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Ambitious 2017 taillight swap with 2016!

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Old 02-10-18, 06:06 PM
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TinoPing
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Default Ambitious 2017 taillight swap with 2016!

So I bought a 2017 IS 350F RWD some 13 months ago and as much as I tried to love the new tail lights they're not growing on me if my life depended on it! So I'm now thinking of switching to 2016 tail lights. I know this was raised earlier and there are members on both sides of this love-hate relationship with the new look. Question. Is this a plug and play thing, or needs a new harness but still something than can happen without too much pain? If yes - Anyone out there with a 2016 interested to swap with my 2017 please PM me. Any feedback if the switch is remotely do-able is greatly appreciated.
Old 02-12-18, 08:01 AM
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tea
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I'm with you .I think the 2017+ tail lights are hideous
Old 02-12-18, 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by TinoPing
So I bought a 2017 IS 350F RWD some 13 months ago and as much as I tried to love the new tail lights they're not growing on me if my life depended on it! So I'm now thinking of switching to 2016 tail lights. I know this was raised earlier and there are members on both sides of this love-hate relationship with the new look. Question. Is this a plug and play thing, or needs a new harness but still something than can happen without too much pain? If yes - Anyone out there with a 2016 interested to swap with my 2017 please PM me. Any feedback if the switch is remotely do-able is greatly appreciated.
I’ll be watching this thread if it devolves into something
Old 02-12-18, 12:30 PM
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Thanks guys. I agreed with someone on a swap. But wondering how fun the retrofit will play out. Removing and installing is the easy bit. My main worry is if they introduced some changes to the fit/alignment. I just saw on a separate thread someone mentioning the bolt location or something changed? That'll be a bummer.
Old 02-12-18, 02:14 PM
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I must be one of the few that like the new style
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Old 02-12-18, 06:00 PM
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This may not answer your question directly but I remember someone tried to fit a aftermarket trunk made for the 3rd gen on the newer model and the tail lights didn't fit.
Old 02-12-18, 06:37 PM
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TinoPing
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Originally Posted by jameshan
This may not answer your question directly but I remember someone tried to fit a aftermarket trunk made for the 3rd gen on the newer model and the tail lights didn't fit.
That is absolutely correct. I'm in the middle of doing the swap, but the other way around. I have a 17, trying to fit it with 16 tail lights. It was Defender15 who tried it already and said I'll need a 14-16 trunk to go with the 14-16 tail lights. I just asked him under a different thread "Retro Fit 2017 F-Sport to 2014 F-" if if the trunk swap is an absolute must. If it is, that'll be a deal breaker for me.
Old 02-12-18, 07:46 PM
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The trunk and quarter panels are the same for 2014-2018. The tail lights will swap without issues physically. The wiring is also the same between 2014-2016 and 2017-2018 tail lights.

They should be a direct swap, no modifications needed.

Jeff
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Old 02-12-18, 10:22 PM
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Should be a direct swap. If anyone wants to change from their 2017 to the 14-16 let me know. I am interested
Old 02-12-18, 10:27 PM
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So are we confirming the tail lights are directly interchangeable? It'd be nice to see someone who actually did it.
Old 02-12-18, 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by jameshan
So are we confirming the tail lights are directly interchangeable? It'd be nice to see someone who actually did it.
Well, since none of the other parts on the car around it changed (all of the part numbers for the quarter panels and trunk panel are the same), and the wiring didn't change, it should be interchangeable.

I don't have a 3rd gen, or I would have maybe done it already.

Jeff
Old 02-13-18, 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Jeff Lange
Well, since none of the other parts on the car around it changed (all of the part numbers for the quarter panels and trunk panel are the same), and the wiring didn't change, it should be interchangeable.

I don't have a 3rd gen, or I would have maybe done it already.

Jeff
you can try but it is not a direct swap. The tail lights are the same size but the housing on the 2017 head lights are longer and the housing of the trunk on the 2014 to 16 is much more shallow. One of the bolts is not in the correct location either. I have pics listed on here and a YouTube video to show. I tried with 2 seibon trunks. Neither supported my tail lights. If this mod works for you please post pics.
Old 02-13-18, 05:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Defender15
you can try but it is not a direct swap. The tail lights are the same size but the housing on the 2017 head lights are longer and the housing of the trunk on the 2014 to 16 is much more shallow. One of the bolts is not in the correct location either. I have pics listed on here and a YouTube video to show. I tried with 2 seibon trunks. Neither supported my tail lights. If this mod works for you please post pics.
oh yeah also coil overs from the 2014 to 16 dont fit 2017 and up in the front. Lower control arms were changed to aluminum. Pics also on tread i started. I guess I'm the guinea pig of the revised 3rd gen.
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Old 02-13-18, 07:04 PM
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TinoPing
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Looks like Jeff Lange and Edwin8484 are on the mark. It's a straight swap if going from stock to stock on the rear lights. Another member Mesh704 did it already and posted before and after pics with part #s on another thread. Only difference is he went from a 16 to a 17. I'll be doing it the other way around. Another member who owns a 16 was interested at the start to do a straight parts swap but got cold feet (understandably) thinking it may not be an easy plug and play. So I'll order new 16 parts now, might as well get fresh ones. I did a quick online search, discountpartsmonster is competitive. Others are way higher and of course the stealership was outrageous. Any other online sites you guys consider competitive and good for OEM parts? I owe it to everyone here to post pics and my feedback once done. Thanks.
Old 02-15-18, 12:10 AM
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Jeff Lange
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Originally Posted by Defender15
oh yeah also coil overs from the 2014 to 16 dont fit 2017 and up in the front. Lower control arms were changed to aluminum. Pics also on tread i started. I guess I'm the guinea pig of the revised 3rd gen.
The front lower control arms did change for 2017 to the aluminum style used on some other Lexus models, as was stated however, the tail lights are interchangeable and do fit without issue on the stock body panels.

Jeff


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