BMW 4 Series Tail Lights: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

On the 4 Series, an official BMW bulletin genuinely explains taillights use waterproof membrane technology allowing natural condensation to escape — with example images distinguishing normal condensation from excessive water entry.

Illustration for editorial purposes

OEM Part Numbers

Accuracy note: we weren't able to verify a confident BMW 4 Series tail lights part number at the time of writing. Please confirm the correct part via a BMW dealer or parts specialist using your VIN.

More Wiring Behind There Than Most People Assume

A tail light unit typically bundles several functions into one housing — brake light, indicator, reversing light and rear fog light — which means a single electrical fault can affect more than one function at once, and a "faulty tail light" can mean several genuinely different things.

Before you buy: tail light design and bulb type vary by trim and facelift status. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

What It Does

Beyond basic rear visibility, tail light units on the 4 Series typically integrate brake lights, indicators, reversing lights and rear fog lights into a single housing. Higher trims may use LED units with a distinct light signature, which are not interchangeable with standard halogen units even if the physical mounting looks similar.

BMW 4 Series Tail Lights reference plate

Fitment & Compatibility

Tail light design changed between generations of the 4 Series, and facelifted versions within the same generation often use a revised light signature that isn't interchangeable with pre-facelift units. Always confirm the exact part for your specific model year before ordering. Whether you're sourcing a replacement tail lights for your BMW 4 Series from a dealer, specialist, or online marketplace, always check compatibility against your registration or VIN before buying, and confirm you're ordering the correct side — driver's side (RH in the UK) or passenger side (LH in the UK) — since these are not interchangeable.

Confirmed: A Genuine Official Bulletin Worth Knowing About

If condensation has appeared inside a tail light, this is genuinely worth knowing directly from an official BMW service bulletin covering this generation specifically: these tail lights use waterproof membrane technology, which deliberately allows naturally occurring condensation and air to escape without letting excess water or dirt enter. The official bulletin includes example images distinguishing normal condensation, appearing along the edges of the lens and requiring no correction, from excessive water entry, which appears across the entire lens rather than just at the edges.

A genuinely useful diagnostic clue worth knowing: light condensation is genuinely fine if it disappears after using the light for around 30 minutes, since the heat from the bulb naturally clears it. Actual water droplets that don't clear this way are not normal and can leave limescale deposits inside if left unaddressed.

It's also genuinely worth knowing that a confirmed UK recall covering related BMW models from an earlier era addressed a wiring fault where corrosion on a power distributor plug could cause the car to completely lose power, shutting down all lighting including hazard lights, brake lights, and headlights.

Common Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Tail Lights Guide for diagnosing which circuit has failed, how easy this job is to DIY, and aftermarket advice.

More BMW Tail Lights

The same part, covered across other BMW models.