Tail light conversion??!!!

[mohamadr89]

Has anybody heard of doing a old tail light (small ones) to new tail light (big ones) conversion? When i first got into e30's i didnt know there was a difference, but now that i do i want the bigger tail lights and want to keep my car... Any info on this?

[Ceeker]

yes you can do it. Are you willing to cut the rear panel off and weld a newer late model panel in? you will also need to cut some of the rear quarter off as the light raps the corners and this won't line up with the newer panel. You are better off just to get a whole car and scrap the idea. Anything can be done with the right materials and $$$.

[mohamadr89]

yes you can do it. Are you willing to cut the rear panel off and weld a newer late model panel in? you will also need to cut some of the rear quarter off as the light raps the corners and this won't line up with the newer panel. You are better off just to get a whole car and scrap the idea. Anything can be done with the right materials and $$$.

yea i figures there was some cutting and welding inviled. and im so far into this car that there is no turning back now. if i did buy one it would be a 2nd car. lol thanks for the help

[td325ic]

Jonsku did it on his m-tech cabrio. His car was originally a schwarz, pre-facelift convertible. He did exactly what Ceeker mentioned, removing the rear panel and installed a new late model panel along with the larger tail lights.

Unfortunately his build thread website appears to be down so I couldn't find the pics. You might want to PM him and perhaps he can re-host his photos.

Here's some other info on his car:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=185834

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=173562

I plan to do the tail light conversion some day too on my car as a m-tech II kit with small tails looks off in my opinion unless perhaps you have startecs

btw, in the meantime mohamadr89, if you're trying to spruce-up the rear end on your cabrio you might follow Wishno87's lead and install a m-tech 1 decklid spoiler along with a plate filler and perhaps smoke your tail lights. I think it's a good look for alpine white cars. Swapping out the decklid, so you can loose the third-brake light, would help clean things up too.

Here's some pics of Wishno87's car

[Mo Brighta]

Tail light modification

Has anybody heard of doing a old tail light (small ones) to new tail light (big ones) conversion? When i first got into e30's i didnt know there was a difference, but now that i do i want the bigger tail lights and want to keep my car... Any info on this?

I have a suggestion - keep your tails but modify them to look bigger and brighter, the old style lights are more capable and easier to see when tweaked properly than the new ones, but I'll let you look and decide for yourself.

here is the early (smaller) style with high performance modifications.
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=190578

... cut the rear panel off and weld a newer late model panel in ...

Sorry, that seems like a lotta work... but as you say, anything can be done with cubic dollars. People have done stranger things ...

... and perhaps smoke your tail lights ... loose the third-brake light ...

All good ideas if you want to make the car easier to demolish by some distracted driver. Not my first priority, since I believe cars should be easier to see, not harder. Darkening/tinting and removing lights seems counter-productive to me, but of course, your opinion may vary, that's OK too.


OP - you originally says you "want the bigger tail lights" - seems that doubling the area of red lens that lights up will be bigger, no?

Colorado_cabrio has a set in his car, he seems quite happy!

If you decide to stay with the original lights and want them looking bigger and brighter (I recommend bigger and brighter), look at the post I did on high performance lights and get in touch. I am happy to build you a set.

I also do high performance later style lights, so if you make the swap, you can go either way and still be seen more easily.

here is the late style with high performance modifications.
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=191231

Good luck with this, and let me know if I can help, or you want more info.
High performance lights can be had for around $100 a pair; is that in your price range, or would swapping the rear panel out be preferable?