Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

re 3rd Brake light

2003 - 2009, roadster, coupe, facelift
Post Reply
w1ndsurfnut
Member
Member
Posts: 204
Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2013 3:44 pm

re 3rd Brake light

Post by w1ndsurfnut » Sat May 19, 2018 4:57 pm

Hi guys. Just ordered a 3rd brake light from Sytner Coventry off the Ebay site. £53 pounds, not including the delivery to France, which was very reasonable. Before I ordered I phoned to check it had the new springs etc, to be told yes it does. Part arrives, its just the F******G light with no fittings. How hard can it be for people to actually do there job. :evil: :headbang:
Does anyone know if the fittings are a separate part number. I am assuming they must be.

User avatar
Marlon
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10899
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
Location: Lancs.
Contact:

re 3rd Brake light

Post by Marlon » Sat May 19, 2018 6:53 pm

Just use the existing springs but don't over tighten. £53 will only buy you the brake light - springs are extra I believe.
Image
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S

User avatar
ben g
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7858
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
Location: Essex

re 3rd Brake light

Post by ben g » Sat May 19, 2018 6:57 pm

I don't have the part numbers to hand, but I bought a fitting kit from BMW direct on eBay, along with the brake light. It was £10 and some odd pence.

Well worth getting.

I've since had to replace the brake light again due to LED'S failing inside, but the actual unit was fine.
Red Soft-top Sterling grey 3.0i - Z4M Front, Eibachs, Polybushed, Clear headlights, Triple clear spot rear lights, Shadow Chrome 107's, Sport MFSW, ZHP.

dans6490
Member
Member
Posts: 977
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:28 am

re 3rd Brake light

Post by dans6490 » Sat May 19, 2018 8:02 pm


User avatar
buzyg
Legend
Legend
Posts: 26421
Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
Location: Cornwall

re 3rd Brake light

Post by buzyg » Sun May 20, 2018 12:25 am

Handy info. Need to do mine.
Image

User avatar
Chris_D
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6615
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:41 pm
Location: Mostly Holland. Sometimes UK.

re 3rd Brake light

Post by Chris_D » Sun May 20, 2018 12:37 am

I dropped a spring into the boot cavity b y accident when I renewed mine.
It's a constant source of irritation everytime I open/close the boot and plays havoc with my OCD.
:roll:
E85 3.0i roadie (03) 'Benny'. E93 320d M-Sport Cabrio (11) 'Bob'.
Image
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.

User avatar
ben g
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 7858
Joined: Thu Mar 29, 2012 5:20 pm
Location: Essex

re 3rd Brake light

Post by ben g » Sun May 20, 2018 12:41 pm

Chris_D wrote: Sun May 20, 2018 12:37 am I dropped a spring into the boot cavity b y accident when I renewed mine.
It's a constant source of irritation everytime I open/close the boot and plays havoc with my OCD.
:roll:
If you really had OCD, you'd have already taken an angle grinder to the boot :lol:

Will a telescopic magnet not find it?
Red Soft-top Sterling grey 3.0i - Z4M Front, Eibachs, Polybushed, Clear headlights, Triple clear spot rear lights, Shadow Chrome 107's, Sport MFSW, ZHP.

w1ndsurfnut
Member
Member
Posts: 204
Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2013 3:44 pm

re 3rd Brake light

Post by w1ndsurfnut » Sun May 20, 2018 12:56 pm

Thanks for all the info and responses. Cheers guys..

User avatar
MACK
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3600
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2015 11:38 am
Location: Manchester

re 3rd Brake light

Post by MACK » Sun May 20, 2018 4:14 pm

w1ndsurfnut wrote: Sun May 20, 2018 12:56 pm Thanks for all the info and responses. Cheers guys..
If you search through my old posts from the past month using the key words rear brake light you should find a post with the replacement spring and washer part numbers from the sevice bulletin bmw issues on this. A word of warning they are not the springs listed on real oem. The ones on there are basically the same as you have from the factory. The replacements are about half the strength and look noticeably different to the originals. As has already been said, just nip then up basically finger tight.
Silver 05 3.0i SE
Mods inc - F/L Xenons Clear Ind Rear Lights M Sport Seats & Wheel Eibach/B4 3.64 DIFF (SOLD)

