Pulling headlight apart for angel eyes and clear corners....
 

SO FRUSTRATING :mad:

Yes I've read the one or two articles and I followed the "heat,pry,heat,pry" instructions to a tee. There is just so much weatherstripping that the front lens will not come off. I'm afraid If I pry any harder I'll crack something.

I'm not sure if I should:
a) cut my losses and put it back together and forget about it.
b) try CEE or Umnitza, although I doubt they'll want to touch a headlight that's already been messed with.
c) keep going until I either get it off or break it.

Thought this would be an easier DIY :dunno:

Cut your losses while you can. I don't consider that a true DIY project. Even if you were able to DIY, you would probably end up with headlight condensation. That would suck :nervous:

What year X5?

just leave it in the parking lot at my local train station, someone will be by shortly that can probably help you with lens/headlight removal :)

(sorry, couldn't help myself ;)

it's a 2001...
 

Umnitza recommends putting the whole headlight in the oven for 20min. at 200 degrees. Doesn't seem like a bad idea...maybe I'll give it a try :(

hmm sounds interesting. let us know how that goes.

Sorry bro, I know its mess up to laugh (cuz of your theft) but that was funny.

Heat is the secret and it's not a easy DIY! First time I got condensation ...

what year is the X, that is the most important question. Later model ones have silicone that cannot be opened unless you cut the headlights.

Screw it...
 

even after the oven treatment, it's not coming apart. I'm sending them to Umnitza to see if they can salvage the job. I feel like an ass for not being able to pull this off :tantrum:.

I have a feeling you have an 03 X5?

Do NOT send them to Umnitza unless you are willing to go without your headlights for a month or so! Read my other post with the experience & frustration I had with Umnitza and their lack of customer service. I finally gave up and bought new headlights. I still haven't received my old lights from them. They are nothing but a book full of excuses!! :tsk:

Joll ~ How did you resolve the condensation issue? Did you reseal it w/ a sealant and if so, which sealant did you use?

Why did they make the 03 X5 lights so hard to get into? What's the best way to go about that?

Condensation is usually caused by not getting them completely sealed again after pulling them apart. Best way to solve this is to open them back up, let everything dry out, and then put them back together and add some silicone sealant around the out edges. I had this problem with an '01 F150 tail light - after reading the directions on here about how to open up the headlights, I ended up using the same method to open up that tail light. Worked like a charm. Once a dried everything out, I sealed it all back up and ran a bead of silicone all the way around the outer edge and never had another issue with condensation.

Hopefully I will be tearing into my headlights here pretty soon - I will let you know how it goes - I also have an '01.

Silversurfer - are you sure your vehicle has not had the headlights replaced with new ones??? Are you the original owner??

This may be a stupid reply but, I would check the part numbers to find the year of the headlights, reason being is that if they were replaced at any time throught the years, they may have been replaced with 2003 head light units which I read are impossible to open!! Just my 2cents worth............

Definitely make sure that you do not have 03 headlights. You may want to purchase a set of 02's off ebay.

Calling X5Dawg & Joll....what kind of silicone or sealant did you guys use to solve the condensation prob?

Truthfully, on my F150 tail light I just used a clear silicone caulk. The bead was not visible once it was put back in place.

Makes sense to me...looks like I will be doing the same soon. Thanks for the advice.

I wonder if you use the clear silicone seal, whether or not you'd be able to re-open it again in case you needed to e.g., if condensation re-appeared. Hopefully if the headlights were baked again, they can be re-opened. Any thoughts?

I you just use silicone and not an apoxy or glue they should pull apart no problem...obviously the bead of silicone should be used around the outside seal not the inside, then you cut some of it away if you need to pull them back apart. I had the same thoughts.