[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Hi peeps -

I was wondering if anyone knew of a good place where I can find some rear reflector replacements for my 2014 Sport Line 335xi? I'd like then preferably painted but I'm having difficulty finding any. They're readily available for M Sport bumpers, but I haven't been able to find them for mine. Picture attached for reference...

[razzy530]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Keep them, they are functional and they add to the look of the rear.

[metallicpea]

I have never been a big fan of the look of rear bumper reflectors.

I understand your desire to dump them.

Unfortunately, with how tail lights have changed, they are now functional - I would never park my car on the street in front of my house at night without them.

Also, the bumpers are designed for them and I'm not too sure they would look very good with them filled in.

I also hate how they hold on to water when I wash and dry my car.

I deleted the front ones, as their purpose isn't quite so obvious to me, and the painted fillers at least look flush when installed.

I'm curious to see what you end up doing here.

Good luck.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Thanks guys. I may end up just keeping them.

[Kailec]

Originally Posted by metallicpea

I have never been a big fan of the look of rear bumper reflectors.

I understand your desire to dump them.

Unfortunately, with how tail lights have changed, they are now functional - I would never park my car on the street in front of my house at night without them.

Also, the bumpers are designed for them and I'm not too sure they would look very good with them filled in.

I also hate how they hold on to water when I wash and dry my car.

I deleted the front ones, as their purpose isn't quite so obvious to me, and the painted fillers at least look flush when installed.

I'm curious to see what you end up doing here.

Good luck.

Just curious what you mean by functional due to tail lights? I ask because I deleted mine when doing the M Sport bumper install! That being said my car is Mineral White so easy enough to see regardless.

[oonowindoo]

I think the main purpose of them is to reflect other car's headlights, so they dont hit you when you park on the side of the road....

They used to be part of the taillight, not sure when or how that moved on to the bumper.

[HFW003]

A very quick search finds this,

https://ind-distribution.com/product?sku=IND-F30-RREF

[Kailec]

Originally Posted by oonowindoo

I think the main purpose of them is to reflect other car's headlights, so they dont hit you when you park on the side of the road....

They used to be part of the taillight, not sure when or how that moved on to the bumper.

Ah okay. Not a big deal then, since my car is white and easy to see.

[silverf30x]

Just wrap them. That's what I did. Easy pop out, easy wrap and easy install.

[Kailec]

Originally Posted by silverf30x

Just wrap them. That's what I did. Easy pop out, easy wrap and easy install.

I just had them painted when I did the bumper install. While I don't mind the red with the white, it looks better overall when it's matched I think.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Originally Posted by HFW003

A very quick search finds this,

https://ind-distribution.com/product?sku=IND-F30-RREF

M-Sport and non M-Sport (LCI Only). I am neither of those.

[Kailec]

Originally Posted by XxThe_RemedyXx

M-Sport and non M-Sport (LCI Only). I am neither of those.

Would it not be possible just to get a local shop to paint your existing ones?

[silverf30x]

Originally Posted by Kailec

I just had them painted when I did the bumper install. While I don't mind the red with the white, it looks better overall when it's matched I think.

Yea that you can do too. Wrap is just reversible if you don't like it or get bored of it, that's all.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

I'm going to get them wrapped and see how they look. Can't cost too much to get them wrapped and if I don't like it I'll just remove it Didn't even think of it.

[HFW003]

Originally Posted by XxThe_RemedyXx

M-Sport and non M-Sport (LCI Only). I am neither of those.

You have to be one and yours is a non m-sport!

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Originally Posted by HFW003

You have to be one and yours is a non m-sport!

I am pre-LCI.

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by Kailec

Just curious what you mean by functional due to tail lights? I ask because I deleted mine when doing the M Sport bumper install! That being said my car is Mineral White so easy enough to see regardless.

Yes, as already responded, when parked on the side of the road they reflect a cars headlights so the parked car is clearly visible along dark streets.

Mine is parked occasionally on a dark street where there aren't always cars parked on the side of the street, so I felt I didn't want to increase the chances that it would get hit.

But without that, and the shape of the rear bumper - which accentuates the reflector and seems to make it impossible to hide anyway - I would certainly find a way to remove them, but oh well.

It's a lot better on the M-sport bumper where the reflector shape blends better into the rear diffuser shape.

[wilbur_the_goose]

The reflectors are for your personal safety. Why the heck would you remove a safety feature?

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Originally Posted by wilbur_the_goose

The reflectors are for your personal safety. Why the heck would you remove a safety feature?

If drivers are missing my perfectly working tail and brake lights becuase my reflectors have been painted/removed, then those drivers shouldn't be on the road.

[vtown]

The reflectors look like absolute crap. I used 20% tint on mine and it blends in with the mineral grey pretty well, and the reflector is still somewhat functional. Just re-did it with 5% tint this weekend and while it looks better, they are no longer functional. Not really a problem as I never park on the street.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by XxThe_RemedyXx

If drivers are missing my perfectly working tail and brake lights becuase my reflectors have been painted/removed, then those drivers shouldn't be on the road.

you leave your brake lights/tail lights on when your car is parked? have you enabled your rear fog lights? have you ever had your battery die and needed to wait for a tow truck?

they are there for the same reason you have reflectors on anything else (street signs, cones, lines on the road) so that you can see it more easily in inclement conditions. not to mention the reflectors will illuminate when your car's paint will not. so when someone comes up behind you whether you are parallel parked or the next car in front of them in rain/fog/snow, their lights will reflect off of your car much easier.

that being said, we're all grown and can make up our minds about these things. this forum is full of people with dark window tint, catless downpipes, and other mods that have to be advertised as "off-road use only" by vendors so they don't get sued. it's nothing to lose sleep over. it's a risk that most people do fine without.

it's obvious why it's there, and it's obvious why people want to remove it. next topic.

[XxThe_RemedyXx]

Originally Posted by kern417

you leave your brake lights/tail lights on when your car is parked? have you enabled your rear fog lights? have you ever had your battery die and needed to wait for a tow truck?

they are there for the same reason you have reflectors on anything else (street signs, cones, lines on the road) so that you can see it more easily in inclement conditions. not to mention the reflectors will illuminate when your car's paint will not. so when someone comes up behind you whether you are parallel parked or the next car in front of them in rain/fog/snow, their lights will reflect off of your car much easier.

that being said, we're all grown and can make up our minds about these things. this forum is full of people with dark window tint, catless downpipes, and other mods that have to be advertised as "off-road use only" by vendors so they don't get sued. it's nothing to lose sleep over. it's a risk that most people do fine without.

it's obvious why it's there, and it's obvious why people want to remove it. next topic.

I don't park my car in the street so I'm not worried.

Also, if you want to move on the another topic you're more than welcome to do so. We tail light "deleters/modders" can continue the discussion without your permission.