I'm in the middle of clearing my headlights out right now and I just pulled off the headlight assembly. I've read the post about clearing headlights and I just wanted to make sure it's OK to leave the HID ballast (with wire) and cover on while baking. For those who have left everything on, did everything turn out ok (no damage to HIDs)? Or do you guys recommend taking the HID ballast and cover off? Thanks.

 

I take about 5min to pull them off, better safe than sorry. You can leave the bulbs in the headlight housing mark them so you know which one came from which housing and mark the way it fits as well.

 

When I cleared mine, I left everything in except for the turn signal bulb and running light. I couldn't figure out how to get the HID out and didn't want to mess with the ballast. I was very careful with how long I left it in the oven - just long enough to pry the thing apart. Also, there is the beam height adjuster that I did not want to take apart as I'd have to reset where the light shine to.

Just cooked the headlights for 20-25 min and have had no problems with them. I haven't heard or read anything about people having problems leaving everything in.

 

yup, you don't have to worry about it.
the temp of hid when its on is much higher than the necessary oven temp to take the unit apart.
just don't do it too long, nor under too high temp.
patience is the key.

 

It would be awesome to see Rick Hessel come out with the clear diffuser...But i still can't decide if i like it with or without the diffuser... By the way i saw in this european magazine these turn signal bulbs that looks silver(blends in with the housing) when looking at the cleared out headlights and then when the turn signal is switched on it flashes amber.. I haven't looked around here for them..so maybe they actually have them here.. Anybody know anything about it???

 

check out http://www.powerbulbs.com/psv.htm to buy silvervisions. they have been a big hit with bimmer guys for a while now. its something like $20 a set with free shipping from the uk or something like that.

-alex

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by katzalex
[B]check out http://www.powerbulbs.com/psv.htm to buy silvervisions. they have been a big hit with bimmer guys for a while now.

 

What do you mean baking your headlight casing? Is it just to open the casing? If so, would I go about doing that to my car if I have a condensation problem in the casing?

 

i left the ballast in there, it was fine. and no fogging up after washing so far, after 2 weeks with it =-)

 

Bake it with the ballasts in.....no problem. Use the "gospel thread" on the subject here; but increase your temperature about 10-20 degrees. Now comes the hard part. The recipe calls for putting the housings on a damp towel (precludes melting of the housing). This is the step a lot of folks have moisture induced in. They look dry but their not! Let the silicone dry 24 hours and then bake at 100 degrees for about an hour....no moisture. An alternative I have used on 3 impatient clearings is to run the headlights for about an hour with the turn signal bulbs out (sockets hanging loose). Any moisture is driven out the turn signal hole.

Good luck......and it will look awesome!

Utah