Member Since: 15 Sep 2023
Location: Dorset
Posts: 42
Replacement Third Brake light - Pattern part or OEM?
Hello all,
My third brake light needs replacing as it is cracked and I thought now it's summer its a good time to change it.
I know it's a bit of a pig to do but my real question is which replacement part to buy? The pattern ones seem to be about £30 but the OEM are about £80. Are the OEM worth it as it seems to be a very simple part.
Do you need to do some wiring with the pattern part and the OEM is plug and play, hence the price difference?
As soon as this summer torrential rain stops and storm Lilian passes I can be right on it.
Also any recommendations for the windscreen glue, I've seen Masterbond or Tigar seal?
Other windscreen adhesives are available.
24th Aug 2024 10:15 am
Kilovolt
Member Since: 29 Jun 2015
Location: South Derbyshire
Posts: 1062
You may have answered your own question
Noting it is a pig to change (i.e. a big messy job) I would be inclined to fit OEM and hope that quality counts. If you fit a 'cheap' copy and it fails in months (??) you will likely regret not going OEM (and have to start over again by digging out your own sealing solution)!
Just my two-penneth. Good luck "Track day running - Don't put your foot back on the accelerator until your absolutely sure you don't have to take it off again"
Current Ride: D4 XS Commercial Baltic Blue SDV6 fully loaded with heated everything
Track Days: BMW E36 M3 Evolution MY 1996 (3.2 Litre 377 BHP sat in 1,250 Kgs of car, with a pro safety cage and some serious braking power)
24th Aug 2024 12:14 pm
loanrangie
Member Since: 18 Jun 2017
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 699
I see a lot using ebay or aliexpress versions without any issues, can you even get them OEM ?
26th Aug 2024 6:23 am
Bardley
Member Since: 02 May 2018
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 469
Aftermarket was fine on mine, and I got a local windscreen company to fit. It was a private company and not one of the well known names.
St.Albans based.
The guy I used had fitted alot for the LR dealers when D4's needed them, so knew what he was doing. I think I paid £140. Good value in my book. By the time you cost it out with the Silkaflex, and (first time ) taking a chisel to the tailgate...I'd rather let someone else do it.
Electric connection was correct and a straight plug in, and the washer just pushed on.
￡27.39 | For Discovery LR3 LR4 2004-2016 Third 3rd Centre High Level Rear Brake Light Stop Lamp 55W Car LED Light Bulbs LR029623 LR072856
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EQTp9Jn2011 MY D4 HSE
Previously 2001 D2 TD5, 1996 D1 300Tdi, 1985 90 2.2 petrol.
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26th Aug 2024 8:03 pm
RPAtotheStars
Member Since: 15 Sep 2023
Location: Dorset
Posts: 42
Hello,
I need some help, Just tried to fit the new light and it's way off. The model number is LR072856G.
Is this the correct one?
Or am I being stupid trying to fit it?
Any help welcome.
14th Sep 2024 3:00 pm
RPAtotheStars
Member Since: 15 Sep 2023
Location: Dorset
Posts: 42
Hello all,
Well after a few stop starts the job is all complete.
I thought I would share how I did it so it will help others.
Before starting I used masking tape to protect the paintwork. I had cracks along the Left Hand Side and Right Hand Side so I though these would be the place to start the removal.
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I didn't want to hit it with a hammer so I decided to stitch drill along the unit.
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Initially I had it on full power, and it went through the plastic and hit the metal underneath. I found the best thing to do was to reduce the torque. This meant that the drill wouldn't go all the way through the plastic.
I then used my multi-tool to join the drill holes and so the plastic came out. It took me about 45minuties to remove all the plastic using this method, so not so bad.
I then used a knife to remove the bulk of the on adhesive. After that I used paint thinner on a cloth to remove the old residue. This took some elbow grease but worked ok. This part took about 1.5 hours.
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So from start to it all being clean, as above, was about 2 hours.
Now this is where it went wrong. The initial question on this thread was do I use a Pattern Part or an OEM part. I went for an OEM part and so when I offered it up I was some what surprised to find out it didn't fit.
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So the OEM part doesn't fit and I have a large hole in the tailgate It is also 3pm on a Saturday and so the supplied of the OEM part was closed and all others were closed
So a plastic bag over the hole and tape, luckily it was dry.
The next day I tried it again and as I was trying all different angles I dropped it!
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So I brought a Pattern part of eBay for a 1/3 of the price of the OEM part. The OEM part didn't have the rear wash nozzle fitted but the pattern part did. So if you have an OEM part don't throw away the wash nozzle.
The Pattern Part arrived and fitted perfectly. When I compared it to the OEM part the front edge of the OEM part was at a different angle to the pattern part. This wrong angle meant it wouldn't go into position. I told the supplier about this but they said it was the correct part number so it should fit.
When it was all glued in place (I used some Windscreen adhesive which had a primmer too) it looked good. I did test the light and wash wipe before I glued it in.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
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So if you have a replacement unit which fits then the job will take about 3 hours.
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its a good time to change it.
It is also 3pm on a Saturday and so the supplied of the OEM part was closed and all others were closed 
