How Crap Are The Headlight Assemblies?

Went to put Muncher's bulbs in yesterday so had the headlight assemblies out, and although I've calmed down now a bit, I have to say they are fcuking SHITE Firstly, I was able to confirm that on the passenger side water was getting in where the bonding between lense and body had come away, but didn't expect the extent of that to run nearly the length of the top of the unit And it had come away on the other unit too So I'll have to get a hold of some sealant to try and stick those back down. The next discovery was that both of the "dipped" lense assemblies were moving around far too much inside the unit - the adjusters were broken Now that was either caused by a) Someone fcuking around with them at the last MOT or b ) they are just sh*t. The next pleasant surprise was when one of the contacts on the sidelight bulb holder sheared off completely as I removed the spade connector. Before anyone accuses me of being too forceful, I am an electronics engineer so have a fair amount of "copper sympathy!" Anyway, my is, that if these things cost £350 or whatever they're meant to cost, why are they so sh*t? I may be overeacting of course, but it's been one of those weekends!

Edited by caleebra, 27 June 2005 - 08:04 AM.

try £650

But they're made of papermache and cheese

Here yar mate, try these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...4558769341&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...4558770758&rd=1

Think I'll just try and make the best of what I've got... but have you seen that person's other items???

http://search.ebay.c...sassZteresa4850

Edited by caleebra, 27 June 2005 - 10:59 AM.

Hi Mr. Caleebra, If I can assist you with advice when refurbish your existing ones, then PM me. You can fix the jacking pillars by cutting the housing in the right places to access the broken bit. I think Ianhd has had to fix his as well... Steve

Thanks Mr. Crisp It depends on what Mr. MOT says I guess, but they do appear to be ok for driving at night... will have to ask some passing motorists if they concur!! But the offer has been noted with thanks Is it known if Ian's ones just broke, or did someone tamper with them? And whilst I have your attention oh ye font of VX Light Knowledge, any recommendations for a substance to re-bond the lense to the housing? I have some GM black sump gasket sealer which I used for re-sticking a seal once, worked well for that... Lee

Hi, I think Ian twiddled with the adjuster to adjust the lamp. Having seen how it is in there, I'd never recommend trying to adjust the beam unless you're really desperate. I would gauge that there's a 50:50 chance of it breaking loose. They appear to have glued the ball and socket arrangement so that it's bound to set solid. The black border around the outer edge of the front lens is sprayed on from behind. The front lens comes loose for one reason - the black paint hasn't keyed onto the lens properly. It looks grey from the front when the seal goes. The only effective cure, is to carefully remove the complete lens. Mask it off and sand-blast it, followed by a respray of the black. You can then atached it back, but use a hard-setting sealer. I used a silicone adhesive for Sicey's lights, and one of the fell off after a few months. The photo shows where to cut to get into the housing. Use a hot soldering iron, or you'll get black dust into the housing and you'll never get rid of it. Edit: size police, mod

Edited by JamesGray, 27 June 2005 - 09:25 PM.

Steve, did you put the rest of the housing back on after you'd finished refurbishment? My border doesn't look gray by any means, but I'll have a closer look and see... Cheers, Lee

For anyone else's future reference, this is the lense coming away from the housing

The only effective cure, is to carefully remove the complete lens. Mask it off and sand-blast it, followed by a respray of the black. You can then atached it back, but use a hard-setting sealer. I used a silicone adhesive for Sicey's lights, and one of the fell off after a few months.

Resurecting an old thread. Need to glue my lens cover back on but don't know with what. Anyone recommend?

Turns out it's silkaflex.

Glued my headlights today using silkaflex and it worked a treat. Got mine from a guy at work that used it to stick his spoiler on! Told me he bought it from screwfix. 