Replacing the rear central brake light cover

DMike · Post by **DMike** » Sat Jul 02, 2022 8:57 pm

The upper edge should sit more flush, that one will be prone to leak. I’d return it and buy either oem, try another chinese copy, or cut the seal thinner and augment with some rtv.

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Sat Jul 02, 2022 10:24 pm

Here you go. All you need to know. viewtopic.php?t=113602

dgmx5 · Post by **dgmx5** » Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:17 am

DMike wrote: ↑Sat Jul 02, 2022 8:57 pm The upper edge should sit more flush, that one will be prone to leak. I’d return it and buy either oem, try another chinese copy, or cut the seal thinner and augment with some rtv.

I may indeed return but this is OEM which makes it more frustrating.

dgmx5 · Post by **dgmx5** » Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:19 am

buzyg wrote: ↑Sat Jul 02, 2022 10:24 pm Here you go. All you need to know. viewtopic.php?t=113602

All I need to know apart from how to get it to fit flush when the sealant hasn't been applied properly during production.

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Sun Jul 03, 2022 10:14 pm

dgmx5 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:19 am
buzyg wrote: ↑Sat Jul 02, 2022 10:24 pm Here you go. All you need to know. viewtopic.php?t=113602
All I need to know apart from how to get it to fit flush when the sealant hasn't been applied properly during production.

dgmx5 · Post by **dgmx5** » Mon Jul 04, 2022 1:27 pm

buzyg wrote: ↑Sun Jul 03, 2022 10:14 pm
dgmx5 wrote: ↑Sun Jul 03, 2022 8:19 am
buzyg wrote: ↑Sat Jul 02, 2022 10:24 pm Here you go. All you need to know. viewtopic.php?t=113602
All I need to know apart from how to get it to fit flush when the sealant hasn't been applied properly during production.

dgmx5 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 02, 2022 8:30 pm Removed the existing, cracked, light with a bit of persuasion including a hammer and chisel as two of the plastic housings in which the bolts are held had cracked so they were just spinning as I tried to remove the nuts.

Not too bad getting it out.

Fitting the new unit from BMW_Direct on ebay should be a breeze, no? Well I can't seem to get the unit to sit in the opening. Partly I think because the seal has a lump in the top right hand corner, see photos below (excuse the tape marks, I had to tape the old unit whilst I waited the arrival of the new unit)

Any suggestions as to how to improve the fit before I go for a final tightening of the nuts?

TIA

20220702_202017.jpg

20220702_202008.jpg

20220702_201954.jpg

dgmx5 · Post by **dgmx5** » Mon Jul 04, 2022 1:29 pm

Photos above.

I trimmed that bit of the seal back and it is now fairly flush. According to the invoice, it came from BMW Park Lane. I can't see me ever buying a car from Park Lane.

colb · Post by **colb** » Tue Jul 05, 2022 1:12 pm

Just replaced mine after some of the LEDs had failed inside, it was an ebay clear lens item that I had fitted some 2 years ago, never happy with the seal on that replacement. Ordered this one on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373978798826 and was pleased with the quality of the unit when delivered, the seal was a better fit than the previous one. I did have to trim the electrical plug down a little to get it to plug in to the cars loom. It pulled itself in when the fixing bolts were tightened up against their springs and provided the best seal I have seen with these after market units.

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