Anyone tried the Chinese rear level brake lights?

junglist · Post by **junglist** » Sun Aug 12, 2018 10:56 pm

Need to replace my rear level brake light and I've noticed you can get them from China for half the price of the originals.

Not normally one to buy Chinese copies especially when it comes to car parts but can they really mess up a bit of plastic?

Anyone here took a punt on one?

jamie_z4 · Post by **jamie_z4** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 7:50 am

Link?

MalNCH · Post by **MalNCH** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:35 am

I wonder if it's these?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/White-Clear- ... m570.l1313
There are a few on ebay.

junglist · Post by **junglist** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:40 am

Yep, plenty of listings on eBay. Around £35 from a UK seller, £30 if you're happy to wait a couple of weeks from China.

bladeowner · Post by **bladeowner** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:46 am

The BMW ones are pretty fragile to start with.

Chinese ones here circa £23 delivered. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-Pcs-C ... autifyAB=0

Scooba_Steve · Post by **Scooba_Steve** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:46 am

Can't mess it up any more than BMW did

MalNCH · Post by **MalNCH** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 11:56 am

bladeowner wrote: ↑Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:46 am The BMW ones are pretty fragile to start with.

Chinese ones here circa £23 delivered. https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-Pcs-C ... autifyAB=0

I've taken a punt on this, mines held together with silicone so I need one anyway, thought it was worth taking a chance for £22.62.

RustyZ4 · Post by **RustyZ4** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 12:13 pm

Cant be any worse than the BMW one, when I had my E85, I went through three, let us know what you think when you get it

junglist · Post by **junglist** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 12:49 pm

I've gone for one of the eBay ones, ~£27 with supposedly 3-5 days delivery.

Bing · Post by **Bing** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 1:36 pm

Just to be clear in this, the issue with the BMW ones was not with the unit itself but the springs that go on the bolt, IIRC. The new ones you buy have different, less ‘powerful’ springswith them. Also, you need to make sure you don’t tighten them too much.

JINGLE · Post by **JINGLE** » Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:07 pm

Bing wrote: ↑Mon Aug 13, 2018 1:36 pm Just to be clear in this, the issue with the BMW ones was not with the unit itself but the springs that go on the bolt, IIRC. The new ones you buy have different, less ‘powerful’ springswith them. Also, you need to make sure you don’t tighten them too much.

100% correct, the 3 springs have a new part number.

I got a new light, kept old springs and just did them “finger tight” as couldn’t justify spending about £8 on 3 springs.... a year later my brake light cracked again.... I quickly paid for the 3 new springs and got a fully working replacement as part was still covered under BMW parts warrantee and as they saw I had used the correct springs they were happy to replace (I got lucky lol)

cmaza · Post by **cmaza** » Wed Aug 15, 2018 1:04 pm

JINGLE wrote: ↑Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:07 pm
Bing wrote: ↑Mon Aug 13, 2018 1:36 pm Just to be clear in this, the issue with the BMW ones was not with the unit itself but the springs that go on the bolt, IIRC. The new ones you buy have different, less ‘powerful’ springswith them. Also, you need to make sure you don’t tighten them too much.
100% correct, the 3 springs have a new part number.

I got a new light, kept old springs and just did them “finger tight” as couldn’t justify spending about £8 on 3 springs.... a year later my brake light cracked again.... I quickly paid for the 3 new springs and got a fully working replacement as part was still covered under BMW parts warrantee and as they saw I had used the correct springs they were happy to replace (I got lucky lol)

Hey mate,

I'm replacing my 3rd brake light and have ordered one from the dealer. Do you have the part number for the new springs? Are the new springs also to be finger tight?

Regards
Cmaza

Sticks · Post by **Sticks** » Wed Aug 15, 2018 2:00 pm

Aren't BMW parts guaranteed for a year? I don't know how that works with DIY fitting. I did mine some time ago, finger tight and a 1/4 iirc, not loose yet.

Nick

ben g · Post by **ben g** » Wed Aug 15, 2018 4:51 pm

Bing wrote: ↑Mon Aug 13, 2018 1:36 pm Just to be clear in this, the issue with the BMW ones was not with the unit itself but the springs that go on the bolt, IIRC. The new ones you buy have different, less ‘powerful’ springswith them. Also, you need to make sure you don’t tighten them too much.

Sorry, but that's not 100% correct.

I recently replaced one as part of the led strip stopped working. This particular failure was nothing to do with the springs.

So yes, the entire unit is a pile of rubbish. It's not just the dodgy old springs.

Bing · Post by **Bing** » Wed Aug 15, 2018 9:36 pm

Fair enough - all the failures I recall seeing on here have been cracks and breaks, and the springs are a known problem corrected by BMW, but I can’t say I’ve seen every post and I’m happy to stand corrected. Even the youngest car is nearly 10 years old though - age will get everything eventually. Seems to on other cars too.

In any event I’d personally just get a replacement from BMW. At least it would come with a 2 year warranty

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