Change Pre-LCI tail lights

max_330i · 05-31-2016, 06:22 PM

Hey all,

I love my 06 330i with the exception of one thing: the tail lights. The way I see it, I have a couple options...

1) blacklines
2) LCI trunk lid and tail lights
3) alter the white panel of the tail light on the trunk lid with either spray paint or red vinyl overlay, to achieve the all-red styling of the LCI tails
4) aftermarket tail lights

I'm not crazy about the blacklines and not willing to spend the money on an LCI trunk lid. That leaves me with options 3 and 4. Any forum members who have either a) modified pre-LCI tail lights or b) aftermarket tail lights that are plug-n-play for pre-LCI E90? If so, I would appreciate any input you may have. Thanks in advance

Max

Jozy · 05-31-2016, 09:48 PM

maybe the mars style aftermarket?

TheBingoBalls · 05-31-2016, 10:08 PM

I would just do red vinyl overlay to save money if you have no interest in the blacklines or LCI conversion. I think all of the popular aftermarket taillights for the pre-LCI E90 are terrible, look cheap and ruin the look of the car.

Route 16 · 06-01-2016, 02:22 AM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1186304
If you wish, give me about 2 weeks and I can ship it, my lci trunk comes in next week, hopefully I can get it done painted by the end of next week.

max_330i · 06-01-2016, 09:08 PM

Sounds like my best option is to vinyl wrap, at least for now. Route 16-- I'm interested in those lights but not sure how I'll feel in two weeks. Feel free to PM once you've got the LCI trunk on and we'll talk more about the tails.

Max

justalilbit · 06-01-2016, 09:49 PM

Quick, cheap temporary solution is vinyl. I've done it, though it does dim the light output of your tails quite significantly. I tried it on E60 tails and the turn signal was impossible to see in daylight.

sirdaft1 · 06-02-2016, 12:24 AM

OP I wrote up a DIY a while back on making your original pre-LCI's into "redlines". $15 all in, an hour of your time and no dimming of your tail lights. IMO the best look for your tails outside of an LCI conversion.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1048529

max_330i · 06-02-2016, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirdaft1

OP I wrote up a DIY a while back on making your original pre-LCI's into "redlines". $15 all in, an hour of your time and no dimming of your tail lights. IMO the best look for your tails outside of an LCI conversion.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1048529

I stumbled upon your guide before and I really liked it. (You were one of the first to come up on Google for "e90 all red tail lights"). Since you've found my thread, I'd like to know, does the paint hold up well? I'd hate to see it peel/get rubbed away at a carwash/whatever else.

The only other reason why I haven't painted them already is because I would need a new set of tail lights to get the car back to stock. I don't plan on changing my mind, but it's another consideration

Max

Route 16 · 06-02-2016, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max_330i

Sounds like my best option is to vinyl wrap, at least for now. Route 16-- I'm interested in those lights but not sure how I'll feel in two weeks. Feel free to PM once you've got the LCI trunk on and we'll talk more about the tails.

Max

Sure thing, one thing I know about the finish. I don't have to worry about any wear from washing or leaving it out in the sun, than using some kind of red spray

sirdaft1 · 06-02-2016, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max_330i

I stumbled upon your guide before and I really liked it. (You were one of the first to come up on Google for "e90 all red tail lights"). Since you've found my thread, I'd like to know, does the paint hold up well? I'd hate to see it peel/get rubbed away at a carwash/whatever else.

The only other reason why I haven't painted them already is because I would need a new set of tail lights to get the car back to stock. I don't plan on changing my mind, but it's another consideration

Max

I sprayed mine with one red coat and no clear coat. Had it like that for two years, daily driven all throughout year (Chicago winters/summers). They started to barely fade towards the end of the two years. I'm confident that was more of a function of the red wearing away from the elements. If clear coated, I anticipate they would last much much longer.

I also tried wrapping them in red vinyl before spraying and I just could not get the color to look right. The clear red vinyl I bought looked just a little too pink compared to the outer piece.

Camman · 06-03-2016, 10:11 AM

Man, I almost never hear someone saying they don't like blacklines. I think they look 100x better than original but they are pricey if you get them new. Luckily I found them used and for cheap.

max_330i · 06-03-2016, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camman

Man, I almost never hear someone saying they don't like blacklines. I think they look 100x better than original but they are pricey if you get them new. Luckily I found them used and for cheap.

