Bought an old BMW M3, filled with regret...
- Thread starter mrk
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Oh I see, I was going off the videos I saw where the older coupe diy jobs involved taking the headlight unit out in order to remove the weather strip on top so you can take off the lens clips. I don't have that. Maybe they didn't need to either I guess but did anyway though now, not sure.
Only you can answer that
So I've fitted the lenses. I royally messed up the driver side lens by wiping the inside of it with a microfibre cloth to remove some dust I spotted. What I should have done was used a rocket blower (I have one for my camera gear) and simply blown the dust away. What resulted from wiping was it leaving micro-scratches on the surface as it's a very delicate surface on the inside, just like torch reflectors, the moment you touch them with a cloth they're done for as it marks the surface.
I didn't realise this was the case for plastic lenses for headlamps but now I know better. I will have to buy another (£45 thankfully) for that side only and take this one on the chin as a learning experience.
Anyway, fitting the lens was really easy. Probably 30mins each side but took a bit longer as I cleaned the grub that has built up over the years around the hidden away areas and also cleaned the weather strip that runs along the trim piece below the headlight. The only thing I needed to remove was the indicator lens, the trim piece I unclipped just up to the bit where it meets the wing.
That clip is hard to remove anyway but the trim can remain in place. Popping off the washer jet allowed an opportunity to give that a clean also. I figure it's worth cleaning these things every couple of years anyway, my damp cloth was black from all the crap it collected cleaning those bits.
Before:
After:
And the ruined driver's side lens:
It was a good thing the headlight itself didn't need to come out, my extended ratchet simply wasn't long enough to reach the nut at the back anyway!
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I could try it I guess, but it's going to be the same principal as torch reflectors. The surface is coated and shouldn't ever be touched (they should come with labels stating this caution!!), polishing would remove that coating and it just gets worse.
I'll likely just keep it as a hot spare, if a stone cracks the driver's side one one day and I need to quickly fit a non cracked one to protect from damp etc while I order a replacement.
New lenses let through more light and stop more reflections off the front end. I expect they will allow the headlights to illuminate a bit brighter on the road surface now too.
I'll likely just keep it as a hot spare, if a stone cracks the driver's side one one day and I need to quickly fit a non cracked one to protect from damp etc while I order a replacement.
New lenses let through more light and stop more reflections off the front end. I expect they will allow the headlights to illuminate a bit brighter on the road surface now too.
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- Joined
- 25 Apr 2009
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Did yours have a perished seal for dirt to get inside? 
Fitted the re-replacement for the driver's side this fine afternoon, noticed a stone scratch on the passenger side...
Also, the windscreen that Autoglass fitted back in January has started to show a fault under the rain sensor coating bit:
Phoned them up as it's under lifetime guarantee, am due a call within 24hrs. Looks like I will be getting a new-new windscreen then
Fitted the re-replacement for the driver's side this fine afternoon, noticed a stone scratch on the passenger side...
Also, the windscreen that Autoglass fitted back in January has started to show a fault under the rain sensor coating bit:
Phoned them up as it's under lifetime guarantee, am due a call within 24hrs. Looks like I will be getting a new-new windscreen then
Soldato
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- 17 Sep 2007
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- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
Wouldn't they just refit the current one?
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Sep 2007
- Posts
- 11,099
- Location
- West Yorkshire / Market Bosworth
The one on my A1 was the same when it was replaced. In fact the auto wipers didn't even work since the new windscreen was fitted. Never bothered sorting it out though.
- Joined
- 25 Apr 2009
- Posts
- 2,780
- Location
- Sidcup
Did yours have a perished seal for dirt to get inside?
Fitted the re-replacement for the driver's side this fine afternoon, noticed a stone scratch on the passenger side...
http://robbiekhan.co.uk/root/temp/I_dont_even_care_anymore.gif[img]
Also, the windscreen that Autoglass fitted back in January has started to show a fault under the rain sensor coating bit:
[img]http://robbiekhan.co.uk/root/temp/_2DSC_0003.jpg[img]
Phoned them up as it's under lifetime guarantee, am due a call within 24hrs. Looks like I will be getting a new-new windscreen then :o[/QUOTE]
Didn't actually look to be honest.
Also had my rain/light sensor go like that, the auto wipers started going dodgy and then the auto-lights ceased to function. It was easy enough to remove the housing around the rear-view mirror and replace the sticky pad from the lens, however removing all of the sticky residue was a complete pig.
