The 8520: How to clear corner your headlights without baking them

[8520]

Super easy.

1. Remove headlights - see my other write uphere.

2. Insert 90degree or hook pick through turn signal opening and hook on to the center of the amber lens.



3. Pull towards you firmly until the lens either snaps in half (ideal) or comes out of its slot (not so ideal). In the next picture as you can see, the second headlight Jason and I did wasn't very cooperative.



4. With a pair of long side cutters, reach though the bulb opening and start cutting the lens in to smaller and smaller pieces. This will take some patience. The idea is to get small enough pieces to fall through the bulb opening, though in retrospect in might be easier to remove the projector and then remove the complete amber piece without having to cut it up.

5. Once you're done with those pieces, blow the headlight out with an air nozzle, add some non orange bulbs and you're good to go.

[awdjunkies]

I like it, quick and simple.

[jmgraham78]

super amazing photography!

[blkrhyno]

You should start all your DIY headings like that 'The 8520" I like that.

[audifirst]

Probably the guy from Ireland is crying now that you broke the amber pieces...

[Brens]

Probably the guy from Ireland is crying now that you broke the amber pieces...

What part of this joke am I missing?

[DJPoochi]

What part of this joke am I missing?

Euro guys apparently LOVE clear corners while the US guys love to get rid of em - even by breaking them, leaving the Euro guys without.

[khalimadeath]

I just heated up the side of the lens with a hair dryer and simply pulled it apart. I have done this on and off the car.

[Brens]

Euro guys apparently LOVE clear corners while the US guys love to get rid of em - even by breaking them, leaving the Euro guys without.

You mean they love amber piieces? Cause if they love clear corners they wouldn't mind us breaking ours apart...

Brendan

[DJPoochi]

You mean they love amber piieces? Cause if they love clear corners they wouldn't mind us breaking ours apart...

Brendan

Errrrr. Yeah - they love ambers. I think euros came stock as CCs, and US having ambers. ...and apparently everyone is a "grass is greener" kind of person. Lol

[audifirst]

What part of this joke am I missing?

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ture-heavy-D-)

this guy from Ireland has been buying amber corners unbroken ,
if you scroll down to his photo of ride you can see orange corners installed , it is hot commodity in Europe..

[KFC.ONE]

I just heated up the side of the lens with a hair dryer and simply pulled it apart. I have done this on and off the car.

You pulled the headlight apart while it was still in on the car?


General question regarding the DIY:

When removing the headlights and reinstalling them do I have to be concerned about their aim or will none of that be affected?

[RafalC5]

Probably the guy from Ireland is crying now that you broke the amber pieces...

thats good one :D

Errrrr. Yeah - they love ambers. I think euros came stock as CCs, and US having ambers. ...and apparently everyone is a "grass is greener" kind of person. Lol

always it this way, people want to have something what's unusual around them, same like in US u r doing cc mod or looking for euro plate panels

[eran says]

Do not do this method, you will scratch the silver paint in the lamp. I was super afraid of baking my headlights but it turned into a 10 minute job once the headlights were off the car. Once you bake the lights, just break the clips holding the amber on with a set of pliers.

[8520]

Do you have actual experience with scratching them? I've done two sets this way without scratching them.

[eran says]

Do you have actual experience with scratching them? I've done two sets this way without scratching them.

Yea and I was super careful, I could not get the amber to break once I had it free. I stopped once I noticed the first scratch and went to baking. Took less time than it would have the other way. If you can do it without baking them, more power to you. I had no luck with it.

[turboboyb5]

Oh too bad you broke them to pieces!
I want those. we get EU spec overhere. so amber light kinda cool

if anyone want to get rid of those, now I want 3 pairs haha cuz I have 3 C5s at home

[Widebody4.2]

Haha this blows my mind. . . . give me your amber lenses hahahahaha

[turboboyb5]

oh FYI


I also did the parking lights........US style haha

Amber lenses Amber lenses Amber lenses

[8520]

Re: step 4.

