How to Replace Tail Light Assembly 1997-2006 BMW 325Xi

What's up, guys? I'm Andy from 1A Auto. In this video, I'm going to show you how to replace the tail end's assembly on this 2001 BMW 325xi. If you need parts for your vehicle, click the link in the description and head over to 1AAuto.com.

We're going to open the trunk, just use the key. All right, there is a release over here. It's kind of hard to see. You just push down on the release, right there, slide it in, and then this piece slides out. You can disconnect the connector right here. Just slide it out.

There's three nuts that we have to take off on the tail light, but we need to access them. There's a little plug right here. Then you can just go from the inside, push it out, pull this plug out, just like that. Set that aside.

We need to remove this insulation right here. Just grab this little pin. It has a little fuel picture on it, and we're going to release this. Just slide this off like that. Set that aside, that way you can pull this insulation out of the way.

The first nut I'm going to take out is the one through this access panel. I'm going to use a 10 millimeter socket extension and a ratchet, but first, I don't want to drop the nut when I'm taking this out. I'm just going to take a little piece of masking tape, and put it over the socket. It goes over the nut. That should hold the nut in the socket. Loosen this up.

And there's the nut. Now I can take this nut off and this nut off. Use the same 10 millimeter socket and ratchet. I'm just going to loosen this one up, and then grab it by hand. And this one.

Now this top one has a cage, and there's a little piece of trim that's on it or a retainer. We need to take the nut off. The retainer's going to come with it. Just like that, slide that out. Then I'm going to have my hand on the outside and also the inside and just push straight towards the back of the car.

It kind of comes out at an angle, so it kind of comes out like this because of the angle of that. And there you go.

Take the light, just line it back in. It's good. Going to get the top one started. Actually, we'll get this one over here started first. All right, so get this bracket started with the nut. Just use the 10 millimeter socket, just tighten this down finger tight, and then we'll get the bottom one in. Then we'll just tighten them all up.

With the bottom one, I'll take the piece of masking tape. You can use electrical tape too, or something else. You could also use some grease, and there's a couple of other tricks, a magnet. Press that in there, and it'll stay in the socket.

And slide it through that access hole. Get it to line up. Get that one started. Take the ratchet, snug it up. That's good. Then we can go back and snug up the other ones. That's good, and this one. That's good. Now we're just going to slide this back in position. Take this little cable, slide it through the hole. This has to do with if the fuel door gets locked, and it won't unlock.

Take the little button that goes on the outside, and that lines up. Just lock that button back in. Press that in place. Take this little cover, slide this back in position. Put this back up to the connector, lock it in place, and line the bulbs up with the tail light. And lock it in place.

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