Got a new taillight coming on Wednesday to replace the one some idiot broke on Friday last week.

What I need to know is, can this be replaced easily by me or do I need a dealer to do it. Had a look at it tonight to see but got as far as taking the 2 screws out located on the inside of the car which freed it up slightly but couldn't figure it out on how to get the whole light out.

Any assistance or advice would be greatly appreciated so I can get my SM back to 100% health as soon as.

Thanks

Stewart

Take out the 2 screws the the other side of the lamp just pulls out, sit in on two plastic dowels, a tiny screwdriver can help you prise it out:)

The 'alan' style key supplied in the tool box is designed to remove the two lamp housing retaining screws in the gutter channel around the rear hatch opening.

Lift away from the bodywork and disconnect the electrical socket (usually a press type retaining lock on the socket).

edit

– Release the screws -1- (2.5 Nm) and loosen the light -2- towards the rear -arrow- out of the holding parts -3-. – Unplug connector -4

Regards,

TP

Edited 18 October, 201015 yr by The Plumber

Hi

After taking out the 2 No1 screws, the unit pulls out towards the rear, and reguires a really good pull - after removeing the plug you will see another larger torx screw securing

the bulb holder to the lens and then there are 3 plastic clips to release the bulb holder.

Regards

Mike

Thanks for your replies, looks fairly simple, obviously wasn't pulling it hard enough for fear of damaging the light, silly really as it is already broken.c

Will give it a go after work on Wednesday and let you know

The 'alan' style key supplied in the tool box is designed to remove the two lamp housing retaining screws in the gutter channel around the rear hatch opening.

Lift away from the bodywork and disconnect the electrical socket (usually a press type retaining lock on the socket).

edit

– Release the screws -1- (2.5 Nm) and loosen the light -2- towards the rear -arrow- out of the holding parts -3-. – Unplug connector -4

Regards,

TP

Tim, Does this get you access to the sleepy light for the boot too?

Tim, Does this get you access to the sleepy light for the boot too?

Just get a screwdriver under the lower lip of the boot light and lever out.

The boot light is, in my opinion, a total waste of time as it has so little power and is badly located.

Has anyone improved on the boot lighting using the existing power supply?

I was considering a set of ribbon LEDs stuck higher up on one side.

Just get a screwdriver under the lower lip of the boot light and lever out.

The boot light is, in my opinion, a total waste of time as it has so little power and is badly located.

Has anyone improved on the boot lighting using the existing power supply?

I was considering a set of ribbon LEDs stuck higher up on one side.

That sounds so easy- that I never thunk of it :(

I will have a look to see if there is another bulb that will fit - but totally agree of it's uselessness.

Thanks for the pics TP and the other users for the descriptions on how to remove it as well, very useful

Got the new light tonight and once you see the back of the new light, you can see how it is held in. A genle tug after removing the screws and swapped out in 5 minutes.

Looks a bit odd now though as I have one clean tail light and one dirty one. Oh well that will be fixed after the commute tomorrow.

Edited 20 October, 201015 yr by sahdrm