Hi Larry! Thanks for this post. I had to replace the headlight assemblies on my 2014 Mini F56 this week and thought that maybe the bolts on my Mini would come off more easily than yours. You were right! For the driver-side headlight, one bolt was stuck to the nut (the one located at the bottom _near the ground). I ended up having a mechanic cut it! So for now, I only have 3 bolts supporting the driver-side headlight assembly (I'll try to look for a replacement later). Anyway, my next predicament is how to replace the passenger-side headlight assembly. A local Mini auto specialist wants to charge me $250 labor to replace it! I thought there's got to be a better way to take out those bolts. Being that the car is 8 years old, I noticed that the bolts were a little bit rusted. And that maybe why the nut was getting stuck to the bolt. And so I bought a WD-40 with a bendable metal extension. For the next 3 days after I got off work, I sprayed the bolts. This morning (Saturday), I looked at the bolts and they look like new and the rusts were gone! With an extender attached to my ratcheting wrench, the bolts came off easily! In short, I was able to replace the passenger side headlight assembly in about 10-12 minutes, saving myself $250! Still, I agree with you that BMW could have done a better job with those mounting bolt assemblies. Anyway, if other Mini F56 owners out there want to change their headlight assemblies, try the method I used with the WD-40 and see if it works for you. Peace!
That screw is covered with protection paste (Protection to unscrew) all what needs to unscrew that 3 screw is brake the paste which means screw right and left few times to crush paste and job done. Just do this gently try nor spinning back nut. I'm just removed lamp to change boonet lock with microswitch and that way working 100%. Like with any other bolts cowered blue paste.
2 years later and video still relevant. I came across the same issue with my headlight bolts. Too late with the drivers side headlight. I had to Drexel out one of the bolts to get it off. Noticed that BMW mini added red thread lock to the screws. So on the near side headlight used a single flame torch lighter and heated each of the rear captive nuts, a little tricky with the bolt under the headlight but can be accessed via the small fog light panel. Screws came out easily! Hopefully will help someone in the future.
One of the worst headlights assembly design. Those headlights are a royal pain to remove. Mini should have done their homework regarding its headlights assembly. It should be easy to remove it but it’s not at all….
That screw is covered with protection paste (Protection to unscrew) all what needs to unscrew that 3 screw is brake the paste which means screw right and left few times to crush paste and job done. Just do this gently try nor spinning back nut. I'm just removed lamp to change boonet lock with microswitch and that way working 100%. Like with any other bolts cowered blue paste. It's about 5 min max to remove lamp if you know this.
Hi Larry! Thanks for this post. I had to replace the headlight assemblies on my 2014 Mini F56 this week and thought that maybe the bolts on my Mini would come off more easily than yours. You were right! For the driver-side headlight, one bolt was stuck to the nut (the one located at the bottom _near the ground). I ended up having a mechanic cut it! So for now, I only have 3 bolts supporting the driver-side headlight assembly (I'll try to look for a replacement later). Anyway, my next predicament is how to replace the passenger-side headlight assembly. A local Mini auto specialist wants to charge me $250 labor to replace it! I thought there's got to be a better way to take out those bolts.
Being that the car is 8 years old, I noticed that the bolts were a little bit rusted. And that maybe why the nut was getting stuck to the bolt. And so I bought a WD-40 with a bendable metal extension. For the next 3 days after I got off work, I sprayed the bolts. This morning (Saturday), I looked at the bolts and they look like new and the rusts were gone! With an extender attached to my ratcheting wrench, the bolts came off easily! In short, I was able to replace the passenger side headlight assembly in about 10-12 minutes, saving myself $250!
Still, I agree with you that BMW could have done a better job with those mounting bolt assemblies. Anyway, if other Mini F56 owners out there want to change their headlight assemblies, try the method I used with the WD-40 and see if it works for you. Peace!
That screw is covered with protection paste (Protection to unscrew) all what needs to unscrew that 3 screw is brake the paste which means screw right and left few times to crush paste and job done. Just do this gently try nor spinning back nut.
I'm just removed lamp to change boonet lock with microswitch and that way working 100%.
Like with any other bolts cowered blue paste.
What was the point of this video? You didn’t even show anyone how to take it off.
2 years later and video still relevant. I came across the same issue with my headlight bolts. Too late with the drivers side headlight. I had to Drexel out one of the bolts to get it off. Noticed that BMW mini added red thread lock to the screws. So on the near side headlight used a single flame torch lighter and heated each of the rear captive nuts, a little tricky with the bolt under the headlight but can be accessed via the small fog light panel. Screws came out easily! Hopefully will help someone in the future.
One of the worst headlights assembly design. Those headlights are a royal pain to remove. Mini should have done their homework regarding its headlights assembly. It should be easy to remove it but it’s not at all….
That screw is covered with protection paste (Protection to unscrew) all what needs to unscrew that 3 screw is brake the paste which means screw right and left few times to crush paste and job done. Just do this gently try nor spinning back nut.
I'm just removed lamp to change boonet lock with microswitch and that way working 100%.
Like with any other bolts cowered blue paste.
It's about 5 min max to remove lamp if you know this.
0:43 i need that whole assembly screw and nut... where to buy ?
That captured nut made me nuts ! Horrible experience
So how do you take it off? Is it just force?
Any tips on removal?
i experienced the same situation - it was horrible and take all the afternoon to change my headlights
so, how did you make it???
I just welded the captured nut. I imagine JB Weld would do the trick. Some way to capture the captured nut better than that stupid sheet metal does.
@@lwclark So the sheet metal is only there to hold the nut and avoid it turns?
@@juanalvarezcanedo I think so