Rear center tail light.. A few leds leds are out...

[Vanne]

I just noticed yesterday that there are a couple of Leds are out on one side. About 3. Are they easily fixable? Pretty handy with a soldering iron here too if that helps? The replacement lights on eGay are stupidly expensive.

[jdoublehcubed]

thats really strange. i've seen at least half a dozen posts where the lights fail, and more where the plastic has cracked, but never one where individual LEDs fail. i mean, they're LEDs, they're supposed to last forever.

how many LEDs are in there total? it might be tough to find exactly the right color LED to replace just those 3, but you could replace all of them with new LEDs. You can get LEDs for a dollar a piece, give or take.

[Vanne]

yeah my rear piece is actually in really good nick, but yeah 3 leds are out.. not sure, from the 3 on the left total looks like about 12-15 id say...

[chickdr]

I think it would be easier to replace than to try and fix, but I guess you have nothing to lose by trying. This is the first time I have heard of the issue.

[Taylorguy74]

Aren't these sealed units? Seems like if you were to open them up to repair, you risk the chance of future leaks.

Strange how only a few went out.

[Vanne]

Not too worried here about water leaks

Yeah might get the missus to jump on the brake and I'll go give it a few persuasion wacks, see if that does anything first.

[ried]

Funny enough, when I was having an alignment performed the local shop applied the brakes during the alignment service. I walked up from the rear and noticed that 3-4 of the LEDs were out on the driver's side of the third brake light of my e86 M Coupe. I ordered the replacement third brake light, which is a unique part for the e86.

When I went to install it, I saw that all of the LEDs illuminated properly again. I waited for several days, checking each day to see if the LEDs would fail again, but they didn't. It's been a couple of months now, and no failures. Was it a one time thing? I have no idea. But I ended up returning the part and will address it in the future if it happens again.

[Vanne]

cool mate, thats nice to know, heres to hoping mines the same

[mfanatic325]

I've also had people tell me a few of my LEDs were out too. But the one time I checked, they all seemed to light up

In any case, I recall a super old thread where someone tried opening the taillight housings up, and it was a pain in the butt. Definitely easier to replace them altogether, but they're expensive for just a row of LEDs

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by ried

Funny enough, when I was having an alignment performed the local shop applied the brakes during the alignment service. I walked up from the rear and noticed that 3-4 of the LEDs were out on the driver's side of the third brake light of my e86 M Coupe. I ordered the replacement third brake light, which is a unique part for the e86.

When I went to install it, I saw that all of the LEDs illuminated properly again. I waited for several days, checking each day to see if the LEDs would fail again, but they didn't. It's been a couple of months now, and no failures. Was it a one time thing? I have no idea. But I ended up returning the part and will address it in the future if it happens again.

Maybe a circuit load thing when held on (current applied) for a longer period of time during the alignment. (LEDs bordline fail)
Normal momentary on/off is easier on them.