here is what is needed to do the installation.

30-45 minutes time
5/16 socket??? (it fit pretty good didnt have the metric size)
1/4 socket wrench
1/4 extension
screw driver (flat)
plug remover (no neccesary, but good to have)
1 can of...

use the butt end of a screwdriver or gentle taps with a hammer.

My first DIY. SUPER EASY! I did this at midnight, so I haven't been able to enjoy the full effect yet.

One problem. The left side tale light (body, not trunk) doesn't seem to fit perfectly like the right side does or the original left side did. I thought maybe this had to do with the foam seal but the nuts tighten down nicely and there is no space for the foam to compress more.

Anyone else have a similar problem?

You adjust the position of the tail light before you tighten the nuts. The bumper is also adjustable.

I did this. The problem is not that it is too high or low needing adjustment.
The problem is that the bottom of the tail light is not flush with the body of the car like the original was. The right side is much more flush.
When looking at the tail light from inside the trunk, the base of all three threads is touching the body of the car, so there doesn't seem to be any more space for the bottom of the tail light to push in further to be more flush with the body.
Could this be a defective tail light?

I'm going to take another look at it and possibly post a pic or two today if the problem is really noticeable.

P.S. Should this be in it's own thread or is it OK to be part of the DIY?

followed these instructions about a year ago. thanks long!!

OK, see the pics below. The first is the left side which has the problem. It's the lower left edge where the tail light meets the body of the car. The second pic shows the same thing on the lower right side where the tail light meets the body. Sorry for the crappy pics... taken with my cell phone.

The bigger gap on the left side is not because the light is too high, but rather because the bottom doesn't seem to fit in deep enough like the original tail light or like the right side does as shown. From far away, it is hard to notice but I'm more worried about water/weather since the gap seems to be wider because of the poor fit.

Any ideas??

P.S. I also include a pic showing my SG with blacklines.

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help! can't seem to get those plugs out from under the turnk lid. I got them up with a flat head screw driver but can't plug em out. What do i dooo? Also i can't find the plug remover from home depot. They only have those think ones for nails.

oh great, i lost one screw lol. What size replacement can i get. I dont need the exact, a nice sized bolt will do.

lol sounds like you're havin a rough time. i just installed my blacklines today!!!!!!!!!1

woo!! black lines completely installed today!!! i don't know why i waited so long!!! definitely one of thee best OEM products for the e90 . So sexy. Can't wait to get a body kit now.

****By the way, i am a weakling.. i knew i should have started hitting the gym since the year started lol. I grabbed a plier to pull.. and it was easy breezy lol. Black lines are very easy to install. Just have your tools and you are good. I do however, recommend a plier for pulling instead of the plug puller or as an alternate option.

good glad you got it all done! i live in an apartment complex and people were staring at me like WTF are you doing. i just used a flathead screwdriver for the plugs and didnt have much trouble

I repositioned my left tail light today. It looks much better but still not completely flush. Definitely good enough though.

These blacklines really do look GREAT!

Regarding the plugs, I used two flat head screw drivers as suggested early in the thread and they worked great. The plugs are fantastic. The go back in really easily.

I didn't realize I had to unlatch the emergency trunk release. That was a bit of a surprise. Pretty easy in general but not in the dark! I did mine at midnight!

atleast the release handle glows in the dark

Yeah... I discovered that after my flashlight was shining on one corner of the handle. I shut the flashlight off and the corner was still glowing.

Installing the blacklines would have taken approx. a half hour less had I not wasted time playing with the my flashlight and the release handle making it glow!
(I'm easily distracted!)

Yeah less than a half seems about right.

just took a couple of pics of the installed blacklines.
i think it looks pretty good with the black sapphire

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looks perfect

If I may add for the folks having fitment problems..

remember there are tabs on the trunk lights that sort slide over the outer edge of the trunk.

At first I thought I received e91 lights until i noticed those tabs.


got 3 out of 4 done due to rain...

For the question of pulling the plugs out on the trunk area panel - I found that putting a towel over each plug and grabbing both sides of the cap straight on with a pair of pliers - a simple pull was all that was needed to remove. No marks and it was so easy.

rain cleared up..

got the last one in,

the tabs were easy for me,

I have a weird assortment of handled tools and used this sharp hook, dentist looking tool (came in a big set of screwdrivers)

they came right out with no issues.

to pull out the plugs i stuck a flat screw driver behind the tab and the start turning left and right, swivel a bit and it will come out slowly. then just used plyers (if thats what you call it) then unplugged it. you just have to fiddle around with it to know what is the best way.

Hey, nice pics. Have you by chance taken any photos of them at night? I was curious if the blacklines affected the appearance of the rear when the headlights are lit and the rear lights are on idle illumination.