I want to swap in '08 taillights... - Acura Forum

apalmer22 · 07-13-08, 12:49 PM

I have been wanting to swap my '04 taillights for the new '08 taillights (non type-s version). However, the '04s are completely red and the '08s are red with white for the brake lights. Anyone know if this is just a direct replacement or is there going to be some modifying going on?

ps - I tried doing a search for this because I thought it would of been covered, but 4 pages into searching "tail light" in the 3rd gen forum was getting me nowhere.

marmaladeboy · 07-13-08, 01:41 PM

I believe it's a straight swap:

Acura TL Community - installed my type s tails

MVR 155 · 07-14-08, 06:27 PM

Should be a direct swap but you will need colored bulbs/led's as the lights are clear I believe.

apalmer22 · 07-15-08, 12:28 AM

Yeah, I think you are right. I have seen controversy on the no "Modification needed" to swap the tail lights. I looked up the LED Boards as well to see if the part numbers matched from the '04s to the '07s and '08s. They are different, 33552-SEP-A11 and 33502-SEP-A11 for the '08 and the '04 is 33552-SEP-A01 and 33502-SEP-A01.

I might call a buddy of mine at the dealership to see if he can help me out. Have I been the only one interested in doing this before?

petroxg · 07-15-08, 11:00 AM

I can see why you want to swap the tail light. I got a 07 myself and I like it more than the 04-06 model.

Just curious, why not swap to the Type-S taillight instead if u already gonna try swapping. Those aren't too bad either. Or do you prefer the clear tail light more?

apalmer22 · 07-15-08, 06:00 PM

Yeah, I do prefer the non type-s tail lights more. Just a preference. To each his own, right?

petroxg · 07-15-08, 10:24 PM

Yup, I m with u.

apalmer22 · 07-21-08, 09:15 PM

After this week is over, I have a few days to myself. I am going to investigate on this and get this ball rolling...

apalmer22 · 07-22-08, 09:00 PM

I was rummaging through cardomain.com and there was a member on there who swapped them out. He didn't say anything about having to swap L.E.D. boards or anything. I am going to confirm this before I spend $150-200 on new tail lights!

imj0257 · 07-23-08, 05:45 PM

i just purchased the TLS tailights for my '04 and yes it is a strait swap. I got them oem directly from acura for $212. IMO i prefer the TLS rather than the stock '08 tails b/c ... IMO... it looks more aggressive and fits my SSM color best

trev0006 · 07-23-08, 07:42 PM

I think these is a pic of the swap posted already.

apalmer22 · 07-24-08, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trev0006

I think these is a pic of the swap posted already.

have a link?

apalmer22 · 08-06-08, 11:10 PM

Well, I finally did it! It was exactly as I thought, just a swap. I removed the rear bumper cover and then removed the tail lights. Pulled the LED unit/board out and turned on the parking lights. They illuminated red!! I was excited!

So I continued with swapping the LED units into the new tail lights and then reinstalling the bumper and miscellaneous clips and trim pieces. It really wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I took a few pictures with my cell phone - will be posting soon!

apalmer22 · 08-10-08, 08:42 PM

Here are some pictures!

tlmclovin · 08-24-08, 02:19 PM

do you have to take the GD bumper off or at least pull it down to get these effers off the car? because you takee off the four nuts on the backside of light, and on any other honda/acura ive done, the light slides right outa there. on the 06 tl, theres a bracket of some sort on the bottom behind the bumper?

07-13-08, 12:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
apalmer22 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 22 Posts: 24 Car 1: 2004 Acura TL Car 2: 1992 Jeep Cherokee	I want to swap in '08 taillights... I have been wanting to swap my '04 taillights for the new '08 taillights (non type-s version). However, the '04s are completely red and the '08s are red with white for the brake lights. Anyone know if this is just a direct replacement or is there going to be some modifying going on? ps - I tried doing a search for this because I thought it would of been covered, but 4 pages into searching "tail light" in the 3rd gen forum was getting me nowhere. __________________ -Drew 2004 Acura TL

07-13-08, 01:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
marmaladeboy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 86 Your Mood: Car 1: 2006 Acura MDX Car 2: 2008 Lexus RX350 Car 3: 2008 Acura TL-S	I believe it's a straight swap: Acura TL Community - installed my type s tails __________________ '06 MDX Sage Brush Pearl '08 RX350 Breakwater Blue Metallic '08 TL-S Kinetic Blue Pearl '05 Kawasaki ZX6R

