Z4 E85 Third brake light replacement

[Richard Howard]

Hi all

My Third rear brake light on my Z4 has finally disintegrated - it's been cracked for years, but today it fell apart! I've ordered a new one, but is it easy to fit? The fixing nuts/springs are buried in the carcass of the boot lid with just a small orifice to access them - do you have to remove the boot lid hand grab thingy to give you more accessibility to the fixing nuts of the brake light?

Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[t-tony]

You just need a deep 8mm (I think) 1/4 drive socket and extension. Have you ordered a red or a clear one Richard?
It's a bit fiddly but easy enough to do.
Tony.

 

[Richard Howard]

Thanks for your reply Tony - I've ordered the red light as I'm not that keen on the clear one as the cars Sapphire black, clear looks great on a silver car, but not sure what it would look like on a black one.
However, since the posting I've been having a fiddle - I've removed the two grab handles & that does improve the access somewhat. I had thought the nut would be 8mm or at least a metric size - but no it isn't, it's 5/16AF - which surprised me!

I've got some long reach slim 1/4" drive sockets which was handy - I knew they'd come in useful one day!

 

[t-tony]

8mm and 5/16 are equivalent size. Reason I asked was in case you wanted a decal for a clear light like mine.

Tony.

 

[Richard Howard]

Ahhhhh - That makes sense on both points!