DIY installing LCI tail lights...

Section147 · 08-30-2012, 04:33 PM

1). Ordered from ECS Tuning yesterday.

2). UPS shows up at my door this afternoon.

3). Half-hour later:

Love the look. Very subtle. Wasn't going for the can-of-tint-spray or the Lamin-x-type wrap effect. As someone mentioned (Dack?),
the look is very much like a VW tail. Very nicely smoked...classy. It separates the tails (especially on a red car) better that the ones
that came on the vehicle.

froop · 08-30-2012, 07:32 PM

Sorry for the poor iPhone photos but here's a photo I took last night midway through install, and then the finished product this morning

cptJLPicard · 09-22-2012, 09:42 PM

As always, excellent write up Dackel, thanks! Do you know if the same parts would fit my Canadian 08 135i w/Xenon and AHL? Would there be coding required?

Dackelone · 09-23-2012, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cptJLPicard

As always, excellent write up Dackel, thanks! Do you know if the same parts would fit my Canadian 08 135i w/Xenon and AHL? Would there be coding required?

Even though BMW says you need an adapter cable for early cars (cars built before Sept, '09) I have not seen anyone say they needed one! So I believe these LCI lights (either Blacklines or regular ones) are totally "plug & play"!

cptJLPicard · 09-23-2012, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Even though BMW says you need an adapter cable for early cars (cars built before Sept, '09) I have not seen anyone say they needed one! So I believe these LCI lights (either Blacklines or regular ones) are totally "plug & play"!

Do you happen to know what the part # is for the adapter? Just in case I run into

with the guys at the dealership.

Dackelone · 09-23-2012, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cptJLPicard

Do you happen to know what the part # is for the adapter? Just in case I run into

with the guys at the dealership.

bmw part #61122219698 (they say you need two 60 euros each).

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...76&hg=63&fg=95

I really would not order the cable(s)... bc like I said so many people here have installed the LCI's and LCI Blacklines with no trouble what so ever.

And here is the Blackline Kit bmw part #63212225282 (for two tinted tail lights). It is cheaper order the #282 kit vs each tail light individually. A US dealer can not order these bc the part does not have DOT approval. But as we all know... they work just fine on our cars.

cptJLPicard · 09-23-2012, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

bmw part #61122219698 (they say you need two 60 euros each).

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?...76&hg=63&fg=95

I really would not order the cable(s)... bc like I said so many people here have installed the LCI's and LCI Blacklines with no trouble what so ever.

And here is the Blackline Kit bmw part #63212225282 (for two tinted tail lights). It is cheaper order the #282 kit vs each tail light individually. A US dealer can not order these bc the part does not have DOT approval. But as we all know... they work just fine on our cars.

Dackel, you rock!!

I'll try ordering tomorrow. If they say no can do, I'll get them from ECS. Thanks again for your help

WINDman · 09-27-2012, 01:02 PM

I just ordered some as well directly from Germany

OrangeCrush · 10-27-2012, 10:09 AM

Hey Dack! I just installed my blacklines but I am worried I did incorrectly. Did you remove one of the plastic washers off of your new lights before installing? I noticed on the original lights that one of the 3 bolts didn't have the washer on it. And now looking at it, I noticed that this washer sits a little on the seal. It is the one closest to the license plate. Do think this will cause an issue with the seal?

Dackelone · 10-27-2012, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeCrush

Hey Dack! I just installed my blacklines but I am worried I did incorrectly. Did you remove one of the plastic washers off of your new lights before installing? I noticed on the original lights that one of the 3 bolts didn't have the washer on it. And now looking at it, I noticed that this washer sits a little on the seal. It is the one closest to the license plate. Do think this will cause an issue with the seal?

I do not think mine had any washers.

Q). is how do your tail lights fit? IF they are flush I would not worry about it. You could also try and water test them, and pull some of the inner truck carpet out and check for any leaks. But I am fairly sure mine Blacklines only had that foam gasket and no washers on the studs or threads.

Dack

OrangeCrush · 10-27-2012, 03:22 PM

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=708869

You can see the white plastic washers in this thread. Notice how it is missing from the one that would touch the foam gasket? I did not remove that one. I am worried that it will deform the gasket enough that it doesn't seal.

fredy · 11-11-2012, 05:37 PM

Great!!

chrisko · 12-16-2012, 10:28 PM

Thanks for such a comprehensive DIY!

I just ordered mine and this has made me even more anxious to get them installed!

SGM <3 · 12-16-2012, 11:19 PM

I installed mine a few moths ago and just recently they started leaking and shorted all the electronics in my car

Luckily I was still covered by warranty, but just as a heads up I'd check to make sure your seals are tight if you do this yourself.

Cheers!

chrisko · 12-20-2012, 11:39 AM

Mine just got delivered 5 minutes ago. Did you have to take off those little rubber seals on the light like in the video? Or can you just leave them on? I assumed he did that because of it being a convertible or something.