07-14-08, 06:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
MVR 155 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Bartlett, Illinois Age: 33 Posts: 350 Car 1: 07 Acura TL Type S Car 2: 02 Chevy Corvette Z06	Should be a direct swap but you will need colored bulbs/led's as the lights are clear I believe. __________________ 2007 Acura TL Type S Silver/Ebony 2002 ZO6 Corvette: (lightly modded) Best ET 11.661@118.86 2006 Hummer H2 SOLD 1996 Corvette Grandsport #775-lots of mods 1/4 times: 12.2@115 N/A 10.9@127 150HP NOS 2002 Yamaha YZF R-1 Blue/White 10.5@136mph Previous Acuras: 1997 CL 3.0 Premium 2003 CL Type S 2006 TL cars/bike can be viewed at www.fquick.com/MVR155

07-15-08, 12:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
apalmer22 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 22 Posts: 24 Car 1: 2004 Acura TL Car 2: 1992 Jeep Cherokee	Yeah, I think you are right. I have seen controversy on the no "Modification needed" to swap the tail lights. I looked up the LED Boards as well to see if the part numbers matched from the '04s to the '07s and '08s. They are different, 33552-SEP-A11 and 33502-SEP-A11 for the '08 and the '04 is 33552-SEP-A01 and 33502-SEP-A01. I might call a buddy of mine at the dealership to see if he can help me out. Have I been the only one interested in doing this before? __________________ -Drew 2004 Acura TL

07-15-08, 06:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
apalmer22 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 22 Posts: 24 Car 1: 2004 Acura TL Car 2: 1992 Jeep Cherokee	Yeah, I do prefer the non type-s tail lights more. Just a preference. To each his own, right? __________________ -Drew 2004 Acura TL

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07-15-08, 11:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
petroxg Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Age: 29 Posts: 99 Car 1: 99 Mazda Protege Car 2: 07 TL w/Navi	I can see why you want to swap the tail light. I got a 07 myself and I like it more than the 04-06 model. Just curious, why not swap to the Type-S taillight instead if u already gonna try swapping. Those aren't too bad either. Or do you prefer the clear tail light more?

07-15-08, 10:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
petroxg Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Age: 29 Posts: 99 Car 1: 99 Mazda Protege Car 2: 07 TL w/Navi	Yup, I m with u.

07-21-08, 09:15 PM	#8 (permalink)
apalmer22 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 22 Posts: 24 Car 1: 2004 Acura TL Car 2: 1992 Jeep Cherokee	After this week is over, I have a few days to myself. I am going to investigate on this and get this ball rolling... __________________ -Drew 2004 Acura TL

07-22-08, 09:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
apalmer22 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 22 Posts: 24 Car 1: 2004 Acura TL Car 2: 1992 Jeep Cherokee	I was rummaging through cardomain.com and there was a member on there who swapped them out. He didn't say anything about having to swap L.E.D. boards or anything. I am going to confirm this before I spend $150-200 on new tail lights! __________________ -Drew 2004 Acura TL

07-23-08, 05:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
imj0257 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 5 Car 1: '04 TL	i just purchased the TLS tailights for my '04 and yes it is a strait swap. I got them oem directly from acura for $212. IMO i prefer the TLS rather than the stock '08 tails b/c ... IMO... it looks more aggressive and fits my SSM color best

07-23-08, 07:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
trev0006 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,233	I think these is a pic of the swap posted already. __________________ Acura and other cars video collection Car racing videos Motorcycle racing Car pictures Fast cool cars

08-06-08, 11:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
apalmer22 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 22 Posts: 24 Car 1: 2004 Acura TL Car 2: 1992 Jeep Cherokee	Well, I finally did it! It was exactly as I thought, just a swap. I removed the rear bumper cover and then removed the tail lights. Pulled the LED unit/board out and turned on the parking lights. They illuminated red!! I was excited! So I continued with swapping the LED units into the new tail lights and then reinstalling the bumper and miscellaneous clips and trim pieces. It really wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I took a few pictures with my cell phone - will be posting soon! __________________ -Drew 2004 Acura TL

08-24-08, 02:19 PM	#15 (permalink)
tlmclovin Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3 Car 1: 2006 Acura TL	do you have to take the GD bumper off or at least pull it down to get these effers off the car? because you takee off the four nuts on the backside of light, and on any other honda/acura ive done, the light slides right outa there. on the 06 tl, theres a bracket of some sort on the bottom behind the bumper?

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