clears off of ebay - United Bimmer Community

**bakaroo** · 05-24-2006, 07:46 PM

Has anyone ever bought clears off of ebay?

Example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-9...QQcmdZViewItem

or

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E...QQcmdZViewItem

Opinions?

**Dudesky** · 05-24-2006, 07:52 PM

The fronts should be okay, but beware of the tails. A lot of them leak, and many of them throw an OBC message; the circuitry is crap. Also on some of the cheaper ones, you can see the red lens bleeding through the bottom edge of the clear area. If you're gonna get clear tails on eBay, at least look for Depo clears. Rooz knows more about this . .

**///MDreain** · 05-24-2006, 08:03 PM

the ones you have look ok. I bought some for my coupe that looked exactly like that and they didnt throw codes. However the tab on the front ones broke after a while, which made a little gap between the clear corner and the fender. You should be ok with those, let us know how it works out

**bakaroo** · 05-24-2006, 08:13 PM

Quote:

A lot of them leak, and many of them throw an OBC message; the circuitry is crap.

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm worried about.

I'm 90% sure that I'm going to go ahead and buy the fronts and sides but I'm still not sure about the tails. I wish that I could buy from an owner who is selling his rather than a random ebay store. They make me nervous.

**Rooz** · 05-24-2006, 09:04 PM

The corners frankly, don't mater, just one thing I would recommend "smoked" corners just so that the "white" doesn't stand out as much.

As far as tails go, I bought similar ones and I had to modify them because even though the picture showed nothing mine came with the stupid orange bulb housing. Cheap aftermarket tails won't be a "perfect" fit either. And the housing of it I had to modify a lot to get all the bulbs to go in nice and smooth. If I had to do it over, I would have bought some depo tails or some OE ones... just my 2 cents

**bakaroo** · 05-24-2006, 11:09 PM

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll just go with "brand name" clear tails and then just order the front corners off of ebay--which is still essentially saving me money.

Quote:

I would recommend "smoked" corners just so that the "white" doesn't stand out as much.

What white part? The white of my car? I like the look of the smoked corners but I don't like the too dark look, either. So I think that I'll just buy the non smoked clear corners and then either smoke them myself or leave them be.

**BMWLotAttendant** · 05-25-2006, 12:53 AM

I was thinking of getting the same for my Camry through the same company.

I wonder if it's the same.

**Dudesky** · 05-25-2006, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bakaroo

What white part? The white of my car? I like the look of the smoked corners but I don't like the too dark look, either. So I think that I'll just buy the non smoked clear corners and then either smoke them myself or leave them be.

The smoked aren't that dark at all, in fact they look pretty clear. What Rooz means is that the lens on clears looks a wee bit bright & irradescent, almost white, and stand out a lot. Smoked is a little more subdued, here's a pic of my smoked corners:

Uck- gotta get rid of that egg yolk, I didn't spray the bulb enough

**ChrisWorrell** · 05-25-2006, 07:12 AM

You drive a BMW, stay away from ebay, go through well known companies, do it right. I have seen what becomes of a car when it gets stuff from ebay. I won't name names, but please do yourself and your car a favor and avoid ebay. You will end up paying more but in the end you will be much happier.

Don't shop to save money you will end up paying more because they will break sooner or something about them won't be up to par.

**El Supremo** · 05-25-2006, 09:04 AM

I bought the clears for my sons car off of eBay from bimmerbum, but he sells OEM so there isn't any problems with them.

**scrichy84** · 05-25-2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudesky

The fronts should be okay, but beware of the tails. A lot of them leak, and many of them throw an OBC message; the circuitry is crap. Also on some of the cheaper ones, you can see the red lens bleeding through the bottom edge of the clear area. If you're gonna get clear tails on eBay, at least look for Depo clears. Rooz knows more about this . .

I bought clears and sidemarker lights off ebay and both were okay, but Duds right, tailights you want to buy through a company that you can send them back if they suck.

**kestrel325is** · 05-25-2006, 01:18 PM

The clears on mine are factory.

**Negrodamus** · 05-25-2006, 05:33 PM

Got my front clear smoked oem ones off of ebay they are fine just had to break the little small tab that goes into the fender. I also got my rear smoked tails off of ebay as well. And yes the circuitry on it could be better if you live somewhere and it rains alot then I probably would avoid the ebay tails however if you are in an area that doesnt rain too much then grab them. Not all ebay stuff on there for BMW stuff is bad....

**brien4787** · 05-25-2006, 05:59 PM

I bought some clear corners off of e-bay like a year ago. I got them from "Revo-Tech" which are probably the same as these. They are cheap quality, but work just fine... just be careful with them when installing. I recommend not getting clear (white) ones... I got them and look bad, so I smoked them using a tinting spray.

**bakaroo** · 05-25-2006, 07:11 PM

Okay so to summarize:

1. Front smoked corners from ebay are decent; just be careful

and

2. Go with brand name tails.

Bleh, anyone want to sell their clears to me?

?