Rear license plate lights...no cover?

[petesamprs]

I opened my trunk yesterday and noticed the 2 lights that illuminate the license plate do not have a plastic cover, even though the body has an obvious indentation for one. Is it supposed to be this way or have my covers fallen off?

See pic (shows the right side light, there is another one on the left side of the plate)

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

The cover is recessed inside that opening to seal the bulb. Another cover would be redundant, unnecessarily repetitive, and trap dirt.

 

[petesamprs]

Agree that the bulb itself is already encased (so it's not exposed), but I just found it odd that the body was designed for a different cover it seems. Why else would that obvious recess be there and the bulb housing not fit perfectly in the rectangular slot?

It's like during design the bulb guy made a last minute change and forgot to tell the body guy.

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

Maybe they originally put lenses in there and found they just filled up with dirt and water, so they left them off.

 

[tasi@mail.com]

Does anyone know how to remove/replace the bulbs? I'd like to put in LEDs

Thanks