[JLJL]

I just got done installing blacklines but I lost one screw during the process. Does anyone know how I can go about opening up the driver side trunk carpet? or am I okay just leaving the screw in there? Any help is appreciated.

[benny90]

Originally Posted by JLJL

I just got done installing blacklines but I lost one screw during the process. Does anyone know how I can go about opening up the driver side trunk carpet? or am I okay just leaving the screw in there? Any help is appreciated.

for not being careful lol.

[JLJL]

haha I kept reminding myself not to drop the damn screw and once I did I felt like a moron. Good thing I found a replacement screw. Anyone have any advice on removing the trunk carpet or is there a diy post on removing the carpt because I cannot find it. I just want to get the damn screw out.

[benny90]

Oops, just read you found a screw. Unfortunately, there is no truly easy way to remove the trunk carpet, they spray glued it on there pretty good. I would say to try and get a pretty powerful stick magnet and see if you can fish it out of there. Which side did you drop it on?? I'm hoping for you it was the passenger side.....

[JLJL]

Unfortunately it was dropped on the driver side. Thanks for your advice benny. Haha hopefully it won't make any weird noises when I drive the car.

[kefler]

I did this tonight to my new 335i SG Sedan! Although I feel like the last person to ever do this install, I took some pics hopefully to add some detail in case anyone else could use the info.

Here's a closeup of the plugs. You don't have to smash them in with a hammer!! Remove the plug part, and just push the holder into the hole. Then insert the plug and it pushes the outer part into the trunk and it fits very tightly.


Here is a pic with all the plugs off. I just let the trunk liner hang, there was plenty of room to work with.


This is the plastic piece you fit over the bolt for the inner taillight assemblies. it compressed down and clamps it to the trunk.


Here is the hole on the driver's side (with the harness unplugged)


Here is the driver's side taillight removed.


I had to hand align the right one a few times. I held the light in the spot I needed it while hand tightening the inside bolts fairly tight. I then used the socket to fully tighten. In the end they look pretty aligned to me.





This was the scariest part of the install:



And one more pic..

[JCLBoston]

Ok.. I'm installing these tomorrow, but I have a stupid question.. should I disconnect the battery before installing?

[benny90]

I would disconnect the battery just to be safe

That last picture looks great kefler!

[nmcampbell]

Originally Posted by JCLBoston

Ok.. I'm installing these tomorrow, but I have a stupid question.. should I disconnect the battery before installing?

There is absolutely no need to disconnect the battery. Don't waste your time doing it IMHO. I installed mine in about 15 minutes with the DIY and no problems.

[BES335xi]

No Need To Disconnect Battery!

[fizzle]

no you dont need to disconnect the battery; even if u were being safe there is nothing that could possibly go wrong changing the tail lights.

[japac1]

Agree. This is the easiest DIY I've seen. Nothing can go wrong....and it looks so good when it's done!!

[JCLBoston]

Thanks for the responses, everyone - they're going on after work! Can't wait!

[JCLBoston]

I just got finished installing the blacklines and they look great!! There aren't many people around here with blacklines and pics really don't do them justice, which is partly why I waited so long.. but seeing them in person is something else.

Unfortunately, it's dark outside now so I didn't take any pics.. maybe tomorrow.. though not like there's any shortage of blackline pics on this forum

A couple of notes/observations:
- to remove the 8 plugs, 2 screwdrivers work much better and easier than pliers.. much less prone to scratching the plugs too.

- with the blacklines installed and the rods lit, some of the light bleeds into the upper portion (smoked/clear portion) of the lights.. maybe some electrical tape inside or something to seal off the areas would work (kind of hard to explain, but if/when i take pics, it'll explain it better).

- the larger tail light sections (bumper, not trunk) are each secured by 3 bolts. for whatever reason, my original lights were only secured by 2 (on the sides, no bolt on top) bolts on each light : BMW owes me 2 bolts..

[Chitown-Irish]

I am about to install mine tonight or over the weekend. I have done a run through of removing the plugs (bought a tool from Eastwood that made fast work of removing them except for two of them but then the two screwdriver bit worked just as well) and familiarized myself with the location of the bolts in the outer housings.

I have a question, is there anything special about removing the wiring harness plug from the housings? Is there a particular technique or a clip? Or is it just a simple yank of the plug? Don’t want to ‘f’ it up.

Thanks.

[Chitown-Irish]

Originally Posted by benny90

That last picture looks great kefler!

+1

I agree great photo.

[kefler]

Originally Posted by Chitown-Irish

+1

I agree great photo.

Thanks!! More here:

http://www.stesoft.com/335i/blacklines

(at the bottom)

[Forceflow]

awesome DIY took me 20 min thanks a lot guys

[myfirst3]

at first i didnt know what the big deal was about black lines. then in time they really grew on me and had to get them. the guide made installation very easy for a DIY noob like me. thanks

[SonicGerm]

This was a great DIY. I did mine today and it took just under an hour. Two screw drivers really is the way to go to get the push pins out. Here are the pictures and as it's been said before pictures don't do blacklines justice.

BEFORE



AFTER

[Fzara2000]

Guys i need some super serious help, I just installed the blacklines and they look great and all, but now my trunk wont close! I have all the lights alligned perfectly, so i dont know what to do. The only thing I can think of is the trunk latch release or the plastic still on the lights, but I dont think those things would really interfere with closing my trunk.

Any ideas/help/suggestions?

[bimdaddy]

Originally Posted by Fzara2000

Guys i need some super serious help, I just installed the blacklines and they look great and all, but now my trunk wont close! I have all the lights alligned perfectly, so i dont know what to do. The only thing I can think of is the trunk latch release or the plastic still on the lights, but I dont think those things would really interfere with closing my trunk.

Any ideas/help/suggestions?

Were you yanking on the green triangle too hard maybe during the installation? That's the emergency trunk release if you're caught inside. Try pushing the slack back in.