DIY: Cleaning under the 3rd/Center brake lamp

Have you noticed that the glass under the 3rd or center brake lamp gets progressively dirtier, misted up and maybe even with insects inside? Here's a quick DIY on how to take the LED lamp assembly off a 2006 325Ci for cleaning. Other 3 Series models will have a similar setup. There are two parts to remove: the front cover and the lamp assembly, see figure 1.

1. Front cover is held in place by two nylon push pins and two clips. As shown in figure 2, slip you index fingers under the center of the cover, spread them out to the corners where the pins are and then carefully pull the pins out. Lift the cover down just enough for the pins to clear their holes, then slide the cover away from the lamp assembly so the clips clear the assembly. See figure 3 for placement of the pins and the clips. If you pull the cover down too much, the clips will break.
2. Spread the two latches holding the lamp assembly to the rear glass, like figure 4. The assembly will drop in your hands, just held by the cable, which you can separate at the connector if desired. The glass can then be cleaned, just be careful with the metal brackets that hold the assembly in place: see figure 5.
3. Reconnect lamp if necessary. Open the latches, center on metal brackets and close. Replace cover by centering pins in their holes, tapping them in, then pushing the corners for the clips to engage the lamp assembly. Done.

Thanks for all the positive feedback. Hope this DYI proves useful to all.

nice write-up!

Hmmm....this would fix my lighting bug that I have, but I think I'll let 'em stay until the meet.

Originally Posted by Gryphon

Hmmm....this would fix my lighting bug that I have, but I think I'll let 'em stay until the meet.

Just like the corpse I have in the headlamp. Can't imagine how the damn bugs manage to crawl in there....

BTW, I found a dead mosquito in my center brakelamp, so I really had two corpses in the car.

Great DIY!

Excellent write up. Do you want me to add it to the Wiki?

Originally Posted by Solidjake

Excellent write up. Do you want me to add it to the Wiki?

By all means, that was the intent in the first place, if it passes the standards of the Wiki. Giving back what little one can.

It is great that somebody thought about this. No bugs yet but there are lots of unnecessary dirt in mine as well.
Great DIY and thanks for sharing it but would you mind adding some more pictures(not upclose ones) to make it easily understandable? A lot of black objects and black background in the pictures making it a bit confusing to orient myself. I kind of lost my orientation. If no more pictures available, maybe you can add some arrows.
Definitely not trying to be picky. Just trying make this DIY better.

Thanks

Great post. I have some kind of a pod in mine. I am not sure if it's going to hatch some mutant species or what, but I will sleep better at night when I follow your advice and get rid of it
Anyone else have unusual items lodged in their third brake light? So far we have a mosquito, a lightning bug, and some sort of alien pod.

Originally Posted by iskoos

Great DIY and thanks for sharing it but would you mind adding some more pictures(not upclose ones) to make it easily understandable? A lot of black objects and black background in the pictures making it a bit confusing to orient myself.

Heh heh, sorry about that. Got hit by a moment of 'midnite inspiration', hence the dark shots. I'll get a couple of extra (daytime) shots in there.

Originally Posted by jcourcoul

By all means, that was the intent in the first place, if it passes the standards of the Wiki. Giving back what little one can.

Done

Thanks for posting. I had my tints removed and a little bit of the soap solution ran in the assembly. I was trying to pry it open but couldn't figure out how and was afraid I would break something. Now I know. Thanks

Originally Posted by jcatral14

I had my tints removed and ....

Just about inspection time?

As an aside, I'm getting ever closer to medical support for me getting tint.

Very well done indeed! It was clear, concise and effective. Dido on the pics, but you've got that taken care of. Thanks for contributing. (although I have a vert)

Thanks for posting this. People need to see it and it's very easy. Everyone should do this before taking their car to get the windows tinted!!

FYI, I've adjusted the pics so the orientation is explicit now. Hope that takes care of any issues. Sorry about the night shots, but am too lazy to repeat + shooting a black interior in bright sunlight is an exercise in frustration.

Originally Posted by Gryphon

Just about inspection time?

As an aside, I'm getting ever closer to medical support for me getting tint.

Haha, no, I had to get the car inspected for the first time in Jersey. Car was from Delaware.

All my cars never had tint so no problem for me. I would like to get a really light tint but hate the aggravation with tickets and cops. Tell me more about this "medical support"

Thanks for the help. I don't have much of a bug infestation but I do want to complete a task on my NTM car. I am installing a third brake light flasher. I have been rear ended and it isn't much fun. So, protect me and protect my ride.

http://www.3rdbrakeflasher.com/index...roducts_id=181

Originally Posted by Gryphon

Just about inspection time?

As an aside, I'm getting ever closer to medical support for me getting tint.

With your ZHP, you should have tint already, correct? What does NJ have to say about that? OK? Not?

Originally Posted by marlin1881

With your ZHP, you should have tint already, correct? What does NJ have to say about that? OK? Not?

It is now a moot point. We just dropped all inspection here in New Jersey except for emissions. Makes me sleep better at night knowing we will have even more dipsticks with unsafe cars on the road. Love the Gov. and his budget cuts!

Originally Posted by marlin1881

With your ZHP, you should have tint already, correct? What does NJ have to say about that? OK? Not?

Ha, this post was for the Xi. I have some scarring on my one eye that makes me a bit light sensitive, NJ is not interested, they said wear sunglasses.

Originally Posted by SJBimmer

It is now a moot point. We just dropped all inspection here in New Jersey except for emissions. Makes me sleep better at night knowing we will have even more dipsticks with unsafe cars on the road. Love the Gov. and his budget cuts!

Yeah feel free to read through my couple of blurbs about dealing with DMV these days, first they wanted to fail me for low washer fluid and then they pass me without even having a front plate. Gotta love it.