T6 tailgate number plate light removal

[Jeidmaster]

How do These come out on a 2018 t6 tailgate t32 model
No screws but don’t seem to want to budge with a trim tool either and don’t want to break them if fixed from rear or are they just stuck in and I just need to be more forceful.
Trying to fit led bulbs to them I recently bought
Thanks

 

[Bigsidavies]

Have a read of this thread before you pull anything apart.

T6 tailgate number plate LED’s

Is it possible to swap out the T6 tailgate number plate lights for LED’s Is this something that can be swapped out? I have noticed it can be done on the barn door version but can’t find LED upgrades for the tailgate version. Thanks

www.t6forum.com

 

[Spaghetti]

Yep. Should be LED already. My 2017 tailgate has factory LED number plate lights.

 

[DaveCrampton]

Hmm, sometimes my tailgate lights are bright, and at other times appear dull. I have a rubber/silicon tailgate brake light which has split, and I wondered if water may be getting in, and causing some kind of semi short which may be causing the lights to be dull at times.
I did wonder about removing the lights to see if water came out, or I could spot corrosion.

 

[Spaghetti]

On the very bottom edge of the tailgate are little plastic plugs. Pop them out and any water can drain out.

The LEDS do have a very faint glow when the BCM is active but the lights ‘off’. It can only be seen when quite dark though. IIRC this is to do with the bulb monitoring.

 

[MikeWeare]

How do they come out ???

 

[Sparkyis]

How do they come out ???

I’m sure you solved this because I just had to!
There is a metal spring behind the light on the opposite end to the exterior groove in the light fitting. Insert suitable trim tool in between tailgate body and light fitting rubber gasket closest to exterior groove, push towards other end and gently lever out! Diagram of back of the unit included. Sadly when these get full of water it’s a replacement job but the part fits other VW vehicles and you can usually get one used/ new for about a tenner on eBay.