For those of you concerned about scratching your lenses, here is an alternate/easier way. Unbolt the 3 7mm nuts holding the projector housing from the backside of the headlight. Spin it halfway around, then follow the pictures.





I used a long needle nose pliers to remove the ambers through opening pictured above.

[audifirst]

you are working too hard, you said before you be doing work slowly I bet you be done with everything in 5 days...

[8520]

Eh. I had some free time at work

[audifirst]

so when is transmission getting installed ?

[8520]

I'll be done with that in about 20 minutes.























Kidding. Hopefully in the next 6months. Once the a6 is gone it will happen a lot quicker.

[awdjunkies]

I'll be done with that in about 20 minutes.























Kidding. Hopefully in the next 6months. Once the a6 is gone it will happen a lot quicker.

Pshh!! I only read the top half and got very excited !!! lol

[Gumby]

what product are you using to refinish your lenses? i'm finally* getting around to fnishing my 3" bixenon projector retrofit, i just need to refinish my lenses and reassemble everything. yours look perfect. and did you seal them?

[8520]

They're not perfect actually. I'm not completely happy with them but they are way better. I wet sanded with 400/600/800/1200/1500 then used a cutting compound with two different wool pads then used a plastic polish with two different foam pads. I haven't uv sealed them yet.

They look great from 5/10 feet away but up close they're not incredible.

[Gumby]

Gotcha. They look really good in that picture though! I'm pretty picky when I refinish headlights too.

[BlackOnBlackA6]

... I haven't uv sealed them yet.

They look great from 5/10 feet away but up close they're not incredible.

How does one UV seal them? Oh, by the way... Thanks for the 'How to' remove your headlights. I just bought my wife and myself replacement HIDs because they went pink on both our cars.

[8520]

There's a couple different products out there. Some people use spar urethane diluted 50/50 with water iirc. I used what came in the meguiars kit last set I did.

[redneck truck]

Meguiars paste wax

[8520]

Meguiars paste wax

That doesn't have any uv Protectants does it?

[redneck truck]

Probably not, but it's what I've always used and the haze doesn't come back.

[BlackOnBlackA6]

How ... Or I should ask, can you take out the headlights without removing the bumper? I've removed them from my 98' A4, but this headlight I could not finagle out and almost broke the casing trying to get out AND putting back in when I gave up.

Trying to remove to do this awesome modification and to polish and clear out the lens.

[8520]

In essence you have to pry the nub out of the white clip and be very crafty. Honestly I don't recommend doing it this way. I've broken a couple clips when I've taken the headlights out with the bumper on. It's not that hard to take the bumper off anyways.

[bradnic]

They're not perfect actually. I'm not completely happy with them but they are way better. I wet sanded with 400/600/800/1200/1500 then used a cutting compound with two different wool pads then used a plastic polish with two different foam pads. I haven't uv sealed them yet.

They look great from 5/10 feet away but up close they're not incredible.

late to the party but fyi - just keep going on the sanding. at 1500 grit the lenses look clear but dull and a bit hazy. you can get 2000 and 3000 grit paper on amazon or in a meguiars headlamp resto kit. after 3000 get some plastic polish and buff. crystal clear lenses guaranteed.

[redneck truck]

Brad, care to sell your mini? I'm looking for a jcw edition.

[8520]

late to the party but fyi - just keep going on the sanding. at 1500 grit the lenses look clear but dull and a bit hazy. you can get 2000 and 3000 grit paper on amazon or in a meguiars headlamp resto kit. after 3000 get some plastic polish and buff. crystal clear lenses guaranteed.

I've done a few more sets since the write up and I use the meguiars kit that has the 1500 and 3000 as well. The more recent sets I've done have come out a lot better.

[xdewaynex]

Headlights look good. I broke the tab/mount piece on the bottom of both of my headlights. I wasnt aware there was a mounting point there, and got a bit too aggressive. It sucks, b/c the tabs on my passenger light are half way broke, and now it wiggles.

[redneck truck]

That stinks! To be fair, though, it is pretty well documented how to remove them.