Dackelone · 12-20-2012, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisko

Mine just got delivered 5 minutes ago. Did you have to take off those little rubber seals on the light like in the video? Or can you just leave them on? I assumed he did that because of it being a convertible or something.

You leave the foam gasket on the new lights. When you remove the old tails... you will see the foam will have molded to the body opening for the lights.

Don't go crazy when you torque the new tails in place. The nuts/studs feel like they could break off IF over torqued.

Also before you snug the new tails in place... you will see you can move around the light housing some what - make sure all the body gaps are linear. Then your good to go!

Section147 · 12-20-2012, 12:41 PM

Perfect instructions, Dack.

I followed each of those steps when installing mine in August and it's been all good.

chrisko · 12-20-2012, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

You leave the foam gasket on the new lights. When you remove the old tails... you will see the foam will have molded to the body opening for the lights.

Don't go crazy when you torque the new tails in place. The nuts/studs feel like they could break off IF over torqued.

Also before you snug the new tails in place... you will see you can move around the light housing some what - make sure all the body gaps are linear. Then your good to go!

Perfect! Thanks for answering my question more thoroughly than I would have ever expected! You've been a great deal of help

chrisko · 12-22-2012, 01:58 AM

Thanks for all the help and tips, this was the result:

Love it

Volksfragen · 12-30-2012, 05:08 PM

/\ I've seen your photos on instagram haha.

Once word of caution, keep a good hand on the nuts when you take them off/put them on. I dropped one underneath all the trunk carpeting and I had to take 3/4 of it apart to retrive it.

chrisko · 12-31-2012, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volksfragen

/\ I've seen your photos on instagram haha.

Once word of caution, keep a good hand on the nuts when you take them off/put them on. I dropped one underneath all the trunk carpeting and I had to take 3/4 of it apart to retrive it.

Haha small world, or good hashtagging on my part

Yeah, I kept a magnet at the tip of my socket just in case they slipped through my fingers.

andnkuhn · 01-23-2013, 09:12 PM

thanks for the great write up! you couldn't have explained it better.

I the LCI NON blacklines..i have space gray and im not a big fan of the murdered out look. I put tints on so it makes it look darker already. so i wanted more contrast and stayed with the non-blacklines...had my car been white i would def get the black lines... thanks again dack

08-30-2012, 04:33 PM	#23
Section147 Good To Be Alive! Drives: 2012 135i *Convertible* Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: The North Coast Posts: 604 iTrader: (2) Garage List 2012 BMW 135i E88 [0.00] 2014 Ford Mustang [0.00] 2013 Subaru XV [0.00]	1). Ordered from ECS Tuning yesterday. 2). UPS shows up at my door this afternoon. 3). Half-hour later: Love the look. Very subtle. Wasn't going for the can-of-tint-spray or the Lamin-x-type wrap effect. As someone mentioned (Dack?), the look is very much like a VW tail. Very nicely smoked...classy. It separates the tails (especially on a red car) better that the ones that came on the vehicle. __________________ Vermillion Red • Boston Black • Walnut Trim • DCT • M Sport Pkg. • Premium Pkg.• PPK1 • PE 18" 313s • Michelin PPS • LUX 5k • Blackline LCI Tails • CF Diffuser & Mirrors • XPEL Ultimate *"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers" - W. Shakespeare* Last edited by Section147; 09-27-2012 at 05:37 PM.
	0

08-30-2012, 07:32 PM	#24
froop Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 08 AW 6MT E82 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 1,801 iTrader: (2)	Sorry for the poor iPhone photos but here's a photo I took last night midway through install, and then the finished product this morning Attached Images __________________ Procede Rev 3 \| PWM Meth \| Mr5 Intake \| AFE Scoops \| ER FMIC \| ER CP \| TiAl BOV \| AR Catless DPs \| CP-E Exhaust \| Forgestar F14s \| M3 Strut Tower Brace \| M3 Front Arms \| M3 F + R Sway Bars \| M3 Rear End Conversion \| Moton Clubsports with Swift Springs \| Vorshlag Camber Plates \| ECS 2-Piece Rotors \| SS Lines \| Cool Carbons \| BR Half Cage \| BMWP SSK \| BMWP Interior/Exterior Goodies \| Blacklines \| P3 Gauge \| 1M Interior \| froop's AW 135i Build Thread
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09-22-2012, 09:42 PM	#25
cptJLPicard F1 Fan Drives: E82/135i manual, M pkg Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Aurora Posts: 70 iTrader: (0)	As always, excellent write up Dackel, thanks! Do you know if the same parts would fit my Canadian 08 135i w/Xenon and AHL? Would there be coding required? __________________ '08 135i, 6MT, M/premium/comfort/sound pkg \| JB+ \| perf exhaust / springs \| M3 bits \| BMW Perf Steering Wheel v2 Last edited by cptJLPicard; 09-22-2012 at 10:06 PM.
	0

