My left rear brake light bulb burns out periodically. It either explodes or gets very black. While not a big issue given the price of bulbs, I would like to fix it. Any suggestions?

If Jim's idea doesn't hit the nail on the head, you might try checking the voltage on the bulb socket. If its way high or low it'd cause craziness. Too high = car is posessed, too low = possible short somewhere. Also, when you replace the bulb, try to either do it with freshly washed hands, or wipe off the bulb afterwards. The oil on your hands transfers to the bulb glass, causing excess heat and premature failure in small light bulbs.
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Isaac Babcock - '83 245DL 'Borkie' and '83 244 turbo project

I betcha it's water that's doing it.
I drilled a small (<1/8") drain hole in the outside corner of the lens and put some tape across the gap between the body and the lens.
No more problems.