Buy BMW 320i Tail Light Assembly

Quick Overview

The BMW 320i tail light-also called a rear lamp, tail lamp, stop light, or rear light assembly-keeps you visible from behind. It holds the brake, turn-signal, and reverse functions in one sealed unit. BMW's wide, L-shaped light bar design makes the 320i easy to spot day and night (BMW).

Fit & Compatibility

• Generations:
  • E90 sedan (2005-2011)
  • F30 sedan (2012-2018) (Wikipedia)
  • G20 sedan (2019-today) (Wikipedia)
• Each generation uses a unique housing shape and mounting pattern. Check the build year and body style before ordering.
• Touring (wagon) and Gran Turismo versions use different outer lamp shapes.
• Left and right units are mirror images-swap only like-for-like.

How It Works

Inside the housing, circuit boards or bulb holders power the tail, brake, turn, and reverse lamps. Newer G20 cars use full LEDs that light quicker and last longer than bulbs (SAE International). Some trims add Adaptive Brake Lights that glow brighter during hard stops to warn following traffic (BMW Group PressClub).

Key Features

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Installation Steps

1. Open trunk and remove the fabric trim behind the lamp.
2. Unplug the multi-pin connector; press the tab and pull straight back.
3. Undo the three 8 mm nuts and lift the lamp away (YouTube).
4. Clean the sealing surface.
5. Fit the new tail light, torque the nuts to 5 Nm, and reconnect.
6. On F30 and G20 models, code the new unit with ISTA or BimmerCode so the car recognizes LED functions (Bimmerpost).

Care & Troubleshooting

• Single side out? Check the brown ground wire in the harness; it can break on E90 cars (E90Post).
• Intermittent faults on F30? Burnt pins in the connector cause bulb-out errors; BMW issued a fix in Service Bulletin 63 09 17 (NHTSA).
• Moisture inside lens? A clogged vent can let humidity condense; drying and replacing the seal cures it (SAE International).
• Warning on dash? The negative terminal in the plug may be overheated and need replacement (Bimmerpost).

Rules & Safety

• U.S. cars must meet FMVSS 108, which sets brightness, color, and minimum lit-area rules for tail lamps (NHTSA).
• European models follow ECE R48 for placement and function (TRALERT®).
• Adaptive LEDs on G20 models swivel with steering to keep signals visible while cornering (Bimmerpost).

Recalls & Fixes

• 2006-2011 E90: Ground-wire corrosion can dim lamps; BMW repaired affected cars (E90Post).
• 2012-2018 F30: BMW bulletin covers melted connector pins; dealers replace the bulb holder and wiring plug (NHTSA).

Upgrade Options

• Owners retrofit F30 pre-LCI cars with later LED "facelift" lamps for a sharper look; coding is required (Bimmerpost).
• Sequential-indicator aftermarket sets copy modern BMW OLED style but must still meet FMVSS/ECE limits (De Gruyter Brill).
• LED kits cut energy draw by about 60 percent compared with halogen bulbs (SAE International).

Green Facts

LED rear lights consume less power, easing load on the alternator and slightly improving fuel economy . Longer life also means fewer replacements and less landfill waste (SAE International).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What functions live inside a BMW 320i tail light?
A: It holds the rear position lamp, stop lamp, turn signal, reverse light, and sometimes a rear fog lamp in one sealed unit (BMW).

Q: Why did only one brake lamp go dim on my E90?
A: A broken ground wire inside the trunk-lid harness is common and will cut power to that side (E90Post).

Q: My dashboard shows "rear lamp failure" on an F30-what now?
A: Check the connector pins for heat damage; BMW released a repair bulletin to replace the bulb holder and plug (NHTSA).

Q: Are the G20 rear lights all LED?
A: Yes; G20 320i sedans use full LED modules that respond faster and shine brighter than older filament bulbs (Bimmerpost).

Q: Do I need coding after swapping F30 lights?
A: If you move from halogen or pre-LCI to LED units, you must code with ISTA or an app like BimmerCode so the car knows the new hardware (Bimmerpost).

Q: What law controls tail lamp brightness in the USA?
A: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 sets minimum and maximum candlepower and lens color (NHTSA).

Q: How does BMW's Adaptive Brake Light help safety?
A: It increases the lit area or intensity when you stop hard, signaling danger sooner to drivers behind (BMW Group PressClub).

Q: Can condensation inside the tail lamp harm anything?
A: Yes; trapped moisture can corrode contacts and dull reflectors. Vent cleaning and new seals stop it (SAE International).

Q: Could LED upgrades really save energy?
A: Switching bulbs to LEDs can cut tail-lamp power use by around 60 percent (SAE International).

Q: What makes the lights look like a sideways "L"?
A: BMW designers use an L-shaped light-bar both for style and to make the car look wider at night (BMW).

Q: Are Europe-spec and U.S.-spec tail lamps interchangeable?
A: They fit, but EU lamps may lack amber turn signals or U.S. side markers required by FMVSS 108 (NHTSA) (TRALERT®).

Q: What torque should the mounting nuts have?
A: BMW lists about 5 Newton-meters (N·m) for the small M5 nuts that hold the lamp to the body (YouTube).

Q: How long should an LED module last?
A: Quality automotive LEDs are rated for 15 years or more of normal driving thanks to low heat and solid-state design (SAE International).

Q: Is it legal to tint or "smoke" my tail lights?
A: Any tint that reduces output below FMVSS 108 or ECE R48 limits can fail inspection, so measure brightness before and after (NHTSA) (TRALERT®).

Q: Why does BMW keep the tail lamp running even when lights are off?
A: Daytime running rear lamps improve visibility in rain and tunnels, aligning with new EU safety goals (De Gruyter Brill).

Q: Can I swap left and right lamps?
A: No; the inner geometry and reflector angles are side-specific for proper beam spread. Use the correct side part to stay legal (NHTSA).