headlight modifications help!

[diesel_ash]

Alright guys, I want to take my headlights apart and paint the insides black, ghetto gti headlights i guess?!! i just want to know if anyones done this yet? im pretty sure im gonna have to take my front bumper off, any tips more than welcome! but what temp do you heat the headlights so that the glue goes soft? Any tips welcome, cheers guys!!

[Karson3270]

Hi there ash. You most definately have to take your front bumper off. If you have any idea how to do this then you should be on your way. But if not, search the forums for a guide, I know there is a guide hanging about how to take the entire front bumper out.

Each of your headlamps are attached by 3 T20 torx screws (Top at the side and underneath). Heat it around 250 degrees? I'm not too sure but you have to monitor it carefully incase you melt any plastics. Make sure you remove all bulbs when doing this. Also make sure you place in the middle of the racks in your oven.

Hope this helps

[diesel_ash]

cheers for that, 250 degrees??!! i was thinking 70 or 80! ive got no idea about how to take the bumper off but im gonna have a good go at it!!

[Shaheenem]

I have done the "JOEY MOD" to my original Polo headlights. Didnt feel like paying an arm and a leg for PGti headlights. This cost me almost nothing if you think of it. Used a heat gun to heat up the edges. Took me 3 hours on each headlight to get the lense seperated.

Just a lot of time, a bottle of sealant and a can of spray.

Have a look at the results.

First pic is the lense with the chrome backing.




Second pic is of the headlight backing.




Third pic is of the chrome backing that unscrews from the lense with 3 screws.




Forth pic is of the chrome backing that i sanded down and sprayed. Sorry for the poor quality pic. Camera didnt focus.




Fifth pic. A comparison of the normal headlight with the one I sprayed.




All sealed and put back together. Just left to dry for 24 hours.




And a before...




And after...

[diesel_ash]

cheers for that!! ive got the day off work so im gonna try and do it today, but my missus is doing a good job of f**k*ng that up. gti headlights are a ripoff, so this is the best way. ill take pics when im done. btw seriously jealous of your engine and gearbox, my puny 1.4 tdi would barely run your aircon

[Shaheenem]

Cheers mate! Just do it slowly. I just used the heat gun with a flat screwdriver to get it apart.

Good luck bud!

[diesel_ash]

cor blimey, spent all day getting the lights apart, absoloutely butchered them, but theyre apart!!!
trying to make a bit of a guide, itll put people off more than anything

i cant believe how well stuck those fokkers are.

[Shaheenem]

Tell me about it mate! My hands were so sore after taking them apart. Yeah, post some pics when you done! Sure it will come out great... Plus it turns out the same as gti headlights!

[Shaheenem]

Any updates?

[diesel_ash]

slow process, one job a night!!! gonna spend half a day painting and the rest fitting tomorrow so hopefully gonna get some updatable material sunday. Hopefully good news!!

[diesel_ash]

just waiting for the mastic to dry and then a quick dry in the oven. Then im gonna fit em! this is one killa job!

[Shaheenem]

Sweet! Eagerly awaiting those pics...

[zedzo]

I was gona do this on my headlights, then after thinking about it im a bit clumsy and ll probly end up burning the lights and setting the house on fire. so i went for the Daylines Insted there actualli realli nice in real life dont luk bad at all

[diesel_ash]

My ghetto headlight build thread is complete, its in the 9n3 forum. please have a look!