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M2 Technical Topics > Cosmetic Maintenance (Wash/Wax/Detailing/Exterior Restoration & Repairs) > Taillights are a magnet for leaf gunk.

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      04-09-2018, 11:34 AM   #1
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Taillights are a magnet for leaf gunk.

Every time I wash the car I dry around the trunk and notice a few little leaves and whatnot get in the crack at the top of the taillight. The way the car's designed this is pretty much inevitable. Today I popped off the tails and gave it a real cleaning. There WERE leaves in there I couldn't get to without removing the tails. These cars are new and not rusting yet, but I know that leaves and dirt are moisture magnets so I figure this is something I'll do every 6 months or so.

Easy to pop off. 2 nuts and a good pull and they pop right out. 2 wire plugs and they're completely off the car and you can throw them in the dishwasher for a good cleaning. Kidding on that part.
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      04-10-2018, 05:56 AM   #2
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Great idea! Where are the two nuts located?
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      04-10-2018, 07:29 AM   #3
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Re are 2 little plastic doors one of which you can see in my first pic. Just pop those open and get in there with a 10mm socket on an extension.

You have to give the light a reasonable yank to pull it out. The front corner is held in by a pin and grommet type gig. Remember there are wires attached, so when it lets go, don’t end up on the other side of the garage. There’s actually a handhold on the inside edge of the light so you can get a better grip.

When you put them back on, a little bump with of heel of your palm will reseat the grommet and pin.

I knew how to remove them from when I changed my tail bulbs to LEDs. It’s easy. Good luck.
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      04-10-2018, 08:24 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by McGary911 View Post
Re are 2 little plastic doors one of which you can see in my first pic. Just pop those open and get in there with a 10mm socket on an extension.

You have to give the light a reasonable yank to pull it out. The front corner is held in by a pin and grommet type gig. Remember there are wires attached, so when it lets go, don't end up on the other side of the garage. There's actually a handhold on the inside edge of the light so you can get a better grip.

When you put them back on, a little bump with of heel of your palm will reseat the grommet and pin.

I knew how to remove them from when I changed my tail bulbs to LEDs. It's easy. Good luck.
Thank you!! I'll definitely give it a shot the next time I wash my car.
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      04-10-2018, 08:49 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by McGary911 View Post
Every time I wash the car I dry around the trunk and notice a few little leaves and whatnot get in the crack at the top of the taillight. The way the car's designed this is pretty much inevitable. Today I popped off the tails and gave it a real cleaning. There WERE leaves in there I couldn't get to without removing the tails. These cars are new and not rusting yet, but I know that leaves and dirt are moisture magnets so I figure this is something I'll do every 6 months or so.

Easy to pop off. 2 nuts and a good pull and they pop right out. 2 wire plugs and they're completely off the car and you can throw them in the dishwasher for a good cleaning. Kidding on that part.
That is my 1 complaint w/the car's design. Well dash visibility but I got over that
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      04-12-2018, 09:05 PM   #6
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The leaf trapping tails are nothing new on BMWs. My e39s always trap leaves as well as my Z3 roadster. My oldest will be 20 yrs old this October, and it's not rusting behind the tails.
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      04-13-2018, 06:43 AM   #7
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Its also a good idea to every so often to pull your front inner wheel well plastic and clean out those. We pulled some on an M3 and lots of junk came out from the cowl drainage and motor drainage.

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      09-14-2022, 09:54 PM   #8
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Resurrecting this thread; there's a massive tree right above my parking, so this spot is always full of leaves and other organic stuff. I don't feel like removing my tail lights every 2 months so I'm thinking to put a silicone bead at the upper junction between the lights and the body. Anyone did this?
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      09-15-2022, 01:44 AM   #9
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As the gap between the light moulding and the body appears to be the drain for the channel around the trunk lid (which is why the leaves end up in there), might that not cause other problems?
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      09-15-2022, 07:58 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M Fifty View Post
As the gap between the light moulding and the body appears to be the drain for the channel around the trunk lid (which is why the leaves end up in there), might that not cause other problems?
Quote:
Originally Posted by M Fifty View Post
As the gap between the light moulding and the body appears to be the drain for the channel around the trunk lid (which is why the leaves end up in there), might that not cause other problems?
Water will drain over the tail light instead of behind I believe. When I dump a fair amount of water above it's 50/50 between behind and over the tail light
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      09-15-2022, 08:23 PM   #11
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Man I hate this spot. This thread has inspired me to take the tails out and clean that area properly since it's no longer my daily. I have to do the same thing to my fender liners.
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      11-26-2022, 07:31 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M Fifty View Post
As the gap between the light moulding and the body appears to be the drain for the channel around the trunk lid (which is why the leaves end up in there), might that not cause other problems?
I've been reading that the taillights develop a short because of a bad ground. Since the connecting plug is on the backside of the taillight, this plug is actually exposed to the water running down from the trunk drainage. I know this because I am dealing with this problem right now. Can't seal the top because then it will be stuck to the car so once I get it fixed (of course it had to happen on Thanksgiving weekend when my Indy shop is closed), I'm going to find a way to wrap and seal the plug. It's a really bad design IMO but what are you going to do?
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