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Amber headlight delete

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Old Mar 10, 2016 | 11:28 AM
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Amber headlight delete

Anybody do this?

On my S4 I opened the lights and vinyled the reflector with a brushed gunmetal.

IMG_3266 by , on Flickr

Would like to do the same on c450, was wondering if they can be opened?

Anyone point me in the right direction?
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Old Mar 10, 2016 | 12:21 PM
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That looks awesome.
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Old Mar 10, 2016 | 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted by alexasa
Anybody do this?

On my S4 I opened the lights and vinyled the reflector with a brushed gunmetal.

IMG_3266 by , on Flickr

Would like to do the same on c450, was wondering if they can be opened?

Anyone point me in the right direction?
how did you open them...?
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Old Mar 10, 2016 | 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by DapperStyle
That looks awesome.
Thanks!

Originally Posted by blackedbenzo
how did you open them...?
You can either remove bulbs and ballast and bake them on low for a while to loosen the adhesive holding the two halves of the clam shell together

or the way I did it was gradually heat the sealant with a heat gun slowly until I was able to gently pry them open (after removing clips)

---

Nobody has done this?
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Old Mar 10, 2016 | 06:47 PM
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Originally Posted by alexasa
Nobody has done this?
You're looking for someone that has taken their headlight assembly out, hit it with a heat gun to split it open to cover up some orange? That may be a hard search.
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Old Mar 11, 2016 | 12:34 AM
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Legal, shmeagle, we don't need no legal!

Originally Posted by alexasa
Anybody do this?

On my S4 I opened the lights and vinyled the reflector with a brushed gunmetal.

Would like to do the same on c450, was wondering if they can be opened?

Anyone point me in the right direction?
Those amber lights may have been amber for a reason. Is this change legal in all U.S. states? I recall a general NHTSA regulation banning ANY modifications of ANY safety-related equipment. Will cars modified like this pass still annual inspections in all jurisdictions?
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Old Mar 11, 2016 | 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by lbowroom
You're looking for someone that has taken their headlight assembly out, hit it with a heat gun to split it open to cover up some orange? That may be a hard search.
uh, yeah? there is no risk if you are a competent DIY'er.

Originally Posted by gfmohn
Those amber lights may have been amber for a reason. Is this change legal in all U.S. states? I recall a general NHTSA regulation banning ANY modifications of ANY safety-related equipment. Will cars modified like this pass still annual inspections in all jurisdictions?
I have heard of Canada being strict about ecodes (the removal of amber) but I have never had any issues here in the states. Most wouldn't even know what to look for. Where I live I don't have annual check.
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Old Mar 11, 2016 | 08:10 AM
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Originally Posted by huyuci



Chrome vinyl to cover it up. That's what I did
Here is example someone posted in the mod thread.

kudos to him. I will be doing this.
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Old Mar 11, 2016 | 04:46 PM
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Originally Posted by alexasa
uh, yeah? there is no risk if you are a competent DIY'er.
Sorry, I wasn't trying to be rude. I was more trying to express that there doesn't seem to be a large population of diy modders on this forum.
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Old Mar 12, 2016 | 10:48 PM
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Originally Posted by alexasa
Here is example someone posted in the mod thread.

kudos to him. I will be doing this.
I thought you disagreed with my method? :-)
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Old Mar 12, 2016 | 11:49 PM
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... That looks awful. So tacky. Either haven't it removed to matching color LED or leave it. Just my opinion.
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Old Mar 13, 2016 | 01:10 AM
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Originally Posted by blackedbenzo
how did you open them...?
Like alexasa said, either heatgun or oven will work although using a heat gun is far more difficult and dangerous since it requires you to pay much closer attention to avoid spot heating an area and potentially burning the housing or front lens.

The easier and safer way is definitely to just bake them in the oven for around 10-15 minutes @ around 212ºF or 100ºC. I've done this heaps of times for custom headlight work on other cars. Scary as hell the first time you do it but it's really quite easy. Couple of pointers:

  • Make sure your headlight fits in the oven
  • Take out any fittings, screws, rubbers, breather plugs, bulbs etc.
  • Use a thin to medium thickness glove which still gives you good dexterity and feel. You just want enough protection not to burn yourself whilst handling the lights.
  • You need to work quickly - plan your approach, look where the clips are, and have a clean work area because the rubber, once soft, becomes very sticky. Depending on temperature of course, you probably have less than a minute or two to get the light apart before the rubber starts to harden again.
  • Although you can use a pry-bar of sorts, the best tool in the world for this kind of work is a surgical cast spreader. They can be bought cheaply on fleabay and make the job so much cleaner and easier
Use denatured alcohol to clean up any small stray butyl rubber streaks that may get onto the lens or housing. If you are clean and quick, there's no need to reapply sealant to the headlight for reassembly. Just match the lens to the housing and heat again in oven before pressing the two sides together until the clips are all seated again.
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Old Mar 13, 2016 | 09:11 PM
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Originally Posted by alexasa
Here is example someone posted in the mod thread.

