01+ Tailights on 98 Gs400
 

Hey everyone,

I bought a 98 gs400 a little while ago. Been wanting to upgrade my tailights ever since i was browsing clublexus. I've used the search function and found that the tailights will fit, but it will be plug and play only if the 01+ tailights come with a harness. I'm confused as to what the tailight harness is exactly. Does the picture have the harness that i need??

Thanks guys
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...f5b6e85f84.jpg

That's the wire harness connected to all the lights. So if that's the later style light and it comes with bulbs and harness, then that should be the harness you need. I haven't done this, but if it says you need the later style harness and you're buying a later style light that has the harness on it, then that should be it.

Yes that is the correct harness since the light sockets reach to their respective holes in the light assembly. The problem with using 01+ taillights with the 98-00 harness was that the light sockets wouldn't reach the holes. There is also difference in light type for the reverse light, 98-00 used 7440 and 01+ uses 921. I have done this swap on my 99 GS3 and works great and looks much better imo. I've done several other 01+ upgrades as well to include updated instrument bezel, updated grill, wood steering wheel, rearview mirror with compass and 01+ Pioneer radio to allow GROM BT3 aux input and bluetooth connections. Hope this helps.

I agree that the later lights ("kouki" for you tuner types lol) do look a lot better. Just can't find an affordable set yet. Seems like something that should be around $50 from dealing with this sort of thing with other cars. But these consistently sell in the $200 range! Even the earlier or "zenki" kind still sell for that much!

I noticed you are in CA. Have you tried the several LKQs in CA at the link below? Got mine at one for $16 each as I told them it was "Tail Light Assy (small)" per their online part price list. I noticed the online prices are a bit crazy on eBay and hopefully no one is paying this much for old taillights. Hope this helps.

https://www.lkqpickyourpart.com/

lol you're right, did't think of that. I could probably even have them delivered right to me at my shop for that price. We get engines and things from them all the time.

That's sweet...nice upgrades to a '99 GS3, man. Just curious... was the compass mirror in '98-'00 models withOUT Nav also...or only on the '01-'05 models? I bought one for my car, but it turned out to be GREY, not "IVORY" (TAN)--- so if anybody is looking for a grey compass mirror for the 2GS, let me know. I LOOOVVVVVEEEE the 2nd-gen GS (and pre '07+ LS!) so much for having nice OEM rearview mirrors that actually matched the interior color of your car... as opposed to the 2IS and ALL newer cars that use a 'standard' Gentex mirror that is black, no matter what.

I believe they were only available in charcoal for 01-05 GS without Nav, part no. 87810-30300-B0. To get Ivory you have to get 87810-48030-B0 from the 01-03 RX300 which will fit in GS. I have a silver GS3 with charcoal interior but didn't all the tan interiors in 2GS come with charcoal dash? I think that's the reason for the charcoal mirrors in 2GS. Only dash colors I believe are black or charcoal in 2GS.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2001-2003-R...e/183410633771

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-2003-L...n/223284528978

Thanks everyone for the replies. Bought myself a pair, cant wait to put them on.

The 01+ lights are a nice upgrade to the 98-00 GS. Don't forget to get the inner lights as well, as those are the first to fade out.
Post some pics of you car before and after.

Put them in, and they look awesome. Unfortunately tho the left side has a tinted thick plastic over it. I didn't even consider checking for something like that, :egads:. Hopefully i can take it back to where i got them from and they have another set where the left side isn't tinted.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...4f544edc98.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...253e1fef60.jpg

Just get a heat gun and the tint should come right off. You can goof off any remaining glue

I would have done that if it was a thin tint film. But there was a 1/4" thick tinted plastic piece covering the left side taillight. I called the place i got them from and turns out they had 2 sets of tailights like i thought, one tinted and one not. So i just swapped the tinted one out for a regular one. :D
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.clu...4e70c7e7c9.jpg

As said, they fit, if you use the bulb-holders and wires, that attach to the lens. Also, as mentioned, get the interior lenses... the lenses on the trunk fade more quickly. Much nicer design.

Oddly, the primary reason we upgraded was by mistake... the PO installed tint lenses on each and every lens... including the front marker lenses?! As the tint cover was glued on enough to risk cracking the lens, decided to replace them, and lucked in to a '00 parts-car.