2003 CTS rear finish panel
 

Okay, so the other day driving home on the highway, we had wind gusts about 45mph. My loose clear/smoke license plate bezel deal, blew off and away. I cannot find one at any local salvage yards and came up short on ebay.


Soooooo, im putting a shout out to you guys on the forum... im in need of the clear/smoke lens itself, or the entire finish panel for a 2003 cts + or - the 3rd brake light..

incase only the painted kind are avaliable, my car is the bronzish light tan color.

thanks!!!!

No one has one they would like to part with? ill take any color if all people have is the painted kind.. :D

Paypal is ready to fire off a payment!!!

Oh okay I understand.. I think what you're meaning is this:
1. The third light on the trunk.
2. The part where when the car is in reverse those two lights light up.
3. All of it..
Now in my '04 CTS, the rear part isn't body coloured.. It's shown in the picture of the white CTS.

either one will work.. the painted kind.. or the big lens kind.. mine is the big lens kind, and the lens came off.. so im looking for a replacement.

i came up with a solution to my problem with the missing rear plastic bezel...

if anyone is interested in these.. let me know.

I need one

I have one left, its a Prototype hand cut unit. not perfectly straight but does fit and looks fine. firm on price @ $150 +shipping. located in 68701

Ahh disregard that. You know I just read the description of that and its not a replacement, it covers the original bezel. grrrr, I need one too!

voodoo - are you working on anything for the light cutouts?? I like that idea...

my bezel doesnt cover the plastic one... it replaces the plastic ones place if yours has fallen off. Im still looking for a good lens for the reverse lights, but cant seem to find anything stylish. I had a good one picked out but they wouldnt fit big enough bulbs to be effective.

Nono, I had posted an ebay link to what I thought was a replacement piece, but it was just a cover.

As for yours i was thinking, you can find all kinds of stylish LED lights that are nice and flat. You could even rig up one of those flexible LED light tape that boarder the whole piece! So if I*get one of yours I would do something really cool like that. Check ebay for ideas...

oh gotcha... ive checked ebay and everywhere else for like a year now. I cant find anything I like that goes with the car. The issue with the flat leds is they are ugly when unlit, IMO... and being square or rectangle just wont cut it. I need a nice diffused lens with a nice shape, that also has a thin depth and easily mounted. Originally I considered using the front side marker lights. They have a thin sleek shape, and just using the clear or smoke lenses, but you cannot get a big enough bright enough bulb in them. as soon as i find a good lens, ill send the cut file to my cutter and have a stack made.

My funds are a little low as of now, but I'm def gonna get one of your pieces. However if you can leave my lights uncut (unless you find something really awesome) that would be great. I'll prob do the led thing. Thanks brother!

well the prototype piece i have right now, is uncut. no reverse lights, no mouting holes. Just a few places are not perfectly straight. Shoot me a price and id be willing to come down. It was alot of work to hand cut that thing. but it is just sitting here and I would prefer it on someones car making it look good!

You still have the rear plastic bezel for sale? I'm in definite need of one. Mine came off on the highway and since it's been off I can't find one or even get an inspection sticker. Lemme know if you can help me out or can direct me somewhere. Thanks

mine is made of aluminum.. it blocks the reverse lights, not sure if that would pass inspection. that lens being gone shouldnt affect your inspection....

They told me because it causes the reverse lights to be Too bright and there needing to be some kind of lense to cover them

2003 CTS rear finish panel
 

Hey guys Matt here, so a few days ago my clear panel on the back of my car was peeling off so I took it off because there was water in it, I dried it off and hit it back into place. Today after I got home from golf I noticed it was missing and I've re traced my steps with unfortunately bad luck. I have been looking around and they aren't easy to come by not are they cheap! I was wondering if anyone knew where I can find this panel for relatively in-expensive!!!!
Thanks, Matt

Matt, good luck finding a replacement as I never did. Unless you want to check junk yards for your model, I couldn't find any new ones online. Voodoochikin here has custom metal panels he's selling. I got one and it turned out damn good!

The problem is I live in Illinois and it always rains here!!! I can't even drive my car half the week because if those bulbs get wet it will short out and then ill be really screwed. So voodoochikin do you have any more of the panels? How much are they!?

Thats not true really. My car was missing a panel for years and had the bulbs exposed. Nothing ever happened. The WORST that would happen is it would blow the fuse for reverse or tail or brake lights.

Idk what the prices are for his covers, he was having them professionally done and machine cut so if you can, pm him or see if he chimes in here.

Attachment 827 as you can see I only need the plastic part for the lights

I do not have any panels made right now. My panel is a replacement for the missing plastic lens that falls off. Since I was unable to find any new lights that looked good enough to replace the reverse lights, its up to the customer to either leave it like mikeys (no reverse lights) or add your own lenses. Panel cost is $200... will get some made if needed.

If you saw my pics, that was exactly the way mine looked. Those plastic light housings pull out for a tighter fit. I pulled mine out with the bulbs, covered them up and as soon as I get to searching for some short LED strips ill replace the reverse lights by just screwing them to the panel where the lights would sit.

Hey guys so I was looking at similar 2003 models and some of them don't have the BIG clear plastic piece instead they have either a chrome or just black piece and then two smaller lenses for the lights. Do you think this is possible to do? I feel like it will be less costly

If you mean other models of Cadillacs, none of them will fit. The factory replacement is the same units they used starting in 2004.. but they are easily $400+ usually 500$ on ebay and more at the dealer. My option seems to be the lowest cost unit to actually put in place unless you make something yourself. But to my knowledge there is nothing else you can purchase. Which I why I went about this project in the first place.

I want your part but I also want to have reverse lights available!

2003 CTS Rear Panel
 

I have the same problem that I see most people are having with the 03 CTS. My panel fell off and I need to replace it. I can't find one and need your help. If you know where I can find the part please let me know. Until then I will be driving around town Ghetto Fabulously

I sold my last one that I had made about 2 years ago.. This idea never took off because too many people were concerned about maintaing some form of reverse lamp and I dont blame them. My fix was an aluminum panel cut out and attached over where the stock smoked plastic bezel went.

Option for 2003 Rear Panel!!??!!
 

I need your opinion. I cannot find a replacement for the plastic rear panel on my 2003 CTS so I have come up with a possible solution. My plan is to purchase a vinyl panel, like what you would see over a kitchen light, from home depot. I will cut this to size and adhere it to my back lights with epoxy and then cover it with a louver bezel. What do you think?

Another Question
 

Can I use a louvered bezel without having the original plastic lens in place?

Wowsa it's been many years since I started this thread. Also check out kerbid.com for other Cadillac parts.

I don't even have a CTS to build from anymore. If you want to box up your bezel and ship it off, we can do one for you but you're looking at $200+.

Let me know..