Advice for 308 GTS aftermarket taillight housings | FerrariChat

Advice for 308 GTS aftermarket taillight housings

Discussion in '308/328' started by mrnation8, Jul 13, 2021.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. mrnation8

    mrnation8 Karting

    Jun 5, 2021
    118
    Buchanan, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Chris Nation
    So I took some advice on working on small things on the 308 (since I can’t do much more to the motor until I move) and decided to swap out the taillights on the advice of several of y’all
    in the forum. Unfortunately the PO had basically siliconed/glued all of them on. After wrecking my fingers and the glue pulling off some paint (I’ll be heading to get some touch up this week, but still not sure how to get some of the gobs left on the car from the silicon) they are all off finally….but they are in terrible shape. It looks as though they had been broken and just put back together. Even several studs are missing so they just slapped silicon in there as well. I did use the rice/bleach/soap water trick recommended by Nuvolari which worked well, but I’m not sure if these are worthy to go back on. There was definitely a bit of shell shock for the price but does anyone have any recommendations of where they got some? (aftermarket is fine with me) I’ve done a search and I see some of the larger sites have them for over $1k total, but has anyone found some that are not OEM that they were happy with? Or even repaired them- although these are prob past that. I might could just buy some new rubber gaskets for now and a stud and glue it in and spend money elsewhere since I still have a lot more important things motor wise to do once the timing is right and get these replaced later on. Just seeing what your opinions are and what some of you have done. Thanks!
    Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  2. mrnation8

    mrnation8 Karting

    Jun 5, 2021
    118
    Buchanan, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Chris Nation
  3. Brian Harper

    Brian Harper F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 17, 2006
    4,078
    San Jose area
    Full Name:
    Brian Harper
    Superformance.co.uk has reproductions. As with all Superformance stuff quality is almost usually mostly good-ish. I bought a red one and the reflector isn't quite vertical, but other than that seems like a good piece.
     
    mrnation8 likes this.
  4. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

    Jan 15, 2007
    5,327
    Montana
    Full Name:
    Kim
    Ah, asshats with a tube of silicone in a caulking gun..Been there. Whoever installed the alarm system in my Euro used silicone to attach trigger pins to both the underside of front bonnet and rear deck lid. Owned the car for nine years now? And still haven’t figured out how I’m going to remove that silicone from the lids. Maybe this is the year I apply myself!

    I would just clean your existing tail lights up with a utility knife and cut as much of that silicone crap off as possible and run that way until you win a few hundred dollars here or there playing the lottery to help offset The purchase price of four new tail lights.
     
    mrnation8 likes this.
  5. cavallo_nero

    cavallo_nero Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,707
    colorado
    Full Name:
    Giovanni Pasquale
    i bought a set from this guy in the post above a year ago (from italy on ebay) , they seem genuine (Carello? is what is on them) and are a perfect fit in my 78 Euro 308 GTS.
     
    mrnation8 likes this.
  6. cavallo_nero

    cavallo_nero Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,707
    colorado
    Full Name:
    Giovanni Pasquale
  7. Brian Harper

    Brian Harper F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 17, 2006
    4,078
    San Jose area
    Full Name:
    Brian Harper
    I was complaining about my reflector in the center being canted a bit and was blaming Superformance QC, but it seems yours are the same way. Are reflectors' part lines not always straight up and down?
     
  8. cavallo_nero

    cavallo_nero Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
    1,707
    colorado
    Full Name:
    Giovanni Pasquale
    I see what you mean. Just looked at mine, the red reflector could be better aligned, but the pattern is a bit scattered, and it seems to line up with its own scatterdness. lol
     
  9. mrnation8

    mrnation8 Karting

    Jun 5, 2021
    118
    Buchanan, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Chris Nation
    :)
    :)No joke! I went ahead and broke down and bought the ones that were listed above off of eBay.
     
    308 milano likes this.
  10. mrnation8

    mrnation8 Karting

    Jun 5, 2021
    118
    Buchanan, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Chris Nation
    Thanks, yeah I went ahead and broke down and bought them.
     
    cavallo_nero likes this.
  11. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

    Jan 15, 2007
    5,327
    Montana
    Full Name:
    Kim
    Some of the prices we pay absolutely makes you cringe and second guess yourself about the purchase while you’re reading off your debit card number. The good news is after a week the pain you feel purchasing said item is all forgotten! That is, unless your married like myself and then you get to revisit said purchase time and time again! Haha!
     
    mrnation8 and cavallo_nero like this.
  12. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 8, 2007
    57,977
    Bavaria, The 'Other' Germany
    Full Name:
    Mark W.R.
    I got a question.

    What is the proper way to (re)move the rear carpet to get to the bolts that hold the lights in?

