Headlamp Lens cracked - what replacement?

[stevep2000]

Probably a stone or something but glass on off-side headlamp is cracked. Have seen some going on ebay, but not sure whether they were varied by model/year? From Rennlist seems like some US models had different ligths with a retaining ring. Mine's an '89 S2. I know it has some kind of adjustment motor attached, as had trouble trying to remove it to replace a bulb recently - is there a knack to it?

 

[Fen]

You shouldn't remove the light to replace a bulb, just the lid of the pod. US lights are totally different as they dip to the other side.

Beyond that I think they are all the same. You'll probably need new clips for the adjusters as the old ones will break through going brittle if you pull them off, though I think you only need to remove a silver ring to get the unit out without disturbing the bowl - it's a long time since I did it though and I've messed with other cars since and could be getting mixed up.

 

[xenon]

the headlamp lens is the same as a Mk.1 or Mk. 2 VW Golf (Rabbit) and may be cheaper to source from there.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: xenon

the headlamp lens is the same as a Mk.1 or Mk. 2 VW Golf (Rabbit) and may be cheaper to source from there.

Are they? I have heard this, but doubted it - the Golfs had the side lights in the main headlight unit as a small bulb poked through an additional hole. This hole won't be present on the 944 lens as the sidelights are in the bumper ... (although you could probably fit the VW unit and plug the hole.)


Oli.

 

[xenon]

That's a good point. It would be easy to block the hole with reflective tape but I hadn't considered that - I was going by what I was told.... [8D]

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: xenon

That's a good point. It would be easy to block the hole with reflective tape but I hadn't considered that - I was going by what I was told.... [8D]

I believed it for about 6 months as well!

I doubt you would need reflective tape - just something to keep water out of the unit. (A rubber bung, for instance, if that didn't melt in the heat - these things get pretty hot.)

I have seen a photo recently of a 944 with (vile) "crystal" lights fitted to the front, which looked very like the sort of tat that our friendly local ASBO-owners bolt to their Golfs. Given that the market for such things in the 944 world will be tiny (and you don't see them 99% of the time anyway on 944's) I would strongly suspect that they were Golf units. Which would suggest that yes, you can fit Golf headlight units to a 944.


Oli.

 

[berg944]

I fitted the golf one (abt £15 from euro)

Just fit a rubber plug in the side light hole.

Fitting the unit was easy but the mounting ring had a smaller flat on the top so I could not get the covers back on []

In the end I just used the old ring.

I do not have electric adjusters.

Mike[:'(]

 

[xenon]

Silver tape (as it has a high-temparature adhesive) was the weapon of choice for BMW e46 owners removing the conventional sidelights to fit CCFL "Angel Eyes". I didn't do this on my e46, obviously, for the reasons you mention. []

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: xenon
CCFL "Angel Eyes".

?

 

[xenon]

CCFL = Cold Cathode Flourescent Lighting. It was introduced by BMW on the e39 5 series - also known as halo lights where the sidelights are crisp, white circles around the main lights. Looks good on a 5 as OEM, looks bad (IMO) on a 3 series.

 

[zcacogp]

Oh, interesting. Thanks.


Oli.

 

[Fen]

"Angel eyes" (a term I hate with a passion, but it's the only one people understand so I do use it) are naff as you like unless OEM. They are actually quite yellow on an e39 though (I have one).

I put clear lights on my MX5 Oli, but not to be chav - they were about 300% better than the original style lenses as they utilise the reflector to direct the beam rather than the glass, which I think has to be more efficient (given that all lights have a reflector). They also have less places to get dirty over time. I hate the look though and especially with those cross hairs some Golf ones have []

 

[xenon]

The earlier e39 had the rings lit with a normal 5w incandescent bulb (hence a yellow colour) and later ones had CCFL. Or were all CCFLs aftermarket? Can't remember now.

 

[Fen]

All aftermarket on the e39. It was only introduced at all in the MY2000 facelift and that was the last one as the model ended in 2003.

 

[xenon]

OK. I think the CCFL rings look good on the E39 but chavvy on the E46. My E46 had factory-fit Bi Xenon which were the best lights I've ever had. I've fitted bi-xenon to the 944 too and whilst it vastly improves the H4 halogen bulb it can't match the e46.

 

[Fen]

Single xenon is all I have had (both e39 and RS6), but TBH that gets you 90% of the benefit of bi-xenon I bet. You're right that it makes an incredible difference.

 

[xenon]

ORIGINAL: Fen

Single xenon is all I have had (both e39 and RS6), but TBH that gets you 90% of the benefit of bi-xenon I bet. You're right that it makes an incredible difference.

Agreed.