O btw i have the washer units and rings off, but im worried about the wires and bs that are inside/attached to the black backing before i put them in the oven. the pitures i have seen look like all the stuff is still inside of them, but what about the balast, etc...?

 

bump common people, i know at least 100 of you have done this mod

 

I've never done the mod on a MINI but on my friend 3-series we took the ballast/bulbs out. I would think you could leave just the HID bulb/ballast in there since they heat up quite a bit anyways, but any other bulbs you'll want to take off.

 

Thats what i think, i just want someone who has done the mode to give me a definite answer. Im really uncomfortable thinking that i might fry my xenon lights set up and end up paying the price (too much $$$)

 

bump. ive had them out for 2 days and really want to paint them!!

 

I removed all the bulbs when I did mine. Baking did not help me much as the few beers I had while doing this mod!

 

ok so u pulled just the bulbs? all the wiring and balast is fine?

 

I've not done this mod but if you're that worried I'd say just remove the bulbs, ballast & wires to play it safe.

 

Yep. I read a few threads where people said it was fine to leave everything in except the bulbs. But I did not bake mine very long. I can't remember the time and temp, but it did not seem to help my 04 housings. I did alot of prying/deforming of the housings. Once put back together none of it is noticeable.

Don't drop the bulbs.

 

and dont touch them either. only touch the base, no touchy the glassy!

 

ok so too late, i know i touched the glass.. how do i not make them explode?

 

god i worked with stage lighting for 4 yrs and i cant believe that i accidentally touched the bulbs. at least they werent hot???

 

Wipe them off so there is no oil on them.
Search the web for "cleaning touched halogen bulb"
I found this after a quick search
http://www.teklight.com/faq_s.html

 

maybe wipe 'em down with a lint free cloth and acetone?

and they wont explode they'll just die :(

 

lol, yea maybe.
I've touched some halogens before and never had any problem, but I've also seen some stage lights get crazy deformations because of it. I've never touched a Xenon before so I'm not sure.

 

So i got both covers off, but know the chrome pieces are still stuck inside the housing. p.s. their right about early model mcs's being a ***** to get the glue loose. Does anyone know about how to remove the chrome? im seriously thinking about just masking and painting inside the housing

 

ok so im never doing this again on a 02-05 mcs. i suggest all that plan on doing it to those years to b READY FOR PROBLEMS!!! i got them all apart but im now going to the bar and nursing my wounds. tomm is a new day and hopefully ill have them painted and back on the car.
john

 

The chrome was held in with 3 screws that you could not get to right?

Now you know why no one post an in depth how-to. They want everyone to suffer as much as they did.

Your hard part is over. re-assembly is not that big a deal. It is hard to get them flush with the hood again. Or at least it was on mine. Oh and make sure the bulbs go back in straight. I got in a hurry and put everything back together before the paint had cured. I somehow got one of the high beams in crooked, and after some tests and admiring I realized that I had melted a spot in the paint. I got the bulb back in straight but have not taken everything apart again the re- paint. No one notices but me, but I'll re-do it soon because it bugs me.

 

speaking of that...

some one really should to a how-to for the rest of us that plan on doing this to help us out

 

We can't share our secrets, it's more fun to watch other people suffer through it. My 2004 took two weeks of slow tinkering to get finished.

 

I took my headlights out about a week ago, put 'em in the oven, and then decided the rest of the process was too much of a PITA after realizing that separating them would be problematic (04 headlights). I'll either buy some Ebay blacked out lights, or just black out the headlight rings.

Those that have done the process all the way (especially on 02-04) have my utmost admiration!

 

Yeah those three screws???? i couldnt figure out how to get to them so i just pulled until the plastic around the screws pulled put, but enough plastic was left behind to make it possible to screw back in. i only had to cut one tab on one and 2 on the other. i cut them way down low (towards screws) so its possible to align them back straight. anyone have any suggestions on glue??

 

I used black silicone. Don't remember the name off hand. Stinks, and makes a mess, but works great. A couple of bucks at the parts store. It's in with the gaskets and such.