Reeves1 Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 Right i got a couple of questions for this!!! i found a couple of things on here but nothing i could say was informantive wheather to do it or not etc. How easy to take it apart? What tempt? how long for? the reason im asking is im looking about stripping down a headlight unit and rebuilding it? also was wondering i saw a carbon fibre version on the rear lights where can i buy a set from or can i do the same and rebuild them myself? Cheers for any advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lude Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 i did this with old lights on previous car (nissan) messy as hell job, low heat and dont leave them in for too long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellstrom Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 Depends on temprature. i had em in about 10-15mins with 100 celsius. not to messy i would say. keep your fingers in 1 place and just pry them open. when they split let em cool down before you touch them. the carbon fibre inserts for the rear that ive seen was some Jamie P had and i think its carbon wrap. but i guess it will be a PITA to do with the headlights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie-S Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 I did mine last weekend. Really easy, I put mine in the oven for 10 minutes at 150 degrees, they were not too hot to handle and came apart really easily. When you've finished the refurb, pop them back in and push back together, use a bit more sealant if you think the seal isn't quite there and Robert's your uncles brother! There is a good thread with step by step and photo's if you put headlight refurb in the thread search you should find it easily. Mine look 100 times better so would recommend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashbuster Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 this one? http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?153261-Refurb-and-painting-headlights-guide&highlight=headlight+refurb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reeves1 Posted November 17, 2011 Author Share Posted November 17, 2011 hey, cheers for the responses ill give it a bash over the weekend and yer the carbon look one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 Whatever you do don't follow the above guide. I've tried my best to get it ammended but it still hasn't happened. The more people that follow that guide the more people that will end up with scrap headlights. Do NOT put the oven above 100 degrees C. 80 is plenty for the most part, the only time I have set it at 100 has been for glass headlights as they can take a little longer otherwise. 10 mins at a true 80-100 degrees C is PLENTY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashbuster Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 what gas mark would that be mate? for people on gas ovens and is it still ok to use autosol metal polish ? if we have it handy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraDan24 Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 Autosol is fine, G3 is good as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 what gas mark would that be mate? for people on gas ovens and is it still ok to use autosol metal polish ? if we have it handy I haven't done it with a gas oven, to be honest I wouldn't recommend it but if it had to be done I would do trial and error... starting at 1/2 or 1 obviously lol. I would personally use G3 or plastix. G3 if they are fairly bad, and Plastix if they just need a spruce up. Metal polish isn't ideal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashbuster Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 nice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu861 Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 Probably most would laugh at this but after trying this with one set of lights and melting the top of one I got another set and I used the wife's hair dryer on the lights and they came apart perfect. Try this if you don't fancy the oven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 The oven is perfectly fine when the temperature is reasonable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black_widow87 Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 Probably most would laugh at this but after trying this with one set of lights and melting the top of one I got another set and I used the wife's hair dryer on the lights and they came apart perfect. Try this if you don't fancy the oven. /QUOTE] How long did it take you with the hairdryer mate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reeves1 Posted November 17, 2011 Author Share Posted November 17, 2011 haha i might have to try the hair dryer first!!!! dont think miss's be to happy if she comes home to find a melted headlight in the oven. Still might taste better then her cooking!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashbuster Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SX_BIG Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 i did my old fiesta headlights ( years ago now!) for 10 mins at 100'. DO NOT do what i did though.... stick in both lights.. realise i had no black paint.. think.."meh, its midday and sunny... i dont need headlights" ..drive the 5 miles to halfords and get pulled over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markylee Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 How long did it take you with the hairdryer mate? I used a hair dryer as well, it only takes about 10 to twenty minutes per light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashbuster Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 i did my old fiesta headlights ( years ago now!) for 10 mins at 100'. DO NOT do what i did though.... stick in both lights.. realise i had no black paint.. think.."meh, its midday and sunny... i dont need headlights" ..drive the 5 miles to halfords and get pulled over. lol its always the way never see any police when driving but when theres a time you really dont want to see them you get pulled lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 u dont need headlights in the day you just need signals. ive driven on the link road and been slowly overtaken by police with headlights missing. they even waved!! i used a hair dryer on rear lights. trust me, its a PITA, use oven at 80°C. if it doesnt work, cook it for longer, ScottM knows his stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reeves1 Posted November 18, 2011 Author Share Posted November 18, 2011 Cheers guys, ouch to be pulling by the coppers. Fortantly when im taking the headlights and rear lights off ill also be pulling off the bumpers, hoodes and boot and replacing with carbon goodies!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 Whatever you do don't follow the above guide. I've tried my best to get it ammended but it still hasn't happened. The more people that follow that guide the more people that will end up with scrap headlights. Do NOT put the oven above 100 degrees C. 80 is plenty for the most part, the only time I have set it at 100 has been for glass headlights as they can take a little longer otherwise. 10 mins at a true 80-100 degrees C is PLENTY. Listen to Scott bud! 80-100 is plenty, keep checking on them too when they're in to make sure they're not melting, and try to make sure they're not touching the sides. Another tip is to put them on an upside down baking tray when putting them in the oven, it means you're not risking melting the bottom on the wire shelf/bottom of the oven. Do they definintely need put in? 9 times out of 10 it's on the outside, and if you scratch the inside of the lense they end up looking worse. I'd try a proper clean of the outside first, wetsand the lenses with a very fine grit paper until they go all white, then buff them using an orbital or rotary polisher with a compound like G3, they'll come up great and might not need split. They'll need done again in a few months though. The only time I'd split is if the chrome was peeling and needed painting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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