Removing headlight lenses / amber indicator bulbs
 

I'm planning on installing the angel eyes kit in my 3.0d shortly and am considering removing the plastic lenses to give the headlamps the 'clear look' and so the angel eyes can be seen.

This is a UK X5 so I'm curious before I do it whether it will still be road legal or pass the MOT. Presumably the plastic lenses are there for a reason so I don't want to take them out if it affects the beam of light, particulary as I plan to install Xenons as well. (Its also a 2003 model so the glue on the headlamp units may ruin these plans anyway :( )

If I remove the amber side 'diffusers' as well, will the bulbs still flash amber or do I need to replace these with ones which do?

Before you get started, note that for the model year 2003's BMW used a different kind of adhesive/sealant that even the experts on headlights (such as Mobile Innovations, Custom Angel Eyes, Umnitza, JLevi, etc.) claim make it almost impossible to get the lenses separated from the housing without damaging the unit.

As for the amber question, if you remove the amber lense then you'll need to install an amber bulb or else you are going to get white parking lights and turn signals. Go with something like the Silvervisions, which look silver but light up amber.

:goodluck:

p.s. - there are DIY's on how to do this in the LIGHTING section on the home page.

If you have a pre-2003, feel free to use our baking resource:

www.jlevisw.com/Bake.pdf

Good luck!
JL

well i have a 2003 3.0i with production date 11/2002..does this mean that i can bake it and it should work?

thanks!

staffop, what year is your car. Im in the UK and mine is the dreaded 2003 modem. I`m desperate to do this mod but everybody tells me the glue wont give. All eyes on your install now.

Where can i find out my production date?

I didn't see anything in the DIY about removing the actual amber side marker lenses... Has anyone done this? If it's this easy, what would be the reason to pay $1000+ for Euro clears if it's possible to just pull out the offending orange lenses, swap out for some orange bulbs, and be done with it?

Adrian,
Mine is a 2003 model but I'm praying to the X5 gods that they spared my UK car the superglue on the headlamps. Either way I'm thinking of starting with the hot air gun method & if that doesn't work then chucking them in the oven,
I really want to find out though whether the lamps are still road legal or affect the beam pattern without the plastic lenses especially with the xenons & angel eyes installed.
I'd rather not do this mod twice if I later find out the plastic lenses are required. :(

important question...
 

how many minutes working time to remove the lens once taken out of the oven before the glue hardens again?

I understand that, I`d be tempted to leave them in. Either way please let me know how you get on.