Eagle Eye LED concern

[Newjack]

Okay so after I started installing them I found one thing that concerns me. Khoalty's DIY (http://www.khoalty.com/blog/e46-led-tail-lights-diy-install-guide/) mentions a black trim piece that you will need to save from your old lights and put on the new ones. My car doesn't seem to have this.

"Also you have to use the black trim things off your current lights and move them to your new ones. These are a b*tch to remove if you have never done it before. The easiest way I could do it was to insert a small flathead screwdriver between and pry up gently. You could try spraying WD-40 on the fins that clip and then sliding it off… but I don’t know how well that would work. I went with the screwdriver. Getting these off your old lights and onto your new ones is probably the toughest part aside from pulling all the panels off the car. You can see the black trim I am talking about on the outside of the trunk on the left side of the picture."
http://www.eurosportunderground.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10013/P1010014~1.JPG

Ok so I originally thought it was this piece.
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3476/0115121309.jpg
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/9427/0115121309a.jpg

But that piece doesn't look like it is supposed to come off, and there would be no way to attach it to the EE light.

Notice the lack of a gap when the OEM light is installed.
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/1610/0115121330.jpg

Compared to the gap with the EE light installed
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/5227/0115121310.jpg
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/2968/0115121323.jpg


Will this allow water to leak in over time? Or am I just over reacting? Why doesn't my car have the black trim piece that is mentioned in the DIY?

[UdubBadger]

yeah water will run through there when you wash the car or it rains. it's basically a gutter system to keep the contents of the trunk from getting wet... at least it was in my last 2 BMW's

[Newjack]

yeah water will run through there when you wash the car or it rains. it's basically a gutter system to keep the contents of the trunk from getting wet... at least it was in my last 2 BMW's

So the EE's are ok?

[UdubBadger]

personally, i'd throw some weather stripping or something in there to block it up a bit more but you might be ok w/o it.

[UdubBadger]

this is what I meant by the gutter


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=escpG_eDzoo

[Newjack]

Yeah I saw that video earlier during my search. The thing is, my car doesn't have that black weather stripping piece. Compare my car with the car in the video. Its different.

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/4918/0115121537.jpg

Gingervolt + TT

[kayger12]

Maybe a PO changed out for EEs at some point, and re-installed the stock tails prior to sale but didn't replace the stripping?

[Newjack]

Maybe a PO changed out for EEs at some point, and re-installed the stock tails prior to sale but didn't replace the stripping?

Sorry, let me try to explain this again, its tough to explain this stuff through text.

In the above video, they guy mentions a plastic weather stripping piece that you will need to replace. On his car there is space for it. On my car there is only a gap maybe an inch wide that I could put that plastic piece. It's as if my rear end is different from every E46 that I have seen with EE installed. I don't have that plastic piece because it wouldn't fit in my car.

I just can't figure out why my car is different than all the other ones I have seen. Does that make sense?

[kayger12]

Ah-- yep, I got you now.

Weird.

[cakM3]

Yeah I saw that video earlier during my search. The thing is, my car doesn't have that black weather stripping piece. Compare my car with the car in the video. Its different.

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/4918/0115121537.jpg

Gingervolt + TT

When I installed my Eagle Eyes, I detached the black trim part from my original tail lights and tried to install them onto my Eagle Eyes.....no fit. I don't know what part that guy used to get them to fit on his car but the solution I came up with resulting in no leaking whatsoever is this:

I got some weatherstrip material from Home Depot
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/Weatherstrip.jpg

Cut thin strips to place around the opening. Leave no openings...

Then I mounted my Eagle Eyes and this is what you should see...

The small crack you see in the weather strip is on the outside part...the inside is snug and sealed...
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/IMG_3268.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/Passengersside.jpg

I have taken my ZHP to the car wash and used the pressure washer and no leaks were found. I haven't had any issues with my eagle eyes either...:thumbsup

I find that the weatherstrip part that comes with the Eagle Eyes are too thin and flimsy so adding additional weatherstrip around the openings provided just enough material to adequately seal the rear taillight area from the environment.

[Newjack]

When I installed my Eagle Eyes, I detached the black trim part from my original tail lights and tried to install them onto my Eagle Eyes.....no fit. I don't know what part that guy used to get them to fit on his car but the solution I came up with resulting in no leaking whatsoever is this:

I got some weatherstrip material from Home Depot
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/Weatherstrip.jpg

Cut thin strips to place around the opening. Leave no openings...

Then I mounted my Eagle Eyes and this is what you should see...

