E53 Headlights - Yukky Yellow

[Greig]

G'day Fellas (N Gals)

My Headlights are ruining the look of my lovely (11 year old) X5. They're yellow and nasty and hazy.

I phoned the stealer to enquire about replacement costs, and the least said about that encounter the better  :blink:

I've seen a few after market ones on ebay, but I didnt really necessarily want to change over to Angel Eyes or Xenons (Unless it's going to be really really easy to do?)

Does anyone have any links to direct replacements?

[X5-D-Sport]

Are the lights yellow, or is it that the plastic lenses are yellowed  ?

The angel eyes are upgradable with LEDs instead of standard bulbs....
And go to HID Direct for a HID conversion to the mail lighting.... do not go higher than 6K colour temperature, as you just get Blue light that is sodding useless at night.

[Horizon]

[quote="Greig"]
G'day Fellas (N Gals)

My Headlights are ruining the look of my lovely (11 year old) X5. They're yellow and nasty and hazy.

I phoned the stealer to enquire about replacement costs, and the least said about that encounter the better  :blink:

I've seen a few after market ones on ebay, but I didnt really necessarily want to change over to Angel Eyes or Xenons (Unless it's going to be really really easy to do?)

Does anyone have any links to direct replacements?
Look in buy and sell section , Depo headlights for sale if it's a pre facelift
Is it a facelift or pre facelift, makes a big difference?????
[/quote]
Look in buy and sell section if it's a pre facelift, James Whippy is selling some Depo headlights

[Greig]

Thanks Guys,

Its a Pre face lift (Tight arse version - didnt want to pay £500 a year in tax)

I'll have a poke around then.

Mr. Salisbury, It's the lenses that are grimey and horrid.

[Smeeagain]

you can polish up the lenses to get the clear again. Meguiars Plastex is the product to use - look on youtube for polishing headlight lenses

Smee

[shadrack]

[quote="Greig"]
Thanks Guys,

Its a Pre face lift (Tight arse version - didnt want to pay £500 a year in tax)

I'll have a poke around then.

Mr. Salisbury, It's the lenses that are grimey and horrid.
[/quote]

some facelifts aren't £500 a year tax,high tax is post 21st march 06, facelift is 04ish

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi again from Salisbury...

As per our learned friends suggestion - Maguire's lens polish is definitely the stuff to use...
Get the kit + an additional pot,  & stick the disk polisher in a battery drill...

Be prepared to actually do some hard work on these, but an hour or two each will produce a good result...
Do a small area at a time, lots of polishing fluid too...

Mask off the rest of the vehicle near the lamps as this polish will be splattered every where other wise.

You should be able to bring these lenses up to NEW standard.... and save you a few ££hundred.

Grant B

[Greig]

Thanks Chaps!!

Maguires kit plus extra pot ordered and that's my Saturday morning taken care of.


Thanks.

[X5-D-Sport]

Oh,
you will also need a roll of 1" masking tape to protect the body work from accidental abrasion/damage of the buffing wheel thing & to secure news paper masking too...

AND........ a roll of polishing cloths.. these are usually multi coloured and a pack of 12 or so for a fiver... washable too, so don't throw them !

[graemeX5]

Hi

Have a look at this link by dpbayly he did an amazing job on refurbish his headlights might be of use

Hth

http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/t ... l#msg86269

[Smeeagain]

[quote="Greig"]
Thanks Chaps!!

Maguires kit plus extra pot ordered and that's my Saturday morning taken care of.


Thanks.
[/quote]

Post back with before and after pics and let us know how it went!

[Greig]

Well chaps n chappeses. Very pleased with that result.

An hour with the drill (After the cordless one lasted about 60 seconds) and theyre LOADS clearer.

Didn't have the presence of thought to do ''Before '' Pics  - Sorry.



Looks great after my mates at the hand car wash have had a go.

[IceQueenX]

[quote="Greig"]
Well chaps n chappeses. Very pleased with that result.

An hour with the drill (After the cordless one lasted about 60 seconds) and theyre LOADS clearer.

Didn't have the presence of thought to do ''Before '' Pics  - Sorry.



Looks great after my mates at the hand car wash have had a go.
[/quote]

:thumbup: :thumbup: looks great!
I suddenly really miss my black X5..

[X5-D-Sport]

Excellent looking job.... and saved yourself hundreds of £££'s too.

I find its worth re-doing the lenses every month or so, for a quick buff up just with a cloth & the Maguires goo,
keeps them tip-top.

[Moments]

My headlamp plastic went hazy white, especially toward the edges. I took the headlamps out and got to work with abrasives (wet flat 800 - 1200 - 1500 - 2000 - 3000 grit) then Meguiars Polish, pad and a power drill. I took a long time with the first attempt but less than an hour for the second.
When all done, washed with IPA and sealed with Gtechniq C4 trim restorer, then buffed with an old but clean microfibre cloth.
Fantastic job, cheap, highly recommended.