So maybe I got a bit thorough on the tail light 'fix'
 

While on our road trip to FL this year, I was getting the ill-timed 'check brake lights' errors. I came home, picked up some bulbs and that was that. Until a few weeks ago when the error surfaced again. :banghead: I ignored it. Like so many little things, it's not that big of a deal. In fact, it may not even be *real* knowing how these things throw the errors around like candy.

But the other day, 'check rear lights' was added to the mix. Well dagnabbit. THAT set of gongs started to get annoying, so I looked at some LEDs... Not bad. I mean. They light. They're brighter when the brakes are applied, but much like the non-OE incandescent units, it just doesn't look OE to me. What can I say, it's a preference thing. :dunno:

So today, just to keep any surprises down to zero, I ordered the set. Left and right OE tails, 4 of one socket, and 2 of another. ECS had the best price on the total and shipping was only $13. I'll update the thread when I rec and install.

Dagnabbit #2- I forgot to get all new bulbs. :slap:

PropellerHead = always does mods TO THE COMPLETENESS.

Instead of just repairing the circuit boards, or using the benz hardwire kits for 30 bucks he goes and replaces the whole damn kitten caboodle!

Looking forward to updates man it will be nice to have fresh tails whether they are OE or LED, you have stealth bulbs for the turns, right? You really should get a Euro headlight switch and do the factory wiring/coding to enable the rear fog lights :)

I'll take the old ones if you have no storage for them ;)

Wow you crazy. lol.

I just took of that damn metal board, mixed up some epoxy and went to town. Fixed both in an hour. Has been perfect ever since.

:iagree:
I'm kinda hoping to do the fix on the old ones- for practice- and then maybe let 'em go for a song (plus maybe a dance). ;) This kinda takes some of the anxiety out of screwing them up beyond repair. :) Even at 10 yrs old, they're not in bad shape after only 49k miles and a pretty consistent polish regimen. Might be worth something to someone. :dunno:

I do have another lil thing I did today that I will share with the group when the time comes. I just couldn't help myself.

Clap Clap. Glad you went the OE route.

I personally think the OE looks better - the LED bulbs IMO don't look right on the E53. Maybe it's just the size of the LEDS....and the spacing of them.

This made me laugh. Nice turn of phrase.

Plus 1 on the "Go with OE"
I had a right rear pooping off "Bulb Out" failure light a couple of times this winter. When I pulled the socket the connection tabs had carbon arch marks from intermittent connections. Ordered up the sockets and guess what? BMW provided new bulbs inserted. I was all prepaired to say "expensive little XX@$%&" .

So far all is quiet from the tail lights.

BULB SOCKET (from 10/03) Tail Light PN 63216943036 $9.22 (Qty 2)

Photoshop will have to do for now. :D

Are those Rial wheels?

Love the BIG BRAKE look. "Look maw, no calipers because them rotors are soooo big!":rofl:

The wheels will look great after they are installed. Good luck. Send in a few "after shots" so we can oooh and awww over your new bling.

Not a fan of the new wheels. They look "weak" for the muscular 4.8iS. Style132 reps are much better.

I agree- especially in pictures. In person these look pretty good. Not completely sold, but I bet they'll show the StopTechs pretty well.

Tomorrow... cant get here soon enough.

They're Beyern 5's. TSW markets them as 'designed for BMW'. The hubs are set for the X5.

If looking for the 5 spoke look why not just get 87's? Or did you already buy them?

that's one of them there in the picture. I bought 5 of them (gotta have a matching spare, rt) :D. I figured this was a good way to get 5 spokes, but the thing I like most is the weight on these. They're about 30lbs in 20x10's.

They're also the right color for the silver calipers. While my photoshop skillz don't show it above, they're more open than 87's and will really bring them out. The rim is not a bright chrome, it's painted or almost brushed in finish which should wear well with the calipers over time.

If I don't like them after awhile, I'll probably sell them. I've got to clean and box the 132 reps for sale with the boxes from these. I always loved the look of them, but the added weight over my OE 20's was too much for me.

What tires are on the 132's? Maybe my 168's will be up for sales

^Get them RB.

:tantrum: I ordered the wrong dang part for the right side! Aughghgh!! And THAT'S the worst side! :nanana: Sonofahhhhh...

But ECS was great about it. I called and they sent me an RMA as well as advising me on the *correct* right side clear tail light. I went ahead and ordered it in advance of the RMA which is now packed and labeled for return. For now, the tail light error persists. :(

This is the *correct* part- my OE lens...
http://www.xoutpost.com/attachments/...-correctrt.jpg

And this is the WRONG one...

http://www.xoutpost.com/attachments/...st-wrongrt.jpg

In other positive news, the lights come WITH new sockets *and* bulbs! :thumbup: I was able to RMA the sockets I ordered. This makes the assembly a pretty good deal- $150 for an entirely new unit with ~$50 worth of new sockets and bulbs. Not exactly a cheap fix for two of them, but it is solid peace of mind for an item that lasted ~10 years to begin with.

But I did get a chance to look at the rt side light. It *is* in face a small hole on the contact. A little solder and it'll likely run like new. I will drop some on there and see what the pair is worth to folks once I get everything in order.

And yes. I did get the wheels mounted. It's different. They look good. But I am concerned that they are *so* radically different that I am just not smitten with them. Then again, I was not smitten with my BBS RKII's on my E39 at first. That took time. I will give these some time as well.

For now- just the caliper pics after a quick rinse:

WTH. You playing with us now. Full car pics please. Stop messing with us.

The pinhole tail light fix is a temp solution. It will keep returning. The posts that hold the metal, they probably melted, and bent that board. The board and the socket don't make good contact, and short that pin hole.

You need to remove tail. Remove that gasket. Cut off those factory plastic posts that hold the metal board, and use epoxy to make your own supports for it. Once done. You solder the little pin hole. And it should not return.

I'm bashful. :rofl:

And in a hurry. Back later.

:tapping:

+1 :rofl:

I hate to say it prop, but I'm not really feeling them, and your mods in my opinion are always spot on, I literally would aspire to mod in the way that you do as you do it just how I would.

If I see full car pics I'll know better whether I think they flow, but something is off, not sure what in my opinion.

You're not alone, RB. I said it when seeing the PS picture. They look too "weak" for the SAV. I'll wait for the pictures to see if they will grow on me.

I think its the bend of the spokes and the excessive lip (clearcoated, not polished like yours) that makes it look very aftermarket.

The 20" Style 132 look so much better IMO, very muscular wheel design, with all the weight savings of the BBK why not put those back on :)

Personally. I don't feel these or TMVs. I don't know why. I like rims with lips, just not right on our cars.

this is just for reference
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-U.../766133829.jpg.

20's rim with lip = look too small.

Well.. yesterday was the day. I finally got the correct right tail light in from ECS Tuning this week. It was a quick delivery made quicker by my wish to go ahead and buy the correct part while my return was in transit.

ECS was GREAT about the return. Since I did not open or install the sockets and the other light, they allowed me to return them with no problem. I rec'd a full refund after I closely followed their RMA process. Of course, I had to pay for return freight, but that's to be expected. It was my mistake to begin with. Great experience. Far from my first or last purchase.

It's SO nice to have no audible alerts at start and shutdown! I like to think I get used to the little things, but it sure is nice to just cruise along without worry about errors. Totally worth the money for the whole assembly including sockets and bulbs.

Did they correct the issue, or is it a matter of time till the same happens to these tails?

:dunno: Good question.

But if these lasted 10 years, I'm OK with it. I like the thing, but I dunno if I'll take it to 200k miles. :yikes: