Rear Lights
Rear Lights
Author
Discussion

Bigel

Original Poster:

120 posts

251 months

Saturday 30th June 2007
quotequote all
Hi,

How easy is it to fit the updated rear lights (cluster type ones) to a pre-98 car? Is it just a cas of just taking them out and swapping them over or are they different in shape at all and needing more work?

Cheers!

bigdods

7,175 posts

257 months

Saturday 30th June 2007
quotequote all
A few options available. You can upgrade to the later pod style lights that post 97 cars had - I think a few body shops can do this but its £400-£500 ish. Or do what I did, buy some Mk3 fiesta lights from ebay and fit yourself. I had condensation in both light clusters and one outer perspex cover was knackered.

I removed the old lights by unscrewing from inside the boot and pulling out (they ae masticked in) . Then using a craft knife from the outside carefully cut the mastick all the way around the outer lens covers and removed. Used white spirit to remove old black paint inside light covers, then repainted with black enamel paint. Fitted new lights in with liberal applications of 'no more nails' and mastick to make the seal. Once dry masticked in the light covers . Total about 3-4 hours work, spread over 2 days to allow drying time. Total cost was £75 for lights, about £10 for mastick and no more nails , plus another £75 to replace one of the outer perspex covers (you shouldnt need to do this, they do clean up nicely)

If you go this route I would recommend the black lexus lights not the chrome ones , too chav for me they were...

Results in the pics here








Edited by bigdods on Saturday 30th June 14:10

Waynester

6,534 posts

280 months

Wednesday 4th July 2007
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Didn't think i would like the Lexi look rear lights but they are nice..^^^ stunning colour too.yes

bigdods

7,175 posts

257 months

Wednesday 4th July 2007
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Waynester said:
Didn't think i would like the Lexi look rear lights but they are nice..^^^ stunning colour too.yes
The trick is to get the ones that are black not chrome. The pics dont really do them justice IMHO they look way better in the flesh.

Blue ones are of course fastest ;-)

V8 Animal

6,015 posts

240 months

Sunday 25th November 2007
quotequote all
Replaced my rear lights this weekend.
Thanks to lee for the purchase and thanks to bigdods for the info on how to fit.
Look stunning will post a picture later.
V8 Animal

im

34,302 posts

247 months

Sunday 25th November 2007
quotequote all
V8 Animal said:
Replaced my rear lights this weekend.
Thanks to lee for the purchase and thanks to bigdods for the info on how to fit.
Look stunning will post a picture later.
V8 Animal
Don't forget to post the pics - I'm seriously thinking about this.

AlRaven

408 posts

239 months

Monday 26th November 2007
quotequote all
I've got exactly the same and they look great but whoever fitted them previously didn't paint a black border surround so you can see some poor mastic work which would be covered up otherwise, if my to do list runs out I might re-do them.

bigdods

7,175 posts

257 months

Monday 26th November 2007
quotequote all
AlRaven said:
I've got exactly the same and they look great but whoever fitted them previously didn't paint a black border surround so you can see some poor mastic work which would be covered up otherwise, if my to do list runs out I might re-do them.
its an easy job, careful use of a craft knift should allow you to remove the outer perspex. I cleaned them up with white spirit then painted with black enamel paint (the kind used on airfix models). Be sure to get some flexible masking tape from B&Q to get a nice edge.

Altrezia

8,742 posts

241 months

Monday 26th November 2007
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seeing a clean chim like that makes me not want to sell mine

V8 Animal

6,015 posts

240 months

Monday 26th November 2007
quotequote all
im said:
V8 Animal said:
Replaced my rear lights this weekend.
Thanks to lee for the purchase and thanks to bigdods for the info on how to fit.
Look stunning will post a picture later.
V8 Animal
Don't forget to post the pics - I'm seriously thinking about this.
Best i can do this evening im afraid.
Shows up my crappy plate looks like that will be on the bling list.
Hazards were on aswell as side lights.

bigdods

7,175 posts

257 months

Monday 26th November 2007
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nice one V8 Animal, glad my advice was of some help !

