I have a 2012 two-door hatchback R56. Where is the best place to purchase an entire tail lamp assembly?

I'm having recurring issues with my brake lights and I believe it's the entire lamp and/or the sockets because I have replaced the light bulbs but I'm still getting alerts on my dash that the right and left brake lights are malfunctioning.

Is oembmwminidiscountparts.com a good site to purchase these parts from?

 

There are numerous threads on melting tail light sockets on NAM. Instead of purchasing a new tail light assembly, I'd first look into whether the existing one can be modified. It was a three-screws-off and careful-use-of-knife job for me.

 

All talked about here, most of the time its the older 2007-2010 design.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...il-lights.html

 

Just go ECS.
Giorgos, would you mind sharing some information about modifying the taillights? Does this issue even apply to LCI taillights?

 

Don't know if it applies to any other LCI, but mine sure did suffer from it. I don't remember the mileage at the time, but it was less than 30k miles (likely somewhere between 20k and 25k miles). Even though it is an automatic (meaning brake lights are permanently on at pretty much every stop), this seemed a bit early to me. Especially considering that the car has almost only been driven on very long distance trips on highways after it reached 20k miles.

I didn't take any pictures when "repairing" it but the thread ECS linked to was one of the sources I used.

PS.: Here is another interesting thread, where melting was not the cause:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t-working.html

@@iivignale:
What kind of "recurring issues" do you get? Just the notifications on the dash that the lights are out or are they indeed off? In the latter case: Did you possibly exchange the bulbs with LEDs?

Edit:
@@930 Engineering:
I remember that the issue was two-fold: some melted plastic had fixed the bulb to the socket, not letting it turn to be removed. Additionally, the plastic socket must have deformed when warm and at the same time melted plastic gotten between the bottom contact and the socket (resulting in no contact). Carefully removing the plastic around the bulb casing and the plastic close to the contact solved it.

 

My 2013 R56 right tail lights are setting an OBDII code on the dash even though the bulbs all work. Is there a replacement bulb holder for the 2013? I see the 2007-2010 holder is available.

Peter