Sonar JDM Euro Style Tail Lights (aka Spyder JDM Euro Style Tail Lights) are a clean alternative for old or worn out stock tail lights on your BMW 535i. Red/Smoke style taillights give your car the Euro look, mimicking the design of your stock tail lights, but replacing the amber portions with a clean red. The result is the perfected version of your original tail lens, only red and smoke without any ugly amber. Best of all, unlike LED tail lamps or Altezza tails, BMW 535i JDM Euro Tail lamps are easy to install and stick close to the original look of your integra, giving off a more mature and luxurious look to your vehicle. Also, Red / Smoke Taillamps are free of the electrical problems that can be caused by costlier BMW 535i LED taillights.
Sonar (aka Spyder) has long been the most popular brand of aftermarket custom lighting for your BMW 535i, and for good reason due to their large selection, striking designs, and affordability. Sonar has long been an innovator in new and unique taillight designs, despite their relatively smaller size compared to other lighting companies. All Sonar tail lights are designed for function and durability, and add that custom look and feel for your BMW 535i.
These Sonar BMW 535i Euro Red/Smoke Taillights (aka Spyder BMW 535i Euro Red/Smoke Taillights), like all the other projector headlights, tail lens, and fog lights on our site, come complete with both sides, and should be street legal in most communities.
Tools generally needed to install BMW 535i Tail Lights
- Socket wrench set or Phillips screw driver
- Painters tape to prevent scratches to your BMW 535i
- (Rare) Torque wrenches, etc.
BMW 535i Tail Light installation procedure
- Inspect the new set of BMW 535i tail lights to make sure you can complete the installation with the tools you have available.
- Disconnect your BMW 535i battery's negative battery terminal. If your stereo requires a key in order to reboot, please be sure you have it before disconnecting the battery. Also, be aware that you will probably have to reset your clocks, etc. after reconnecting the battery later. Please note that some vehicles (such as newer GMs) have extremely sensitive electrical systems. In these cases failure to disconnect the battery before attempting installation may lead to blown taillamp fuses or other damage.
- Apply painters tape on your BMW 535i around the edges of your 535i's taillights to prevent any scratches that might occur while removing and installing taillamps. If uninstalling your BMW 535i rear bumper is required, make sure you have a safe surface to place the 535i bumper on and that the working surface below the vehicle is also safe in the event the bumper falls down. This step is particularly important because tail lens, unlike headlights, often require a little force to come loose, leaving many people to inadvertently scratch their BMW 535i in the process.
- Without touching the glass, uninstall the stock brake, signal and reverse bulbs (as applicable). For bulbs with flat rectangle harnesses, you just pull the bulb firmly outward. For bulbs with round bases, you usually just push them in a bit, and then turn a quarter turn to release them. Once the bulb is removed, place them in their original container (if available). If they are cold, you could also store them in a ziplock type of bag. Please note that if your BMW 535i tail lamps have a harness that can be separated via a main harness that leaves part of the harness with the bulbs inside the 535i tail lights, you will still need both parts of the harness since the aftermarket BMW 535i tail lights are designed to either re-use the stock bulbs (altezzas) or to connect directly into the bulb harnesses (LED taillights).
- Unscrew the BMW 535i taillamps from the front or use a socket wrench to undo the 535i tail lamps from the back. Be aware that the old BMW 535i tail lights might fall immediately once the tension of the bolts is removed. For this reason, it is best to lightly hold the lights in place with your free hand as you unbolt or unscrew them.
- Remove the old BMW 535i taillens and store in a way that the lens will not be scratched. Install the new BMW 535i tail lens and bolt / screw in place.
- BMW 535i Euro Tail Lights: Reinstall the old bulbs into the new 535i taillights. Be aware some 535i tail lights might make use of a conversion harness that connects into one of your stock harnesses and splits the function into two separate bulbs. In these cases, the new bulbs should be included.
- Reconnect your BMW 535i battery and turn on your BMW 535i taillamps and check for proper operation and blinking speed. If any functions are not operational, try flipping the plugs the reverse orientation and double checking that the resistor boxes are fully connected.
- Reconnect all connections and tighten all bolts in place.
Are these BMW 535i tail lights sold by piece or as a pair?
All our BMW taillights are sold in the full pair. When you pay the listed price, you receive the complete set including both the right and the left sides.
Are these BMW 535i tail lights street legal?
As far as we know the Sonar (aka Spyder) and KS (Anzo) brand tail lights on our website are all street legal as mandated by federal law in the United States. This basically means that they are designed to the specifications set forth by the DOT (United States Department of Transportation). Occasionally, DOT might test models for compliance. If any BMW 535i taillights fail (rare) DOT will have the companies issue a recall. For those tail lens, you can return them to us for a refund. For any other brands besides Sonar (aka Spyder) and KS (aka Anzo), we can not guarantee DOT compliance. Also, please be advised that your local laws that may disallow these sorts of taillights to be used.
How can I prevent my BMW 535i tail lights from fogging up?
During the first few days of operation, it is normal to see some moisture appear in your BMW 535i tail lens. This is due to the small amounts of moisture in the plastic and coating that are evaporated when the tail lens are first warmed up during use. This sort of moisture is normal and should disappear within a few days.
To be sure that no external moisture gets into the new BMW 535i tail lens though, it is a prudent idea to silicone seal the edges. Clear silicone sealant can be found in any hardware store (and some auto part stores), and can be applied to the seam along the 535i taillights where the clear lens meets the rear housing. Also, even if a bulb has died, make sure to keep it installed in the 535i tail lamp until you replace it to prevent moisture from entering through the bulb hole.
Can I smoke my BMW 535i tail lights?
While smoking your BMW 535i taillights (tinting them) is certainly possible through the use of carefully applied spray tint (use light even coats), doing so may make them too dark to be legal. Please check your local laws as well as smoked BMW 535i taillights of any darkness might be illegal in your area.
