How to replace broken tail light on 986? Please help newbee
 

Hi all I hope life is good and more importantly your boxsters :D .

I had a slight bump a few days back and have replaced the bumper - 4 hours but now need to replace the rear left tail light. It is ordered for wednesday and I needed you guys to tell me how to do this on a 1997 Boxster please. :confused:

I would appreciate your help :)

There are a few plastic trim pieces in side the rear trunk by each light holding the carpet in place. Take those out and then you can gain access to the hardware holding the tail light in place. Pretty easy job. Make sure you save the gasket off the old light for re-use.

Since you have not posted a picture of the damaged light, if it is badly damaged, you may have to order another gasket...

I hope you examined all the structure pieces
 

behind the bumper cover and made sure they were going to protect the car during the next hit. Mine got hit with no light or metal damage, just a scratched up bumper cover...I thought...but the shop looked and needed to replace the shocks and cross member bar behind the bumper...and the muffler.

Replacing the light is very common sense once you get the trunk lining off and can see in there. Take a torch/flashlight to help. And consider buying the parts from a wrecked Porsche or online ... lots cheaper.

BTW: Ordering a new tail light was probably a waste of money:
There's a bazillion of guys who replaced their stock taillights with aftermarket and would be happy to sell you theirs for little money....