Somehow, these smaller bits are supposed to get inside of the bigger bits?
Before baking the lights to separate the lens and housing, we need to remove some bits.
First, the 2 clips on the top.
Use a flathead and pop them off.
Then remove the 5 screws that you previously dremel'ded. (You did that step, right? RIGHT? Curse now if not.)
(no pics of this step. Cry if you need to.)
Preheat oven to 200F-220F.
PREHEAT! It's called preheat for a reason. Make sure the oven is fully up to temp before proceeding.
Put assembly on a cookie sheet, and move your rack so that it's as far away from the heating element as possible, while still allowing the headlight to fit.
Put headlight in oven. (Not something I regularly say. You're allowed to giggle here.)
(ok, stop giggling. Seriously, we're trying to work here.)
Turn on timer for FOUR MINUTES, and start it as soon as you close the door.
Seriously. I am not responsible for you burning your house down because you couldn't be bothered to put your phone down for 4 minutes.
Bookface can check itself for 4 minutes, it's not going anywhere.
(No pics now while I did work)
Pull the headlights out of the oven (with mitts if you want to be a panzy about it)
I only needed ONE flathead screwdriver.
There are clips all around the housing.
Lift one with the screwdriver and pull the lens and housing apart.
Keep it apart with your finger (or use another screwdriver to wedge it apart) and move on to the next clip.
Go all the way around until you have the lens and housing separate.
It's scary (the first time you do it) when you're just reading these words, but it's really easy.
When you're done both headlights (do one at a time, silly) you'll have a pile of bits thusly.
Now remove the halogen... uh... reflector... uh... sticky outy doomajiger.
Flip the housing over, and undo the 1 philips screw holding the doomajiger and the bulb clip.
Save these bits. You may need them later if you choose to use them.
If you are not blacking out the shiny chrome reflector bits, then the next little bit will be boring to you.
Come back when we get to the projector junk.
The first bit I blacked out was on the lens surround, the chrome for the signal light.
If you are leaving the signal reflector in place, then skip this bit.
There are 3 screws holding the lens surround to the lens itself.
Remove screws. 2 on the left, one on the bottom.
The top of the surround has a little tab sticking into the lens.
Stick a screwdriver in there and just twist it. This will separate it enough to pull out the surround.
The surround will pull straight out, with a bit of maneuvering around the 2 screw holes on the side.
Next, take out the plastic lens for the driving light.
On the back are 2 pressure tabs holding it in place. Only 1 is accessible.
Just push on it with a screwdriver, and push it into the cavity a bit.
Then put a long screwdriver in the access hole and just "pop" the lens out.
Cover the lens with painters tape.
Be as lazy or OCD as you wish.
Put the lens back on.
The reason you want to cover the lens and put it back on (as opposed to just taking it off and leaving it off for painting) is because the cavity has more of that chrome junk in it for light reflection.
If you want these lights to actually be functional, you want to leave the chrome in place.
Now for the main reflector dish. (bolded for those that skipped my generous ramblings)
Easy. Use tape and newspaper, and cover up anything that isn't chrome. Pretty straightforward.
Now for paint.
I used plastidip.
You can use paint, but make sure to prep the chrome and plastic for proper paint adhesion. I can't give steps on this since I didn't do it. Follow instructions on can.
Plastidip is just "spray."
Make sure you go at it from 360*. There are lots of weird angles in all of these parts.
I did 4 coats of plastidip.
Here's just the reflector dish dip'ded.
And the lens surround dip'd.
Once all is dry according to specs, you can put the lens surround back in, and tighten it with the screws.
At this point you can put the lens LOOSELY onto the housing and see what you're going to get.
Of note, I left the orange reflector in. Personal preference.
You can remove it if you wish, just note that
removing the reflector is illegal.Modifying the lights in general might be illegal, but the orange reflector is required by DOT. If you need to get the car inspected for any reason, it may not pass if the reflector is missing. /fine print
Thus concludes deshiny-ifying the headlights.