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Author Topic: How to remove the high level brake light?  (Read 42983 times)

Offline cmdrfire

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #15 on: April 08, 2009, 12:35:30 pm »
FYI The cost of getting my high level brake light replaced at a VW bodyshop is just shy of £400  :sad:

I am pursuing VW UK for goodwill (supported by the dealer) as I feel this is a stupid price to pay for changing a jumped up light bulb.  The dealer agreed it was a stupid design and should have been a couple of screws from underneath but hey ho.

Mine doesn't seem to have any water in it but half the LED's are shot anyway.  Maybe its so full of water I cant see it!

Will let you know how I get on.


Just under £400 was what I was quoted as well to get this done. It looks like my unit has suffered some water ingress as well, but that doesn't make much sense as the whole point of bonding the spoiler on is that the light unit is fully enclosed and watertight.
Anyway, I was looking at perhaps replacing my OEM spoiler with the Caractere spoiler but Awesome tell me that it will not fit :( to pass MOT as I recall you need the third brakelight which means I'll have to swap it sooner or later (and it's bothering me as well every time I brake ><).

Offline VC

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #16 on: April 08, 2009, 01:36:49 pm »
i thought you only had to have a working third brakelight if its present, if you delete it there's nothing to test?

in anycase, you can always fit an internal 3rd brake light if you wanted to get round it if not the case

Offline ub7rm

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #17 on: April 14, 2009, 08:39:31 am »
FYI I got 50% goodwill from VW for doing the work which is better than nothing.

All things considered though I think I'm inclined to leave well alone for now.  I have a suspicion that the light was in the state its in when it passed the MOT so as long as I keep using that garage....

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Offline iainalpine

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #18 on: April 15, 2009, 10:14:10 am »
hello folks, have just spotted this problem with mine but the car still has a few months of cover left so will get it done ASAP!
what a pain in the ass!

Iain
2006 MKV GTI, DSG, Stg2 Revo map, VWR front splitter, KWv3's, Eibach rollbars, Walk kit, Carbonio induction kit, Full Milltek exhaust system, Forge FMIC

Offline VC

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #19 on: April 15, 2009, 11:36:25 am »
a total fail in design that's for sure  :chicken:

Offline Jaywoo-GTI

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #20 on: April 15, 2009, 04:07:41 pm »
Looks like someone has had a go at mine before i got it cus the one side of mine has come lose, gonna look for a brake light the same length and in clear before i prize this one off.

Offline ub7rm

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #21 on: April 15, 2009, 08:43:02 pm »
Thats interesting... I'm reasonably sure that if you were to have a go at it with a dremel and some gentle persuasion you could get the old one out.  Getting the new one in might mean some soldering depending how the wires terminate in the light unit...

Hmm do I feel brave...  :scared:
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Offline SteveP

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #22 on: April 15, 2009, 08:44:16 pm »
From memory I believe the cable run through the spoiler and connects inside the top of the tail gate  :happy2:

Offline vwrascal

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #23 on: April 15, 2009, 08:52:24 pm »
my brakelight looks more like a fishbowl, I have warranty left but feel the same as greenouse

The water's stayin in mine!  :scared:

Not letting those fookin butchers near my car!  :fighting:

 :signLOL: :innocent:

Offline Jaywoo-GTI

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #24 on: April 16, 2009, 11:43:26 am »
Well a quick mess around with mine last night and it fell out, Looks like both captive bolts where i thold onto the spioler have cracked and come lose, So the light is now just trim taped back in until i get a new on, Good part is no need for the spioler to come off. :smiley:

Anyone got a part number just for the brake light unit?

Phil Mcavity

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #25 on: April 16, 2009, 02:42:51 pm »
Mine has dried out with the turn in the weather/Spring thankfully.

Offline ub7rm

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #26 on: April 20, 2009, 08:34:33 am »
I don't have the part number but according to my estimate the part is 30.14 + VAT

Repair details :-
Repair/Replace
R + R Additional Brake Lamp
(Tailgate Trim And Rear Spoiler Removed)
R + R Rear Spoiler
R + R Lower Tailgate Trim
R + R Upper Tailgate Trim
(Lower Part Removed)
Prepare And Paint
Rear Spoiler New Part Paint K1R
Labour Value £91.00
Paint and Materials £55.18
New Parts :- £180.97
122.2Rear Spoiler 5
Rear Spoiler Glue 10.18
Primer 6.35
Hi-Level Brakelamp 30.14
Epa 5.00
Car Care Kit 3.50
Sundries 3.55
End of New Parts
_______
Sub-Total £327.15
VAT @ 15.00% £49.08
_______
Estimate Total £376.23

Would you mind taking copious pics of the 'hole' where it sits and of the new brake light itself when you pick it up?

Although I have the goodwill I really don't want to open a can of worms by having the old spoiler removed etc.  I would like to see whats in there to decide whether its possible for me to do a bit of surgery or not....

Thanks.
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Offline tonym1

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #27 on: April 27, 2009, 09:57:18 pm »
carrs of indian queens told me it would be 96 notes to replace my high level brake light

Offline Jaywoo-GTI

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #28 on: June 01, 2009, 01:26:29 pm »
Just ordered my brake light from the dealer.
Part number is 1K6 945 097F (changed from revision E to F now) @ £34.79.

WILLZIE

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Re: How to remove the high level brake light?
« Reply #29 on: June 01, 2009, 01:40:49 pm »
Mine has this too, got told to turn my washer jet to the '2 o clock' position rather than straight up! which I have.
this helped anyone? or is it just a vast amount of condensation that builds it up?

Also wanting to replace the rear window with the darkened OEM window, I think TT did this!... again, same situation with the spoiler, has to ripped off! :scared: