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C5 European Taillight Conversion ?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: WEST HAVEN CT.
C5 European Taillight Conversion ?
Has anyone chenged there taillights on a C5 to the
red/clear conversion?
Winter projects are here and this is one I have considered
on my Pewter vette.....any pics would help.
thanks
red/clear conversion?
Winter projects are here and this is one I have considered
on my Pewter vette.....any pics would help.
thanks
CF "Young" Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,034
Likes: 26
From: Cupertino CA
St. Jude Donor '12
Done it on mine, it's pretty simple to do. Just unscrew your stock lights, disconnect the bulbs from the housing, splice in the new harness, plug in the new bulbs and attach them to the new housings and screw the housings in.
Closest thing I had to a 'problem' during the install was cleaning the adhesive from the wire-wrap off of the wiring, and then installing fresh wrap. That was only a 'problem' cause it made my hands a bit sticky.
Follow the provided instructions, or just find them on here, and you should have absolutely no problems with the install.
I ended up getting a flush taillight kit from one of the forum vendors, I liked the look.
Also ended up getting chromed amber bulbs for the clear section, that way you don't see an orange glob in the center of the clear bit. Ordered my set off of Amazon.
Closest thing I had to a 'problem' during the install was cleaning the adhesive from the wire-wrap off of the wiring, and then installing fresh wrap. That was only a 'problem' cause it made my hands a bit sticky.
Follow the provided instructions, or just find them on here, and you should have absolutely no problems with the install.
I ended up getting a flush taillight kit from one of the forum vendors, I liked the look.
Also ended up getting chromed amber bulbs for the clear section, that way you don't see an orange glob in the center of the clear bit. Ordered my set off of Amazon.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I have the red/ambers but you can fit whichever lights suit your taste. These are the installation instructions from PFYC.com
http://www.c5forum.com/diy/reareuro/
The installation is a breeze with the harness. You snip the wire to separate the stop/tails from the turn signals.
http://www.c5forum.com/diy/reareuro/
The installation is a breeze with the harness. You snip the wire to separate the stop/tails from the turn signals.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 675
Likes: 3
From: Riverside, California
I have the amber/red euros and love them. Get's plenty of 'good' comments from other C5'ers too. Took about 30 minutes. Toughest part was getting the new wiring harness stuffed in from the right rear taillight hole and from underneath....oh yeah, and having to be a contortionist and snipping that little white wire under the dash.
Padrino
Padrino
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Easy enough project to do once you buy the lights and the harness. It's all plug and play.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 590
Likes: 23
From: Orangevale Ca.
i'm not trying to hijack the thread, brzman, but maybe the responses will help you as well.
if i read correctly, the red is on with the running lights and the red and clears blink with the turn signal. but what about the brake lights? do the red/clear light up upon braking or just the red? and as for the back-up lights, do the clears light up with the back-up lights around the license plate or are they only for the turn signals?
i also heard that the red/clear are no longer available in the US and that even with the red/ambers there are troubles getting the harnesses. any truth to either of these "myths".
if not, who is selling the red/clears and harnesses?
thanks in advance for any/all help,
rich
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
CF "Young" Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,034
Likes: 26
From: Cupertino CA
St. Jude Donor '12
i was also wanting to do the red/clear swap but had some questions.
i'm not trying to hijack the thread, brzman, but maybe the responses will help you as well.
if i read correctly, the red is on with the running lights and the red and clears blink with the turn signal. but what about the brake lights? do the red/clear light up upon braking or just the red? and as for the back-up lights, do the clears light up with the back-up lights around the license plate or are they only for the turn signals?
i also heard that the red/clear are no longer available in the US and that even with the red/ambers there are troubles getting the harnesses. any truth to either of these "myths".
if not, who is selling the red/clears and harnesses?
thanks in advance for any/all help,
rich
i'm not trying to hijack the thread, brzman, but maybe the responses will help you as well.
if i read correctly, the red is on with the running lights and the red and clears blink with the turn signal. but what about the brake lights? do the red/clear light up upon braking or just the red? and as for the back-up lights, do the clears light up with the back-up lights around the license plate or are they only for the turn signals?
i also heard that the red/clear are no longer available in the US and that even with the red/ambers there are troubles getting the harnesses. any truth to either of these "myths".
if not, who is selling the red/clears and harnesses?
thanks in advance for any/all help,
rich
The actual "euro" setup, if I recall, is the inner lights are reverse lights (clear lenses) and the outers are turn signals (amber lenses), this is because the normal reverse light location on either side of the license plate is covered by the wider euro plates.
I've heard about said rumors of it not being available, and don't know about its validity. I bought mine at Mid America a while back. I kept my red lenses, but really doubt I'll ever go back as I love the look on my silver '01.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 590
Likes: 23
From: Orangevale Ca.
The way it's wired is: the red is brake lights (keeps the dual filament bulb so it's half on / full on when headlights are on), the clear is the turn signal. Doesn't wire into the reverse lights at all.
The actual "euro" setup, if I recall, is the inner lights are reverse lights (clear lenses) and the outers are turn signals (amber lenses), this is because the normal reverse light location on either side of the license plate is covered by the wider euro plates.
I've heard about said rumors of it not being available, and don't know about its validity. I bought mine at Mid America a while back. I kept my red lenses, but really doubt I'll ever go back as I love the look on my silver '01.
The actual "euro" setup, if I recall, is the inner lights are reverse lights (clear lenses) and the outers are turn signals (amber lenses), this is because the normal reverse light location on either side of the license plate is covered by the wider euro plates.
I've heard about said rumors of it not being available, and don't know about its validity. I bought mine at Mid America a while back. I kept my red lenses, but really doubt I'll ever go back as I love the look on my silver '01.
as for availability, someone mentioned PFYC and i checked there and they still show the red/clears w/harnesses still available. what's weird is their pricing. they state that their speedbuilt euro tails are 89.99, but when you select the red/clear versions, it says "add $200" (the red/ambers are "add $460") and they have an option for just the harness which evidently costs $89.99. ah, marketing........lol.
thanks again for the info.
rich
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 477
Likes: 1
From: Fredrikstad, Norway - sorry if my english isnt to good...
I got mine (The red/clear ones) from Corvette Central and i asked them why the red/amber was so much more expencive. Never got a good answer so i bought the ones i did, i am very happy with them 
Here is a pic of a factory Euro model (not mine), the red "bricks" is foglights...
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Here is a pic of a factory Euro model (not mine), the red "bricks" is foglights...
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: The sunny east coast England
i had to do mine to make it legal. but now i have i think they look fantastic .with the wiring harness and lenses its an easy job ...check the avatar pic silver car with clears looks the bizz...good luck with the winter mods
CF "Young" Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,034
Likes: 26
From: Cupertino CA
St. Jude Donor '12
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Granby CT
just sold mt Z06 and have everything for the rear if your interested, red/white with harness and chome turn signal bulbs (so you cant see the orange bulb thru the clear lens) and they have the tail light seals on them