Ok, foremost - I know this belongs in the DIY section of the forum, but because it's been such a huge topic and no ones been able to come up with a fail safe way to stop people from walking away with their clear corners, I'm also posting it here in the Coupe General area...

We all have heard the horror stories of G owners getting the pricey clear corners ripped off. Some have zip tied them, and other have glued them in place, but the truth of the matter is, the zip ties don't work very well because if you pull hard enough, the will break free, and out comes the unit, in perfect working order. If you use glue, then each time you need to remove it to gain access to the bulb, you risk, breaking the unit, and or damaging the bumper trying to remove it.

So I have come up with an easy, effective way to lock in your clear corners once and for all!

First you need to drill a little hole right through the rear bracket of the clear corner housing. This is the little tab where the metal retainer clip is held in place. As seen in this pic:



After you get it drilled out, you will need to fab a metal retaining key like the one I have designed here:



If you notice this clip is designed to extend far enough down, and cover as much space above the mount as possible, to prevent it from coming out from its mounting location on the bumper.

You then simple install the clear corner back in its place as usual, and by removing the mud/splash guard a bit, you can gain access to insert the retaining pin. Once in place, the metal section of the pin that points twd the OEM metal retaining clip, helps keep it place by apply force down in it. Thus it will not pup out.



In doing so, the clear corner is now locked in its place, and will not come free by the usual pull and bend out method.

This obviously is only a theft deterrent, as with enough force (or effort in removing the splash guards to see what's holding them in place), it too will break free, but this time, unlike previous methods, you run the risk of ultimately breaking the rear mounting tab, rendering it useless to would be thieves.

Well, I hope this helps everyone out there looking for a way to keep their clear corners in place and acts as warning to anyone who trys to rip a set off and finds that they won't come free to either give up, or end up with a useless set of clear corners that don't really make good paper weights....

If anyone feels uncomfortable in doing this mod or doesnt think they can, drop me a PM and if you're in the Long Island / NYC area, I'll be glad to lend you a hand. It's really easy, and best of all - IT WORKS!



"See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a *****, but only enough blood to run one at a time."

 

Holy theft deterrent batman! That sounds awesome DG. Good job and thanks for the post. Definitely better than glue or a zip tie but for me it still boils down to stolen clears or damage to my car. Great job though!!! I'll keep you in mind for my 'second' set of clears (knock on wood).

 

very nice



2003 G35 Coupe 6mt Diamond Graphite
1992 Jeep Cherokee Blk 5.5 RE lift /w 33s
AIM= bkchang79

 

This is a great mod.
BUT, I wouldn't secure my clear corners with anything.
I'd much rather have the mother[censored] take my corners, then fight with them, and f#$% up my bumper, which will cost a whole lot more than just a pair of new corners.
Just my 2c, but, still great mod.

2004 G35C 6MT DG/Gr/Prem/NAV/A.Pedals/C.Corners/C.Bra/PIAA [img]/w3timages/icons/cool.gif[/img]

 

Due to the ability of this mod to actually hold in the housing tighter and stronger, it wont take a rocket scientist to figure out that they will not come out. You can tug and pull all you want, and you'll be able to see its locked in there! You would really have to sit there and yank the hell out of them to damage them, and the damage done will be to the mounting tabs of the corners, and not the bumper as the tabs break before anything else. I tested the zip-tie method and the problem with that is, when you pull on the corners, you feel them coming loose and you can actually feel (tell) what's holding them in place. In doing so, you're able to vary and adjust the amount of pressure needed to get them out without destroying them. With the retaining pin method, when you go to pull them off (when installed correctly), there's no slack, hence there's no indication that they're gonna come loose. For the most part, anyone looking to rip a set off, is gonna do it to either sell them or use them on their own car, so if he or she realizes that they're gonna damage them in trying to remove them, they will move on, as its no use to anyone broken.

This mod will definitely help deter theft of clear corners and if enough people actually go ahead and perform it, the message will get out to would be thieves. I understand what you mean by you would rather them walk away with them, than do any damage. Its like people whom had their radios stolen from the cars. Most would rather it happen with their doors open than to come back and see a broken window, but in my eyes, the harder you make it for someone to steal an item, and the longer its gonna take her or she to do so, the more likely they will simply move on.

All in all, it took me about 15min each side to perform this mod. It's simple, cost effective piece of mind, to what's become a concern to every coupe owner that has clear corners. I know some people who have clear corners that have gotten them ripped off and have had to buy another pair. One friend of mine in particular has had his set stolen twice, and is on his third set. He now keeps the OEM amber ones in his car, this way if and when the third one goes, he wont have to drive back home with the empty slots in the bumper. We're performing this mod on his corners this weekend. I just hope no one takes them by then....



"See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a *****, but only enough blood to run one at a time."

 

good job

04 6mtC, DG - possibly most babied G on the board.

 

Great work!

2003.5 G35C BL/GR, NAV, PREM, AERO, TINT, SPORT, Splash, V1

 

Ducati, you are absolutely right. THIS IS A GREAT MOD.
What I meant was, that if thief with a previous experience and knowledge that KNOWS these corners DO come off
but yet is having a really hard time removing them, might get frustrated, pissed, and eventually just to be an
a$$hole, scratch your car, dent or do anything like that, just for the hell of it because he is pissed.
Again, I think this is a great mod to prevent your corners from being stolen, but my concern is the average [censored]head who will scratch your car before he leaving empty handed....
Just my 2c.


2004 G35C 6MT DG/Gr/Prem/NAV/A.Pedals/C.Corners/C.Bra/PIAA [img]/w3timages/icons/cool.gif[/img]

 

Great Idea!!! Thanks

 

Thanks for sharing your fabulous idea!

 

I'm from Long Island too man! Where are you? I just so happen to order a new pair of JDM clear corners from Chad@Infinitispecialists.
Have any more of those metal retaining keys lying around that I could use on mine, when they come in the mail? Pleaseeee! haha

 

wow this thread is old. i think that ducatiguy is gone now

 

Nice Job! Hopefully the fuc% heads who steal CC's won't be reading
this thread

 

very clever!!

 

+1.