V8 Animal

6,015 posts

240 months

Wednesday 28th November 2007
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Took the car to work today so i could take a picture in the daylight.
Looks brill to mebiggrin


As you can see on the close up painted the inside of the surround and looks like new now.
I like em that much i indicate at every corner now biglaugh

Paul

sapper

1,134 posts

235 months

Friday 30th November 2007
quotequote all
Ive just bought a set of these from e-bay. They are from a MK3 fiesta and already have the perspex covers on. Will it be a straight swap i.e light cluster out and new ones straight in or will I have to swap the perspex. Thanks in advance fellas

V8 Animal

6,015 posts

240 months

Friday 30th November 2007
quotequote all
sapper said:
Ive just bought a set of these from e-bay. They are from a MK3 fiesta and already have the perspex covers on. Will it be a straight swap i.e light cluster out and new ones straight in or will I have to swap the perspex. Thanks in advance fellas
If your talking about the clear perspex on the lamp you do not touch that.
You do have to remove the smoked lens from the car to fit the lights then fit the covers back in.
It's not that straightforward of a job but it's worth it IMO
Paul

sapper

1,134 posts

235 months

Saturday 1st December 2007
quotequote all
V8 Animal said:
sapper said:
Ive just bought a set of these from e-bay. They are from a MK3 fiesta and already have the perspex covers on. Will it be a straight swap i.e light cluster out and new ones straight in or will I have to swap the perspex. Thanks in advance fellas
If your talking about the clear perspex on the lamp you do not touch that.
You do have to remove the smoked lens from the car to fit the lights then fit the covers back in.
It's not that straightforward of a job but it's worth it IMO
Paul
Cheers paul

poorpeet

837 posts

275 months

Saturday 1st December 2007
quotequote all
Er.. is that right? I didn't have to touch the smoked covers on mine to change the lights. It was all done from inside the boot. Pull back the carpet & the original fiesta pods were held by mastic & a couple of self tappers. Fitting was the reverse of removal as they say. TVR may have changed the way the lights fitted on later ones but i'd have a good look before trying to pull off the smoked covers.

V8 Animal

6,015 posts

240 months

Saturday 1st December 2007
quotequote all
poorpeet said:
Er.. is that right? I didn't have to touch the smoked covers on mine to change the lights. It was all done from inside the boot. Pull back the carpet & the original fiesta pods were held by mastic & a couple of self tappers. Fitting was the reverse of removal as they say. TVR may have changed the way the lights fitted on later ones but i'd have a good look before trying to pull off the smoked covers.
Mine were sickaflexed allround the light to the bodywork.
And there not that good a fit so the mastic tidys up the gap.
In theory you could pull the lights out from the boot and just stick some mastic in to hold.
It would look crap though.
Paul

bigdods

7,175 posts

257 months

Saturday 1st December 2007
quotequote all
I agree, you *could* do it while leaving the outer perspex in place but here are the reasons I removed mine at the same time

1. The fiesta lights were silconed in , the only way to do this neatly is from the outside
2. The new lights were a good but not perfect fit (nor were the fiesta lights I took out), the silicon covers the gaps
3. If you dont want to get condensation inside the covers you need to silicon the new lights in
4. My outer perspex on one side was drilled by previous owner to let water out so it had to come off. The other one had also got some condensation in and the black paint around the edge was peeling so needed to be re-done.


ETA - that looks like a neat job V8Animal, looking very good !


Edited by bigdods on Saturday 1st December 18:53

That Daddy

19,461 posts

251 months

Saturday 1st December 2007
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Why do these lights look good on other peoples cars,yet i just cant vision them on mine(colour i guess),so aint gonna do itfrown

T_Pot

2,542 posts

227 months

Saturday 1st December 2007
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i like it on your car mate