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How To: BMW Z3 (pre-facelift) 3rd brake light gasket replacement Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums Forum Name: 'How To Do' Forum Discription: If you know how to perform a maintenance task, then tell everyone else! URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=46807 Printed Date: 01-May-2024 at 15:08 Topic: How To: BMW Z3 (pre-facelift) 3rd brake light gasket replacement Posted By: pangster Subject: How To: BMW Z3 (pre-facelift) 3rd brake light gasket replacement Date Posted: 07-June-2010 at 20:18 A common complaint with leaks on the BMW Z3 seems to be in the boot and specifically around the third brake light - the root cause for this is because the gasket perishes over time.. it's a fairly cheap and straight forward process - but I couldn't find any guides for it so thought I'd throw one together as I've just done mine. Tools/Parts needed: 1 x BMW replacement gasket (p/n: 63 25 8 389 735) 1 x small flat blade screwdriver 1 x medium Phillips head screwdriver 1 x T-8 precision screwdriver 1 x cloth/rag Step 1: Open boot and remove black plastic protective cover - this just prise away from the body work (pull it gently): http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/pangster79/Z3%20Third%20Brakelight%20Gasket/?action=view&current=Z3ThirdBrakelight1.jpg"> Step 2: The PCB which powers the individual brake lights is held in place by 3 x Phillips screws -take your Phillips screwdriver and remove these (highlighted in green circles in below pictures to show location): http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/pangster79/Z3%20Third%20Brakelight%20Gasket/?action=view&current=Z3ThirdBrakelight2.jpg"> http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/pangster79/Z3%20Third%20Brakelight%20Gasket/?action=view&current=Z3ThirdBrakelight3.jpg"> Step 3: Next you need to remove the 2 x T-8 screws which hold the black plastic back plate to the front red plastic lens - these are located either side of the black plastic back plate: http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/pangster79/Z3%20Third%20Brakelight%20Gasket/?action=view&current=Z3ThirdBrakelight5.jpg"> http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/pangster79/Z3%20Third%20Brakelight%20Gasket/?action=view&current=Z3ThirdBrakelight6.jpg"> All fixings should now be removed (3 x Phillips screws and 2 x T-8 screws): http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/pangster79/Z3%20Third%20Brakelight%20Gasket/?action=view&current=Z3ThirdBrakelight7.jpg"> All that is now holding the front lens and black plastic back plate in place are the 4 black plastic compression clips - these are located here: http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/pangster79/Z3%20Third%20Brakelight%20Gasket/?action=view&current=Z3ThirdBrakelight4.jpg"> All you do now is work from one side to the other pressing them (gently!) together - once you release the last clip - the front red lens and the back black plastic piece separate: http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/pangster79/Z3%20Third%20Brakelight%20Gasket/?action=view&current=Z3ThirdBrakelight8.jpg"> Step 4: Remove the old gasket from the red plastic lens and replace with the new gasket: http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/pangster79/Z3%20Third%20Brakelight%20Gasket/?action=view&current=Z3ThirdBrakelight10.jpg"> Comparison shot of old gasket (left) and new gasket (right): http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/pangster79/Z3%20Third%20Brakelight%20Gasket/?action=view&current=Z3ThirdBrakelight9.jpg"> Step 5: Take your cloth/rag and clean the area around the third brake light to make sure it is free from dirt and grime and to ensure that it's dry: http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/pangster79/Z3%20Third%20Brakelight%20Gasket/?action=view&current=Z3ThirdBrakelight11.jpg"> Final Steps: Refitting is now just a reversal of removal - this can be quite fiddly though! - although once you have the red lens and black plastic backing clipped together its a fairly easy.  The reason I suggested a small flat blade screwdriver above is because this will help enormously when it comes to clipping the black plastic clips onto the PCB. Job done (and no more leaky boot!! :) ): http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/pangster79/Z3%20Third%20Brakelight%20Gasket/?action=view&current=Z3ThirdBrakelight12.jpg"> Hope this helps!! ------------- 1998 BMW Z3 2.8 Roadster 1998 BMW 316i Compact (E36)

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