Evening all

 

So in the next few weeks I am planning to take apart my head lights and spray the inside black.

Now I've seen a few posts and pictures to do with the MK1 and MK2 Pre-FL but not the MK2 FL headlight unit being disassembled. I only saw one person say they had tried but gave up as they couldn't get it apart.

So a few questions;

If you have done it, what method did you use? I was thinking of the oven technique, but was worried the plastic lens may discolor/ melt. All the videos I have seen using this technique the lens has been glass not plastic. (EDIT: Having just said that I've just seen someone do a plastic lens fine)

 

If you have got it apart what sealant was on it originally, and was it easy/ hard to remove? What did you use to re-seal it?

 

Any other tips you have got will also be greatly appreciated.

 

The car is a Octavia FL 09 VRS

 

Cheers

 

Rusty

Edited 17 April, 201610 yr by RustyHill

If you mean spraying the whole inside reflector lens black, apart from getting a different look, WHY? While most drivers want better light output from their headlights, you seem to want far less. Try to think how much light output you are going to get if the mirror effect interior does not reflect out the light of the bulb. Dangerous me thinks! If you are going to blacken the whole inside reflector,  I hope you don't kill anybody that you do not see in time!! Of course if I have got your intention wrong, ignore this part of the post.

The last time I took apart a fog light, just to renew the broken glass lens mind, I used  a heat gun, gently moving it around the edge till it softened the glue. Seeing as though the glass lens was already broken, it did not matter when I broke it up more with a screwdriver to get it off. I would not like to try to get a glass lens off without braking it though, as the glue around the lens is fairly sticky, even when you do soften it up with heat. I would have thought a plastic lens might cause you more problems. I have read other people have achieved it though. When I put the new lens on, I used araldite glue around the edges, put it together and added some clear silicon on the outer edge just to make sure there was no water ingress. It was perfect for the next 2 years I had the car. 

If you mean spraying the whole inside reflector lens black, apart from getting a different look, WHY? While most drivers want better light output from their headlights, you seem to want far less. Try to think how much light output you are going to get if the mirror effect interior does not reflect out the light of the bulb. Dangerous me thinks! If you are going to blacken the whole inside reflector,  I hope you don't kill anybody that you do not see in time!! Of course if I have got your intention wrong, ignore this part of the post.

 

The FL Octavia has projector headlights so it'll be fine to spray most the externally visible silver plastic. Obviously I'd expect the OP to mask off or remove the sidelight/indicator/main beam reflectors otherwise they'll become useless

 

I had a look into this myself and it appears the sealant/glue used is pretty resistant to heat so most people seem to use a dremel or similar and cut the front off. If you do try it I'd be interested to hear how you get on...

 

I assume you're aiming for something like this:

You can even add a little colour:

I was just starting a reply, and was getting a few pics together, and I had the same 3 pics as you have just put up to show what I meant,  minus the bottom one!

Yes that is exactly what I am doing.

 

I will be masking off the indicator area and a large portion of the high beam reflective area. Basically trying to get the look of the Superskoda ones without the price tag!

And yes it is just for looks, having done a bit of research they do seem to be road legal so thought I would give it a try. If it does drastically reduce the light out put (which I don't think it will..... maybe) I will strip it all back out.

Edited 17 April, 201610 yr by RustyHill

As long as the reflectors aren't painted it should make no difference to light output or beam pattern. Don't bother with the Superskoda versions as they a LHD only and definitely no good for use in the UK.
 
It's a very popular mod in Russia and there is at least a couple of shops that'll do it for you including this one http://wrc.su/exterior-skoda-octaviaa5-headlights/ no idea if they would be willing to give you any tips, might be worth a little bit of google translate into Russian
 
Couple of images of headlights that have been spilt, looks like a cut to me.

Hmmm I was really hoping to not have to cut it open, more chance of a big mistake that way.

 

I noticed on a lot of those pics the indicator 'channel' for a better term is all white, do you think that is painted or a new part put in?

Edited 17 April, 201610 yr by RustyHill

All I can suggest is that you try the heat method and see what happens, if it doesn't soften the bond then move onto a dremel.

 

I have a spare pair of FL halogen headlights in great condition if it all goes wrong

 

edit:

I would be very surprised if it wasn't the original indicator lens that's been painted. Most conversions I've seen tend to add an LED strip behind it as I expect a standard halogen bulb won't be bright enough any more.

Edited 17 April, 201610 yr by langers2k

Well I have been trying most of today to split it, and I have come to the conclusion that is is nearly impossible. If it can be done I don't know how!

 

I'm not going to cut it open. I don't fancy breaking them.

 

 

Oh well was worth a try. Now I'm going to put it all back together and see how badly distorted they are with all the pulling and twisting.

 

 

Edit: They went back in fine! Now I need to find myself a pair of old headlights to cut open and spray!

Edited 24 April, 201610 yr by RustyHill

One question - why go to all this just to get your lights looking black? Sorry, really cannot see the point of this at all. It may look OK when it's first done, but over time, surely it will start to peel, especially with the head generated from the headlight bulbs.

