Broken headlight cover
Discussion
I have a '94 Chimaera (since 1997!). I just noticed that the left-hand headlight cover has been hit by a chip and is partially shattered. Do I need to get an entire headlight replacement or can I just find a cover replacement? Is this an easy job or do I need to take out the front grille etc? Will it fail MOT if the bulb is still working? Thanks.
The headlight glass is a stand alone part and separate from the reflector and bulb holder.
There are 2 wing nuts holding the painted rim in place which are accessed via the cover in the front of the wheel arch.
They will be rusted and most likely shear off but can easily be replaced. Once those fixings are removed the top edge of the rim will still be held in place by sealant. Cut an old hacksaw blade in half and grind off the teeth for about 2" then grind a sharp cutting edge square across the end.
Lift the lower edge of the rim a little until you can insert your blade between the rim and the top edge of the glass. push gently until you have cut through the sealant.
The glass is held in place with sealant which you will have to cut free.
I don't know if the glasses are available anywhere but you may find someone who has replaced their headlights with he sealed VW units.
Steve
There are 2 wing nuts holding the painted rim in place which are accessed via the cover in the front of the wheel arch.
They will be rusted and most likely shear off but can easily be replaced. Once those fixings are removed the top edge of the rim will still be held in place by sealant. Cut an old hacksaw blade in half and grind off the teeth for about 2" then grind a sharp cutting edge square across the end.
Lift the lower edge of the rim a little until you can insert your blade between the rim and the top edge of the glass. push gently until you have cut through the sealant.
The glass is held in place with sealant which you will have to cut free.
I don't know if the glasses are available anywhere but you may find someone who has replaced their headlights with he sealed VW units.
Steve
I did this the other week, spent a day trying to get penetrating oil to loosen the rusted wingnuts under the cowl. One came off ok, the other stud broke off the cowl (they are epoxied on)
After that fairly plain sailing. Cut through blobs of sikaflex at the top of the cowl with a craft knife. Before removing the cowl, I made a couple of reference mark on masking tape to help lining up later.
Then cut the old lens free, and replaced using sikaflex 291i . I then had the wait a couple of days for racing green to send me new studs, and invested in some stainless M6 wingnuts.
The worst part was trying to get decent purchase on the wingnuts, i guess this is easier with the mk1 with bigger nose hole
I managed to get a lens from someone on facebook, but one of the tvr suppliers had them in their website - might have been racing green
After that fairly plain sailing. Cut through blobs of sikaflex at the top of the cowl with a craft knife. Before removing the cowl, I made a couple of reference mark on masking tape to help lining up later.
Then cut the old lens free, and replaced using sikaflex 291i . I then had the wait a couple of days for racing green to send me new studs, and invested in some stainless M6 wingnuts.
The worst part was trying to get decent purchase on the wingnuts, i guess this is easier with the mk1 with bigger nose hole
I managed to get a lens from someone on facebook, but one of the tvr suppliers had them in their website - might have been racing green
Edited by sawman on Tuesday 16th August 21:00
Edited by sawman on Tuesday 16th August 21:02
Steve_D said:
Mutley00 said:
... and do not be tempted to clean the chrome bowl with anything but a feather duster or you'll end up with a cloth covered in chrome and a very unreflective bowl!
On a 94 car I doubt 'reflective' is a valid description anyway.Steve
Do not be tempted to use anything other than pouring water over the plastic reflectors if original or even new.
Ps Steve I’ll be contacting you next week if I’m home long enough if that’s ok,
Edited by Classic Chim on Wednesday 17th August 13:06
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