How to open headlamps (glass off)?

[cros]

I've seen mentions of ovens and heatguns to melt the glue holding the lens onto the reflector. Anyone who's actually done it care to comment?

My main beams have a white haze of dirt on the inside of the glass (most others I've seen do too). I tried heating a scrap light with a heat gun but the plastic seemed to melt before the glue.

In the end I took the H1 mount off the back of the reflector and used a paintbrush from behind.

If there's an easy way to get the fronts off then I'd prefer to use that when it comes to working on my real lights.

[mrLEE30]

Yes i have done it two both my lights as i am fitting angel eyes, i will post a thread when i have finished on step by step. but to help you out here i used a Makita 5kW heat gun (thus very hot) and simply heated the lens from the front keeping the gun moving around the circumference of the lens for around 5-10 minutes i then used a pair of small flat screwdrivers to prise the lens off. The main beam has one (or two) glass notches that i stuck the screw driver behind and carefully prised it off (i would wear some safety glasses as if they chip etc...) it doesnt come easy and not usually the first time so keep repeating the heating and prising proceedure and it should come off. The driving lights are a little different, as the surround is as you say plastic, i prised it off from the bottom of the lens and made a bit of a mess of my first attempt but it will be covered by the metal ring (which i assume you have taken off) anyway when i put them back on, my best advice is this : they do come off and just keep working at them ( also wear gloves as my very first atttempt had me dropping the glass out of the lens onto my hand then as it was red hot onto the floor thus one broken lens!)


good luck

mr lee

[placey]

so let's assume that the lens is off and work done - what needs to be used to re-seal the lense back to the light unit?

paul

[cros]

Sikaflex?

[E30Adam]

I belive you can use the same glue as when heated again it creates a very good bond.

[Demlotcrew]

Okay did a spare one today as im going to try and do this Smoked hella look on the cheap to laugh at you guys who spent alot of money on yours.






This is the part that needs to be painted, its just a matter of finding the correct colour, then matt or satting or gloss.



And then the glue thats used, i would be tempted to take this out and get some High temp silicone.

[cros]

Nice job, but how?

[cros]

Oh, and don't paint the dimpled reflector around the W5W bulb at the top.

[Demlotcrew]

I put it in the grill with the glass facing towards the ellement for about 6-7min at 120Deg and then i got a screw driver and it just came appart really easy. I dont think the Glue can be reused.

Andrew

[mrLEE30]

I have re-used the glue just heat it back up and stick together, but you wont get a good water seal, so better to go and buy a hot glue gun (ohh err) that way when you fail MOT for painted reflectors you sompliy heat it up again and prise it off!! wouldn't recommend permanent glue for the same reason. Hot Glue guns should be available in model or DIY shops, or if you have a mate in a garage that does bodykits etc buy him a pint and borrow on Saturday night.

Demelotcrew let me know how your hellas get on, will try mine this weekend.

55p for smoked hellas he he he he

mr lee

[Demlotcrew]

I think that i will need to source some tinting spray for the reflector, i dont think any dark paint will do so it will be fun. Also why would the car fail the MOT? the reflector shown in those pics doesnt do anything. Its just for show really. (appart from the top side light)

Andrew

[mrLEE30]

Just did my reflectors this week, and looks fine, i am making the cross tingy for the main beam out of 1mm aluminium sheet and will spray those black too. i would advise against tint spray as it is usually designed to be applied on the outside of the lens (and at the rear/indicator lighrts) so i would expect it would crack after time due to the heat. Go for high temp paint in black and you will have no probs.

As for MOT i was really only joking, so long as the beam is aligned correctly i think that is a pass criteria, dnot think they check the intensity but wont be affected by spraying the reflector anyway.

mr lee

[TouringMatt]

I am making the cross tingy for the main beam out of 1mm aluminium sheet

Anyone got a pattern/drawing for the cross parts, i run and program a CNC punch and reckon they'd be a piece of piss to make

Cheers
Matt

[E30Adam]

I am making the cross tingy for the main beam out of 1mm aluminium sheet

Anyone got a pattern/drawing for the cross parts, i run and program a CNC punch and reckon they'd be a piece of piss to make

Cheers
Matt

Matt, I've just ordered some off these cross hairs from ebay, they should be here soon. Maybe when I get them I could send them to you to make copies of. I'll talk to you about it properly tomorrow.

[TouringMatt]

Nice one Adam

Matt

[cros]

Tried open the main beams today. Had a single main beam off a '91. It opened easily with a heatgun and I cleaned the scum off the back of the glass. Looked really nice.

Spurred on, I went at the '94 ones on my car. The glue was different and wouldn't melt. I ended up cracking the glass prying.

Had no option but to try the other one then. After many failed attempts I heated the glass until it was much hotter and threw a rag over before prying. The thermal shock cracked the glass!

So now I've got one sparkling and one cracked & hazy main beam.

Suppose I'll have to buy another now

The glue which melted OK was silicone-ish like Andrews' above. The one which wouldn't was rubbery, but foamy when sliced. If you've got this type on yours then don't even try. Both were Bosch ones.

[mrLEE30]

To add to cros i found a similar thing as when i got the first lot of lenses off i dropped one so down to scrappies for another, my stock lights are Bosch but replacement was Hella, the Hella was much harder and broke when prising off, Bosch went easy (untill i dropped it!) will try another Hella tonight. As for the pattern i simply used cardboard and experimented (have a parent or teacher supervise when using sharp sissors) until i got the shape required, then cut myself out of thin aluminium with tin snips, i will show the pattern but mine different as angeleyes are going in there too.

[cros]

A cleanish Bosch main beam and complete E34 electric lamp aiming setup for just over Ԛ£15 at the scrap yard today.