2003 530i - rightside tail light running light out + cable stuck

[m3d9]

Hey guys,

Sorry if this posts twice. I posted and now it's not showing up in my profile or in the thread.

Anyway, I'm having some trouble with my right side tail light. The running light has gone out. I've tried replacing the bulbs but have now found out the running light is an LED strip and I need to replace the whole tail light for it? Or the whole module. Let me know if that's incorrect.

Anyway, both my mechanic and I have tried to detach the cable to it, but it's completely seized on, sprayed some WD40 in it but no luck. Any ideas on how to get it off? And what to do if I can get it off?

Thank you for your help! Photo below of the cable I am mentioning.

e39-running_tail_light.jpg

[JimLev]

Are you pushing the locking latch down?
Use a pair of pliers and yank on it, it will come out.

I deleted your other post, you need to have them approved before they become visible, it's a spam/security thing.
Once you have 10 posts we won't need to approve them.

[f355spider]

Sorry, not much help here, but one thing I learned about old cars, is these plugs can go bad with age. It is entirely possible the plug is actually your problem, the connection overheated and melted or fused it together...losing contact in the process. Sort of like what happens with the third brake light bulb melting the bulb holder on the E39. I've seen it before. If you cannot get it apart, you may need to buy a new plug and splice it in, as well as order a new tail light. Fortunately they are still available and not to crazy priced...under $200 last time I looked. Just checked, $162 free shipping. Not sure if it comes with the foam gasket or not...you may need to order that separately.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...la-63216902530

Here is the connector, but you may need the pins and a double crimp tool to fit them. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...ol-61138369702 Unless you can extract the pins from the existing connector, by taking it apart? You can probably buy an extractor tool to remove the pins, if you cannot get the plug out. I looked at the plug on my car and took it off pretty easily...I would just use a couple pairs of pliers and grab one end, and hold the other and give it a good yank. You only need to release that one latch while doing it...you have nothing to lose if you need to replace anyway.

[m3d9]

Thanks @JimLev and @f355spider, it looks like you may be right spider, I've tried with some pliers and it's not budging. Afraid to rip it and not be able to drive it while waiting for the replacement. Thought this was going to be a quick easy fix.

When it first happened, I noticed there was a bunch of moisture in there, looks like maybe the battery was sending some condensation there.

[f355spider]

No the water and condensation comes from the tail light gaskets leaking. Two things can contribute: 1) loosened tail light nuts, which then allows water to enter the trunk and corrode the connectors. 2) The gasket itself has failed. In my case, I decided to replace the gaskets as a precautionary measure when I discovered a small amount of water in my trunk. I bought two new gaskets, removed the tail lights, cleaned the mounting area on the car, then removed the foam gasket from the tail lights (a messy job), and attached the new gaskets (they are self adhesive). I suspect after doing this job, that simply removing the tail lights, cleaning the mounting and gaskets, and remounting and installing, will solve the any leaks (the problem being just loosened nuts and debris collecting behind the tail light gaskets). You just need to be very careful not to overtighten the nuts and break the bolts from the tail lights.

[computiNATEor]

Bad taillight gaskets cause the connector to corrode, which causes it to be stuck like you've seen. I recommend splicing in new wiring to fix the issue.

[f355spider]

BTW, in reviewing my post, I should correct that it is not so much the nuts loosening that secure the tail light assembly, as much as probably the foam gasket compressing and losing its seal. I replaced foam gaskets on my Honda Accord I previously owned as well, so this is not a problem unique to BMWs.