09-27-2012, 01:02 PM	#30
WINDman New Member Drives: 135i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 14 iTrader: (0)	I just ordered some as well directly from Germany Last edited by WINDman; 10-09-2012 at 06:49 AM.
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12-20-2012, 11:39 AM	#37
chrisko Second Lieutenant Drives: 2011 135i \| 2006 TSX Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 206 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW (N55) 135i [0.00] 2003 Subaru 2.5 WRX ... [5.00]	Mine just got delivered 5 minutes ago. Did you have to take off those little rubber seals on the light like in the video? Or can you just leave them on? I assumed he did that because of it being a convertible or something. __________________ Website 2011 N55 135i \| AA Catless DP \| AA Signature Exhaust \| JB4 Stage 2 \| LCI Tails \| ER CP
	0

10-27-2012, 10:09 AM	#31
OrangeCrush Lieutenant Drives: VO 1M #513/740 Join Date: May 2012 Location: USA Posts: 408 iTrader: (0)	Hey Dack! I just installed my blacklines but I am worried I did incorrectly. Did you remove one of the plastic washers off of your new lights before installing? I noticed on the original lights that one of the 3 bolts didn't have the washer on it. And now looking at it, I noticed that this washer sits a little on the seal. It is the one closest to the license plate. Do think this will cause an issue with the seal?
	0

10-27-2012, 03:22 PM	#33
OrangeCrush Lieutenant Drives: VO 1M #513/740 Join Date: May 2012 Location: USA Posts: 408 iTrader: (0)	http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=708869 You can see the white plastic washers in this thread. Notice how it is missing from the one that would touch the foam gasket? I did not remove that one. I am worried that it will deform the gasket enough that it doesn't seal.
	0

11-11-2012, 05:37 PM	#34
fredy Enlisted Member Drives: 135i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: canada Posts: 30 iTrader: (0)	Great!!
	0

12-16-2012, 10:28 PM	#35
chrisko Second Lieutenant Drives: 2011 135i \| 2006 TSX Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 206 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW (N55) 135i [0.00] 2003 Subaru 2.5 WRX ... [5.00]	Thanks for such a comprehensive DIY! I just ordered mine and this has made me even more anxious to get them installed!
	0

12-16-2012, 11:19 PM	#36
SGM <3 Internet Famous Drives: '09 SGM 135i Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Kirkland, WA. Posts: 232 iTrader: (0)	I installed mine a few moths ago and just recently they started leaking and shorted all the electronics in my car Luckily I was still covered by warranty, but just as a heads up I'd check to make sure your seals are tight if you do this yourself. Cheers!
	0

12-20-2012, 12:41 PM	#39
Section147 Good To Be Alive! Drives: 2012 135i *Convertible* Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: The North Coast Posts: 604 iTrader: (2) Garage List 2012 BMW 135i E88 [0.00] 2014 Ford Mustang [0.00] 2013 Subaru XV [0.00]	Perfect instructions, Dack. I followed each of those steps when installing mine in August and it's been all good. __________________ Vermillion Red • Boston Black • Walnut Trim • DCT • M Sport Pkg. • Premium Pkg.• PPK1 • PE 18" 313s • Michelin PPS • LUX 5k • Blackline LCI Tails • CF Diffuser & Mirrors • XPEL Ultimate *"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers" - W. Shakespeare* Last edited by Section147; 12-20-2012 at 01:18 PM.
	0

12-22-2012, 01:58 AM	#41
chrisko Second Lieutenant Drives: 2011 135i \| 2006 TSX Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 206 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW (N55) 135i [0.00] 2003 Subaru 2.5 WRX ... [5.00]	Thanks for all the help and tips, this was the result: Love it __________________ Website 2011 N55 135i \| AA Catless DP \| AA Signature Exhaust \| JB4 Stage 2 \| LCI Tails \| ER CP
	0

12-30-2012, 05:08 PM	#42
Volksfragen Registered Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 4 iTrader: (0)	/\ I've seen your photos on instagram haha. Once word of caution, keep a good hand on the nuts when you take them off/put them on. I dropped one underneath all the trunk carpeting and I had to take 3/4 of it apart to retrive it.
	0

01-23-2013, 09:12 PM	#44
andnkuhn Private First Class Drives: 135i.N55.6SPD.M-SPORT Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Arlington, Va Posts: 186 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 135i [0.00]	thanks for the great write up! you couldn't have explained it better. I the LCI NON blacklines..i have space gray and im not a big fan of the murdered out look. I put tints on so it makes it look darker already. so i wanted more contrast and stayed with the non-blacklines...had my car been white i would def get the black lines... thanks again dack __________________ TauK-n Tky 1. at a time///
	0

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