1996 Z3 in Westchester County, NY

[bucklawrence]

I normally do small maintenance to my baby, but the other day a loose shopping cart put a hole in her tail light.
I got the part lickety-split, but when I released the two nuts holding it in, I encountered resistance. Should I force the old lens out of it's space by hammering on the posts that held it in? Or is there some secret to releasing it?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[t-tony]

Hi Buck, welcome from Lincoln UK. If, after removing the nuts your light unit won't come away from the bodywork you may need to force it by a sharp blow from inside the boot (trunk) or gently lever it away with a screwdriver or similar tool. The rubber seals do become well stuck to the metal work over time.

Tony

 

[Low Rider]

Hello and welcome to Zroadster.org Buck

 

[Shelly]

Hi and welcome from me too

 

[Redline]

from Warwickshire. Bad luck with the shopping trolley, but, at least the bodywork didn't get dinged (hoping so anyway). You'll get loads of expert advice from the guys on here.

 

[GazHyde]

Welcome

 

[DavidM]

Welcome from Ireland!

 

[andyglym]

to the forum from West Cumbria, England.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Hello and welcome from me too

 

[Bazza]

enjoy

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Hello and

 

[Mint]

Hi @bucklawrence, to the forum from me too in Staffordshire, UK. Hope you've got your lens out by now.

 

[bucklawrence]

Hi Buck, welcome from Lincoln UK. If, after removing the nuts your light unit won't come away from the bodywork you may need to force it by a sharp blow from inside the boot (trunk) or gently lever it away with a screwdriver or similar tool. The rubber seals do become well stuck to the metal work over time.

Tony

Thanks, Tony. That gives me the confidence to put a little punch into my blows (and prying of seals - I see the rubber all the way around on the exterior.
Buck

 

[oldcarman]

Welcome from Canada! JIM

 

[Althulas]

Hi Buck welcome the IOM

 

[bucklawrence]

Hi Buck, welcome from Lincoln UK. If, after removing the nuts your light unit won't come away from the bodywork you may need to force it by a sharp blow from inside the boot (trunk) or gently lever it away with a screwdriver or similar tool. The rubber seals do become well stuck to the metal work over time.

Tony

Yay! Thanks for the confidence, Tony. A mild blow from a 22oz hammer to the socket on the loosened (but not removed) nut gave it the nudge it needed. I used the seals from the previously-owned unit, and all is well. I plan on putting a tiny bead of clear silicon to secure a bit of loose rubber, but it's been single digit F temps here ( -10 C ) so I'll wait on that for a while. It took half the time I'd allotted - a first. It took longer to remove the old (good condition) seals from the front and back of the damaged unit. Does anyone have a use for them? They're $20-$30 each over here new. Some Armor All and a dab of adhesive would make these good-as-new. They come from the right-hand side (US passenger-UK driver).
Go Zeds!

 

[bucklawrence]

Yay! Thanks for the confidence, Tony. A mild blow from a 22oz hammer to the socket on the loosened (but not removed) nut gave it the nudge it needed. I used the seals from the previously-owned unit, and all is well. I plan on putting a tiny bead of clear silicon to secure a bit of loose rubber, but it's been single digit F temps here ( -10 C ) so I'll wait on that for a while. It took half the time I'd allotted - a first. It took longer to remove the old (good condition) seals from the front and back of the damaged unit. Does anyone have a use for them? They're $20-$30 each over here new. Some Armor All and a dab of adhesive would make these good-as-new. They come from the right-hand side (US passenger-UK driver).
Go Zeds!

btw- For anyone considering this fix- the hardest part was getting the edge of the plastic surround/flashing back under the boot lid seal. Some Armor All may have helped there. Or maybe it would have slickened my fingers too much to get purchase on the edge to pry it back.
Buck

 

[t-tony]

btw- For anyone considering this fix- the hardest part was getting the edge of the plastic surround/flashing back under the boot lid seal. Some Armor All may have helped there. Or maybe it would have slickened my fingers too much to get purchase on the edge to pry it back.
Buck

I'm probably too late with this gem Buck, but I would give the seals a spray with some silicone spray before fitting as it will allow a good seal but will also prevent sticking like the old one did. Happy you got the unit out.

Tony.

 

[BMBabe]

Welcome from Aylesbury in the uk