How do you take apart the headlights

[sp001in]

How do you take apart the headlights, so I can paint the poxy chrome bezle black.

[Reaper]

I used a Kangaroo to get one apart once. Unfortunately they aren't designed to come apart. Just buy one with the black bezel.

Reaper

[PaulSV6]

Just buy VY SS headlights, save u the trouble of trying to pull these ones apart & breaking something.

[one_and_only2004]

have a look here. Spray em white - it looks pretty good on a white vehicle

[midnight.outlaw]

You need to put them in the oven at a very low heat so the glue softens and you can just pry them off.
-Jase

[sp001in]

You need to put them in the oven at a very low heat so the glue softens and you can just pry them off.
-Jase

jeez that sounds dangerous.

[Ozzie]

The older they are the harder its going to be to get them apart.
I tried with my old VT headlights... The plastic was softer than the glue.

Best way is to buy new standard headlights to do it with.

[white vyII]

yer go the oven or sit it in the sun for a while you've got plenty up there don't ya?

[Junny]

have a look here. Spray em white - it looks pretty good on a white vehicle

does that work for vys?

[DUK13Y]

The pic shown is a VY. It works for any car. All you need to do is heat the glue so it softens enough to pull apart.

btw, how hot should the oven be and for how long should I 'bake' the lights? Also it was mentioned that the older the lights the harder it'll be. My lights are only from an 10/03 model so that'd still be easy enough right? I just don't want to try and end up stuffing the lights and having to buy new ones. Would sorta defeat the purpose of the mod.

[one_and_only2004]

personally i wouldn't want to go higher than 60 deg. otherwise you'll have a set of drooping lights

[DUK13Y]

Thanks for that. I'm very worried about stuffing it up because a new set of lights will set me back the better half of a grand. How long should you say? Check every 5 mins and see if it's soft enough?

[sp001in]

dukiey, you're lucky. you've already got the berlina lights. a bit of black and they'll look just like calais or HSV lights.

I'm gonna do it 2moro. If I **** it up it'll give me a reason to upgrade to calais lights.

[DUK13Y]

Yea. They should look sweet when done. I'm gonna wait till I get my P's though and a bit more cash just incase.

[one_and_only2004]

Thanks for that. I'm very worried about stuffing it up because a new set of lights will set me back the better half of a grand. How long should you say? Check every 5 mins and see if it's soft enough?

yeah i'd agree with you - 5mins sounds like a good check interval, or i guess you could try with a blow dryer first. just make sure you start your attempt on the bottom of the lights so if you do cook them at all noone can see it.

[Calaber]

Perhaps a heat gun (not a hair dryer) could be used instead of the oven. Wth the gun, You would get more heat than a dryer and you could work your way around the light without overnheating the plastic. You might need an assistant to hold the light steady as you go, but it could be worth a try.

[sp001in]

? heat gun sounds like a great option, but It is very easy to overheat one part and bubble the plastic. I would go the oven if anything, all over firm heat. 60 degrees wouldn't separate the sikaflex cos that stuff is designed to hold windscreens onto cars all day in direct sunlight. most see around 60+ as standard and never fault.

I'd go around 90 degrees, checking every 5 mins. make sure you put down alfoil undereneath the light, especially if it is your mums oven.

Or if you have a missus like mine.

[one_and_only2004]

i was a bit hesitant at reccomending a heat gun - the one at work runs at 2000 deg C, which sounds like a bit too much...

[DUK13Y]

What about a hairdryer and a screwdriver to pry sections apart bit by bit or even a box cutter? That way the light itself wouldn't get too hot but the glue wouldn't be soft enough to pull apart but you could cut it instead?

[sp001in]

heat gun on 200 would be ok with your method dukiey.

my heat gun only goes to 900 degrees. will fry a huntsman and cook everything around it in about 5secs.

[madgamer2006]

Hair dryer does it nicely.... took a while but its done,,, have just put my first coat of black on

[Ozzie]

Pics please when ur finished... im curious to see the finished product.

[DUK13Y]

Yea pics will be great. So the hairdryer works eh? Did you use a screwdriver to pull it apart as you were going or what? Maybe a quick re-write of the How To guide is in order?

[madgamer2006]

ill write up some form of guide in the next couple of days. Works been ontop of me lately... but today me making the most of a sick day (yes actually sick) got me working on my car.

I just re sealed the lights and they look great.

Photos will come also in a couple days when i get around to it. but for now, back to being sick lol

[madgamer2006]

just put the lights back on the car... it looks cool but i just wish there was a way to dull out the old headlight outa plastic as its weathered and chipped...

anyone know of some polish or anything?