Is there an "easy" way to clean inside headlight lenses?
 

The inside of my headlight lenses covers seem to have a film on them and there is a little sand (of course, it's FL) in them. I did some searching on the forums and it appears I would need to drop the bumper to clean them. Is that correct?

Thanks for your help!

There is a FAQ in this section on front bumper skin removal with pics. Yes to clean the inside of headlamps the skin must come off. Here is trick that I use, a cap full of rubbing alcohol mixed with 1/4 cup water. Pour mixture into headlamp and hold lamp above head and swish around a minute or two. Empty and let soak up the sun for a few hours to prevent moisture inside the lamp. Try not to get mixture on chrome area, but if you do its no big deal. I had to do this to my ride last month which is notorious for "clouding" inside. Came out like new!

I have not tried it on Joyces car yet but will next time I remove the front skin for some reason or another.

Craig if you beat me to it, please take before and after shots to post.

Darn! I was afraid of that... I'll take some pics if I beat you to it. Thanks

I wonder if some CLR would also help????

If you are willing to try it in your expensive headlamps.......I would be interested in the results of CLR. The rubbing alcohol is what all the cadillac guys use. It works right before your eyes and dries almost spot free, again allowing the lamps to sit in the sun, or like I did over a heat register in the house for a few hours. WITH NO BULBS IN THEM, I should have clarified that!

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Sorry guys, but what I want to know is how the hell "sand" is getting into your sealed headlight assy???
Seems strange to me!

sand storm??? been to the desert lately Jim?
Actually I had mine apart a few weeks back and they are not really sealed all that well. There are rubber boots that cover the bulb holes but not seal them.

IMO It's also getting into them through the vent tube that is supposed to let heat out of the assembly. Those tubes actually point forward somewhat just under the hood. It seems like moisture and sand could easily blow into them. I was surprised to see junk in there when I looked closely at them...

You would think the "whiz-bang" engineers at Coventry would have figured out how to keep moisture out of the headlamps with a better gasket/bonding between the glass & the plastic housing.

You mean engineers at Hella. The items are not from Jaguar, other than bolted on.

They are deliberately vented and it seems to work for most people judging by the quite few problems reported even with cars 10+ years old.

And a four year old post was dug up from the grave why?

I say we go back to sealed beam headlights.

Chances are there are sound engineering reasons why not. Car makers don't want warranty claims and winges over something so minor as lights.

I'd prefer seeing where I'm going thanks. Old round or rectangular sealed beams are pretty lame compared to modern lights.

Oh my, I can't help myself.... but what magic words or dance do you do while holding the headlamp assembly over your head while swishing the concoction of cleaner around?

Why would you do that?

exactly, or at least the halogen versions of the same design.

the X300/X308 headlights are exactly the same diameter as the old quad sealed beam systems. but, they use a a plastic reflector that peels and mount differently with built in ball studs.

$600 for a globe of inferior materials instead of $75 for aftermarket halogen conversions with real metal reflectors. all because the manufacturer used a different mounting system.

btw, the aftermarket halogen conversions do not have vents. no plastic reflector housing to melt. same wattage bulbs, same heat dissipation ... better materials.

Any idea why Hella appear to be so bad at making them?

I just went out to the garage to swap battery tenders around and had a good long stare at the headlight lenses as well. Can't find any issues to moan about. Not a clue how others are finding sand inside theirs. The vents are to allow any trapped moisture out. Maybe having DLRs here is actually to keep the assemblies warm and moisture-free and nothing to do with supposed safety. :icon_denk:

Thanks for the idea! I don't have sand but dust does build up. I wondered if there was an easy way to flush them out.

I did not notice this until I hit a deer and the driver’s side HID head light was replaced. I then did a nice cut and buff on both head light lenses and added the Expel covers (Great Idea!). Now everything was so clean I could see dust on the black plastic inside the head light.

Surprised that much dust gets in there but as posted above there are vents with a rubber hose on them so I guess it can enter that way?
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