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  1. #1
    ephatch member i-WERKS's Avatar
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    Painting Headlights Need HELP!

    I'm planning on painting my Headlights however I need some help on removing the bumper. I've checked the HOW TO section but I wasn't that detailed. I know that there are a bunch of clips on the bottom of the bumper. Is it necessary to remove the screws as well? After all that are there any tips on removing the bumper i.e. pull the bumper from the front, sides or top.
    I tried removing it when installing the Injen CAI but I was having trouble on how to take it off after removing all the clips and screws so I just removed the plastic in the wheel well.
    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    ssvr6
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    That's EXACTLY what happened to me. Too funny.

    Details would be great for me as well.

    Could someone also mention what tape they use (exact brand and model if possible). I don't want to remove the reflective material if at all possible.

    Thanks,

    Steve

  3. #3
    this.setRootCause(last);
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    I had some trouble getting the bumper off, but it's actually pretty easy. You have to remove all the clips and all the screws (don't miss the tricky ones in the wheel wells). Then you just pull (hard) the corner of the bumper near the wheel well out perpendicular from the side of the car, and it will snap out of it's tounge and groove fastener. I put a blanket down, which I recommend to keep from having your bumper get scratched.

    As for tape, I used some masking tape that was designed for use on glass and mirrors. I don't think it's very critical though. I'm sure regular masking tape would work fine. I used some general purpose indoor/outdoor black spray. Also, I didn't use any extra silicone when putting the headlights back together, I just reheated and stuck them back together with the sealant that was on them originally. It worked well, they sealed back up fine. Several car washes and days and days of rain, and no condensation.

    There's some good threads on this subject. I'm happy I painted my lights, I think they look really good. It takes forever and a day to do though, so don't have anything else planned and start early in the day.

  4. #4
    DRIVER 02blksi's Avatar
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  5. #5
    ephatch member 02SilverSiHB's Avatar
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    Originally posted by 02blksi
    how to headlights... click me!
    I could have sworn he just mentioned that didn't help him.
    It didn't help me either.

  6. #6
    this.setRootCause(last);
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    You try it yet, i-WERKS? I have some pictures of mine I'll probably get around to putting up sometime.

  7. #7
    ephatch member i-WERKS's Avatar
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    Originally posted by NamingException
    You try it yet, i-WERKS? I have some pictures of mine I'll probably get around to putting up sometime.
    I didn't try it yet since it has been quite cold recently. In the HOW TO SECTION it says there are 8 clips along the bottom with 2 screws that part is ok. Then it says there are 2 in the wheel well where I only found 1. If you have pics, I'd appreciate it.

  8. #8
    ephatch member
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    if i'm not mistaken there is one phillips screw in each fender wheel midway up the fender and it is at the area where the fender mates to the bumper. also a personal tip start early so u dont get stuck finishing in the dark. :)

  9. #9
    this.setRootCause(last);
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    That's right, there's only one screw in each side, there's not two. I think he meant two screws total. I didn't take much in the way of pictures of the process, but I think I have a couple of the headlight apart showing the way I masked it. If I have time later today I'll post some.

  10. #10
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    Hey, i-werks! What paint are you gonna use? I used tamiya brand model paint, that you suggested. I did it a couple months ago, and it looks sweet. It was the most reflective paint, that I tested. Just wondering.

  11. #11
    this.setRootCause(last);
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    Okay, here's some pictures.

    First, one with the bumper and headlights removed:

    Here's the way I masked the housing (I used OrganDonor's for inspiration):

    Finished, from the front:

    From the top:

    Car from the front:


    I think it came out pretty good. I need to adjust the bumper a little bit, I wasn't too careful when I put it back on and there is a bit more gap between it and the hood than there should be. Feel free to feed me your questions.

    Edit: Ugh. I forgot to blank my tags, and so I had to upload some of the pictures again. Imagestation is such a pain in the ass.
    Last edited by NamingException; 10-25-2002 at 12:23 PM.

  12. #12
    ephatch member 02SilverSiHB's Avatar
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    Originally posted by NamingException
    Okay, here's some pictures.

    First, one with the bumper and headlights removed:

    Here's the way I masked the housing (I used OrganDonor's for inspiration):

    Finished, from the front:

    From the top:

    Car from the front:


    I think it came out pretty good. I need to adjust the bumper a little bit, I wasn't too careful when I put it back on and there is a bit more gap between it and the hood than there should be. Feel free to feed me your questions.
    looks great. you did really good on masking. Watch for condensation. I have some in my passenger side one, but I know why, it's an easy fix.

  13. #13
    this.setRootCause(last);
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    Originally posted by 02SilverSiHB

    looks great. you did really good on masking. Watch for condensation. I have some in my passenger side one, but I know why, it's an easy fix.
    I did my best sticking them back together. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to do a good enough job, because I had to mangle the edges of the headlights pretty good getting them apart. I'm nearly certain that I won't have any condensation, it's rained for days several times since I did this. Thanks for the compliment.

  14. #14
    ephatch member i-WERKS's Avatar
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    looks good but the first pic are not working for me. Must have been tough to mask it. Another question. Where did you start prying apart the headlight. You said that you mangled it pretty bad but it doesn't show in the pics.

    chenchao I'm planning on using the Gunmetal color from Tamiya. That spray paint is the best. Always comes out smooth and even.

  15. #15
    this.setRootCause(last);
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    Originally posted by i-WERKS
    looks good but the first pic are not working for me. Must have been tough to mask it. Another question. Where did you start prying apart the headlight. You said that you mangled it pretty bad but it doesn't show in the pics.
    The first picture is pretty unimportant anyway. I just like it because the car looks like it was stripped for parts with the bumper and headlights off it.

    It's hard to pry the headlight apart, which resulted in the edges getting beat up from me sticking a screwdriver in to pry them apart. I didn't worry about it much, because I knew that it wouldn't show. If I got them hotter it probably wouldn't have been an issue. I recommend leaving the headlights in the oven for longer than the how-to recommends, like three times as long. You can start pretty much anywhere on the headlight you can get a good grip. There's little tabs on it, just make sure you're not fighting against them. Get a corner of it to come apart, grab on as best you can, and pull really hard.

    It's not really that hard to mask the housing; it just takes goddam forever.
    Last edited by NamingException; 10-25-2002 at 01:23 PM.

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