How to nip a potential electrical short in the bud | E46-chassis BMW M3 project

Is your E46-chassis BMW also missing the lenses for its license plates lamps?

Yeah, ours, too.

After nearly 20 years, that plastic gets brittle. Time to spend a few minutes with our 2004 BMW M3.

Does it really matter if those lenses are in place? Here’s how we see it: Without those lenses fitted, part of the electrical system is then open to the elements.

Can you say possible electrical short? We thought so.

[How weather-tight are your weather-tight connections? | Project C5 Corvette Z06]

Here’s how to replace them.

New lenses are available–we paid a little more than $8 each for new ones–and they easily pop into place.

According to the owner’s manual, the little metal spring clip points towards the right (passenger) side of the car.

Removing the license plate frame seemed to give us a bit more room to work. And while the plate is off the car, why not take a minute to hit the paint behind it with some quick detailer.

Is this the most important job when working on an E46? Likely not. But we saw it as one of those little things that could one day turn into a big thing–something about a stitch in time….

[How to methodically find the battery drain in our E46–and fit an Optima battery, too | Project BMW M3]

Have another quick fix that could likewise stave off a potential headache? Let’s hear it.

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