Taking apart tail lights

[Sambe30]

Can you take apart tail lights to get to just the lenses? I have them out but still have the black plastic on the back, i need to take some film off that is on the inside but can't work out how to get to the back of the lense

[HairyScreech]

You sure its film and not tint spray sprayed through the bulb hole?

[Sambe30]

If it is spray through the bulb hole it's a very neat job as there is none on anything else! Is there away of taking the black plastic part off? Only reason I ask is that they are genuine mhw lights

[steve_k]

If it is spray through the bulb hole it's a very neat job as there is none on anything else! Is there away of taking the black plastic part off? Only reason I ask is that they are genuine mhw lights

if they are genuine MHW then are they smoked or all red? if it's either then you wont be able to remove any tint be it film or spray.

[Sambe30]

Just had another look, they are mhw but some idiot has painted only the r/h side light fog light part red and not the left, you can see one drip in the paint, how would I get this apart to get the paint off, see pic below right side light

[steve_k]

Just had another look, they are mhw but some idiot has painted only the r/h side light fog light part red and not the left, you can see one drip in the paint, how would I get this apart to get the paint off, see pic below right side light

if it's on the outside (which it should be, run your finger over it & if you can feel it then it's on the outside) then try some watered down paintstripper or nail varnish remover.

[Sambe30]

It's on the inside, not the outside

[steve_k]

It's on the inside, not the outside

watered down paint stripper on the inside sloshed about then rinsed out (several times) with warm soapy water, see if that helps.

[Sambe30]

Ok will try that tomorow, so the is no way of getting the black part away from the lense?

[steve_k]

Ok will try that tomorow, so the is no way of getting the black part away from the lense?

not as i know of, don't want to wreck an expensive set of lenses.

[Sambe30]

Yeah, I will try water down paint stripper tomorow and let you know

[steve_k]

Yeah, I will try water down paint stripper tomorow and let you know

no worries, just make sure it's thinned right down to avoid any damage.

[Jesus325iTouring]

I would try the yellow Craftsman Nitromors, much thinner than regular green multi purpose Nitromors, I used it the other day on some fine finish work tops and its effective but not nearly as aggressive. Green will burn your skin, yellow doesn't

[Kedge]

I'd be trying bodyshop paint thinners before anything like Nitromors.

[TriggerFish]

A word of warning, and it might not apply here, but be careful of the silver finish! I managed to take a load off of the rear lights on my 330d when trying to get a dead fly out of the cluster, and that was only using my finger. I don't know how the E30 lights would react to a solvent.

(I might be talking crap, but better safe than sorry?)

[HairyScreech]

I would be trying detol before anything else.

Detol contains pine oil. It can take acrylic paint off if left to soak.

Very unlikely to damage the tail light plastic as well.

However what ever you use, brush some onto a hidden area/the side of the lights and leave it to see if it damages the paint. Detol/pine oil I would leave over night at least.

I have left styrene based plastics in it until the detol had dried up and they did not melt but it did slightly soften/etch the surface after that length of time.

[pacerpete]

I would be selling them (along with that offensive exhaust) to a council type and buying some nice originals. Just like the ones I have available

[sweep]

Iirc these dont have reflectors in them

[andyp]

I would be selling them (along with that offensive exhaust) to a council type and buying some nice originals. Just like the ones I have available

he is coming to set a nice set the weekend

[Sambe30]

Pete Andy has me covered on lights! And will try detol tonight, and the reason I'm cleaning the paint off is to sell!

[pacerpete]

I would be selling them (along with that offensive exhaust) to a council type and buying some nice originals. Just like the ones I have available

he is coming to set a nice set the weekend

Good man