Bought 97 tails for my 96 sc300. I've read it's a direct fit, but for me it's not. I've had several people try it to make sure it's not just me being dumb lol. I'm thinking you have to take off the rear bumper to slide the light through?

Putting the 96 back in is easy but the 97s get stuck.. Help please!!

It's definitely a bolt on affair. They wouldn't make you remove the bumper to change a bulb. Its tough to get them in and out but you have to just work with it. The threads seem to get caught on the body but I just get mean with it and it goes in.

I've tried literally for almost an hour on one side and gave up lol.. I love Lexus but damn.. Come on

I had the same problem on my 95 (same lights and bumper as a 96), if you look closely the 97 bumper is a slightly different shape (like a hair different) that makes it a tight squeeze when putting those lights in the earlier ones, but they do fit, i got them in on like my 4th try with a little bit of soft persuasion. I actually avoid taking them off because I had such a hard time getting them in.

What's the best way to get them in? I can get the outer side in first, that's easy. But when it comes to the inner (middle of bumper) it's tough as hell..

I have a '95 with 97 tails. If I remember correctly, the lights have four bolts that slide into the quarter panel bumper. It's a tight fit, and you need to be aggressive with them. Feel free to use your palm as a hammer to some extent.

I'll give it another try later today.. Thanks for the help everybody

Yeah I did the same. Pretty much make sure you have all the threads lined up with the holes and try to evenly apply pressure. If one side goes all the way in it will be really hard to get the other side in so keep it even while tapping it with your palm. While its out go ahead and replace all the bulbs now so you don't have to tackle this again anytime soon.

That's the first thing I did lol

Both of my 98 and 2000, the tl studs had to be perfectly lined up with holes and take some wiggling (but don't be hitting on them) persuasion, don't brake them!!
Take your bumper off, I'm not sure if it would help, but I would, to have some nice *** tails!!

They will fit with a little persuasion, I have a set on my 96 SC300. I took a drill and slightly elongated one of the holes to make it easier to fit. No water leaks or other issues.

I'm in a 92 with 97 tails, I actually gave up on the passenger side one for an hour thinking it just didn't fit but I came back and got kind of mean with it, and after a while it popped on. I haven't taken them off since, and am avoiding it for the same reason others have stated.

They just need a little love tap