Best Way To Clean Internal Xenon Projector Lens?

[StudioWizard]

Hey all

I bought a used OEM (Hella) bi-xenon headlight that has a slightly cloudy internal Xenon projector lens. It's not horrible, but before I install it, I'd like to clean it up. I can see that it's cloudy on the inside.

What's the best way to do this without disassembling it?

I've taken the bulbs out and there appears to be access through the xenon bulb hole and also around the sides of the projector housing. Has anyone done this? Is there a good tool recommended to insert in there to wipe the inside of that lens?

See pix on next post.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

 

[StudioWizard]

Side access to inside of projector


Close-up of side access to inside of projector


Xenon bulb receptacle

 

[StudioWizard]

Also, what is the best fluid to clean it with? Alcohol? Distilled water?

And what material or padding?

I'm thinking I could use a strong tape to attach the cleaning pad to a screwdriver to gently wipe that surface.

 

[caius]

I think the whole assembly comes out, three nuts to undo and it pulls out of the rear access hole you've taken the picture through. Looks similar to the Halogen projectors which I've had out and cleaned previously.

On your last picture I think you can see the nuts top left, top right and then the third is somewhere down the bottom behind the wiring in the picture.

 

[StudioWizard]

I decided NOT to try to remove the projector assembly. I started unscrewing the nyloc bolts very carefully and I could just tell it might be an ordeal. So, instead I used a long #2 pencil with a small lint-free cotton pad taped to the end to make a round flat cleaning surface. I dipped in 91% alcohol, inserted it into the hole, then gently wiped the inside of the lens. The first pass revealed quite a bit of black soot or whatever was clouding the lens. I did two more passes until each new clean pad came back clean. I then did one more pass with the alcohol on the pad followed immediately by a pass with another dry pad to soak up any alcohol to avoid any film. It worked like a charm and took 2 minutes. I'll let it sit for a while, then examine it carefully for any residue on the inside of the projector.

There are a few particles on the black trim and I may or may not try to "wipe" those out. It's minor and only really visible at all when the light is on. I have some long bendy tools I can attach a small lint-free cloth to and poke it through halogen hole. I could also try one of those miniature vacuums.

For now, I'm super happy I got that lens wiped!