The small crack you see in the weather strip is on the outside part...the inside is snug and sealed...
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/IMG_3268.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/Passengersside.jpg

I have taken my ZHP to the car wash and used the pressure washer and no leaks were found. I haven't had any issues with my eagle eyes either...:thumbsup

I find that the weatherstrip part that comes with the Eagle Eyes are too thin and flimsy so adding additional weatherstrip around the openings provided just enough material to adequately seal the rear taillight area from the environment.

This is exactly what I was looking for. I knew I couldn't be the only person that this has happened to. I'll grab some weather stripping and stuff it in there for extra protection when I get the chance. Thanks so much!

[danewilson77]

Family solved. Love it.

[UdubBadger]

always

[cakM3]

This is exactly what I was looking for. I knew I couldn't be the only person that this has happened to. I'll grab some weather stripping and stuff it in there for extra protection when I get the chance. Thanks so much!

No Problem! Glad to help :thumbsup

iPhone4 +TT

[titaniumair]

I have a sedan and I don't have that black plastic piece either. I'm guessing it's only found on the coupe.

[UdubBadger]

I looked on mine too (as I wanted to do the LED lights too) and saw the same, oh well. Do any other companies make these?

[Newjack]

DEPO makes them as well. But they are more expensive than the EE.

[UdubBadger]

money isn't my issue if they fit properly. I thought depo only made the halogen ones.

[Newjack]

money isn't my issue if they fit properly. I thought depo only made the halogen ones.

It's not that the EE don't fit properly, they do. I just don't have that plastic piece that everyone was talking about.

I'm not sure that the DEPO's are any better than the EE's.

[UdubBadger]

I don't think any of ours do...

I might just keep OEM R/C/R's.

It's too bad, I really like the look of the clear/red LEDs.

[cakM3]

The eagle eye style tails do not have that black plastic cover like the OEM M3 LED tails do. I can say from experience having them on my first bimmer ('99 323i) and now on my ZHP, I have not had any issues with them regarding moisture leaking into the car or in the tail lights themselves. The gasket that comes with them are thin and cheap....that's where the moisture is coming in from. They do not provide a good enough seal, which is why I used that weather strip I got from Home Depot. Overall, I'm satisfied with them and I love how they look with the Imola :)

[UdubBadger]

k so if I do get these just expect to use weatherstripping huh?

[cakM3]

Depends on if you really need that black strip. My eagle eyes fit prefectly and with the additional weather strip I used, there are no leaks and I have them laid out such that they don't look bad imho. Yeah, I would like to have that strip there to "clean" up that area but can live without it. When the trunk is closed, you don't see any difference other than you have LED tail lights. They function just as good as OEM tails from my experience. No, I never had any burned out LEDs... lucky I guess :p

One thing to note here in New England, my ZHP is parked outside all the time and the tails do go through cold/freeze, heat cycles. So far, everything have been good to go :thumbsup

Udub, I grew up in Chicago - went to Barrington HS....so I know what Chicago winters are all about. I don't think you will have issues with eagle eyes there....just my 2 cents...

[UdubBadger]

ah no kidding huh? I've always loved Barrington... I'm sure a lot has changed since you lived there though.

[cakM3]

I'm sure Barrington has changed lots in 30 years :)

I still remember the winters though.....brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! New England is mild compared to Chicago winters :)

[UdubBadger]

I'm sure Barrington has changed lots in 30 years :)

I still remember the winters though.....brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! New England is mild compared to Chicago winters :)

oh yeah and those north/western suburbs get the brunt of it too. It's always been a nice area, told my wife I wouldn't mind living there one day. Glenview/Northbrook is getting a little crowded for my tastes now.

[cakM3]

ahhhhh the memories....taking in a doubleheader in May at Wrigley's Field...the drive on Lake Shore Drive....and let's not forget Chicago's Giordanos Pizza! FTW :)

[UdubBadger]

You've been gone too long buddy...

US Cellular Field is the place to be, Lake Shore Drive is a death trap (per blizzard of '11) and Lou Malnati's > Giordano's (which actually had to close 1/2 of its locations) ;)

[cakM3]

Giordano's (which actually had to close 1/2 of its locations) Really????

I guess I have been away way too long......

Perhaps I should be looking you guys up next time I roll through Chicago. I try to make it out there at least every summer sometime...:)

I have family in Iowa and drive I-80W which takes me through Chicago....when I have time I try to stay over to visit with friends there... I use the ///M when driving out west....:biggrin

[UdubBadger]

Yeah, the economy hit those places pretty hard. Also their pizza is soooo filling but soooo expensive. $25 for a small deep with spinach and pepperoni and you can only eat 2 slices max without at least needed to take a halftime bathroom break.

For sure let me know when you come through here next year.

[cakM3]

No problem :thumbsup