Pre LCI indicators

[Deepseaskateboard]

Has anyone had the joy of replacing pre LCI indicators?

Mine have sadly been infested with algae, and have a visible amount of water inside them. They don’t do the car much justice as they are.

I have since ordered some new OEM indicators the same style (from BMW). I thought fitting them would be a simple job, the old ones pop out, and the new ones should pop in.

No.

For whatever reason, the new indicators do not want to be clipped into place.

Has anyone replaced them, and if so, how did you refit the new ones? Any special techniques?

Thanks all.

 

[B21]

The new ones should snap in..after you've removed the excess small spigot about half way along the tail of the indicator.

Its a fairly hard push to make them snap in..

 

[Argyll Andy]

Don’t know if this’ll help you any

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY52q0nVP0c&t=89s

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

The new ones should snap in..after you've removed the excess small spigot about half way along the tail of the indicator.

Its a fairly hard push to make them snap in..

I have ordered the older white plastic ones, rather than the chrome LCI versions.

It’s a 2012 car.

The problem seems to be that when I push them in, the panel flexes before the indicator pops in!

 

[B21]

The new ones should snap in..after you've removed the excess small spigot about half way along the tail of the indicator.

Its a fairly hard push to make them snap in..

I have ordered the older white plastic ones, rather than the chrome LCI versions.

It’s a 2012 car.

The problem seems to be that when I push them in, the panel flexes before the indicator pops in!

Ah I think you are on your own!

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

The new ones should snap in..after you've removed the excess small spigot about half way along the tail of the indicator.

Its a fairly hard push to make them snap in..

I have ordered the older white plastic ones, rather than the chrome LCI versions.

It’s a 2012 car.

The problem seems to be that when I push them in, the panel flexes before the indicator pops in!

Ah I think you are on your own!

Hehe, I know most people replace with the chrome versions, but my Z is white, and it really suits the older style in my opinion.

The pre-lci don’t look as good on darker cars.

 

[B21]

I have ordered the older white plastic ones, rather than the chrome LCI versions.

It’s a 2012 car.

The problem seems to be that when I push them in, the panel flexes before the indicator pops in!

Ah I think you are on your own!

Hehe, I know most people replace with the chrome versions, but my Z is white, and it really suits the older style in my opinion.

The pre-lci don’t look as good on darker cars.

I wasn't debating the aesthetics :rofl:

Just never known anyone take out the old pre LCI indicators and put them back in..the spring does looks stronger..the LCIS rely on sticky tape.

Pretty thin aluminium there as its purely cosmetic..

 

[acm]

I replaced mine with the original style a couple of years ago without any trouble.

I don't recall doing anything 'special' other than engaging the rear of the repeater into the opening and pushing in the front until the clip engages.

Only thing I can think of is that I replaced mine in the summer when the weather was warmer. Maybe the plastic clip was less stiff when I replaced mine :?

Cheers!
Andy

 

[Chippie]

Are they handed? Are you trying to fit them the wrong way round? I would have thought that they should be a simple straight swap

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Are they handed? Are you trying to fit them the wrong way round? I would have thought that they should be a simple straight swap

Yeah, they only go in one way.

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

I replaced mine with the original style a couple of years ago without any trouble.

I don't recall doing anything 'special' other than engaging the rear of the repeater into the opening and pushing in the front until the clip engages.

Only thing I can think of is that I replaced mine in the summer when the weather was warmer. Maybe the plastic clip was less stiff when I replaced mine :?

Cheers!
Andy

I was thinking this, I may heat the clips with a hair dryer.

 

[Kiwi_Mike]

I had one fall out while I was driving - was hanging by the wire. Pretty sure my son hit it with his basketball when I was parked in the driveway.

I stopped and clipped it straight back in, no issues.

Have since changed them for the LCI ones. Look much better on my deep sea blue 35i.

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

I had one fall out while I was driving - was hanging by the wire. Pretty sure my son hit it with his basketball when I was parked in the driveway.

I stopped and clipped it straight back in, no issues.

Have since changed them for the LCI ones. Look much better on my deep sea blue 35i.

Yeah, the darker cars benefit from the newer indicators.

 

[Deepseaskateboard]

Ok, so I finally figured out how to fit these.

I am posting for future reference if it helps anyone out.

The trick is to use a small pry tool (a plastic one) to twist the clip out, and insert that clip first, removing the pry tool at the last available opportunity.

Then push click the front into place.

It was a fiddly job, I added some Vaseline to contact points too, to aid the clips.

Since there are gaps in the indicator housing which gets clogged with various species of algae, I decided to tape up all of the seams with invisible tape. I kept noticing the lines of dirt and I was getting triggered! (They jump out against the alpine white) I suppose a PPF wrap would be best, but it is beyond my capabilities.

Anyway, I have bored you all enough with my borderline obsessive compulsive indicator rituals.