replacing headlight lense

st93 · 08-07-2017, 07:09 PM

Hey I have a 2011 335d, has anyone replaced the lense (or shell) on these headlights? is it even possible? idk if this specific model is glued in or have clips I have the stock xenons and got a crack in them,

BB_cuda · 08-07-2017, 07:28 PM

I recall reading it is possible to crack open but it was over in the lighting/cosmetic forum

Persian Whisperjet · 08-07-2017, 10:14 PM

I have the Xenons and bought the assembly minus the fancy electronics from Rock Auto for about $500 -- then transplanted the bulbs etc. A lot of tedium but about $900 less than the complete assembly.

335stoner · 08-08-2017, 08:57 AM

I have ZERO clue on how these headlights are assembled, but from my Tacoma days the black headlight mod was always a HOT thing to do... to get the plastic lens off you would preheat an oven to 300°F then turn it off then put the headlight in for 10 minutes. the time was just enough to heat the glue that held the lens on and you could pry it off to get to the insides... reassembly was reverse.. heat then out the lens back on and dress the seam with some RTV as precaution for leaks..

Yozh · 08-08-2017, 03:36 PM

You can't do the oven method with E90 headlights. They are permasealed.

Andy198712 · 08-08-2017, 06:00 PM

There's a good how to in the sub forum.
I did mine and it's okay, but not a nice job. Although I wasn't replacing the lense. I don't know if a replacement is available for just the lense?

08-07-2017, 07:09 PM	#1
st93 Registered 2 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 335d Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: VA iTrader: (0)	replacing headlight lense Hey I have a 2011 335d, has anyone replaced the lense (or shell) on these headlights? is it even possible? idk if this specific model is glued in or have clips I have the stock xenons and got a crack in them,
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08-07-2017, 07:28 PM	#2
BB_cuda Brigadier General 796 Rep 3,572 Posts Drives: 2011 335D Msport, 2013 X5D Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Clear Lake, Texas iTrader: (0)	I recall reading it is possible to crack open but it was over in the lighting/cosmetic forum
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08-07-2017, 10:14 PM	#3
Persian Whisperjet Kind of a Big Deal 171 Rep 857 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Washington, D.C. iTrader: (0)	I have the Xenons and bought the assembly minus the fancy electronics from Rock Auto for about $500 -- then transplanted the bulbs etc. A lot of tedium but about $900 less than the complete assembly. __________________
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08-08-2017, 08:57 AM	#4
335stoner BRR tuned 224 Rep 646 Posts Drives: 335D black Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: cypress tx iTrader: (0)	I have ZERO clue on how these headlights are assembled, but from my Tacoma days the black headlight mod was always a HOT thing to do... to get the plastic lens off you would preheat an oven to 300°F then turn it off then put the headlight in for 10 minutes. the time was just enough to heat the glue that held the lens on and you could pry it off to get to the insides... reassembly was reverse.. heat then out the lens back on and dress the seam with some RTV as precaution for leaks..
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08-08-2017, 03:36 PM	#5
Yozh Colonel 881 Rep 2,611 Posts Drives: 2011 335d M-Sport Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Wet Coast iTrader: (4)	You can't do the oven method with E90 headlights. They are permasealed.
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08-08-2017, 06:00 PM	#6
Andy198712 Major 160 Rep 1,060 Posts Drives: 2010 E91 325d Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Cornwall iTrader: (0)	There's a good how to in the sub forum. I did mine and it's okay, but not a nice job. Although I wasn't replacing the lense. I don't know if a replacement is available for just the lense?
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