16 replies to this topic

[tbs30stm]

I am probably posting this in the wrong section (please tell me if it is) but for some reason I can't start new topics in the 'Guides and Tutorials' section of the forum, so here goes.

 

I very recently bought my Silver NA and already had a few changes lined up in my head which are listed below:

 

- I wanted HID's

 

- The front/rear lights were leaking water and misting up

 

- As I was de-misting the lights anyway I thought I would spray them matte black as I prefer the look

 

- I didn't like the look of the dinner plate sized badge on the back so that was coming off.

 

Rear badge removal

 

This is very easy to do as you can all imagine. I used some WD-40, warm water, a sponge and a flat plastic kitchen thing that i've never used.

 

 

1. Spray WD-40 on the badge and leave for 10 minutes

 

2. Using warm water and a sponge, soak the badge whilst using a flat edged bit of plastic (or whatever else you can find) to life the edge of the badge up

 

3. Work your way around the badge whilst using the warm water and it will come off very easily.

 

4. Then I used Autoglym Tar Remover to get the remaining adhesive off the paint work.

 

This is the result

 

 

 

As you can see, it's quite simple!

[Rickwoo118]

As long as it wasn't like my rear badge that someone superglued!

[tbs30stm]

It wasn't superglued luckily! I will post the rest of the guide when I get home, I think the site crashed last night when I was in the middle of posting it....

[tbs30stm]

Front and Rear light cluster removal and de-mist

 

Rear

 

1. Remove the 4x 8mm nuts from inside the boot 

 

2. Unclip the power connection

 

3. Slowly pull the rear light cluster out 

 

4. Repeat for the other side

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Front

 

1. Remove the 13mm nut

 

2. Unclip the power connection

 

3. Slowly pull the light cluster out

 

4. Repeat for the other side

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

De-mist

 

 

This isn't as east as it sounds as you have to remove the covers off all the light clusters. 

 

 

 

 

1. Using a hair dryer (or similar), blow hot air (without melting anything) around small areas first

 

2. Use a stanley knife and carefully cut through the heated sealant 

 

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until the cover is ready to be lifted off. Do this carefully so you don't crack the cover.

 

4. Repeat all steps on each light cluster to remove the cover.

 

 

5. Clean the inside of the light clusters and remove and rubbish that's inside.

 

6. Dry with a hair dryer

 

Next is priming and painting the clusters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tbs30stm]

Painting the light clusters black

 

 

1. Make sure the surface of the light cluster is clear of rubbish/dust/mold/things unknown to science

 

2. Put masking tape over the lenses 

 

 

3. Spray the cluster with grey primer and wait for it to dry 

 

 

4. Once dried, decide if it needs another coat/touching up

 

5. Spray the black over the primer and repeat step 4 if you need to

 

 

 

6. After the paint is dry and masking tape removed, start sealing the covers back onto the light clusters

 

 

7. Leave the adhesive/sealant to dry for a while before putting the lights back on the car and job done!

 

DO NOT DO WHAT I DID! MAKE SURE YOU USE BLACK SEALANT NOT WHITE!

 

*insert abuse here*

 

Amateur mistake, it doesn't show up that much but you can see the white sealant slightly on the rear lights.

 

Before

 

 

 

After

 

 

 

 

 

Next is the HID kit installation 

 

 

[tbs30stm]

HID installation guide

 

The kit I bought was from HIDS4U and cost me £80, I decided to get this kit instead of an Ebay one because it comes with a 2 year warranty and they have very good reviews and I must say, the service was very good and very fast!

 

Here is the link to the VX kit I purchased -

 

http://www.hids4u.co...ersion-kit.html

 

1. Remove the headlights (see images above)

 

2. Remove the old bulb 

 

 

3. Find somewhere to mount the ballast and clean the area prior to mounting it.

 

 

4. Start connecting the kit together 

 

 

 

 

5. Fit the new bulb (test if you need to by connecting power to the light unit)

 

 

6. Mount the ballast 

 

 

7. Tidy up the wires if you need to and connect the power

 

8. Put the headlight back in, repeat for the other side and enjoy! 

 

HID vs Standard

 

 

Night time test

 

 

 

I hope some of you guys find these guides useful! If I can do it, i'm sure anyone can as i'm absolutely useless at anything DIY!

 

Any feedback is appreciated 

 

Cheers,

 

Rob

[Strugs]

Really nice clear "how-to's" - you've gone to some effort there, good stuff..

[tbs30stm]

Really nice clear "how-to's" - you've gone to some effort there, good stuff..

 

Thanks  

[TheRealVXed]

Good guides

 

Using dental floss like a saw works well to remove the rear badge as well if you don't have "a flat plastic kitchen thing"

 

Does somebody want to move this to the correct section #organisation

[xiodene]

Very useful, I will use this when fitting my HID kit!

[Ormes]

Nice guides, thanks for the contribution

[Calcium09]

Did u have to get a bulb holder for the hid?

[tbs30stm]

Nice guides, thanks for the contribution

Thanks!

[tbs30stm]

Did u have to get a bulb holder for the hid?

Nope, they just went straight in

[myles]

My front lights are now getting a little misty. This guide will help me no end, thanks!

 

(or keep an eye out for 'Front Lights Wanted- I destroyed my last set' post!)

[aKra]

Could you tell me why you made a little incision in the front headlight rubber? Why not a hole and fill it with the rubber plastic provided? Otherwise they will keep being misty

 

And, how did you fastened the Xenon starters? 3M sticky icky?

Edited by aKra, 06 November 2013 - 01:36 PM.

[p4cks]

Some very good guides there. I'm very much looking forward to having idiots quote them in their replies.