Euro warning triangle installation

[GregW / Oregon]

If you are a US resident, unless you were lucky enough to do European delivery, you have an empty rectangular recess in the underside of your trunk lid. This is for the warning triangle, required in Europe. Retrofitting this is easy and not too expensive. The current one comes in a red case, smaller than the older blue case ones. Attached is a list of the parts needed. You can get the screws and expanding nuts from your US dealer, but they cannot order the triangle or the mounting brackets. I got mine from ECS tuning: http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Site...ning_Triangle/.

(1) Triangle w/ case 71606770487 - $49.95
(2) Mounting bracket 51497167548 - $1.62 ea.

To install, you remove the two plastic screws with expanding nuts in the recess, push the new square expanding nuts into the holes, and install the brackets with the flat Torx head screws. Takes two minutes tops. Now anyone seeing your open trunk will think you are so cool, and you have a little extra bit of safety if needed!

[TT1351]

Hopefully this doesn't get moved, but I have 4 sets of the required inserts and screws available, see my post in the member section under interior parts for sale classifieds. Hope this helps in completing the installation. Fran

[capt_slow]

Are there any issues with reusing the plastic expanding nuts from the factory?

[Tonymiabmw]

Just get some flares and call it a day lol

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by capt_slow

Are there any issues with reusing the plastic expanding nuts from the factory?

Yes - they will not work with the heavier duty (metal) screws needed for the brackets. You need the square white ones; my dealer had them in stock for $0.79 each.

[capt_slow]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Yes - they will not work with the heavier duty (metal) screws needed for the brackets. You need the square white ones; my dealer had them in stock for $0.79 each.

I just took apart my trunk lid and found the factory already installed 51717154520 along with the larger torx screw (07147225732).

I was under the impression that the brackets needed the smaller torx screw (07119906876). Am I wrong?

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by capt_slow

I just took apart my trunk lid and found the factory already installed 51717154520 along with the larger torx screw (07147225732).

I was under the impression that the brackets needed the smaller torx screw (07119906876). Am I wrong?

What do you mean, took apart your trunk lid? Do you mean you just took the screws out? The larger fillister head screws are preferred, so if you already have them, that's great. I had cheap plastic screws that were hard to remove because the heads just strip out.

[capt_slow]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

What do you mean, took apart your trunk lid? Do you mean you just took the screws out? The larger fillister head screws are preferred, so if you already have them, that's great. I had cheap plastic screws that were hard to remove because the heads just strip out.

Sorry. I took out the trunk-lid liner, mainly because I have too much free time.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by capt_slow

Sorry. I took out the trunk-lid liner, mainly because I have too much free time.

Here's what my cheap things looked like after removal.

[TT1351]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Here's what my cheap things looked like after removal.

The trick is to apply pressure with a thin blade on the underside of the flang as you unscrew, once backed out continue to remove with fingers, about half way out it will just pull out. Disclaimer: No plastic screws were harmed in the removal of this product.
Fran

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by TT1351

The trick is to apply pressure with a thin blade on the underside of the flang as you unscrew, once backed out continue to remove with fingers, about half way out it will just pull out. Disclaimer: No plastic screws were harmed in the removal of this product.
Fran

Good tip, but not going to reuse this thing. Got a pack of 10 of the metal ones from ECS.

[TT1351]

understood, but since you took such pride in destroying it even posting pics, it prompted me to post. Did the same with the 10 pack, now I need to buy 4 more cars to use the extras.

[celler]

Just wanted to add to the great posts here. This is a very cool and simple project that adds a little safety and a bit of Euro-feel to the car.

In addition to the two brackets listed in the first post, you also need two of the following:

51 71 7 154 520 Expanding Nut
07 14 7 225 732 Fillister head screw

It would also be nice to have a plastic trim remover (pictured below) and a T25 torx driver to snug down the screws in the brackets. Many thanks to Fran (TT1351) for the good advice and spare parts. I can also confirm with the trim removal tool that no plastic screws need to be harmed for this project. The ones that came out of the car are pristine and can be used again. Craig.

[daveishi]

Sorry I know this is old but I am considering installing one and was wondering whether anyone had 2 brackets laying around (or the whole kit if you have it).

Just tough to swallow paying $30 each ($60 total) for a part that cost $1.62 at the time of the original post

TIA!