DIY loose sidemarker quick fix
 

So i came up with an idea to hold the side markers in place after the little clip breaks. i know some people are gonna say just buy new ones for another $50 but chances are after i remove the bumper for what ever reason a few times they will break again and poke out.

Tools i used are, small flat head screw driver, small needle nose pliers, a drill, 3/8s drill bit, a really small drill bit the diameter of a paper clip.. and a paper clip

you may have something like this if your clip is broken or loose, both sides looked like this on my car, quite depressing to look at.
Attachment 84044

i started by drilling out this little rivet for easier access behind it, you will want to use a bit slightly larger then the hole. Something around a 3/8's should do it
Attachment 84045

this is what it looks like after, just bend it out of the way.
Attachment 84046

next you will want to pull the rest of the broken clip out of the light for easy drilling. i used the flat head to fold in the locks and the pliers to walk it out. Thats the tiny drill bit for size reference, i pulled it out of a draw full of bits and its too small to read a size on it, sorry idk the size of it
Attachment 84047

this is were you use the tiny drill bit, aim for the center and go straight through. To make a tighter fit, go closer to the lens side but this may prove install difficulties
Attachment 84048

bend the paper clip so you can curve it through the newly drill hole
Attachment 84049

now install it back on the car,slip your paperclip through the hole to hold the lens in. Bend back and re-rivet the support bracket if you'd like. i didn't care that much to rivet mine.
Attachment 84050

Its not the flashiest way to fix it but its effective and holds the lens steady on the track. Maybe it will help someone else:D

Thanks for sharing. I have a feeling many members will be spending the weekend doing this. Haha

Great little write up, I thought about something similar but never got around to playing with it. Rigging that damn thing up tomorrow. :thumbup:

you should use a cotter pin instead of the paperclip :)

I used 3M double sided tape (left over from my 5axis spoiler) to get the top to stay pushed in on one of mine and it works perfectly. I've had it on there more than a year now. No drilling required for those of who don't want to drill.

thats a good idea. paperclips are just easier to come by sometimes, thats why i used it

i tried double sided tap last year it held for like a month but once it got alittle dirty it kept falling out, you must have found a better location then me lol.

ive been driving around with a loose sidemarker for the past 8000kms. Thank you a lot for this!

i tried double sided tap last year it held for like a month but once it got alittle dirty it kept falling out, you must have found a better location then me lol.[/QUOTE]



I dont remember exactly where i put it but i believe i did it in two spots, it was the top clip that wouldn't stay in. I put one strip down along the top around where the clip is and then put another layer on top of that one because it didn't have enough thickness with one. Did you just use one layer of 3M tape? Then i believe i put another 2 layers along the inside of the front of the clip (side closest to the front of the car).

i had two layers just to fill in the gap.

I'll have to do this. Went through the car wash and this happened.

ouch.. these markers are a bad design. someone should make a delete for them

I started using 3m tape since mine are alwats coming off but i might try this now. 3m tape is super durable if it sticks on "right"

i tried that first but it didnt hold. Theres too much water and rocks that kick up for tape to hold