It's not that I have a particular dislike for them. I just feel that, in terms of styling and aesthetic appeal, LCI tails > fake LCI tails > blacklines > stock.

I have the vinyl ready, but as sirdaft1 also mentioned, the shade of red vinyl I purchased doesn't match the existing tail light color. I'll keep doing more research but I'll probably just end up painting the lights to my liking

Ali-E90 · 06-03-2016, 05:08 PM

I'm with OP re: blacklines. It looks ok on lighter colour cars, but not on black or other dark colours (except greys).

I have a friend who painted his with nightshade red spray and it looks really good.

The MARS all red version also looks very good IMO.

Good luck!

ssdara · 06-06-2016, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

I would just do red vinyl overlay to save money if you have no interest in the blacklines or LCI conversion. I think all of the popular aftermarket taillights for the pre-LCI E90 are terrible, look cheap and ruin the look of the car.

Do you have a link to a good set? All the ones on amazon have reviewers saying the tint is actually pink..

_335xi · 06-06-2016, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max_330i

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camman

Man, I almost never hear someone saying they don't like blacklines. I think they look 100x better than original but they are pricey if you get them new. Luckily I found them used and for cheap.

It's not that I have a particular dislike for them. I just feel that, in terms of styling and aesthetic appeal, LCI tails > fake LCI tails > blacklines > stock.

I have the vinyl ready, but as sirdaft1 also mentioned, the shade of red vinyl I purchased doesn't match the existing tail light color. I'll keep doing more research but I'll probably just end up painting the lights to my liking

Just look for some stained glass paint and take it one coat at a time .. then hit it with one or two coats of clear

max_330i · 06-06-2016, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssdara

Do you have a link to a good set? All the ones on amazon have reviewers saying the tint is actually pink..

I've been hunting for decent aftermarket tails and I haven't found any besides the MARS LCI style. I would jump for those, but between the retail price and shipping Australia --> USA, it comes out to $400

Quote:

Originally Posted by _335xi

Just look for some stained glass paint and take it one coat at a time .. then hit it with one or two coats of clear

I plan on it. The DIY guide posted earlier in this thread also uses stained glass paint, and the lights came out great (check the photos if you're curious).

ssdara · 06-06-2016, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max_330i

I've been hunting for decent aftermarket tails and I haven't found any besides the MARS LCI style. I would jump for those, but between the retail price and shipping Australia --> USA, it comes out to $400

^^I was actually talking about red vinyl overlays LOL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by max_330i

I plan on it. The DIY guide posted earlier in this thread also uses stained glass paint, and the lights came out great (check the photos if you're curious).

^^ but it's permanent...what if you mess up or you don't like it.

max_330i · 06-06-2016, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssdara

^^I was actually talking about red vinyl overlays LOL.

^^ but it's permanent...what if you mess up or you don't like it.

Whoops! Well anyway, I hear metrorestyling has pretty good tint for tail lights. I think it's called "red out" or something like that.

If I mess up or don't like my paint job, I'm SOL and that's that.

_335xi · 06-06-2016, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max_330i

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssdara

^^I was actually talking about red vinyl overlays LOL.

^^ but it's permanent...what if you mess up or you don't like it.

Whoops! Well anyway, I hear metrorestyling has pretty good tint for tail lights. I think it's called "red out" or something like that.

If I mess up or don't like my paint job, I'm SOL and that's that.

Bought it and it still looked kind of pink. Wouldn't recommend it. Go with the paint

ducatiti · 06-10-2016, 12:18 AM

I vote Blacklines

max_330i · 06-10-2016, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducatiti

I vote Blacklines

Nice, where'd you buy yours?

noah.s · 06-10-2016, 12:21 PM

I sprayed mine red with a few coats of clear. The first time I tried without clear and they started fading to find in a couple months. Maybe because of the Florida climate.
I vote the Mars lci style tails but if you don't want to spend a ton just spray them. I can get some pics if you want, they turned out pretty good.

