cgt 2005...My 3rd brake light works intermittently. The replacement part I think is $500 but the old one needs cutting out with the risk ot breaks the rear windshield so this could be a $3k job.

I bought an LED flexible strip for $20 and some 3M double sided tape . There is a place on the inside where the roof meets the windshield, its a 3/4 inch vertical surface that you can stick the led strip to. From the outside you don't see the strip when not illuminated as the top of the windshield has a blacked out area that essentially hides the led from a person viewing the car. I need to see if the tape holds and I need to take a pic in daylight with the brake light off , but I thought id ask for comments ..

 

IMO if you start fixing stuff like that your Bentley is on the way to being a Hooptie.

 

I agree with your point but if the new strip doesn't show when not lit up then the only person seeing the 2nd strip is the car behind me and I'd rather not spend the $3k and don't want cops pulling me over.

 

I'm sure it will not cost 3K. Find a reasonable mechanic if you can't do it yourself. I don't understand why people buy cars they can't afford. If you don't care how it looks that's kewl too. I once used a 2x12 for my 62 bug's front bumper. It had a rolls royce front hood but then again it wasn't a rolls or Bentley.

 

Mine was like $1500 at the Bentley dealer (dealer I bought it from paid). If you don't fix it properly it's gonna be a big headache if you ever want to sell the car.

 

Its the risk to break the rear windshield which takes a $1k fix potentially to $3k. I take the points made but you literally can't see it when not lit, either from inside or outside . Its hidden , and when lit it looks identical to the original.

 

I bought mine in the uk for £350 from flying spares, and followed the great instructions posted on this site to replace it.
It took me a day but I really took my time and could do it in about 4 hours now.

 

Your car, your decision. It's not your job to keep a 15 year old car pristine for the next owner so just enjoy it however you wish. Next owner probably won't notice or care but I'm sure you can remove it as easily as you installed it if need be.