DIY on removing the rear hatch tailight?

[Jim M3]

I bought a new light module for the rear tailight that goes on the hatch. Do you have to take all the trim off around the tailgate to get to the light or is it easier than that?

[blue dragon]

You need to at least remove the bottom of the interior trim. I swapped my tail lights for the LCI ones, and just popped the snaps on the bottom to give me enough room to get my hand up in there.

[Jim M3]

I noticed screws inside the handles, i am assuming you remove those as well? So just start prying and the panel should snap off. I know when I did this on my E53 you had to remove much of the trim around the tailgate to get them off.

[blue dragon]

^^ You need to remove those screws, but the rest is just those white snaps

[Jim M3]

I actually just found this on Youtube. Very detailed instructions. The goo looks like a mess to clean up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGZ3GxH0Fs0

[blue dragon]

The goo came off with the lights, and the LCI lights have a foam gasket, so no goo.

[Jim M3]

Thanks for your help, I ended up just keeping the 08 lights and got a new module I am going to replace the gasket on the one that is still functioning as well.