GO FISHING, use SLABSAUCE Fishing Attractant
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: Is the high level tourer brake lamp retro-fittable?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Reading, UK
    Posts
    1,853

    Default Is the high level tourer brake lamp retro-fittable?

    ...If that's even a word.

    Just curious cos mine's not got one and there's a T being broken by a mate with one on.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Chicago, Il. U.S.A.
    Posts
    4,243

    Default

    Part of the factory attatchment is two screws through the glass. As the glass is tempered it would be impossible to duplicate that.
    Adhesive would be your best bet I suppose. Don't know if your LKM would object to the additional light.
    "The gas pedal wouldn't go to the floor if it weren't meant to be there"

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Reading, UK
    Posts
    1,853

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ross
    Part of the factory attatchment is two screws through the glass. As the glass is tempered it would be impossible to duplicate that.
    Adhesive would be your best bet I suppose. Don't know if your LKM would object to the additional light.
    Yikes, that's a bit of a shame, I'd have thought the defualt plastic spoiler would just swap straight out.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Austin
    Posts
    1,087

    Default

    Just buy the whole glass hatch and swap it out.

    My elekta did not come with one, and was needed to pass US DOT/EPA, so I bought a US hatch from the breakers and swapped the whole glass hatch. Some breakers might make you buy the whole tail gate too.

    You should be able to find the brake light in the harness while it's out to tap into.


    ~6 speed~ Rear Fogs ~ Shadowline ~ Tow Package ~ OEMMM///S38B38

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Stockholm
    Posts
    67

    Default

    Buy the complete glass part from a late (built 1995 or 1996) Euro Touring or buy it from the US (all Touring: s there have third brake light) a friend of did just that on his now sold 1996 540iAT (the brake light was option 95-96 in Europe, think 96 UK and Swedish cars have it as standard)

    Stephan
    1995 E34 540iM/6 #410/797
    1996 E34 540i/6 LE #768/797
    1996 E34 540iM/6 #774/797
    Missed:
    1995 E34 540i/6 #631/797
    1995 E34 540i/6 #736/797
    1996 E34 540iM/6 #788/797
    1996 E34 540i/6 #794/797

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Chicago, Il. U.S.A.
    Posts
    4,243

    Default

    No need really for all that. I didn't mean to imply that it wouldn't work without the holes in the glass just that an alternate attatchment would be needed.
    There are plenty of adhesives or even tape that would be plenty strong enough to hold that on.
    "The gas pedal wouldn't go to the floor if it weren't meant to be there"

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    El Paso TX
    Posts
    1,534

    Default

    You wouldn't want to have it be permanent though, since eventually you will need to take it out to replace LEDs.

    replacing the entire glass with the spoiler and 3rd brakelight already fitted would be a 10-20 minute job (struts, cut wires for brakelight and defrost, then 4 allen heads) compared to taking the spoilers off and swapping them to your existing glass. You would then need to run wiring into the body and down the right hand D pillar to get to the brakelight wiring.
    Last edited by attack eagle; 07-02-2007 at 04:33 PM.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Regional NSW, Australia
    Posts
    1,177

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ferret
    ...If that's even a word.

    Just curious cos mine's not got one and there's a T being broken by a mate with one on.
    I am just about to do the same to my 525ix sedan. It is a New Zealand spec car from Fiji. To replace with original I have to replace my parcel shelf etc etc. I am going to see if I can't just get an aftermarket Hella light that glues onto the glass.

    Interestingly, these 3rd brake lights have been standard in Oz since the mid 80s. My '88 E34 has one.


    "I'm not the village idiot.
    But when he retires I'm next on the list."

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Wellington,New Zealand
    Posts
    3,868

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Zeuk in Oz
    I am just about to do the same to my 525ix sedan. It is a New Zealand spec car from Fiji. To replace with original I have to replace my parcel shelf etc etc. I am going to see if I can't just get an aftermarket Hella light that glues onto the glass.

    Interestingly, these 3rd brake lights have been standard in Oz since the mid 80s. My '88 E34 has one.
    Thats odd my 1990 NZ new 535 has a third brake light just like yours(moulded rear parcel shelf)
    Gone but not forgotten

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Regional NSW, Australia
    Posts
    1,177

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul in NZ
    Thats odd my 1990 NZ new 535 has a third brake light just like yours(moulded rear parcel shelf)
    Thanks Paul.

    Obviously then my car isn't NZ spec and is Fiji spec.

    Hard to get information but my local dealer told me that all South Pacific island cars were sold in NZ spec. I have no idea but did find it interesting that Oz & NZ would differ - so obviously the dealer was wrong.

    No offense intended.


    "I'm not the village idiot.
    But when he retires I'm next on the list."

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Touring High Level Brake Light
    By 540 touring in forum 5 Series BMW
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 01-13-2007, 08:41 PM
  2. Brake Rotor vs High Speed Cutter
    By DaCan23 in forum 5 Series BMW
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 07-06-2006, 10:20 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •