Kika

I changed my parking lights to LEDs so the color would match. they are not very bright, something like 7w bulbs.

JLUinAZ

Eric and others,

Thanks for this DIY and the additional information. I just did this mod last night. The toughest part is getting the old lens out of the channel (glue removal) but other than that, it is straight forward. The painted backs look great as mine were starting to yellow. I used a bright metallic silver. The mastic is curing now, hope to install them in the morning.

I also switched out my lights. I'd previously done a 5k HID upgrade and was waiting to upgrade the fogs and markers until I did this mod. I'm replacing the markers with 6w (I think) white LEDs, and the fogs with yellow halogens. Hoping the LEDs and HIDs will be a close match.

Thanks again

NYC993

Instead of breaking off the plastic lip and cutting through the old adhesive, has anybody baked their fog lights to separate the glass and plastic? I believe that's how it's always done to paint the headlight housing on any car.

willus

I have been planning on doing this project while replacing a cracked fog light lens cover with one from a "donor" fog light with a broken housing. I might give baking a shot on the donor housing on which the plastic is already useless to me.

Any idea how hot the oven should be? Is the baking supposed to soften the adhesive or cause to dry out and become brittle?

AOW162435

Soften.



Andreas

96PCarrera993mg

Great write up!

EMBPilot

start with 200, maybe 220... if you get frustrated or brave you could go up from there, but remove the lens from the oven and quickly get to work on it. you may have to put it back in...

NYC993

300F is when I stopped, be careful when prying, you can chip the glass. That adhesive and plastic are pretty tough.

NYC993

If there is no use for plastic, just break of the plastic hinge part and cut through adhesive like the OP did.

willus

I can now attest to the lens being easy to chip from personal experience :-(.

I had heated it to 250 when I chipped the lens trying to pry it off. My experience was that the plastic became very fragile (maybe it already was?), and I could not get any leverage on the lens without damaging the plastic housing. Since the goal of baking was to preserve the plastic housing, I have not come out ahead. Maybe if I had heated it further?

At this point, I plan to use the OP's method for the rest of the project.

NYC993

I think the melting point of the plastic and adhesive is the same... After having done this I would not suggest heating up the housing, as the plastic caved in a bit after it cooled off. Made fitting the fog units back in not as flush.

I finished the project using op's method and the result is great, used silver metallic paint, which matches silver car color pretty well. I used some adhesive removal to clean the glass. I was on the fence wether to give it to somebody to polish it off. Decided not to, to have more distributed light and less see through effect. Cleaning the other side took some cloudiness away.
Now waiting for LEDs for the parking lights.

sandsman

Brilliant write up. But can someone explain how to remove the fog light from the bumper? Forgive me, no manual...

NYC993

Take off turn signals (one screw each), there will be a screw on outsides of the fog light, unscrew them. Pull the fog light toward you and then outward. You gotta wiggle it a bit. Unplugging wires can be a bit tricky, just take your time.

sandsman

Ok makes sense I'm going to try this afternoon! Do the bumperettes have to come off too? I'm assuming so...

NYC993

Yes, there are two small bolts in each bumperrette. One advice is take a good look or a picture of how the metal clip holds the wire connectors together. It will make it easier figuring out how to put them back on properly.