDIYGuy]

The bulbs I used are in the video description 8)

[@johne.4822]

How long have these lasted? Usually the LED’s overstate their longevity.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

They are still running fine

[@danmulvaney4580]

Not sure what’s wrong but bought these bulbs, installed the first one and turned on car and lights and the led bulb just flashes about every 15 seconds. Any thoughts…??

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Did you code your fogs to LED with bimmercode or similar?

[@DonovanSmith79]

@@BMWDIYGuy Does this swap require bimmercode to work or can I use a different led with a resistor to mimic the old bulb?

[@mrphotomanTIM]

i have a 2016 328i and my fog lights have some sort of big plastic dome over the back of them. how does that come off without removing the wheel? i unplugged the bulb wire but can not remove the bulb because of the plastic cover

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Odd but they have to come off somehow to be able to replace the bulbs

[@mrphotomanTIM]

@@BMWDIYGuy I figured it out, they are oem led fogs not the h8 halogen. Thanks

[@erick2good]

I wonder if the 440i led fog light bulbs would work on a 435i?

[@BMWDIYGuy]

OEM fogs? I have looked into that for a bit but the cost for me wasnt worth it especially since I have Bi-Xenon headlights rather than the OEM LEDs. Check realoem but I bet they will work.

[@devuponthebuttons]

how easy it to take the full fog light cluster out? The glass on my fog light has smashed and i need to replace it

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Not hard at all, you will just pull the full bumper cover. Check my video on how to do that (the m sport uograde video) and you should be good to go.

[@devuponthebuttons]

@@BMWDIYGuy oh thanks 🙏🏽 i’ll check it out

[@BiggTim]

Did you have to program them afterwards?

[@BMWDIYGuy]

You MAY need to code your car that it has LED fogs now.. in most cases yes, but not all cases.

[@juancolon6808]

Do yo have the link for the headlights ?

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Those are the OEM headlights, so not changed.

[@shaggzzbdo4214]

8mm as in 8mm torx? or something else

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Which part? If talking about the fender liners, it's 8mm screws holding it in place

is there any Error code or Coding you got? or coding was necessary?

[@BMWDIYGuy]

You may need to use Bimmercode or similar to change your fogs to LEDs

@@BMWDIYGuy where can i find this code and how coding can i do?

[@huniland]

WOndeful

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Thank you!

[@ulyssesvazquez387]

once installed: did anything rattle.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Nope.. no issues

[@dannyb5854]

Hello, does the light stay a little dim when the car is off? Mine turns on a little big when the car is on and off but turns fully off after 5mins.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Did you code the bulbs to LEDs with bimmercode?

[@dannyb5854]

BMW DIY Guy yes, I coded bulb to led and both warm and cold monitors off.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

@@dannyb5854 hmmm.. I will check, cant say I have noticed.

[@dannyb5854]

BMW DIY Guy Thanks! Please update me

[@JustinDom]

Anything yet? My car still does it

which socket fit for F3x ? h7/h8/h11 i dont get it mind. i will try on my f36.

[@BMWDIYGuy]

Should be the same as mine.. check the video description for product links.