Rear Indicator Failure
- Thread starter Fullspeedahead
- Start date
I’d be worried I’d make more of a mess of it at this point without anywhere to properly work on it or the tools/knowledge of what I’d be playing around with.
As long as it’s working I’ll get away with it as long as I can it may just have been a fluke it happened in the first place when I opened the boot up during rain.
If I’m off and the weather is right I’ll maybe rewatch the YouTube videos and take a look
As long as it’s working I’ll get away with it as long as I can it may just have been a fluke it happened in the first place when I opened the boot up during rain.
If I’m off and the weather is right I’ll maybe rewatch the YouTube videos and take a look
Well here we are, October and the MOT has expired. Still no light units available anywhere, so the car is now an ornament. I get that there are bigger problems in the world, and this is a very specific problem for those of us affected, by my God what an absolute shambles. I can’t drive my car because an indicator has failed? What a joke. Car will be sold as soon as I can source a new unit - I won’t be held to ransom for a spare part which is unavailable, and for a light unit that can’t be repaired.
BMW? Bloody rubbish.
BMW? Bloody rubbish.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005809585517.html?src=google&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=494-037-6276&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&albagn=888888&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&albcp=17866112291&albag=&trgt=&crea=en1005005809585517&netw=x&device=c&albpg=&albpd=en1005005809585517&gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIupu_hLPsgQMVCYBQBh2-_QbrEAQYAyABEgIRX_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&aff_fcid=0ce73384b6b344ffa1544cda713941be-1696972466904-05236-UneMJZVf&aff_fsk=UneMJZVf&aff_platform=aaf&sk=UneMJZVf&aff_trace_key=0ce73384b6b344ffa1544cda713941be-1696972466904-05236-UneMJZVf&terminal_id=4a40ccb605284d839b2f08f621a8b555&afSmartRedirect=y
Doesn't solve your problem quick, but see if there are some after market alternates.
Doesn't solve your problem quick, but see if there are some after market alternates.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005985303264.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000014.2.57f08Thz8ThzC0&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.40000.326746.0&scm_id=1007.40000.326746.0&scm-url=1007.40000.326746.0&pvid=03617c8a-e3be-44f8-b093-a3d4dfed7fdd&_t=gps-id
cDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40000.326746.0,pvid:03617c8a-e3be-44f8-b093-a3d4dfed7fdd,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238109%23276&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21GBP%21479.74%21345.41%21%21%214150.00%21%21%40211b801816969731003776965ec015%2112000035184956824%21rec%21GB%21%21AB
https://www.dhgate.com/product/car-styling-taillight-for-bmw-z4-2009-20/891004679.html?f=bm%7cGMC%7cpla%7c755398248%7c39890016695%7c891004679%7cpla-293946777986%7c112030008%7cGB%7cmaxdo%7cc%7c2%7cEAIaIQobChMIupu_hLPsgQMVCYBQBh2-_QbrEAQYBiABEgJENfD_BwE%7c&utm_source=pla&utm_medium=GMC&utm_campaign=maxdo&utm_term=891004679&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIupu_hLPsgQMVCYBQBh2-_QbrEAQYBiABEgJENfD_BwE
Bit ugly but might get you back on the road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTxSHH0JtPc&ab_channel=EncoreAuto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQTgGj749dU&ab_channel=DjBrambo
Just might be better quality than Magnetti's offering.
I now know why i saw a Zed in scrap yard on web with smoked tail lights, perhaps these.
cDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller,scm-url:1007.40000.326746.0,pvid:03617c8a-e3be-44f8-b093-a3d4dfed7fdd,tpp_buckets:668%232846%238109%23276&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21GBP%21479.74%21345.41%21%21%214150.00%21%21%40211b801816969731003776965ec015%2112000035184956824%21rec%21GB%21%21ABhttps://www.dhgate.com/product/car-styling-taillight-for-bmw-z4-2009-20/891004679.html?f=bm%7cGMC%7cpla%7c755398248%7c39890016695%7c891004679%7cpla-293946777986%7c112030008%7cGB%7cmaxdo%7cc%7c2%7cEAIaIQobChMIupu_hLPsgQMVCYBQBh2-_QbrEAQYBiABEgJENfD_BwE%7c&utm_source=pla&utm_medium=GMC&utm_campaign=maxdo&utm_term=891004679&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIupu_hLPsgQMVCYBQBh2-_QbrEAQYBiABEgJENfD_BwE
Bit ugly but might get you back on the road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTxSHH0JtPc&ab_channel=EncoreAuto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQTgGj749dU&ab_channel=DjBrambo
Just might be better quality than Magnetti's offering.
I now know why i saw a Zed in scrap yard on web with smoked tail lights, perhaps these.
I’m still being very cautious about saying my indicator is fine now but since it seems to have dried out naturally in the sun I’ve had no issues with it.
