We all have them: the backlights (only NOT at the 512M) .... And what's their situation / in what condition are they ? Having lots of time waiting for my new gearbox, I can now spent time on details. And while I have an engine-out, I had already removed my rear grille ... One of the details is inspection of the rear lights. I took them off and ... whaauw what a lot of dirt is found there ... Here some pics of the connectors which can very easily be cleaned, the earth connector .... (do you know it's there ?) I found that most of the round rubbers at the lampholders were off and found out why. (look at wire loom upper right: found them all off ...) If you undo these rubbers, you see that they are torn off constantly bij the plastic sleeve .... So, push the sleeve towards the lampholder and the problem is solved... easy but you have to do it ! Cleaning the rest: very simple and effective ... will take a half an hour each. Tip: exchange all bulbs .... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
There was also some disaster going on inside the lampholders.... My predecessors lost the OEM screws so just picked some screws with "almost the same size and length"... Twisted them in and ruined the plastic backplate and in one case dented the red lamp lense. That is because the oem screws also have a sort of spacers, to prevent tightening the lens too hard towards the backplate.... Do you know what I am writing ... (hope so)... To prevent this mistake of tightening too much, I found a way to prevent this by cutting some plastic tubing of 6 milimeter and used that as spacers.. This works fine. Repaired the plastic back plate with special 2 component glue, drilled the new holes ... and was ready again.... Be very careful with these unique F lamps / parts; they are (all) fragile, simply break and are irreplacible ... Most important: you don't find spare parts of them anywhere (also nowhere on the Web) ........ Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Great thread and fix. I might just add that I have used tiny o-rings slipped on the mounting screws under the screw head. Why? To keep out moisture and to prevent the screws from backing out or turning, it also provides a cushion of sorts to prevent cracking the plastic. Very cheap, invisible and it takes a minute to do.
Very happy I did change all the bulbs ... cost only a few $ 's ... Of the 4 orange bulbs, most paint came off .... And of more then half of the "normal" bulbs the glass was getting black ... all fresh now for the next 10 years at least Image Unavailable, Please Login
I did everything on mine that you are doing. Big difference. I found one socket contact disc had been installed 180 degrees out causing the wrong filament on one brake light to light up. One of the bulb holder sockets was broken which I fixed with epoxy to better than new. (Rather than pay 150.00+ for one in a yellow box). It passes Concours inspection too. I replaced the yellow with LED bulbs (which require a digital blinker unit). Replaced the white reversing bulbs with LED.
On a similar issue, I'm unable to tighten one of my screws as the plastic has extensive cracking due to the effects of heat and ageing. I have been able to glue most of it back together but the piece where the screw threads in always comes loose after the first drive due to the heat (even with only the slightest tension on the screw). I've tried various glues including JB Weld with no success. Other than purchasing another light assembly my only other idea is to drill some fine holes and tie the pieces together with small diameter wire. Any suggestions would be appreciated. (p.s. I'm currently keeping the lens in place with a small piece of black plastic jammed between it and the back of the grille - virtually invisible and it keeps the dirt out but I need a permanent fix.)
I had some stripped out screw holes behind my light lenses up front which I filled with a plastic based two-part glue. I then drilled some pilot holes in the filler and carefully cut some new threads into the plastic. I am careful not to over torque the screws and so far they stay tight. I'll take a look in the Shop and see if I can find what I used.
The lights are of course now over 20 years old and this will take it's toll on the material. So screws - if tightened- can be ripped out .... Most probably, the F engineers also never gave it a thought that the immense heat of the exhaust system could damage these plastic parts .... Problem is: you cannot simply exhange them for new ones ... they are not for sale anymore ... The 512TR upper smokey-coloured lenses are even more hard to find .... Image Unavailable, Please Login
BTW: Can you explain the difference between backlights for US models (parts 147184 + 147185) and the ones for EU models (parts 149641 + 149642)? Or other question -> @ Melvok - which are the part numbers of your backlights? Many thanks! Sebastian
So the stuff I used came in siamesed applicator tubes, much like what epoxy comes in. No specific name brand but the label "PLASTIC WELDER". It chemically welds the plastic. Just press the plunger, mix the two components and apply.
Very often, it has to do with the lenses; other patterns or how would you say that in good english ? The beams are shattered differently. F.I. I bought one 512TR RH front foglight from U.S.A.; I cannot use it because it looks quite different form the EU version.... (it's for sale ..) Numbers: Sebastian, mail me ... !
Resurrecting this old thread, to say THANKS to Melvok. That US foglight lens is now attached to my fixture and the silicone is drying over night.
Mel, do you know which screws are the original type? is the top photo the correct spacer? I have 3 different screw in my rear lenses, I will disassemble and clean up soon... Thanks, Andrew