kudos to him. I will be doing this.
Did something similar with previous escalade - you can put them in the oven for a few minutes low temp. it too had the yellow stripe.
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Old Mar 14, 2016 | 10:46 AM
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I baked my W204 headlights to paint the housing gunmetal vrs chrome and it was rather easy, the w205 is just too new for me to start taking it apart so soon!

i also purchased extra sealant when putting it back together to ensure it was weather tight.
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Old Mar 14, 2016 | 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by angeloxnet
I baked my W204 headlights to paint the housing gunmetal vrs chrome and it was rather easy, the w205 is just too new for me to start taking it apart so soon!

i also purchased extra sealant when putting it back together to ensure it was weather tight.
Do you have any pictures?
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Old Mar 14, 2016 | 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by huyuci
I thought you disagreed with my method? :-)
I do, I would never use chrome, nor would I put it on the outside of the lens.

I posted that when I was under the impression you took them apart.

All I need is to know that they come apart, the rest I can figure out. Some headlights do not clam shell, some are permanently closed.

Such was true for the 08-12 S5.
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Old Mar 14, 2016 | 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by DBOC205
Like alexasa said, either heatgun or oven will work although using a heat gun is far more difficult and dangerous since it requires you to pay much closer attention to avoid spot heating an area and potentially burning the housing or front lens.

The easier and safer way is definitely to just bake them in the oven for around 10-15 minutes @ around 212ºF or 100ºC. I've done this heaps of times for custom headlight work on other cars. Scary as hell the first time you do it but it's really quite easy. Couple of pointers:

  • Make sure your headlight fits in the oven
  • Take out any fittings, screws, rubbers, breather plugs, bulbs etc.
  • Use a thin to medium thickness glove which still gives you good dexterity and feel. You just want enough protection not to burn yourself whilst handling the lights.
  • You need to work quickly - plan your approach, look where the clips are, and have a clean work area because the rubber, once soft, becomes very sticky. Depending on temperature of course, you probably have less than a minute or two to get the light apart before the rubber starts to harden again.
  • Although you can use a pry-bar of sorts, the best tool in the world for this kind of work is a surgical cast spreader. They can be bought cheaply on fleabay and make the job so much cleaner and easier
Use denatured alcohol to clean up any small stray butyl rubber streaks that may get onto the lens or housing. If you are clean and quick, there's no need to reapply sealant to the headlight for reassembly. Just match the lens to the housing and heat again in oven before pressing the two sides together until the clips are all seated again.

pretty spot on description.

I never had problems using the heatgun, but hear people are generally more comfortable baking.

I also never had to reapply sealant as it only took me a few minutes to wrap the reflector and push them back together.

Another thing, which I'm not sure if accurate on the MB, the inner lens was extremely delicate to even a microfiber on the Audi, could scratch if you attempted - so best procedure was to attempt not to get the sealant anywhere and not to wipe the lens.
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Old Mar 14, 2016 | 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by blackedbenzo
... That looks awful. So tacky. Either haven't it removed to matching color LED or leave it. Just my opinion.
100% agree
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Old Mar 14, 2016 | 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by alexasa
Another thing, which I'm not sure if accurate on the MB, the inner lens was extremely delicate to even a microfiber on the Audi, could scratch if you attempted - so best procedure was to attempt not to get the sealant anywhere and not to wipe the lens.
That's a really good point and one I definitely forgot to mention
Anything that's chrome coated inside the headlight is equally sensitive - even the oils/acid in your fingers will permanently mark it. Definitely wear latex or cotton gloves when you're working the interior components.
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Old Mar 14, 2016 | 09:45 PM
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Wife walks into the kitchen: what's in the oven? Me: the highlights to my car
Wife: have you lost you %#*€% mind.
Me: No, see that amber light on the side.
Wife: yes
Me: it drives me battihs crazy and I want it gone.
Wife: don't &)#%^ my oven up.
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Old Mar 14, 2016 | 10:17 PM
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Originally Posted by RixC300
Wife walks into the kitchen: what's in the oven? Me: the highlights to my car
Wife: have you lost you %#*€% mind.
Me: No, see that amber light on the side.
Wife: yes
Me: it drives me battihs crazy and I want it gone.
Wife: don't &)#%^ my oven up.
Agree with wife!
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Old Mar 14, 2016 | 10:37 PM
  #22  
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Never had headlights in the oven, but have had ring gear there to expand it enough to get it on the differential when building a rear end.
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Old Mar 14, 2016 | 10:45 PM
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Old Mar 14, 2016 | 11:48 PM
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Originally Posted by dieseldoc
Agree with wife!
With a husband like him, she's probably already used to it. Each month, there is a column in the Mercedes Club magazine, The Star, about living with a husband who is a Mercedes car guy. It is written by Bonnie Fancy, wife of Ernie Fancy, the director of the Northeast Region, so she knows! Her columns are very funny. Check them out; you may be able to read them online at the Club website. Or better yet, join the club and start getting their glossy magazine.
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Old Sep 19, 2016 | 11:51 PM
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Hey guys,

So what happens if you install euro spec headlights? I'm not comfortable doing this by myself.
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