I was bored so I decided to take apart the spare set of headlights I had laying around. Thought it was going to be much harder, based on what I kept on reading over at F150online. Either way, the steps are similar to those of the F150 headlights.
Materials:
-Oven
-Large Cookie sheet
-Philips and flat head screwdrivers
-T-10 torx screwdriver
-Oven mitt(s) unless you're Chuck Norris
1. Heat oven to 200 degrees. While you wait, take out the Philips head screw in the back of the housing. It's above the turn signal bulb socket. Also, take off the little gaskets on the low and high beam sockets. I'm not sure how well they take 200 degree temps, but I decided not to risk it.
2. Place headlight on a large enough cookie sheet, and place it in the oven. Don't just set it on the racks, or you'll get nice "grille" marks burned in to the plastic, as well as nice, droopy plastic (my poor taillights...). This is what happens when your cookie sheet is too small. This part of the headlight was "hanging" out past the cookie sheet, during the second reheating:
3. For the heat up, set the timer to 12 minutes. If you need to place the lights back in, set it for 10 mins or so, since the headlights will already be warm.
4. Take out the headlights, and get to work. Take a flat head screw driver, and start prying. Try to get under the sealant and lift. Do this at various places. Also, start unlatching the tabs. If you work fast enough, you should be able to get the headlight apart on the first try in less than 5 minutes.
For my first headlight, I had to reheat once. For the second one, I was able to get it done on the first try. Just shove the flat head in there, go all the way to the back to catch on the back plastic, and lift, and slide the flat head in some more to catch on the inner plastic. From there, pry. Move further down the edge and repeat.
5. Once you get the headlight separated, pull apart. The surround and the clear plastic will be attached together.
6. Take a T-10 and undo the three screws holding the chrome surround to the clear part.
7. The turn signal orange part is held by tabs. Takes some time, but they eventually come out.
Here's some pictures:
Without the clear plastic
The chrome surround
The reflectors
----------------------------------------------------------------
I must say, this should make painting the headlights a whole lot easier than the F150 ones
Also, the chrome seems to be on there pretty good. I was holding on to the chrome surround with the oven mitt while pulling the thing apart, and there's no sign of it coming off.
Haven't decided what to do with this. I could paint the surround black, or white, or gray...not sure. I have a friend who told me he had some E55s laying around, so might do a projector retrofit. But for now, at least they're taken apart
Sorry for the lack of good pictures. I'll add more info as I figure out how to take off the reflectors, as well as when I go to put it back together.
Materials:
-Oven
-Large Cookie sheet
-Philips and flat head screwdrivers
-T-10 torx screwdriver
-Oven mitt(s) unless you're Chuck Norris
1. Heat oven to 200 degrees. While you wait, take out the Philips head screw in the back of the housing. It's above the turn signal bulb socket. Also, take off the little gaskets on the low and high beam sockets. I'm not sure how well they take 200 degree temps, but I decided not to risk it.
2. Place headlight on a large enough cookie sheet, and place it in the oven. Don't just set it on the racks, or you'll get nice "grille" marks burned in to the plastic, as well as nice, droopy plastic (my poor taillights...). This is what happens when your cookie sheet is too small. This part of the headlight was "hanging" out past the cookie sheet, during the second reheating:
3. For the heat up, set the timer to 12 minutes. If you need to place the lights back in, set it for 10 mins or so, since the headlights will already be warm.
4. Take out the headlights, and get to work. Take a flat head screw driver, and start prying. Try to get under the sealant and lift. Do this at various places. Also, start unlatching the tabs. If you work fast enough, you should be able to get the headlight apart on the first try in less than 5 minutes.
For my first headlight, I had to reheat once. For the second one, I was able to get it done on the first try. Just shove the flat head in there, go all the way to the back to catch on the back plastic, and lift, and slide the flat head in some more to catch on the inner plastic. From there, pry. Move further down the edge and repeat.
5. Once you get the headlight separated, pull apart. The surround and the clear plastic will be attached together.
6. Take a T-10 and undo the three screws holding the chrome surround to the clear part.
7. The turn signal orange part is held by tabs. Takes some time, but they eventually come out.
Here's some pictures:
Without the clear plastic
The chrome surround
The reflectors
----------------------------------------------------------------
I must say, this should make painting the headlights a whole lot easier than the F150 ones
Also, the chrome seems to be on there pretty good. I was holding on to the chrome surround with the oven mitt while pulling the thing apart, and there's no sign of it coming off. Haven't decided what to do with this. I could paint the surround black, or white, or gray...not sure. I have a friend who told me he had some E55s laying around, so might do a projector retrofit. But for now, at least they're taken apart
Sorry for the lack of good pictures. I'll add more info as I figure out how to take off the reflectors, as well as when I go to put it back together.
Last edited:
