Replacing a headlight lens

[Garlick]

Somewhere on the way to Le Mans I picked up a stone resulting in this



Can I replace just the lens, or will I need to buy an entire unit? I guess the light is from another car originally, so any idea what part number it is?

Cheers guys.

[Mark.]

Pretty sure it's just a standard H4 lens and you can replace just the glass. You need to get the cowl off (Obviously), I'm not sure how that bit happens.

[ChimpofDarkness]

Talk to my mate Russ (of Top Cats converted LS Cerbera fame).

I think he has some lenses & at £33.00 you can't go wrong.

http://www.maginilighting.co.uk/product.php?produc...

He is on here as SonnyLad.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile...

Russ will be joining me and a few other mates at the Ace tonight, perhaps you could join us Garlic?

I'm sure he can bring a lens along to save you the postage

[V8 GRF]

You need to go in through the wheel arch hatch to get at the rear of the light but I assume you can just pull that trim off?

[TJC46]

V8 GRF said:

You need to go in through the wheel arch hatch to get at the rear of the light but I assume you can just pull that trim off?

If your car has the hatch in the wheelarch! Mine is a 1996 chim and there was no hatch.
Also the trim does not just pull off there are 2 nuts to undoe, and the trim is also stuck on with sikaflex. You have to be very carefull so has not to damage or scratch anything. The only access i had was thru the front grill, and believe me this is a pain in the ase job to do.
Make marks on the garage wall of the beam position, in case you have to renew the reflector as well as the lens.its easy to realign the beam again afterwards.

[Mark.]

Thinking about it Paul.

You know where to take it

[nickb134]

Hi Garlick
To remove the cowl you need to undo 2 nuts retaining the cowl. These are accessible through the front grille. you will need a 10 mm socket and 1/4" ratchet. If you are lucky there may be wing nuts if someone has had them off before. The nuts may have rusted, if so keep turning until the stud breaks off the back of the cowl (it can be restuck when you reassemble) I did mine with fibreglass mat and resin. There is also some black sticky sealant holding the top part of the cowl on (Sikaflex) I cut this with a long thin scalpel blade and cleaned it up once off. Try not to flex the cowl too much or the paint will crack. IMPORTANT protect the paint work with masking tape whilst cutting. Once the cowl is off you can remove the lens. It is stuck in with Sikaflex and has a rubber seal round it. Cut round the sikaflex with a sharp scalpel blade. Then you just need to clean up the recess. Make sure you order a new rubber seal with the lens. Stick the new lens in (Sikaflex) and refix the cowl. Seemples

[jeremyc]

nickb134 said:

Hi Garlick
To remove the cowl you need to undo 2 nuts retaining the cowl. These are accessible through the front grille. you will need a 10 mm socket and 1/4" ratchet. If you are lucky there may be wing nuts if someone has had them off before. The nuts may have rusted, if so keep turning until the stud breaks off the back of the cowl (it can be restuck when you reassemble) I did mine with fibreglass mat and resin. There is also some black sticky sealant holding the top part of the cowl on (Sikaflex) I cut this with a long thin scalpel blade and cleaned it up once off. Try not to flex the cowl too much or the paint will crack. IMPORTANT protect the paint work with masking tape whilst cutting. Once the cowl is off you can remove the lens. It is stuck in with Sikaflex and has a rubber seal round it. Cut round the sikaflex with a sharp scalpel blade. Then you just need to clean up the recess. Make sure you order a new rubber seal with the lens. Stick the new lens in (Sikaflex) and refix the cowl. Seemples

You lost him at "cowl" ...

[Mark.]

jeremyc said:

ou lost him at "cowl" ...

I refer the thread to the post I made at 12:22

[nickb134]

Ah I should go with mark's suggestion

[Simon says]

nickb134 said:

Hi Garlick
To remove the cowl you need to undo 2 nuts retaining the cowl. These are accessible through the front grille. you will need a 10 mm socket and 1/4" ratchet. If you are lucky there may be wing nuts if someone has had them off before. The nuts may have rusted, if so keep turning until the stud breaks off the back of the cowl (it can be restuck when you reassemble) I did mine with fibreglass mat and resin. There is also some black sticky sealant holding the top part of the cowl on (Sikaflex) I cut this with a long thin scalpel blade and cleaned it up once off. Try not to flex the cowl too much or the paint will crack. IMPORTANT protect the paint work with masking tape whilst cutting. Once the cowl is off you can remove the lens. It is stuck in with Sikaflex and has a rubber seal round it. Cut round the sikaflex with a sharp scalpel blade. Then you just need to clean up the recess. Make sure you order a new rubber seal with the lens. Stick the new lens in (Sikaflex) and refix the cowl. Seemples

Agree with this totally as I changed the lenses and reflectors years back if your just changing 1 lens only I would def not refer to this job as hard

[Garlick]

Thanks gentlemen, much obliged.

How dare you mock my mechanical prowess.....I once jump-started a car you know

[phillpot]

I have a second hand lens going "spare" if any help?

[TVRJAS]

phillpot said:

I have a second hand lens going "spare" if any help?

By any chance of fortune do you still have this?

I posted a thread today as what my options were as I've had a stone smash my drivers side lens.

Notice that you are Midlands also.... Spent hours today reading all sorts of forums regards what to do.

[SILICONEKID346HP]

Ask wuckfitracing ,I sold him a pair of lenses .

[TVRJAS]

SILICONEKID346HP said:

Ask wuckfitracing ,I sold him a pair of lenses .

Hi Daz,

Thanks for forwarding an option.

I was waiting on another option,which as of about 1hr ago has proven positive.

Thanks to this amazing site I have been in contact with a fellow PH who had one sitting on his shelf and now is in my hands.

My very big thank you goes to Mike (Phillpot)

And thanks again Daz for giving an alternative route

PS... Sorry to hear your leaving Piston Heads Garlick,and wish you well on your future path

Edited by TVRJAS on Sunday 11th May 17:36

[phillpot]

Nice to meet you and glad to help

[TVRJAS]

phillpot said:

Nice to meet you and glad to help

Likewise Mike....

Made it back with just a few drops of rain falling two minutes after leaving yours,and was wiper time for three minutes before reaching home.

As long as you can maintain a speed you still stay dry... but I'm sure you know this.

If we happen to be at one of the Breakfast meets (Shelsley) it's on me

Thanks again .... Regards Jas

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Thread resurrection alert!


Arse.

This happened to me today:



Reading the above I'm slightly perturbed by comments about being careful not to scratch things and not bending the cowl too much or you'll damage the paint. This sounds like a job with a high potential fk-up factor.

Dunno though, should I have a go?

Where are the two screws that hold the cowl in place? My car has the wheel-arch access hole, if it helps.

Help me decide whether to give it a go or not!

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Sunday 18th October 16:00

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Sunday 18th October 16:01

[ianwayne]

You have to take the wheel off, or at least put it on full lock. There is an access panel in the wheelarch approximately in line with the headlamp. The screws holding it on may be covered in mastic or black silicon to make them waterproof. Well, waterproof from water coming off the wheel in the rain. Moisture can get in directly round the side of the cowl anyway.

Inside the area behind the panel, you should see the two studs holding the cowl on. Mine had wingnuts on but were still completely rusted on, so I gave up on plans to remove the lights and have the backs re-silvered for now.