Now, unscrew all 3 of the bulb housings counter clockwise and then pull them out. Make a mental note of which one was what (blinker, tail light and reverse). If need be, put a strip of masking tape on each one to signify what they are/where.
Now, pull off the OEM tail light. Remove the metal bracket on the bottom (one phillips screw) and screw it onto the UKDM model.
Set the tail lights aside. Now, onto the bulb harness swap. Please, do not cut your wires! Mine are cut due to the fact that I had played with the wiring and added an extra blinker bulb. I repeat, do not cut your wiring!
Make sure the vehicle is off and the blinkers are not on. Grab the blinker socket and remove the male clip from the back of it. Set the USDM bulb socket aside. Grab the male clip and a flat head screwdriver. Slowly pry the backside of it open as shown:
Hold the USDM clip with one hand. Look under the wired metal inserts (positive and negative) and you will see a small plastic tab holding them in place. Push the thumb tack in from the front and push the plastic away from the metal inserts. You can then remove the inserts. Just be sure to remember what side they were on to maintain polarity.
Now, grab the white UKDM clip and slide in the wired metal inserts from the back side.
Once they're in, squeeze on the small plastic clip piece. It holds the wires/metal inserts in place. It only fits in one way. I ended up using minimal pressure with a small set of pliers.
You're now ready to put the tail light on. Hold it up near the sockets so that you can figure out where everything will be going.
- Top/circular hole is now the brake light.
- Amber bulb will now be your blinker and go in the socket shown above (the only one that's in).
- Reverse will remain in the same.
Spin the bulb sockets in now as it's easer than when the tail light is mounted. Line up the small reddish plastic tab on the outside of the tail light housing to the hole in the body. Slowly push the tail light on while lining everything else up. Loosely put on the 2 external 10 mm nuts (metal bracket) and the 3 interior 8 mm nuts. Be careful with the 8mm nuts as working space is minimal. Once everything is lined up, tighten all the screws. Be especially careful on the small 8 mm screws as they're molded into the plastic. Place the plastic cover back on.
Test the lights (blinker/brake/reverse) and repeat on the other tail light.
Grab the bumper and pop in one side (by the wheel well). If it gets tough, spray some PB Blaster in the slot to make it easier. Be sure that the other side of the bumper isn't rubbing against the opposite side of the car as it will scratch it. Slowly follow the body lines of the bumper and press it directly under the tail lights. You'll hear it clip in. Be sure it's in the right spot - if it clips too low they'll be a gap. Continue to the other side and push in.
At this point I usually reach from underneath and spin the bumper lights in (clockwise - make sure the car is up in the air a bit as it's much easier).
Replace:
2 plastic bumper clips
2 10 mm bolts near the hatch opening
2 silver plastic covers
2 black phillips screws (one in each wheel well)
2 Phillips/8 mm screws (one in each wheel well / top corner)
You're done! Enjoy the new lights
Lights on:
Amber turn signal on:
Butt shots with ambers on:
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