White E89 20i M Sport
Mods inc- B12 kit, M3 Arms, 18" Zito 935's with PS4's, Decat & Remap, Switchable Exhaust Flap (SOLD)

ScoobyR1
Member
Member
Posts: 427
Joined: Sun Feb 01, 2015 6:05 am
Location: Edinburgh

re 3rd Brake light

Post by ScoobyR1 » Sun May 20, 2018 5:47 pm

'03 Titan Silver 3.0 auto. Hand controls, CC, MFSW CSL reps, H&R ARB's, :thumbsup:

Now sold '03 Sterling grey 2.5 E85 :(

User avatar
RustyZ4
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3622
Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:23 pm
Location: Maidstone, Kent

re 3rd Brake light

Post by RustyZ4 » Sun May 20, 2018 5:54 pm

Chris_D wrote: Sun May 20, 2018 12:37 am I dropped a spring into the boot cavity b y accident when I renewed mine.
It's a constant source of irritation everytime I open/close the boot and plays havoc with my OCD.
:roll:
X2 - although I didn't hear mine after a while, guess it found a home somewhere
Z4 Mineral Grey, 28i MSport Auto, lots of goodies
Z4 E85 3.0, gone but now with son :D
Growing Old is Mandatory But Growing Up is Optional

User avatar
Chris_D
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6615
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:41 pm
Location: Mostly Holland. Sometimes UK.

re 3rd Brake light

Post by Chris_D » Sun May 20, 2018 8:10 pm

ben g wrote: Sun May 20, 2018 12:41 pm
Chris_D wrote: Sun May 20, 2018 12:37 am I dropped a spring into the boot cavity b y accident when I renewed mine.
It's a constant source of irritation everytime I open/close the boot and plays havoc with my OCD.
:roll:
If you really had OCD, you'd have already taken an angle grinder to the boot :lol:

Will a telescopic magnet not find it?
Getting over apathy and laziness will find it :lol:
It's on the issue resolution list... :roll:
E85 3.0i roadie (03) 'Benny'. E93 320d M-Sport Cabrio (11) 'Bob'.
Image
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.

User avatar
MACK
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3600
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2015 11:38 am
Location: Manchester

re 3rd Brake light

Post by MACK » Sun May 20, 2018 9:14 pm

ScoobyR1 wrote: Sun May 20, 2018 5:47 pm This one here Mack :thumbsup:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=103333#p1508395
:thumbsup:
That one will do. I'm sure I posted the same info again a bit more recently. We could do with the info from that service bulletin as sticky somewhere on here so it's easy for folks to find.
Silver 05 3.0i SE
Mods inc - F/L Xenons Clear Ind Rear Lights M Sport Seats & Wheel Eibach/B4 3.64 DIFF (SOLD)

White E89 20i M Sport
Mods inc- B12 kit, M3 Arms, 18" Zito 935's with PS4's, Decat & Remap, Switchable Exhaust Flap (SOLD)

elliotgb
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2017 7:14 pm

re 3rd Brake light

Post by elliotgb » Mon Jun 11, 2018 7:16 pm

I have a 2004 Z4. It had a badly cracked 3rd brake light. I ordered a replacement through EBay and decided to install it on my own. The one thing that helped most with the deinstall/install was removing the trunk release compartment (2 screws) as well as the other plastic piece to pull the trunk closed (also 2 screws). With those removed it was much easier to reach in and loosen the nuts as well as see what you are doing. I had a magnetic, telescoping tool in case I needed to retrieve a lost part.

The 3 nuts were hand tightened so it was very easy to remove then although it seemed forever for them to get to the end of the bolt. All were secured with washers. I used an 8 mm short socket on an extender just to get the screws started for the reinstall.
Finished by hand tightening. All secure and it works!

The biggest pain was uncoupling the old electrical connector. Other than that it was not bad!

Post Reply