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Pre facelift rear lights on facelift e53

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2017 4:11 pm
by SNH
Excuse me if it's been covered but I can't seem to find anything using the search function.

I'm after tidying the rear up on my 3.0d with some led smoked rear lights but can only find them listed up to 03.

Do they fit and is it a straight fit?

Cheers

Re: Pre facelift rear lights on facelift e53

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2017 6:35 pm
by kkx5
Rear lights are same for all X5's 1999-2006.

Re: Pre facelift rear lights on facelift e53

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:20 am
by SNH
[quote="kkx5"]
Rear lights are same for all X5's 1999-2006.
[/quote]

I thought they were but thought I'd play it safe and double check.

Cheers

Re: Pre facelift rear lights on facelift e53

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 12:00 pm
by X5-D-Sport
I don't take any BMW assumptions for granted - BMW seemed to have the need to still win the 2nd World War 70 years on by confusing the hell out of us...



"I thought they were but thought I'd play it safe and double check."

Re: Pre facelift rear lights on facelift e53

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 8:11 pm
by AW8
The clusters were 100% definitely changed on the facelift. I have in person compared early & late OEM lensed cars parked side by side.

Realoem will confirm this.

The facelift cars have more jewel/crystal appearance lenses.

I think panel apertures are the same pre and post facelift (LCI) .....a  check of realoem should confirm this

If you scroll to the E53 images on the following link then zoom into the rear images of the two silver cars you will see the earlier lenses are more waffled in appearance.  The LCI lenses more crystal/jewel like.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_X5

Neither are LED type lenses.

If going aftermarket the look will be obvious bolt on aftermarket to anyone in the know....those not in the know are unlikely to appreciate your efforts.

Hope this helps

Re: Pre facelift rear lights on facelift e53

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 9:57 pm
by SNH
I won't be doing it for anyone else to appreciate, the inner lenses appear or have a scratched look about them and it's playing havoc with my ocd. No amount of polishing seems to get rid of it so it's time for new ones to tidy it up  :)

Re: Pre facelift rear lights on facelift e53

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 7:57 am
by Alan Gunn
Mine are the same dull faded.
It's a bmw thing as the one's on my e46 are the same.
Thinking of taking them off and lightly sanding them and then a uv lacquer.

Re: Pre facelift rear lights on facelift e53

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 1:44 pm
by dark_stranger
I replaced mine.  I believe the facelift model had adaptive break lights installed which require some modifications to the light unit such as installing a capacitor/resistor to stop a slight flickering.  Also, you would need to code out the "Check Tail Lights" message.  I haven't fixed either of the issues.

Here are a few pics to wet your appetite,

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Lights on
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