Headlamp Swappage & Upgrade...

After the incident with the wagon driving asshat, I managed to track down only one matching lamp for my model (2000 P38) and one plain silver lamp from I think a 96 or perhaps 97 car...

So I was faced with a dilemma. do I bung it on and hope no once notices or do I do something about it?

I decided I could utilise our fan assisted oven and a sharp knife

Here's the (manky) culprit:



I got the plastic insert from my broken headlamp (the lens was fine, the plastic was ruined inc the reflector).

I set the oven at 110 degree's Celcius and popped the lamp in glass down immediately (no need to pre heat) as I was worried if I put a cold headlamp into a hot oven the thermal shock may cause even more stress.

I gave it a good 20 minutes and it sufficiently heated the glue (some type of mastic) until it was soft and the glass literally fell off (albeit with a little persuasion from a flat screw driver) leaving me with a blank canvas...

One tip: DO NOT touch the reflector surface or try to clean it as it will rub off or mark permanently!!



You'll note the reflector has small slots around it, the plastic trim fits straight on.



I tried the glass on to make sure the trim wasn't interfering or causing issue, then I glued it with super glue run into the mastic channels all the way around, then pulled tight with cable ties all around.



Once dry, any residue on the outer lens can be removed using a flat blade.

So then I rebuilt the whole lamp unit ready to be placed back on the car



Got a couple of jobs to do before it's all back together, but I'm happy with the progress

Nice result, and saved a few quid, i have seen them taken apart and painted black, but not as good as your repair

brianp38dse said:

Nice result, and saved a few quid, i have seen them taken apart and painted black, but not as good as your repair

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Thanks Brian. The Swedish guy who has some sort of online blog thingy painted his and I thought "stuff that! I have the parts..." The rest is history and I know now what to do. Buy a couple of smashed modern ones, buy some old (cheap) lamps and upgrade them, flog them for a profit

I like your thinking there, they do charge a lot more for them that`s for sure, when i upgraded mine i managed to find a pair for £80 from a guy that was braking one he got just for the v8 to go in a hot rod and managed to get a few other bits as well while i was there

Nice one, not sure about the super glue though,never had much luck with the stuff myself.

Another good write up Doo. Much better than the black spray ones.

Very impressive job that, well done that man

Datatek said:

Nice one, not sure about the super glue though,never had much luck with the stuff myself.

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Super glue has poor shear which is why you can peel fingers apart

kermit_rr said:

Super glue has poor shear which is why you can peel fingers apart

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Not as easy to remove a phone from an ear tho ...

Dippypud said:

Not as easy to remove a phone from an ear tho ...

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How would you know?

kermit_rr said:

How would you know?

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I has stupid friends and superglue was a nooo fing ...

Dippypud said:

I has stupid friends and superglue was a nooo fing ...

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Could be worse. They might have tried it on a Lil-let.

Grrrrrr said:

Could be worse. They might have tried it on a Lil-let.

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Watched them 'initiate' a young 17 year old male apprentice once ... then took him over to the nurse who had to extract his willy from a milk bottle ...

Dippypud said:

Watched them 'initiate' a young 17 year old male apprentice once ... then took him over to the nurse who had to extract his willy from a milk bottle ...

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I am somewhat surprised a 17 year old willy fits in a milk-bottle. I am guessing some sort of vacuum was required.

Grrrrrr said:

I am somewhat surprised a 17 year old willy fits in a milk-bottle. I am guessing some sort of vacuum was required.

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Nope, they plonked it in and tickled his balls ... then he couldn't get the bottle off ....

They were a mean bunch of girls, most of whom were old enough to be his mother ...

Dippypud said:

Watched them 'initiate' a young 17 year old male apprentice once ... then took him over to the nurse who had to extract his willy from a milk bottle ...

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We used to have 2 place desks at school with lift up lids, in the bottom was hole for sweeping out debris, one dumb lad at the back of the class managed to insert his willy into the hole, as his knob expanded he became stuck which caused great hilarity when he couldn't stand up at the end of the lesson.

Dippypud said:

Not as easy to remove a phone from an ear tho ...

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I glued my nostril closed once.

I had super glue on my finger after doing some plastic work, and picked me nose 'innit

Around a minute later i noticed me nostril burning, and it was glued,.

WD40 to the rescue
good stuff. burns ya throat though

Henry_b said:

I glued my nostril closed once.

I had super glue on my finger after doing some plastic work, and picked me nose 'innit

Around a minute later i noticed me nostril burning, and it was glued,.

WD40 to the rescue
good stuff. burns ya throat though

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Glue sniffer
was all the rage in my yoof.

Might the heat from the headlight cause the glue to weaken?

Col