1995 M3, Tail Light Nut Stuck

[m3f_donmonfon]

Hello I recently had a tail light failure code pop up, and of course the passenger running lights were bad. So I got new ones but they still didn't work. So I changed sockets, and still nothing. So I am trying to take out the entire housing itself to see if there's something wrong with it, but I can't get one of the nuts off. I got the 3, others off, and the electrical connector, but this nut keeps spinning, but doesn't go anywhere. If anyone has a solution or idea, please let me know! Thanks!


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[m3f_donmonfon]

Hello I recently had a tail light failure code pop up, and of course the passenger running lights were bad. So I got new ones but they still didn't work. So I changed sockets, and still nothing. So I am trying to take out the entire housing itself to see if there's something wrong with it, but I can't get one of the nuts off. I got the 3, others off, and the electrical connector, but this nut keeps spinning, but doesn't go anywhere. If anyone has a solution or idea, please let me know! Thanks!


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

Here's a photo of the nut, the washer it's attached to just spins, even if I try to stop it with a flathead screwdriver.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[m3f_LuckyM301]

Get some vice grips on the stud and use a wrench to get the nut loose until you can thread it off by hand


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[m3f_M_Parallel]

The washer is part of the screw iirc. Does the thread also spin? In that case the plastic piece this thread normally is secured to, is broken. Then you may as well try and pull it out.

[m3f_Double E]

+1 Vice grip that f'er and then open end wrench on it.

[m3f_betrezra]

The stud could be spinning inside the plastic housing..... you will have to put an open end on the nut.... and hold the stud with a vise grips..... to get it loose.... try not to damage the threads whil'st doing so ;1)

[m3f_M_Parallel]

The stud could be spinning inside the plastic housing..... you will have to put an open end on the nut.... and hold the stud with a vise grips..... to get it loose.... try not to damage the threads whil'st doing so ;1)

Which will happen.



I would take a dremel and make a small slit at the end of the thread, then you can take a flatblade screwdriver to stop the thread from spinning, and will make sure the thread won't be damaged.

[m3f_donmonfon]

The washer is part of the screw iirc. Does the thread also spin? In that case the plastic piece this thread normally is secured to, is broken. Then you may as well try and pull it out.

No, the stud is not spinning which is weird.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[m3f_donmonfon]

Get some vice grips on the stud and use a wrench to get the nut loose until you can thread it off by hand


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

I'll definitely try that today. Thanks!


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[m3f_LuckyM301]

If your worried about the threads put a rag or something between the vise and stud


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[m3f_englishtom1596q]

Are you using the right sized socket? Looks like you're starting to round the nut. If the stud isn't spinning then I don't know what your problem is. The washer is part of the nut and will freely spin. Lefty loosey, righty tighty...

[m3f_donmonfon]

Are you using the right sized socket? Looks like you're starting to round the nut. If the stud isn't spinning then I don't know what your problem is. The washer is part of the nut and will freely spin. Lefty loosey, righty tighty...

Yup, 8mm, and the ratchet is on the off setting, and I've checked multiple times. Don't know why it won't come off.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[m3f_haus]

If you're turning the nut, and it's just spinning, but the stud isn't spinning, then the threads are probably stripped.


I'd first use an open- or box-end and be totally sure you're spinning the nut.


Then try putting a pick behind the washer to put some outward (toward the cabin) pressure on the nut while you spin it, to see if you can get it to catch on the threads sticking out in your photo. It actually looks from your photo like the stud is stripped just where it disappears under the nut, but I might just be convincing myself of that.

[m3f_donmonfon]

If you're turning the nut, and it's just spinning, but the stud isn't spinning, then the threads are probably stripped.


I'd first use an open- or box-end and be totally sure you're spinning the nut.


Then try putting a pick behind the washer to put some outward (toward the cabin) pressure on the nut while you spin it, to see if you can get it to catch on the threads sticking out in your photo. It actually looks from your photo like the stud is stripped just where it disappears under the nut, but I might just be convincing myself of that.

I'll try the pick as well, but I don't have one so I'll try using a really small flathead, and I'll try the box end wrench as well. Thanks a lot!


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[m3f_donmonfon]

To everyone who commented here, thank you for the help! Turns out the stud itself had actually ripped itself out of the plastic. Tried doing what Haus has suggested, and it basically just got the stud completely out of the plastic. Never seen that before and really interesting to find out what caused it as I applied very minimal torque. Thank you so much, thread dead!


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk