Joe '87 S4

San Francisco has the worst roads in the nation and I proved it today as I was driving through Golden Gate park and over all the potholes when my passenger headlight glass completely cracked and fell off. I haven't taken the cover off but can the glass be ordered as a separate piece or is the whole headlight assembly one unit? If I have to replace the whole unit, is it easy, hard to do, etc...?

1987 S4

Thanks

Joe

Bill Ball

The glass is factory bonded to the lamp reflector and not available separately. The entire lamp assembly including the attached steel frame, without the cover or the aluminum yoke, is how this is normally sold, and it is expensive. New, you can buy Euro H4 (far better light) and US H5 units for the same $295 or so. Used, about all you'll ever find is US H5 for $140 or so, such as here.
http://www.mailordercentral.com/928i...631%20135%2000

So, you could replace the broken lamp for $140 used or upgrade both sides to H4 for $590. Gulp!

Four small nuts hold the H5 lamp assembly to the aluminum yoke.

Joe '87 S4

Thanks for the reply Bill. Expensive fix like everything else. I just checked and my other headlight shows a crack around the rim. The funny part is that it wasn't it the up position. I took the car out this morning to take some pictures of the GG Bridge on one of the few clear SF days and I heard this glass crash. I thought I lost one of the side mirrors. At least the photos came out nice. Couldn't get any nice ones with the 928 and the bridge since there were too many people in the shot.

UKKid35

The US H5 lamps really spoil the look of the car in my opinion (there's no chrome anywhere else!!!) Use this oportunity to upgrade to the Euro H4 lights.

Joe '87 S4

My existing lights don't have the chrome rings. Weren't those only on the early MY cars?

I'll probably get a used one for now but the "good" one already has cracks at the edge so it'll have to be replaced sooner or later also.

UKKid35

No chrome rings... good!

Also I've just realised that the photo I've posted was taken when in France where I have the RHD to LHD deflectors in place, which is why the lights look odd...

Joe '87 S4

Thanks to the guys in Anaheim, I got a used headlight to replace my broken one. It even came with a bulb! The install only took about 15 mintues to get the old one off and the new one on. My problem is how do I get that plastic retainer clip to go on over the bottom ****? I can't get my fingers in there nor do anything with a screwdriver so I left it lose/off for now. I'll try to aim the lights over the weekend but I couldn't get the adjustment screws to move - I'll have to grease them up and try again later. Can anyone clue me in on how to get in there to snap that plastic clip on? Thanks.

Bill Ball

I used a screwdriver to lever the clip on that post before screwing the frame to the aluminum yoke.

Joe '87 S4

I tried with the screwdriver and just couldn't get it to snap on. I guess I'll try again over the weekend. Thanks Bill.

Bill Ball

Maybe I used my tiny hands too.

Alan

Push the clip ring all the way back away from the socket - make sure you fully engage the ball into the socket - it clicks a little - you can feel it if not hear it... Put a little grease on the clip ends.

Then open the hood and use one screwdriver from the left and another from the right. Big flat blade screwdrivers are actually best for this in my experience.

Push at the same time with both on opposite sides of the lock ring to clip it on.

I'd imagine the appropriate size open ended wrench ought to work well too - but I've never tried that - maybe there isn't room.

Alan