05-31-2016, 06:22 PM	#1
max_330i Captain 340 Rep 922 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	Change Pre-LCI tail lights Hey all, I love my 06 330i with the exception of one thing: the tail lights. The way I see it, I have a couple options... 1) blacklines 2) LCI trunk lid and tail lights 3) alter the white panel of the tail light on the trunk lid with either spray paint or red vinyl overlay, to achieve the all-red styling of the LCI tails 4) aftermarket tail lights I'm not crazy about the blacklines and not willing to spend the money on an LCI trunk lid. That leaves me with options 3 and 4. Any forum members who have either a) modified pre-LCI tail lights or b) aftermarket tail lights that are plug-n-play for pre-LCI E90? If so, I would appreciate any input you may have. Thanks in advance Max __________________ 2006 330i 6MT Jet Black / Black
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05-31-2016, 09:48 PM	#2
Jozy ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 170 Rep 425 Posts Drives: R32 GTR Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (1)	maybe the mars style aftermarket? __________________ 30FF
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05-31-2016, 10:08 PM	#3
TheBingoBalls Brigadier General 3821 Rep 4,661 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 F36 BMW 440i x ... [0.00]	I would just do red vinyl overlay to save money if you have no interest in the blacklines or LCI conversion. I think all of the popular aftermarket taillights for the pre-LCI E90 are terrible, look cheap and ruin the look of the car.
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06-01-2016, 02:22 AM	#4
Route 16 I got lei'd 844 Rep 7,593 Posts Drives: '10 E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Dark Side of the Moon iTrader: (62)	http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1186304 If you wish, give me about 2 weeks and I can ship it, my lci trunk comes in next week, hopefully I can get it done painted by the end of next week.
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06-01-2016, 09:08 PM	#5
max_330i Captain 340 Rep 922 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	Sounds like my best option is to vinyl wrap, at least for now. Route 16-- I'm interested in those lights but not sure how I'll feel in two weeks. Feel free to PM once you've got the LCI trunk on and we'll talk more about the tails. Max __________________ 2006 330i 6MT Jet Black / Black
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06-01-2016, 09:49 PM	#6
justalilbit Second Lieutenant 92 Rep 212 Posts Drives: 2007 335i E92 Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Canada iTrader: (3)	Quick, cheap temporary solution is vinyl. I've done it, though it does dim the light output of your tails quite significantly. I tried it on E60 tails and the turn signal was impossible to see in daylight.
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06-02-2016, 12:24 AM	#7
sirdaft1 Brigadier General 2203 Rep 3,336 Posts Drives: X5 & E90 WTCC Widebody Racecar Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Chicago West Burbs iTrader: (9) Garage List 2007 E90 WTCC Wideb ... [9.50] 2012 BMW X5 xDrive35i [9.00]	OP I wrote up a DIY a while back on making your original pre-LCI's into "redlines". $15 all in, an hour of your time and no dimming of your tail lights. IMO the best look for your tails outside of an LCI conversion. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1048529
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06-03-2016, 10:11 AM	#11
Camman What am I doing here? 190 Rep 463 Posts Drives: 07 328i 6MT Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	Man, I almost never hear someone saying they don't like blacklines. I think they look 100x better than original but they are pricey if you get them new. Luckily I found them used and for cheap. __________________ N52 : 6MT : ZSP : ZPP : BC Racing Coilovers : BMW PE
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06-03-2016, 05:08 PM	#13
Ali-E90 Colonel 379 Rep 2,365 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 323i (Cdn) Join Date: May 2013 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (3) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [8.00] 2007 BMW 323i [8.50]	I'm with OP re: blacklines. It looks ok on lighter colour cars, but not on black or other dark colours (except greys). I have a friend who painted his with nightshade red spray and it looks really good. The MARS all red version also looks very good IMO. Good luck! __________________ Check out my Mod Thread Here
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06-10-2016, 12:18 AM	#20
ducatiti Captain 235 Rep 712 Posts Drives: X7 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	I vote Blacklines
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06-10-2016, 12:21 PM	#22
noah.s Lieutenant 94 Rep 447 Posts Drives: 2011 335i M-Sport Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	I sprayed mine red with a few coats of clear. The first time I tried without clear and they started fading to find in a couple months. Maybe because of the Florida climate. I vote the Mars lci style tails but if you don't want to spend a ton just spray them. I can get some pics if you want, they turned out pretty good.
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