Tail light: Used OEM or aftermarket?
 

Hello there folks!


My wife had an early morning reverse accident in the driveway and the right outer tail light was a victim so I'm on the hunt for another. New OEM(from FCPE) is priced out of my range so I'm looking at either OEM used or this aftermarket on eBay. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this particular aftermarket part and whether it matches the look of OEM enough to be running OEM on one side and this aftermarket on the other.


If nobody has any experience on this one, another brand suggestion would be welcome. If it's not a fairly certain match, I'll just pick up a used light and go that route.


Thanks for your time!

Hmm. I’d just go OE. $140 for the copy, looks like $240-250 for the OE. It’s a tank of gas.


I bet used ones will be 125…

Tail light: Used OEM or aftermarket?
 

I Had a similar predicament when one my headlights needed replacing. Used ones were going for $180 on eBay but would be similarly aged. I ended up getting a pair of new headlights for $220.

I would definitely consider options and I wouldn't shy from a clean used OE Copy from a junk yard.

PS a backing accident: "baccident".

Who is the OEM for these? Hella? Valeo?

Where are you seeing the OEM new for $250? I'm seeing just over 350 after shipping at FCPE. At that price, I can save $200 with the copy or the used OE.




Perfect phrase but one I may wait to use with her until the pain of causing it subsides a bit :)




I can't figure out yet. I don't see any names in the specs list of the parts I'm finding.

Tail light: Used OEM or aftermarket?
 

OEM;

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...arelli-lus6081

The likely problem if you get other than OEM is it will end up a different shade of red etc. Also fit and finish; varying gap size etc.

It's very common for a wrecked car to only be damaged on the front my first call would be to wrecker yard.

You know, I do kind of remember seeing a Marelli label on the headlight when I was replacing the bulbs. Never had to look that closely at the tail light.

$120 for a good used one on the eBay, could probably find even cheaper at a junkyard. Just replaced mine a few months ago after some lady tried to pass me in the shoulder and then hit my driver side rear. Also I tried to get an aftermarket reflector, but fitment and color was not correct. Ended up getting a used one as well. Point being that could be a problem with aftermarket.

So I'm finding multiple auction listings stating original OE equipment and they have an AL Automotive Lighting sticker on the housings.


These are two different lights from two different e70s:


https://i.imgur.com/bWeksSil.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/S6ntl4hl.jpg

AL also OE supplier it seems

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...ng-63217227791

Thanks for that, that's what I'll look to buy on eBay then. I noticed in some of the pics a sticker labeled "security" with a bar code. Tail lights don't have some kind of programming or similar binding it to a particular VIN, does it? I've read about things like headlights or others requiring programming at a BMW dealer to get working, this should just be plug and play, shouldn't it?

I'm not aware of any coding other than to check for the lamp being there. So yes plug and go.