Half a Driver Side Tail Light is Out
 

Sounds weird huh? There are like 2 tail lights on each side and 1 of the two tail lights on the driver side is out. I knew the BMW I used to drive used the brake light as a tail light if the tail light went out but my this is weird. All my brakes work fine and I don't have any lamps showing errors. And I did check the bulb. There is only one bulb for the tail/brake light right? I thought they would be separate but I only saw 3 bulbs (brake/tail, turn,and back-up) unless I missed one. If I did, redirect me please. The one I pulled out was a double filament and was perfectly fine (or at least I think it was) I know this is hard to imagine so of course I have pictures. :toocool:

http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/y...234/brake3.jpg[/IMG]

http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/y...234/brake2.jpg[/IMG]

http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/y...1234/brake.jpg[/IMG]

First one to guess my actual license plate wins.

plain and simple, you have a bulb out. there are two 7443 bulbs in each taillight. replace it.

Woooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwww

http://skepacabra.files.wordpress.co...8/facepalm.jpg

Hey don't facepalm me. I'm a noob But anyways, wheres the tail light at? The one with the double filament is the brake light right? I can't pull my carpet lining completely out so I can't get that much of a good view but if someone can direct me I can reach in there and find it. Thanks.

Remove the plastic screws and caps, then the plastic piece that is at the back of the trunk, just under the lid, between the tail lights. Then unscrew the cargo net anchor from the lining on the side with the bad bulb. Pull the back the lining and you can get to the bulbs.

if you pulled a bulb to check it- you already have the diy !

always replace in pairs as the other one will fail soon- in this case all 4 should be replaced- they get the same use on both brake lights~

I know how to get to the bulbs. Oh yeah u know the screws that u are suppose to use a coin to unscrew. How do u get those out. I keep turning them but they just turn but never come out. I would just like to know which ones are the tail lights. It should be on the bottom but I only see 1 bulb there unless I'm just not looking hard enough. And is it true that ur not suppose to get fingerprints on the bulbs or is that just for HIDs

it depends on the type of bulb . led's are recommended to not touch the bulb and so people use alchohol swabs . basically anything that isnt oem you shouldnt touch the bulb .

you can just tell someone to step on the brake while your looking at the bulbs and you will no which one is out

All those bulbs are the same. It doesn't matter if it's tail light or brake light. They're all 7443.

Those plastic "screws" are a little tricky. Either try to unscrew them with very little downward pressure, or just get a flat-head screwdrive and gently pry them up at the same time you are turning them. Look harder for the other bulb. Get a reference point by looking at the tail light from the outside as to where the bulb ~should~ be, and then look for the socket at the exact same spot on the backside. It's there...it's GOT to be there.

This is only partially true. If anything, it's safer to touch LEDs because they don't get hot (high power LEDs w/ a marginal heatsink excluded). It's the oil residue left on the glass from your fingers that can cause problems when the glass gets hot, OEM or not. If you accidentally touch the glass just clean them w/ alcohol wipes.

looking at the pic of the lights on- its your inner lower bulb out

the center plastic panel screws dont come out- they are 1/4 turn to release
I dont even remove it- loosen screws and get the carpet edge up then pull the cardboard behind lights forward
Its tight but your hand will go in there
iirc the bulbs are 1/4 turn to lock -unlock and pull out

:rofl:

don't taze me bro!!!!

not quite that little, but yeah still only like 3 turns though (a very course screw type clip), but the best parts is that as mentioned they actually have something to actually be able to grab to turn them

sorry to bring this thread back but its funny how many people were wrong. There was only one bulb that was out and it was a dual filament bulb. I knew it I couldn't find 2 tail light bulbs. The bulb was kinda black so I guess it partly burned out since one part was still working. And it wasn't a turn to get out bulb. You just pull it straight out (you have to use a little strength) and pop the new bulb back in. This is for anyone who needs it for future references.

awesome! now i know! forums are supposed to be helpful...not full of haterade right?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1999-...#ht_825wt_1127

look at the back of that tail light. it has 4 bulbs (you can't see reverse in that pic)

you have two brake/tail lamps at the bottom, then a reverse and a turn signal. 4 bulbs

Thank you everyone for helping of course. I really appreciate it. I was just confused when told there were 2 tail light bulbs on each side.

Glad you got it fixed, but no one was wrong, I think you just misinterpreted the instructions.
There are two, dual-filament tail light bulbs on each side of the car. One of your two on the left was out.
To get the socket out of the tail light housing you do a quarter-turn. To get the bulb out of the socket you pull straight out.
Again, glad you got it fixed.