I have a 1993 Bonneville SSE and need two new tail lights. The current ones have cracks and are leaking water. Never hit or anything, just didn't last. The problem: GM wants over $600 for the pair. Can anyone suggest a better alternative? I've tried JC Whitney and several other sources, without success. I did find a post on this club (which is why I joined)

http://bonnevilleclub.com/forum/view...7582701249be5b

in which jr's3800 had the post listed at the end of this message. Aside from a large increase in GM'* price in the last two years, I was interested in finding these bargain after-market parts. I tried cardomain.com (listed at the end of his post) without success. Can anyone suggest a source? I don't want junk yard parts since these lights seem to degrade just with time.

Many thanks in advance.

Marty

=== begin jr's3800 Wed Mar 31, 2004 post ===
GM PART # 5978042 ( Right Tail Lamp )
CATEGORY: Tail Lamp Bulb/Lamp
PACK QTY: 1 CORE CHARGE: $0.00
GM LIST: $230.58
OUR PRICE: $138.35
DESCRIPTION: LAMP ASM-

GM PART # 5978041 ( Left Tail Lamp )
CATEGORY: Tail Lamp Bulb/Lamp
PACK QTY: 1 CORE CHARGE: $0.00
GM LIST: $232.66
OUR PRICE: $139.60
DESCRIPTION: LAMP

This would be for the tail lamp assembly... Brand new from GM..
_________________
Administrator, The Bonneville Club
Car Domain http://members.cardomain.com/jrs3800

I see you found out why someone can sell a used set of SSE/SSEi Tails for $150!!!


Generally if you want new go with GMPD but you may be able to find them in the for sale section or on ebay from time to time but be ready to pay well over $100 for a good set.


$300 is not bad from GMPD but those are JUST the outer, not the inners..but the inners usually last a lot better, at least on most cars I have seen and my SSEi had perfect inners but MAD delamination on the outside housings.


So yeah, check your local jump yard, if no go...check BC classifieds..if no go ebay is your only option

the lights are not available from GM.....you MAY be able to get the lense....JohnDeerBoy is doing this i believe...he will chime on soon

I have acquired 3 sets of tails, just trying to find a good set

Incorrect. They are available. In fact, they just updated the pricing. The 5978042 is now $144.02.

You DO know that GMPD they are talking about is gmpartsdirect.com, right?

x2 they ARE available I was in the dealership a month ago and they have a few sets around the country that can be special ordered in.

well that is good for the people that want Tails.....although that i was not only told by my best friend at GM parts, but saw it with my own eyes on the parts screen, that they were not avail......

the lenses are available tho

my tail lights have the same problem, i noticed it about 2 or 3 months ago that there was water behind the lens....no cracks that i can see and never been hit...to my knowlege anyway...

If you have water behind the lenses beware. It'* likely to corrode the electrical connections. That'* how I noticed my problem -- the left turn signal became intermittent. Don't ask me why it didn't just fail, but it became highly intermittent. It would fail, sometimes for only a few minutes, and then work fine. The "tail lamp monitor" warning would come on, sometimes even when the turn signal worked. So if you have those symptoms, check out the lamp socket and connections for corrosion.

You're backwards Pat, remember we talked online about this? Its the lenses that aren't available through dealers, and GMPD only has one of the four lenses.