Is there supposed to be a cover on the tail light assembies inside the trunk?

[sixerguy]

My e24 has a white plastic cover and gasket that screws onto the backside of the tail light assemblies from within the trunk. To access the bulbs you first need to remove this cover. I'm just wondering if the e28 is also supposed to have a backside cover similar to the e24 - my newly aquired e28 does not so I'm not sure if its missing or they are all like that.

Thanks!

[shogun]

1988 535i manual has these shown in the ETK http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E2...ng/rear_light/
see also user manual page 56 , it has a trunk rear lining panel https://www.shiftbmw.com/wp-content/...ers-manual.pdf

[sixerguy]

Hopefully someone else with an e28 can just peak in their trunk to see if there is a covering cap on the backside of the tail light. Its hard to tell from the diagrams, but I think the rear-most item on the diagram is just a gasket, not a cover.

If these cars were fitted with one it should be the entire width of the tail light assembly and partially visible past the trunk lining panel that Shogun pointed out.
Thanks!

[MisterFixit]

Short answer - NO, they do not have a sturdy covering like most other vintage models (E3, E9, E10, E12, E21, E23, E24, E30, E32, etc.) - I guess they think the cardboard panel with furry coating will protect them.
Andy

[sixerguy]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!! I've been hoping for a definitive answer.