Tourer rear light fixing kit
 

Has anyone an opinion on these (or alternative suggestions)?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brilliant...oAAOSwOylcmT9t

I have the "faulty bulb" warning light on on the dash. As I knew the outer dip h/light had gone I replaced it but the warning light remained. All other lights seemed to be working but I noticed I only had 1 reversing light (off-side) so, being a nice afternoon, decided to investigate the nearside rear cluster. I was surprised to find both screws missing and the rhs of the cluster secured by black electrical tape. I was even more surprised to find that the reason that the nearside reversing light doesn't light is that there isn't a bulb in it or contacts within the holder even if a bulb is inserted - is this normal? Pre-facelift car if it makes any difference.

(regards the faulty bulb I'll park up to a wall and check the brake lights tomorrow, everything else really IS working)

Cheers in advance for anyone that reads another of my ramblings....

The tourer's rear light cluster has a notorious weak point with the fragility of its two fastening points that secures it to the chassis. That and the push-in lugs that break off. This kit goes some way to fixing the lug but not the fastening problem because the securing points' lips are usually broken off. People sometimes glue metal washers to what's left to provide a surface for the screws to secure the cluster, but they also breaks off if overtightened and need replacing. As the wiring loom prevents you actually losing the cluster altogether, people often just wedge the cluster in or use electric tape to try holding it. You'll struggle to find any used unit these days that doesn't suffer some variation of the problem. Rimmer's might still have new ones. Considering how many tourers there are still on the road, I'm surprised there are no aftermarket alternatives. I'm sure the saloon had them.

You are, of course, correct. The upper securing "ring" is approx 1/3rd of a circle. I've since found a "how to" in the forum that involves glueing a metal bracket in place of the plastic. I suspect that I would then need to find a replacement or alternative to the captive nuts and bolts. The bolts are certainly missing - I'm wondering whether nylon screws would work(?).

Yes I bought this "kit" a year or two ago. Maybe it would work if the hole was perfectly round but mine had become so distorted that it wouldn't hold. I have to say the suppliers offered help but it just wasn't suitable. Arctic has offered his usual impeccable solution using plastic plaster rawlplugs but I found that Rubnuts or Rivnuts were much better. (see here) as they would take up any irregularity in the hole. I used M6 which has provided a really tight fixing and also because it is rubber it will allow you to wiggle(waggle?) the fixing bolt.
Dave.

Thanks Dave!

M6 0.4 or 0.8? :}

Both of my mk1 tourers have o/s and n/s reverse lights, maybe your light unit has been 'got at' by a previous owner.