I would highly reccomend getting a pry tool (see image) to remove plastic clips for this job and future jobs you may take on, it makes things so much easier.



You'll also want a very small flathead screwdriver, like the kind used for computers and eyeglasses.




First Step:
Open your trunk dummy!



There are 8 small rectangular clips that sit flush with the plastic. Two on each side and four along the bottom.







Use the flathead of similar tool to pry them up about 1/4" from the moulding and then remove them the rest of the way with the upholstery clip removal tool.



They are two piece push pins so make sure you don't lose anything, sometimes the bottom part remains in the plastic until you pull it out.



There are four round push pins (again, two pieces) holding the plastic to the carpet that need to be removed as well.


They are located along the bottom edge on each side where the plastic and carpet meet.




Last step is to find the two buttons on the bottom lip that snap onto the car, just pop them up. There like the buttons on your pants as a kid, just lift and it'll pop off.

Remove the plastic moulding along the back edge of the bumper and set it aside.

You should now be able to pull back the carpet lining your trunk and start the process of getting your tail lights off.

First you need to disconnect the wires by pushing on the outside of the connector and pulling, it'll slide right out. Now turn the black lever in the center of your light panel and pull it out, careful not to bang any of the bulbs. Set that aside for now and get a 5/16 wrench.


There are four nuts to be removed and the tail light will come right out.

Pull it out towards you about an inch and then push it to the side so the outer post will clear the hole.

That should be it, just reverse order the steps to put it back in.

 

Great job. Mercedes used the same process as in the w202. When I installed LED tail lights in w202, it was the exact same procedure, they even use the square tabs on the bottom plastic portion.

 

Thanks for this!! I'm planning on buying LED tails later this month so this will be a big help!

 

When you painted your tails did you sand the tails down? I always sand before I paint but I would like the option to taking it off if the po-po decide that its too dark.

 

I wet sanded with 2000 grit before putting on two coats of Nite Shades. I put on 3 or 4 coats of duplicolor clear and let it all cure for 48 hours. Then I wet sanded with 3000 grit pads and used Meguire's Rubbing Compound followed by Meguire's Polishing Compound. The surface is almost factory shiny now.

I've read that you can sand the clear away and remove the Nite Shades with acetone. After that you just need to buff and polish them back to the shine.

 

Great DIY. Subscribed for future reference

I always thought that this process was harder - that it involved removing the rear bumper, but im glad thats all cleared up now

 

good write up

now a day I actually just remove the lights without taking off the black plastic trim.

 

Sweet!

 

Chris, thank you very much for the pics and instructions. It made the tail light replacement a very easy 10 minute job. btw, I replaced mine with the Depo OEM style tail light ($85 shipped w/ Amazon Prime). Looks identical to the OEM and fit and finish is perfect.

 

great and helpful and thanks to sites like thes ei saved so much $$$

 

I actually was able to remove and install new tails without removing any trim pieces. Love my new LED tails...now I just got to wire the outside bottom light to light up like the inner bottom light.

 

FRIEND HOWDID YOU DO IT WITHOUT REMOVING ANY BODYWORK?? CUZ IM ABOUT TO INSTALL MY LED W203 TAIL LOGHT SAND ONLY SEE THE WAY BY REMOVING THE TRIM ETC

 

Correction, I pulled the upper carpet out from the recess. No plastic trim removed. I didn't break anything but doing the way as the original poster outlined makes it a lot easier.

 

oh i c so you basically just nudged it back til you haddd enoough clearance to get the nuts out? ill try that actually, cuz im getting my updated led tail lights soon hopefully this week and will do the install myself

its not that hard once you see how it done

 

Yes. It took some acrobatic moves with a wrench for certain bolts. I also wired my tail lights to have the outer bottom lights turn on like the inner bottom lights. I believe the outer served as euro fog lights so they'll be bright. Just change the bulbs out to 5007 to make them match the inners.

 

heres mine

 

Mine looks the same. Do Australian cars have rear fog lights?

 

yes only the one rear though looks stdupid in my opinion so gay why ot just have both fog lights rather then jst one, and then let us have the option of using the fogs or not however we please, but i understand why its annoying it looks like we are constatly braking or a bulb has gone out pretty dumb, i am in the process of making both fog wprk in the leds when i get them modded

just want ny car perfect

 

great job man