Hey guys! I'm planning on opening up my headlights this weekend. I've read a few posts in which members used heat guns to pry open the headlights. I was going to follow Ricks2k's writeup on opening the headlights up using the over and wet towel method.

I just wanted to see what you guys suggest as being the best approach, especially since so many people have swapped out the ambers for clear/smoked diffusers.

Also did you guys remove the HID, ballast, and other bulbs before sticking it the oven?

Appreciate the helP!

 

Electronics + heat = nono. Even though the electronics might be able to withstand the heat I would spend the extra 5 minutes taking them off lol. Be careful with the platics, even though they are less likely to break while hot.

 

I've opened many headlights in the oven. It's perfectly fine as long as you watch your headlight and make sure the lens is kept well away from the steel sides of the oven and kept damp. Disconnect the ballasts from the headlights before they go in the oven. Otherwise you'll be fine. 10 minutes at 300-325F will soften up the glue nicely. Best of luck

 

Thanks for the responses! Yeah I'm planning on taking off the ballast for sure. I need to find the special bit to remove the HID bulb cover to access the bulb, behind the "CAUTION YOU WILL DIE" sign lol...

But 300-325F?!?! isn't that too high? I thought a couple passes at around 200F would do???

Also, for the reseal after I'm finished, should I stick the headlight back in the oven, soften the factory glue up, add a small bead of new silicone glue, and seal it up?

Appreciate the advice guys!

 

There is a step by step on Ricks for this. www.ricks2k.com

 

hey guys thanks for the help!

I got them open after sticking them in the oven for 10 minutes at 220, without preheat. and then I could work on them for about 5-10min before the cooled, so I stuck them back in the oven twice at around 7 minutes.

Pretty straight forward process, just a pain to do by yourself I guess. I also got my diffusers tinted and they look pretty good for using the Rust-O-leum spray tint.

I'm letting the diffusers dry till tonight, then I'll seal the headlights back up and clean them with the meguiars kit.

Can't wait to take the S out for a spin, it's been over 2 weeks since it's seen daylight...