 

Mike

 

Why go to the trouble? Well personally ( and I realise some will not agree) I like the look of black head light units. There aren't any genuine black headlights available so thought I would give it a go. I haven't lost out by trying.

If the surface is properly prepared, with a good plastic primer and a good few layers of paint then it should not peel off. On my old car I sprayed the engine cover, and that lasted 3 years before I sold it. If that could survive and not bubble or peel then I feel the headlight housing will be fine. 

I enjoy a little challenge, this was my latest one!

Now I need to find myself a pair of old headlights to cut open and spray!

 

Drop me an offer for my old pair in a PM

Tried on my pre fl and it was a pain in the ass. Some have done it with success but me I ended up with depo units, much easier

Tried on my pre fl and it was a pain in the ass. Some have done it with success but me I ended up with depo units, much easier

 

The opening was hard or the spraying was hard?

 

Drop me an offer for my old pair in a PM

PM Sent

The opening, have patience and take your time but don't heat to much if using a heat gun.

My lense cracked so I'm now in the process of making a vent

One question - why go to all this just to get your lights looking black? Sorry, really cannot see the point of this at all. It may look OK when it's first done, but over time, surely it will start to peel, especially with the head generated from the headlight bulbs.

 

Mike

 

As with anything the devil is in the detail and those Dame Edner Everadge style head lamps would definatley benafit with a good toning down.....

The plastic half's (lens and body) in more recent headlights are often "welded" together, essentially the seam is heated to melting point and they are permanently fused together.

 

Cutting really is the only option if you want to split them, neatest solution is a cutting tip for a soldering iron:

 

 

Edited 19 August, 20169 yr by Muzza80

So I thought I would update this. It's been a while but I finally got around to trying it. I'm quite pleased with the result.

I got hold of a set of spare headlights and gave it a crack. Used the technique in the video above to open them and then melted back together with silicon over the top to seal them. Been 3 months now with them in and had no leaking or any problems really. Light output is the same as far as I can tell so that's good!

If anyone is interested I got a load of pictures along the way to show what I did if anyone else want to do it too.

Rusty

 

1 hour ago, RustyHill said:

If anyone is interested I got a load of pictures along the way to show what I did if anyone else want to do it too.

 

Nice work, any pictures you have of where you cut and how the cut looks now you've sealed them together would be great  

2 hours ago, langers2k said:

 

Nice work, any pictures you have of where you cut and how the cut looks now you've sealed them together would be great  

I'll get a load of pictures up tomorrow.

I used two main tools in the soldering iron to open and close the lens. I bought the blanks off Ebay but they didn't fit so had to reduce them down in size and length, then put a thread on, that is why they look a little homemade....

The two, the knife one was for opening and the flat was for closing. The knife shaped one I made thinner as originally it was taking out a lot of material, also by making it thinner it kept the blade hotter for longer making it slightly quicker to melt open.

http://

http://

 

 

 

Where the black plastic is tight to the edge of the lens, I cut some extra black plastic away so I could cut away from the edge.

http://

http://

 

 

 

Then worked my way around trying to be in the middle of the side of the lens as much as possible.

http://

http://

http://

 

 

 

Carefully store the lens, you do not want dust or scratches on the inside of the lens as you will not be able to remove this once back together.

http://

 

 

 

Cut the tabs holding the middle bit in

http://

 

 

Once all are done it will come out easily

http://

 

 

Spray the inside however you want.... I'll skip this bit for now.

 

 

 

Once sprayed and happy use the flat headed solder head to melt and push the plastic back together.

http://

http://

 

For extra strength you can melt a small bit of wire into the plastic over the join to make it extra strong. I did this on all of the internal joints but not on the exterior

http://

http://

 

 

Once all the inside bits are done move onto the outside. I used a clamp to hold the lens on firmly while a joined up a few small areas around the lens, bit like tack welding before doing the main weld.

Carefully work your way around folding plastic onto itself to seal up. Try not to leave any gaps.

 http://

http://

http://

 

Once it’s all done it 'should' be water tight if you haven't left any gaps. However I wasn't 100% sure so I smothered the sides in silicon to make sure, also gives it a bit of extra strength.

http://

 

 

 

Done :-)

 

Rusty

 

Edited 20 May, 20179 yr by RustyHill
Spelling

Quite a neat job! How long did the cutting/sealing take?

I took my time so an hour to open each one. Make sure you are in a well ventilated place, it stinks and can't imagine it’s good for you.

 

Sealing took about the same amount of time each.

Well done!!! thanks for the manual. Something like that i need on mine!

22 hours ago, ibuprofenn said:

Well done!!! thanks for the manual. Something like that i need on mine!

 

It will look good on yours! I need to get my wheels done in black too, do like the look of your ones! Is it a matt or gloss finish?

Gloss mate... Hopefully im buying spare set of headlights over weekend, so will have time to play with them still planning to plasti dip vrs and Octavia sign front and back (well except the red strip in "R" and to put front and later maybe rear diffuser on it and ill be happy

Hello! Can i mount bi-xenon  lens in halogen h7 headlights?