E39 2000 to 2001 tail light swap?

First post. Sorry if duplicate, but I searched and could not find an answer to this specific question.

Just bought a 2000 540i 6-speed. I would like to upgrade the tail lights. I found a 2001 parts car at a local junk yard. Does anyone know if this is a straightforward swap? I know some of the later e39s had LEDs which required voltage regulators, ballasts, etc...and I don't really want to get into all that. I'm just looking for a simple, straightforward swap to update the look of the car.

Thanks in advance! The forum has already been a great help in DIY replacement of the windshield rubber seal.

C.

Though other methods including an updated LCM, adapters and retrofit programming exist, the most common upgrade requires ballasts and to drill/shape your rear tail light sheet metal to accommodate the CELIS tails from 2001 or higher.

OK, I somewhat suspected that answer.

Turner has a non-LED clear lens set for 97-00. It's plug and play. Looks like I'll go that way.

Thanks again.

I just purchased a set of tail lights for a 2003, and I have a 2000 do i need to get a retro fit kit? If i do where can i get one?

Originally Posted by VonRoundel

First post. Sorry if duplicate, but I searched and could not find an answer to this specific question.

Just bought a 2000 540i 6-speed. I would like to upgrade the tail lights. I found a 2001 parts car at a local junk yard. Does anyone know if this is a straightforward swap? I know some of the later e39s had LEDs which required voltage regulators, ballasts, etc...and I don't really want to get into all that. I'm just looking for a simple, straightforward swap to update the look of the car.

Thanks in advance! The forum has already been a great help in DIY replacement of the windshield rubber seal.

C.

Soooo....getting back to this '01 parts car, I don't suppose it would have the stubby antenna on the back window would it??? Car wash ate mine and I've been looking for a replacement for months.

Maybe it's got wheels/aluminum interior trim?

So... I didn't think to look here first, but I have a '99 540i. I blew the engine and recently had a dealer friend buy me a wrecked '03 540i at an insurance auction. I'm planning to strip everything I can from the newer one and one thing I thought would be pretty simple was the tail lights. I drilled holes and took a hammer to the mounts and got them to fit flush, but I didn't know about needing ballasts or anything extra... I saw that the connectors were different, but I thought I'd just be able to splice the wires and call it a day. Has anyone done the upgrade to an actual set of the newer factory tail lights? What other parts would I need from the '03 in order to make it work?

S/N hit me about any parts you might need... Front end is smashed, but suspension, automatic transmission and pretty much everything but the engine is available.