Open sealed headlight in oven...

[123BillyB]

Hi,

Been thinking of adding CCFL rings to the headlights for a while as it is a lot cheaper option than buying aftermarket units and the actual mod is a simple one (and cheap) but the only bit that has been concerning me is when I have read other posts where people have taken a Dermel to them to get them open.

Searching the internet I have seen a method where you bake the unit to soften the sealant then just pry open....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anN0vYBj6Uo&noredirect=1

The video above show a method with high heal and low bake time but others have shown a low heat (about 80 c) with a longer bake time.

Seams a cleaner way to open them for when it comes back to resealing and I wanted to know if anyone who has carried out the mod, baked their unit to get it open and if so, what temp/time?

Thanks,

Billy

 

[Tommy_hf]

ppl have tried that. It worked on the older headlights of E30/34 and alike, but no success on the Z4 ones. Ppl ended up melting their headlight assemblies with the seam still intact. Spare headlights cutting lense off your own headlights and cutting the back off the lenses on the spare set seems to be the way to go.

 

[123BillyB]

Sort of what I thought or else why would ppl be cutting open their lenses.

Thanks Tommy.

Think I might just go for a UK spec aftermarket unit that is complete in that case then just sell my OEM ones to claw back some money as by the time I have factored in spare units and a Dremel, this is cost 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.

Cheers.

 

[srhutch]

Yes worked on E46's but not Z4's

 

[123BillyB]

Cut them open soft lad, ive done it twice :lol: after market are ok but you want as much OEM as possible on the Zed

Jonny,

Easier said than done when you don't have the right tools (nor the experience) and I suppose I also got to factor in the cost for clear indicator strip replacement and maybe a spare unit (or two) if I mess it up.

See a UK seller on eBay who has these aftermarket units occasionally for sale that are UK legal, have self leveller units inside and I think the look of the smaller indicator on the edges rather than running the whole length of the bottom on OEM is growing on me...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E84-2003-2008-BLACK-PROJECTOR-ANGEL-EYE-HEADLIGHTS-E-MARKED-ROAD-LEGAL-/151070680485?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D151070680485%26_rdc%3D1&nma=true&si=n4FZBC%252FjsnQtrEh2n%252Fmu0iE2ldk%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

As they are a strait swap and I can list my originals back on eBay and try recoup between £150 - £200 for the pair (whenever they sell), it seems like an easier proposition all round for me.

That is Jonny unless you wanna give me a hand in the not too distant future to cut my lenses open as you are not too far from me and of course I'll give you a proper drink for it?

Billy

 

[123BillyB]

Thanks for the advice mate.

Still the cutting and opening that concerns me only as I haven't done it before.

Just got an email back from someoneon ebay who has fitted the aftermarket one I mentioned and they say was a direct fit with everything working as it should and looks in his opinion better than OEM.

Going to ask him to send me a pic then decide what route to go down.

I'll post the pic when I get it.

 

[123BillyB]

Plus Billy those non OEM head units are not Xenon can not be retro fitted Xenon either, and heard the self levelers are not UK set up or something, someone else may advise better on these as not 100%..... they look pretty good tho i must admit

Oh and if I do get them, I'll just transfer over my HiD kit.

 

[123BillyB]

Thanks for the advice mate.

Still the cutting and opening that concerns me only as I haven't done it before.

Just got an email back from someoneon ebay who has fitted the aftermarket one I mentioned and they say was a direct fit with everything working as it should and looks in his opinion better than OEM.

Going to ask him to send me a pic then decide what route to go down.

I'll post the pic when I get it.

Always a first time for everything, im sure when you got laid for the first time you was "concerned"

Concerned?.. No.

Over the bloody moon was what I was

 

[RedSox]

I've recently done it and made my own clear indicator hockey sticks from some prismatic light diffuser panels and a heat gun. Check it out below....



With AE's on....


Dremelling the lights open was straightforward enough. Hardest bit was getting the bumper back onto the clips by the wings!!

Go for it. I have just replaced my aftermarkets with the OEM's as modded by yours truly. Much happier with them now.

Cheers

 

[123BillyB]

RedSox,

Now that looks cool and a more attractive proposition as I don't ave to buy facelift units for the clear hockeys... Plus I haven't got to mess about swapping over HiD units... Hmmmmm

 

[JamieT]

I've recently done it and made my own clear indicator hockey sticks from some prismatic light diffuser panels and a heat gun. Check it out below....

More details and close-up photos please (sorry for hijacking the thread!)

 

[123BillyB]

Gonna drive myself mad now...

Just when I reverted my thoughts back to OEM after RexSox's post thinking if I dont need post facelift doner units for the hockeys so cost is a lot lower, I went on YouTube to see if I could find some of the aftermarket ones fitted on a car to see how they look and this is what I found.





Full Video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK_EEMO0BL8&noredirect=1

The UK seller who has them occasionally on eBay states their ones are UK spec and a message back to me from a buyer has confirmed this so not worried about the indicator lights being on permanently in video as that is just a US wiring thing but I really like the indicators just on the tips and the light bar above the AE's.... Gives the front a whole new fresher look.

 

[RedSox]

I originally swapped my OEM lights for some that looked identical to those, from MStyle, but they were just too blingy with all the chrome and the AE's were pretty dull compared to the LED's that several of us have now. Each to their own, I guess.

May stick my chrome aftermarkets on Ebay, in which case, they're awesome & I'm gutted to have to part with them!

 

[123BillyB]

Not going to use the AE's as DRL's so not that bothered about the brightness during the day and going to get the matt black ones as my cars sterling grey. Having said that, none of the other buyers I contacted on ebay mentioned anything about the rings being dim so this may be an improved model.

I do like what you guys have done with the OEM lights and I'm not shy of carrying out mods but still can't bring myself to contemplate splitting open something that's not broken and risk breaking it.

Besides the more I look at the aftermarket ones, the more I'm liking the light brow on the top as I feel it gives the front A fresher look.

Each to their own.

 

[ranski]

I was talking to a auto electrician last week who is into the M3 scene. These aftermarket lights came up in conversation and he remarked they are cheap Chinese ***** and to stay clear.

He was familiar with the Z ones, but more so with the aftermarket 3 series headlights and had worked on quite a few, saying the sealant and / or electrics would develop problems after a year in the damp british weather

I think 'Jamie' a former? Forum member had to scrap his after a year or so

 

[123BillyB]

I was talking to a auto electrician last week who is into the M3 scene. These aftermarket lights came up in conversation and he remarked they are cheap Chinese ***** and to stay clear.

He was familiar with the Z ones, but more so with the aftermarket 3 series headlights and had worked on quite a few, saying the sealant and / or electrics would develop problems after a year in the damp british weather

I think 'Jamie' a former? Forum member had to scrap his after a year or so

Think they might not be the same as seller I am dealing with has confirmed these are made by Spyder Auto in USA... Don't doubt there are Chinese copys out there as what don't they copy.

Thanks for the heads up though.