I don’t even have visible condensation inside the strip any more. I’m just avoiding opening the boot while it’s raining which is when I think water first got inside and ran down the side etc.
The weather isn’t going to be on your side anymore but as a possible solution if you could remove the tail light and dry it out in a similar fashion you may also get the same benefit?
Can’t guarantee that we have had the same exact damage/issue and in my case I literally just left it outside did nothing and it’s ‘fixed’ so how you would dry it out internally at home I couldn’t say beyond just a warm room and see how it goes as it’s probably not wise to take it apart if you can help it, though there are videos of how to do so online.
I’m really sorry to see a fellow owner in a similar no way forward situation as I was and may still be in if things go wrong again. It’s not good that such an integral part doesn’t exist anywhere, especially with it being a known item to fail. Even with possible manufacturing and supply issues caused by world events. I would have thought this part would have to have at least some stock lying around somewhere.
I don’t even have visible condensation inside the strip any more. I’m just avoiding opening the boot while it’s raining which is when I think water first got inside and ran down the side etc.
The weather isn’t going to be on your side anymore but as a possible solution if you could remove the tail light and dry it out in a similar fashion you may also get the same benefit?
Can’t guarantee that we have had the same exact damage/issue and in my case I literally just left it outside did nothing and it’s ‘fixed’ so how you would dry it out internally at home I couldn’t say beyond just a warm room and see how it goes as it’s probably not wise to take it apart if you can help it, though there are videos of how to do so online.
I’m really sorry to see a fellow owner in a similar no way forward situation as I was and may still be in if things go wrong again. It’s not good that such an integral part doesn’t exist anywhere, especially with it being a known item to fail. Even with possible manufacturing and supply issues caused by world events. I would have thought this part would have to have at least some stock lying around somewhere.
Hi, I had the exact same problem with my car recently (Oct 2023). Nearside rear cluster had four LEDs dropping off intermittently, causing a warning light and indicator relay going into overdrive. Web research here and elsewhere showed a replacement cluster was the only answer. Look as hard as I could, I could find no stock in the UK, not even at breakers or main dealers. I was resigned to having to wait for new stock to arrive goodness knows when and pay goodness knows how much for it.
Two weeks ago I ran a search on eBay to see whether there was anything doing and amongst the usual dubious postings for US spec and parts from Lithuania, a post appeared under the banner Blinkin Marvellous, advertising reconditioning services for Z4 E89 rear light clusters. Cautiously I made contact, asked the seller a few questions, the replies to which were fast and confident. I got enough confidence myself to wrap my precious light up and post it Royal Mail Special to Clive, the owner of this enterprise, who is located close to Frome in Somerset.
Tons of updates back and forth gave me reassurance we were good and we were. Inside a week, Clive made the repair with new LEDs, a newly fashioned bracket to repair a crack in the casing I knew of, where somebody had obviously had a go at a previous attempt, he returned it, again by Royal Mail Special and I have it back on the car, working exactly as it should be. I won't tell you the price I paid for this service, I think Clive will deal with that on a case by case basis, but I paid less than I had been quoted for a new non-existent replacement!
If you want to look into this yourself then the best way to contact Clive is to search eBay for item ref 296058767160. Only the initial contact is through eBay, it's mobiles from there, giving further reassurance.
I am very pleased with the service and so based on my experience I would recommend Clive to any of you suffering the same annoyance with your rear lights.
Best regards
IanzZ4 - Chelmsford
ps Clive is a Z4 owner so he may even amongst us
Two weeks ago I ran a search on eBay to see whether there was anything doing and amongst the usual dubious postings for US spec and parts from Lithuania, a post appeared under the banner Blinkin Marvellous, advertising reconditioning services for Z4 E89 rear light clusters. Cautiously I made contact, asked the seller a few questions, the replies to which were fast and confident. I got enough confidence myself to wrap my precious light up and post it Royal Mail Special to Clive, the owner of this enterprise, who is located close to Frome in Somerset.
Tons of updates back and forth gave me reassurance we were good and we were. Inside a week, Clive made the repair with new LEDs, a newly fashioned bracket to repair a crack in the casing I knew of, where somebody had obviously had a go at a previous attempt, he returned it, again by Royal Mail Special and I have it back on the car, working exactly as it should be. I won't tell you the price I paid for this service, I think Clive will deal with that on a case by case basis, but I paid less than I had been quoted for a new non-existent replacement!
If you want to look into this yourself then the best way to contact Clive is to search eBay for item ref 296058767160. Only the initial contact is through eBay, it's mobiles from there, giving further reassurance.
I am very pleased with the service and so based on my experience I would recommend Clive to any of you suffering the same annoyance with your rear lights.
Best regards
IanzZ4 - Chelmsford
ps Clive is a Z4 owner so he may even amongst us