REPLACING 3RD BRAKE LIGHT ?
- Thread starter easty027
- Start date
peartreeproductions
Member
You can get a long reach socket from most car places including halfords. Not sure what the size is, but you might be able to get a spanner in there to test the bolt size before you buy one.
Anyone know the size?
Anyone know the size?
belieive it or not but i used a bit of scrap copper pipe and it worked a treat.
i couldnt be arsed going for a socket so i just tried a thin bit of pipe, 8mm i think, and it worked great. the nuts arent tight at all, just on springs.
i would take out the 2 plastic trim bits on the inside of the boot just for visibility though, and make sure ou dont overtighten when you put it back in.
i couldnt be arsed going for a socket so i just tried a thin bit of pipe, 8mm i think, and it worked great. the nuts arent tight at all, just on springs.
i would take out the 2 plastic trim bits on the inside of the boot just for visibility though, and make sure ou dont overtighten when you put it back in.
SittingBull
Member
A 15 minute job. Dead Easy as I replaced mine today!
1. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two black plastic inserts from the boot lid.
2. Use a 8mm spanner through the resulting access holes to loosen the 3 nuts until you can undo them by hand.
3. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to prise the electrical connector apart, then withdraw the light unit.
Then replace. Be careful on tightening the nuts - screw them on by hand against the springs as far as you can - then just use a spanner for no more than 1 turn or the unit will crack again in the future.
My replacement (over £100) was replaced under warranty (though I elected to fit it myself to ensure it wasn't over tightened). However, BMW ordered a red light unit instead of a clear one & had to re-order...
1. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two black plastic inserts from the boot lid.
2. Use a 8mm spanner through the resulting access holes to loosen the 3 nuts until you can undo them by hand.
3. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to prise the electrical connector apart, then withdraw the light unit.
Then replace. Be careful on tightening the nuts - screw them on by hand against the springs as far as you can - then just use a spanner for no more than 1 turn or the unit will crack again in the future.
My replacement (over £100) was replaced under warranty (though I elected to fit it myself to ensure it wasn't over tightened). However, BMW ordered a red light unit instead of a clear one & had to re-order...
SittingBull said:My replacement (over £100) was replaced under warranty (though I elected to fit it myself to ensure it wasn't over tightened). However, BMW ordered a red light unit instead of a clear one & had to re-order...
replacements - even for a coupe do not cost over a £100...
roadster is £56.17, coupe is £67.
SittingBull
Member
gannet said:SittingBull said:My replacement (over £100) was replaced under warranty (though I elected to fit it myself to ensure it wasn't over tightened). However, BMW ordered a red light unit instead of a clear one & had to re-order...
replacements - even for a coupe do not cost over a £100...
roadster is £56.17, coupe is £67.
Why should there be a difference in price? They are both identical clear LED units. You haven't a clue, have you? Just telephone your local BMW Main Dealer for a price & be shocked.
Those prices came from the dealer.... I would question whether you have a clue..SittingBull said:gannet said:SittingBull said:My replacement (over £100) was replaced under warranty (though I elected to fit it myself to ensure it wasn't over tightened). However, BMW ordered a red light unit instead of a clear one & had to re-order...
replacements - even for a coupe do not cost over a £100...
roadster is £56.17, coupe is £67.
Why should there be a difference in price? They are both identical clear LED units. You haven't a clue, have you? Just telephone your local BMW Main Dealer for a price & be shocked.
have you even looked at the third brake light of the roadster versus the coupe - they are a totally different unit and shape...
why would red be more expensive than clear - dont know, ask BMW...
I notice my third brake light stating to fall out the other day. When I tried to remove it two of the bolts just turned. I thought the inside of the unit had been damaged (The bolts had just slipped out of the black housing). Once I finally managed to get it out I found that the red lens had broken away from the black housing. The unit had been pulled apart and the tabs that hold the two sides together broken.
I tried to glue it back together with epoxy but that didn't hold together well. Next plan was to use some solvent to melt the parts together however while I was cleaning off the epoxy the lens cracked.
Anyway order a new one from BMW along with the lighter compression springs. I was sure if they had been changed or not as the previous owner had the 3rd brake light replaced in 2007 by a dealer.
Got the parts this morning. The new compression springs are indeed lighter than the original ones; so the dealer didn't replace the springs when they fixed it in 2007. Nor did they add the suggested washers. (spring were only 99p +vat)
The install took no time, all is well again.
I tried to glue it back together with epoxy but that didn't hold together well. Next plan was to use some solvent to melt the parts together however while I was cleaning off the epoxy the lens cracked.
Anyway order a new one from BMW along with the lighter compression springs. I was sure if they had been changed or not as the previous owner had the 3rd brake light replaced in 2007 by a dealer.
Got the parts this morning. The new compression springs are indeed lighter than the original ones; so the dealer didn't replace the springs when they fixed it in 2007. Nor did they add the suggested washers. (spring were only 99p +vat)
The install took no time, all is well again.
Just replaced mine. Nice easy job
SittingBull said:A 15 minute job. Dead Easy as I replaced mine today!
1. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the two black plastic inserts from the boot lid.
2. Use a 8mm spanner through the resulting access holes to loosen the 3 nuts until you can undo them by hand.
3. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to prise the electrical connector apart, then withdraw the light unit.
Then replace. Be careful on tightening the nuts - screw them on by hand against the springs as far as you can - then just use a spanner for no more than 1 turn or the unit will crack again in the future.
My replacement (over £100) was replaced under warranty (though I elected to fit it myself to ensure it wasn't over tightened). However, BMW ordered a red light unit instead of a clear one & had to re-order...
Hmmm I'm trying this as my clear replacement arrived this morning, there are only two bolts that seem to be holding my original orange one in place then two wires are coming out from the center hole. Sure the replacement part has three bolts. Not sure why the wiring seems slightly different on my original to other peoples?
Here is a pic of the replacement I expected the original to look the same:
Here is the center hole where I was expecting to see the second screw but actually two wires exit it:
Which are connected thus, here you can see the third screw in the background:
I have just done this job today and it was much easier than I thought it would be already well described by other members.
The issue seems to be too much spring tension cracking the brake light fitting, after phoning two BMW parts depts who knew nothing of lighter springs that I have read about on various forums I decided to use the original spring but use Loctite 243 medium strength (no stronger) on the threads this allowed me to run the nuts only about half way up instead of all the way thus decreasing the spring pressure.
The fitting is still well held in place and the nuts should never come loose. Hope this helps !!!
The issue seems to be too much spring tension cracking the brake light fitting, after phoning two BMW parts depts who knew nothing of lighter springs that I have read about on various forums I decided to use the original spring but use Loctite 243 medium strength (no stronger) on the threads this allowed me to run the nuts only about half way up instead of all the way thus decreasing the spring pressure.
The fitting is still well held in place and the nuts should never come loose. Hope this helps !!!
Good guide, just saved me a trip to Halfords for an 8mm socket 