Oxygen

My passenger side headlamp is not sealed completely... it gets foggy during rain and car washes... plus as you all know I have a spyder permanently trapped in there that has long died.

I need to take out the headlamp unit, remove the plastic lens and clean it out and seal it.

I just tried taking it out... I took out the two screws that hold it in, but it wont come out because it will not clear the bumper.

Do I seriously have to take off the whole freaking front bumper to take out the headlamp? I mean it's a great theft deterent, but do I really have to take off the front bumper?

It's a MY2003 by the way.

PS: For those of you wondering about taking the lens off, look at the pictures at the little tabs that you can remove and take the lens off the light. There is a layer of glue there also, but that should be replaced after you clean the lens.

Oxygen

Yes? No? Maybe? Someone?

rvhoof

If it's a MY2003 shouldn't it be covered under warranty or are you over your 50K mark? No extended warranty?

Ron

angelglo

no need to take out the bumper

Oxygen

Okay? So how do I get the headlights out?

Wolfman

With a lot of care

You can do it without removing the bumper but will have to bend it a bit and there is a risk to scratch the paint.
What you do is to remove the two top bumper screws next to each headlight (the rusty screw in your last image). This will allow you to pull down and forward the front part of the bumper a bit, enough the clear the tab.
Be sure to remove all mounting screws first and remove the turnlights.

Hope this helps...

Wolfman

02S430

Yea that rusty screw where the grill sits on both side needs to come out and be pushed in or pulled out which ever works for which way. then it sud be smooth sailing

Oxygen

I gave up on this little project.

I did what you guys said, the headlight was free from the body, but for my LIFE I could not get the plugs out of the back, they just would not come out.

After cutting my hands all over the place, with my blood and sweat all over the bumper, the headlight, I gave up and put it back in place.

Wolfman

Sorry to hear that I assume you mean the electrical connectors? They are locking connectors which you unlock by pressing on the sides (don't remember; looking at the connector shows where they lock).
Either way, the difficult part of actually disassembling the headlight was still ahead of you, so perhaps it was a good choice for you to stop and not break the thing...

Wolfman

kevint

I have the same problem. My passener side headlight has fog, water drops inside for the last couple day. I was not sure how water got inside. There 's no crack on the light housing in front that I can see. To replace the whole unit is too expensive. I think if I can take the whoe unit out, I can use the hairdryer to dry out all the mosture inside, then try to use some kind of glue to seal where there potential leak. Anyone knows if this solution works. Or have any better way to do it. I rather fix it first before replacing the thing. i never know how to take the unit out. Anyone can provide step by step or point me to the right place, I'd appreciate your help. The picture above were taken too focua on the spot I can't see the whole picture to understand the process.
Mine 2003 S430 4matic

tusabes

if you cant even get it out it is unlikely you will be making a successful repair