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Gents,
This weekend I'm planning to change my headlamp lense (LHS). Condensation inside the unit is a known problem and with the high heat and humidity in Bahrain, it's obviously got to mine.
I have the new unit from DCR Autoparts and there's a good guide on the website to walk you through the installation.
However I feel the skin on my knuckles are about to take a hammering.....
You don't need new Lens for the Low Beams....If they are dirty just wash them really well and they are back to new! If you want them to be brighter, then replace the Bulbs with good quality bulbs like a Philips or Osram D1S HID Bulb & Igniters .....and while you are in there....Replace the Ballast....same brand that came in the Car...These items are getting old!...Your 2002 XKR Coupe is new to you each Morning but in actual age...It's 17 or 18 years old or more...When was it built? 2000 or 2001?
Clean those parts that you can & Replace old parts now, while you can still get them!! This is a Quote, Mr. Z...!
Billy Clyde
Last edited by bcprice36; Feb 8, 2019 at 09:27 PM.
Gents,
Thanks for all your input. The headlamp assembly on my Gen 1 XK8 is actually in 2 halves - front and back so my job is actually to change the entire front half assembly. There's a seal between the two halves which make the unit tight, hence the condensation problem. I actually got the T piece that you fit to the side, but you have to drill a small hole in the side of the plastic assembly.
While I'm switching this out, I will take the advice to polish the headlamp lense, which is held in the rear half of the unit, and dust off any reflectors too.
Looking at access, I'm going to take off the wheel, and the wheel well liner, as the inspection hole is small. I'll try to avoid taking off the undertray and front bumper but it's the bottom T40 on the underside of the unit which worries me.
Do you have any idea of the spec for all 4 of the bulbs?
You don't need new Lens for the Low Beams....If they are dirty just wash them really well and they are back to new! If you want them to be brighter, then replace the Bulbs with good quality bulbs like a Philips or Osram D1S HID Bulb & Igniters .....and while you are in there....Replace the Ballast....same brand that came in the Car...These items are getting old!...Your 2002 XKR Coupe is new to you each Morning but in actual age...It's 17 or 18 years old or more...When was it built? 2000 or 2001?
Clean those parts that you can & Replace old parts now, while you can still get them!! This is a Quote, Mr. Z...!
Billy Clyde
David Yao,
Man, I'm sorry about your Head Lights! At least you know enough about the Cars to Call up Dave....He has what you want and can help you get it installed...I don't blame Behrain for your problem as I'm sure the same thing would have happened here in Houston...can be any Hotter or Damper there than here in Houston! Just make sure the Head light is sealed good all the way around the that the little Hole is drilled an has the little "T" drain-pipe is installed....They all leak a little but they dry out in a while.....Yours's seem to be hanging on to long!!!!!
Truthfully, you don't need to take the Wheel off! What you want to do is learn how to take the Head Light off the Car...There are directions showing you how on the Forum but I can't remember where exactly.....Maybe someone will pop up the them! I hope!
Top bolts access through the bonnet was easy and I slacked the inboard side locating screw. However for the bottom T40 bolt, I had to go in through the wheel well and removed the wheel liner for access. Simple job that. I carefully pulled the headlight unit out and wished I taped up the front bumper as I put a few scratches on it during the process.
Note the headlight lense on the RHS. Definitely needed a clean, and I didn't need to take it out for the job. Also I noted there was a lot of dust on the bottom, where there is an intentional gap in the bottom front seal of the headlight unit. Any idea why there is a gap? Ventilation perhaps? We get a few sandstorms here, so I could close this gap.
The existing front lense unit wasn't just dirty, the silvering had gone on the bottom reflector surface. The silver actually came off as black dust.
The job was finished in approx. 2 hours. The T40 bottom screw is tough to reach and I almost took out the bottom fog light just for access. Luckily I have small hands and had a short body T40 bit tool.
I probably could have been done the job in half the time, as I assembled the two halves but then had to disassemble the unit as when I tried to offer up the fitting, the existing power wash unit wouldn't sit properly in the bottom recess of the new front half. I really should have checked that before I fitted the the two halves together.
Big difference in the final appearance and the luminescence is now noticeably more than previous.
Congratulations David! A job well done, my Friend! It really does look Super! as in New.....Look how shiny the Low Beam Lens is...I bet you can't wait for nightfall!
Now, we need some Photos of the entire Car, that way we will know who that Guy is in the XK8 coming down the road, the next time one of us is in Bahrain!
1999 XK8 4.0L Convertible Headlamp Lense change
Mr. Z, The Head Light Man