    Do not want to break or tear anything.
     
    mrnation8 likes this.
  13. mrnation8

    mrnation8 Karting

    Jun 5, 2021
    118
    Buchanan, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Chris Nation
    I actually just gently pulled the carpet back. Mine did have some glue on it but it’s still sticky and will go right back on after I’m done. It was just glue on the carpet and then just a few screws to take off the fiberglass to access the lights.
     
    mwr4440 likes this.
  14. mrnation8

    mrnation8 Karting

    Jun 5, 2021
    118
    Buchanan, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Chris Nation
    Haha, yeah I hear ya! I was a little bummed until they came in and I put the new ones on and then felt re-energized to work on it again lol.
     
  15. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 8, 2007
    57,977
    Bavaria, The 'Other' Germany
    Full Name:
    Mark W.R.
    #16 mwr4440, Jul 26, 2021
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2021
    IF you are gunna put-in LEDS, TEST them AFTER you put the LEDS in the sockets and BEFORE you reassemble the lights and install them.

    I had one tail light (red/brakes) that did not work properly.

    Yes, the Red lights have a polarity and will only go in the socket ONE WAY.

    Idiot-PROOF, Riiiiight?

    Well, ..... Not EXACTLY.

    The two contacts for the brake bulbs, which sit in a small plastic plate, which fits inside the light bulb socket and also captures the tension spring, in one light socket of the two, the plate holding the contacts was REVERSED 180° during initial assembly. Thus the LED did NOT function properly. With Incandescents, it may not have mattered.

    Had I not checked that prior, a relatively small but highly frustrating 'nightmare' would have insued.


    Take NOTHING FOR GRANTED when switching from Incandescent to LED.

    TEST ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.


    To 'build' your LED tester, just use your auto battery 'trickle-charger' or 'battery tender,' and two leads from a multimeter.*

    You'll have: 12 Volts, 6 Amps and a BINGO!!!

    (My Tender; Read the Specs on YOURS FIRST)

    :)



    * - Wear rubber gloves, REPURPOSE your wife's dish gloves, just to be on the Safe(r) side.
     
    mrnation8 likes this.
  16. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 8, 2007
    57,977
    Bavaria, The 'Other' Germany
    Full Name:
    Mark W.R.
    I asked.

    All the sets are the same by that Seller. The prices are just different in each listing.

    Lots of Sellers on eBay do this.


    IF you see something you want, CHECK the Seller's 'Store' or 'Other Items,' or whatever. You MAY find the exact same item at a VASTLY DIFFERENT Price.
     
    mrnation8 likes this.
  17. Jonny Law

    Jonny Law F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    May 6, 2008
    3,203
    Over yonder.
    Full Name:
    IT Guy
    I purchased a full set of replacements a couples years back with the intent that if any got broken, I would already have spares. To my surprise the ones they sent were OEM.
     
    mrnation8 likes this.
  18. mrnation8

    mrnation8 Karting

    Jun 5, 2021
    118
    Buchanan, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Chris Nation
    Thanks for the replies. I bought the ones off eBay and they arrived within the week from Italy to Idaho so pleasantly surprised over that! They appear to be OEM but what do I know lol. Either they worked, they look great, and now they are in the correct order.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    rjlloyd likes this.
  19. mwr4440

    mwr4440 Five Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jun 8, 2007
    57,977
    Bavaria, The 'Other' Germany
    Full Name:
    Mark W.R.
    Chris,

    Did you use the old original metal bulb mounts and wires/connectors, or the new ones that came with the new lights?

    Did you switch to LED or stay with the Incandescents?
     
    mrnation8 likes this.
  20. mrnation8

    mrnation8 Karting

    Jun 5, 2021
    118
    Buchanan, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Chris Nation
    I used the original metal bulb mounts. One side of the new bulk mount wiring had a different end on it- which I forgot about until now- so maybe not OEM after all. The plastic taillight housing looked just like my original ones though with Carello and all written on it, but again I’m not sure.

    I just put back in the same old bulbs.
     
  21. Jonny Law

    Jonny Law F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    May 6, 2008
    3,203
    Over yonder.
    Full Name:
    IT Guy
    CHeck to make sure these are the right size. The Mondial lights look the same, but are a little smaller.
     
    mrnation8 likes this.
  22. mrnation8

    mrnation8 Karting

    Jun 5, 2021
    118
    Buchanan, Georgia
    Full Name:
    Chris Nation
    They were fortunately the right size and identical to my factory ones.
     
    Jonny Law likes this.
  23. DeRRis

    DeRRis Karting

    Nov 6, 2012
    85
    Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Dennis B
    Are you sure? The part numbers are the same for the Mondial and the 308: 60170305 & 60170206.
     
  24. Jonny Law

    Jonny Law F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    May 6, 2008
    3,203
    Over yonder.
    Full Name:
    IT Guy
    This is based on a situation were a local Mondial owner had swapped out his original tail lights due to darkening. He was going to give me the originals, but they were about a 1/2 inch different in diameter. I have seen other parts that could have been re-used from previous models, but a new part was created for that specific model. Suddenly a cap and rotor set that should cost $50-100 is around $1800.
     

Share This Page