Taillights

[Happy Face]

my old lenses were kind of like that. I attacked them with some Meguires plastic cleaner. Take them out and clean the inside plastic surfaces.

Here are some before and after. It made a huge difference.

before

after

the stuff

[beammmer]

3M #425 or 427, I work for 3M, I get a good deal on it. BTW I would be afraid to use different than standard bulbs due to potential higher heat and occasional fumes in the trunk.

[beammmer]

3M #425 or 427, I work for 3M, I get a good deal on it. BTW I would be afraid to use different than standard bulbs due to potential higher heat and occasional fumes in the trunk.

[ingraham]

... sockets, because you will be blinding the drivers behind you at night and overstressing the headlight switch and wiring. By "taillight" I mean the ones that are on when the headlights are on, not the stop, turn, or backup lights.

[ingraham]

... sockets, because you will be blinding the drivers behind you at night and overstressing the headlight switch and wiring. By "taillight" I mean the ones that are on when the headlights are on, not the stop, turn, or backup lights.

[visionaut]

Don't try to use either 21 or 27 watt regular 1156 bulbs in those 5W sockets. They WILL melt your taillight lenses. (ask me how I know.) Notice that on the squaretail there's a fresnel/faceted clear insert in the lens, just in front of that bulb. It puts the plastic that much closer to the bulb. (That's why a 1156 is OK installed in the brake position - the larger gap distance, plus the fact that it's not 'always on'.)

You CAN use an 1156 LED bulb safely in that socket however for much brighter light and no fear of melting the lenses.

HTH,

Tom

[visionaut]

Don't try to use either 21 or 27 watt regular 1156 bulbs in those 5W sockets. They WILL melt your taillight lenses. (ask me how I know.) Notice that on the squaretail there's a fresnel/faceted clear insert in the lens, just in front of that bulb. It puts the plastic that much closer to the bulb. (That's why a 1156 is OK installed in the brake position - the larger gap distance, plus the fact that it's not 'always on'.)

You CAN use an 1156 LED bulb safely in that socket however for much brighter light and no fear of melting the lenses.

HTH,

Tom

[Mike Self]

will melt the lenses. My new '69 was delivered (unbeknownst to me) with the brake light switch misadjusted so the brake lights were on for the fifty mile drive home. That melted the lenses, and the dealer had to replace both on a car just a few days old.

Brake lights, turn signals and backup lights are meant to be left on for only 30-60 seconds at a time...they all use the 21 watt bulbs. Use the 5 watt bulb for taillights...if you want 'em brighter, follow previously posted instructions for cleaning the lenses and using aluminum foil or mylar tape to brighten the reflectors.

cheers

mike

[Mike Self]

will melt the lenses. My new '69 was delivered (unbeknownst to me) with the brake light switch misadjusted so the brake lights were on for the fifty mile drive home. That melted the lenses, and the dealer had to replace both on a car just a few days old.

Brake lights, turn signals and backup lights are meant to be left on for only 30-60 seconds at a time...they all use the 21 watt bulbs. Use the 5 watt bulb for taillights...if you want 'em brighter, follow previously posted instructions for cleaning the lenses and using aluminum foil or mylar tape to brighten the reflectors.

cheers

mike

[eugene_'02]

thanks for the input. I'll have to write bav auto a letter with my return, and then go buy some of that 3M tape and possibly 1156 LED's.

[eugene_'02]

thanks for the input. I'll have to write bav auto a letter with my return, and then go buy some of that 3M tape and possibly 1156 LED's.

[c.d.iesel]

use only 'stock' B.M.W. SILVER TIP LIGHT BULBS

ALTERNATIVE TO FOIL MATERIAL:

MORE LIGHT from tail lites = simple..............

clean or purchase tail lens, remove the bulb holder/reflector, wipe out with solvent, respray blackened reflector with white paint, clean metal bulb sockets, go to dealer and buy all new stock bulbs, buy new body gasket and foam string lens gaskets, reassemble. VERY BRIGHT, even with lights off !

Listen to others here - DO NOT install higher wattage bulbs!

Restore the reflector and clean the lens.

[c.d.iesel]

use only 'stock' B.M.W. SILVER TIP LIGHT BULBS

ALTERNATIVE TO FOIL MATERIAL:

MORE LIGHT from tail lites = simple..............

clean or purchase tail lens, remove the bulb holder/reflector, wipe out with solvent, respray blackened reflector with white paint, clean metal bulb sockets, go to dealer and buy all new stock bulbs, buy new body gasket and foam string lens gaskets, reassemble. VERY BRIGHT, even with lights off !

Listen to others here - DO NOT install higher wattage bulbs!

Restore the reflector and clean the lens.

[-=Charley]

they'll also melt the light housing.. at least in square tails. I cleaned with a fine scotch-brite and painted with chrome paint. very bright now even with the LEDs and shitty old lenses.

[-=Charley]

they'll also melt the light housing.. at least in square tails. I cleaned with a fine scotch-brite and painted with chrome paint. very bright now even with the LEDs and shitty old lenses.