Wash Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 (I apologise for the lack of pictures, it only crossed my mind to make a DIY half way through doing this myself) If the lights on your boot lid look like this (or worse): It's because the seals that hold the light together are perished and allowing water and dirt to get inside and make it look filthy. You don't need to replace the whole thing, you can just reseal them. Start off by taking off the lining of the boot lid, it's held in with little plastic clips that you need to pull out. (I will eventually get some pics of this) Once it's off, you will gain access to the back of the lights: Leave the bulb assembly aside, you will not need it until you put the light back together. The 10mm nut is attached to the plastic thing so don't be suprised when the nut comes off with the plastic thing with it. You can pull them out now but be careful because there are two lips on the side of the light which hold it in place too: Once you have done both lights, you will need to split the cover of the light from the rest of the light. Use something like a flat screwdriver to carefully split them. Now you need to wash them, I just used some washing up liquid and a sponge but if yours are particularly faded, you can use some polish to bring the shine back. Make sure you dry them once you have washed them. Here's what mine looked like once I was done: You will need to reseal them now. I used 3M double tape (from ebay) to do this. It's strong enough and it doesn't allow water to leak in but it is quite thick so at the end it does leave the light cover sticking out a tad more than it did originally. You can use anything which will strongly hold the light together and is waterproof really. Carefully run a line of the tape (or whatever else it is you're using) along the outside of the housing: Put the light covers back onto their housing carefully and slowly making sure they are in the right position and then push them together to make the seal between the cover and the light housing. Now it's pretty much the opposite of removal. Put the light back where it came from, make sure you get the two lips of the light (pictured further above) onto the boot lid. Then get the little plastic thing with the 10mm bolt on it and screw it back on so it holds the light in place again. Put the bulb assemblies back into the place, you will need to push the tabs up again to secure them. Reconnect the wiring and finally put the boot lid lining back on with the clips. Here is mine after resealing (it was raining when I put the light back in so they look a little dirty but they're not): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Good write up Buddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveGT Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) Result! Clear silicone also works well for resealing! Edited April 11, 2012 by DaveGT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wash Posted April 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Thanks fellas Is clear silicone basically clear bathroom sealant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaijiniji Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 (edited) cheers for this, needs done on mine as well... btw why is this forum section called E46 DIY (Guides only) Post your E90 DIY guides here. Edited April 11, 2012 by Gaijiniji Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Syxx Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Just to add if you split the lights apart, I would soak in a bowl of warm water for a little bit and split them in the bowl. Makes it easier to prise apart with a flat head screwdriver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 cheers for this, needs done on mine as well... btw why is this forum section called E46 DIY (Guides only) Post your E90 DIY guides here. Good spot, and fail by Sam. I'll get onto him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveGT Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Thanks fellas Is clear silicone basically clear bathroom sealant? I used aquarium sealer last time I had to split a set Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimzimmer46 Posted April 11, 2012 Report Share Posted April 11, 2012 Done all my rear lights last year :-) but I'm sure I did a write up lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay. Posted April 12, 2012 Report Share Posted April 12, 2012 I did mine on the car lazy fix ftw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HedleyNEUK Posted May 3, 2012 Report Share Posted May 3, 2012 Superb, So simple....will get onto this as mine are a tad moist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tymm Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Just to add if you split the lights apart, I would soak in a bowl of warm water for a little bit and split them in the bowl. Makes it easier to prise apart with a flat head screwdriver. I´ve just done this although it came apart real easy, when I dried the inside reflective part with tissue paper the reflective paint has come off, anyone what I can use to restore this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wash Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I´ve just done this although it came apart real easy, when I dried the inside reflective part with tissue paper the reflective paint has come off, anyone what I can use to restore this? Something like reflective spray should do the job? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tymm Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 cool I´ve just been looking at that i´ll get some tomorrow and i´ll post the results Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Read this thread the other day and checked mine. Lenses were 75% detached and the insides were green. Cleaned and resealed with clear silicone. Look brand new now. Silver also wiped off on mine in the fogs area but I left it, only fog on one side anyway and when you put them back together ya couldn't tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tymm Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Read this thread the other day and checked mine. Lenses were 75% detached and the insides were green. Cleaned and resealed with clear silicone. Look brand new now. Silver also wiped off on mine in the fogs area but I left it, only fog on one side anyway and when you put them back together ya couldn't tell. hhmmmmm!!! might just do this löl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tymm Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 done it i´ve just siliconed them together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tymm Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 (edited) from this and fixing this to this they look so much better now and they´ll stay clean inside too!!! Edited July 13, 2012 by Tymm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Law 330Ci Posted August 7, 2012 Report Share Posted August 7, 2012 Did mine this weekend too using clear silicone. A bit of the reflective coating rubbed away but once in they look great. I didn't actually realise how bad they were but they were barely hanging on and very nasty inside. If you haven't done it yet it's well worth doing. Simple yet very effective. Thanks for the guide Also if you are doing it, note that you only need to remove the top retaining clips on the boot lid and not all of them. Plus the tools box needs opening up. I had real trouble with a couple of them but was well worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTS_MAD Posted August 8, 2012 Report Share Posted August 8, 2012 Guys do you need to glue them back on the car or does the 10mm nut hold them in place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tymm Posted August 8, 2012 Report Share Posted August 8, 2012 silicone the 2 pieces together then replace as normal the 10mm bolt will hold it just as it did before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Law 330Ci Posted August 8, 2012 Report Share Posted August 8, 2012 (edited) What Tymm said... Edited August 8, 2012 by Law 330Ci Tymm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
