Headlight help.....

[traumadoc]

3 questions...

There is a fog or film under the clear headlight cover on the driver's side. Is there a way to remove it and clean the fog or are these sealed?

Related question...

I would like to paint the headlight housing under the clear cover to match the car (like on the Vettes). Has anyone done this? Can it be done?

3rd question.

Can the black rings surrounding the headlight and fog lamp covers be painted to match the car?

Just trying to achieve that monochromatic look...

Thank you.


Roy

[MattG]

What model year do you have? I think the answer will vary depending on whether you have an '07 or not. For the '05 and '06, the clear part is bonded to the black housing and thus you can't easily separate the two to paint the black part.

[traumadoc]

Originally Posted by MattG

What model year do you have? I think the answer will vary depending on whether you have an '07 or not. For the '05 and '06, the clear part is bonded to the black housing and thus you can't easily separate the two to paint the black part.

05 it is.....

Cannot be done or just difficult???

ROy

[MattG]

Originally Posted by traumadoc

Cannot be done or just difficult???

I think it's considered 'permanently bonded'; to the best of my knowledge no one has tried taking it apart.

The rings, if it's what I think you're referring to, can be removed and were actually not included in the Elises, it was a retrofit to help shield them from light passing through and concentrated by the clear cover (resulting in 'burn marks' in the black plastic part).

It's pretty easy to go down there and pull this stuff apart, just turn the wheel to gain access to the screws in the wheel well area, then the two or three nuts holding the light assembly in place.

[LarryB]

Roy- are you asking about the black plastic "cover" for the headlights. If so yeah you can pull it and have it painted. Toyed with the idea but didn't follow through.

Had the little rings painted Here is photo of what it looks like:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne...1839682&size=o

Had to go in there to swap out a bulb, recently. Matt not sure if your talking about the black surround on the glass cover itself?

[TorsinADoc]

little OCD there traumadoc

[Randy Chase]

I cleaned the inside with a rag, through the holes.

[goelise]

Originally Posted by Randy Chase

I cleaned the inside with a rag, through the holes.

+1. Takes some patience but if you do it carefully it can be done.

[traumadoc]

I want to paint the inside area like the Vette. And the outer black ring surrounding cover.

[Ian]

Originally Posted by traumadoc

I want to paint the inside area like the Vette. And the outer black ring surrounding cover.

Someone photoshoped that once on a yellow car and if I recall correctly it didn't look very good.

[traumadoc]

I wish I could figure out how to use my photoshop....

[STLengineer]

There's a member here named Mr.C. I know he painted the headlight embellesher rings on his car. So yeah, it can be done. You might want to pm him to get some tips.

EDIT: FWIW, here's his link with a few pictures:

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38177

[traumadoc]

Originally Posted by STLengineer

There's a member here named Mr.C. I know he painted the headlight embellesher rings on his car. So yeah, it can be done. You might want to pm him to get some tips.

EDIT: FWIW, here's his link with a few pictures:

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38177

I am not looking to paint the rings. I am looking to paint the entire housing for the headlamp bulbs like the Vette in the photo.

Roy

[SweetDaddyD]

Hmmm, mine are in need of a cleaning as well. It almost looks like there are fingerprints in there.

And incidentally I noticed we are not the only car with the "burn" problem in the headlight housing. I noticed the silver paint bubbling in the housing of a Spyker that did a recent charity event with us.

[STLengineer]

Originally Posted by traumadoc

I am not looking to paint the rings. I am looking to paint the entire housing for the headlamp bulbs like the Vette in the photo.

Roy

Yeah, I know. I figure if you can do the rings, then there's no reason you couldn't do the entire housing. Just my $0.02.

[Ian]

I knew I could find it.
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...dlight+housing

[traumadoc]

Now I understand Nathan and thank you Ian for the photoshop.

Roy

[STLengineer]

It was my bad; I didn't (originally) articulate my tought all that clearly. Well, good luck with the project, and don't forget to post pictures when you're done!

[anthony01]

Here's another pshop from one of the members here... saved it to my harddrive and can't remember who did it. Not taking credit for this, just posting it!

[traumadoc]

Got a call from the body shop and they have the headlight housing out. They say that it comes in one piece and the clear plastic cover will not come off. Therefore they cannot paint it like the yellow photoshop anthony posted. Any thoughts?

Thank you..

Roy