Page 2 of 6 FirstFirst 123456 LastLast
Results 26 to 50 of 128

Thread: 2003 Sealed Headlights Adjuster Replacement (no cutting)

  1. #26
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Ewing, NJ
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    03 M5, 04 VW R32
    Someone just sent me here from m5board.com. Turns out my '03 M5 most likely has the unbakeable lights and my 'low-beam' adjuster is bad. Good write-up Ben!

  2. #27
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    45
    My Cars
    2001 530i
    Can someone please re-host the pics? I'd like to tackle this on my car hopefully soon.

  3. #28
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    373
    My Cars
    2000 TiAg ///M5
    Pics no more!!

  4. #29
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    West Michigan
    Posts
    14,422
    My Cars
    98 540iA (Prd 11/97)
    Quote Originally Posted by absolutegtr View Post
    Pics no more!!
    I've got a PM out to Ben about the photos.

  5. #30
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    958
    My Cars
    2003 BMW 530i
    I saved the post on my drive as an mht file.
    Converted to PDF (with pictures included) attached.
    Not quite as pretty as the original but I had to cut a bunch of trimmings to get the file under max size. All Ben's original content is present.

    And sorry for the banner - I didn't realize my trial had run out.

    Regards
    RDL

  6. #31
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    DFW, Texas
    Posts
    375
    My Cars
    03' BMW 530i 5sp
    Sorry about that. I think I took down the website where the files were hosted. I emailed everything to jamesdc4. Hopefully he can get it all back up.

  7. #32
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Netherlands
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    e39 520I exe 96
    Its hard to install the adjusters back, i cant align them well so i can turn in the screw back.
    Its also hard to place the socket back But its done. I only did the lowbeam. the highbeam screw was to hard and i think i dont need it because its for the alignment of de left-right`(or right-left) direction of the headlight and with the rubbers its axactly to the forward direction, so its okay.

    Thanks!
    Last edited by InspectorGadget; 11-04-2011 at 12:33 PM.

  8. #33
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Charleston, SC
    Posts
    373
    My Cars
    2000 TiAg ///M5
    Thank you very much RDL

  9. #34
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    West Michigan
    Posts
    14,422
    My Cars
    98 540iA (Prd 11/97)

    Thumbs up

    Thank you rdl.
    I'm still going to try to rebuild the original post when I get a chance. I'm swamped right now, but it'll be much easier to do using your pdf as a reference.
    Last edited by jamesdc4; 11-06-2011 at 08:40 PM.

  10. #35
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Great Dismal Swamp
    Posts
    16,026
    My Cars
    E36/7 E36/8x2 E46 F25
    Thankyou! I was able to do both lights in under four hours, even with fat fingers and lots of breaks for a crippled back. All I can say is keep a clear head and lots of patience. And if you manage to maneuver the highbeam side adjuster up into the projector lens as I did, get a picture.


    I PM'd James about this. I'll volunteer to host the pictures if someone can forward them here and then edit the links.


    /.randy

  11. #36
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    usa
    Posts
    36
    My Cars
    2003 530i
    Forgive me if it's been answered already. Will this apply to Halogen assemblies as well?

  12. #37
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Huntsville AL
    Posts
    295
    My Cars
    E39 5er
    +1 about the Halogen assemblies

  13. #38
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    usa
    Posts
    36
    My Cars
    2003 530i
    I worked on mine tonight. I don't see a way to do the highbeam on a halogen set. The write up works fine on the lowbeams.
    Last edited by rjheard; 01-07-2012 at 04:51 PM.

  14. #39
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    25
    My Cars
    E39 530D Sport
    Hey everyone, sorry to bring up an old thread, just a wee tip i found for removing the ball of the broken adjuster from the socket... took about 30mins messing with the first one, till i figured out a wee trick -

    Assuming part of the 'leg' of the adjuster is still attached to the ball, on all mine the adjusters had all broke about midway on this leg.... if you use a pair of pointy nosed pliers on the leg, as tight to the ball as u can go, give the pliers a good squeez, this shud break the remainder of the leg off... that way ur left with the ball which has a flat spot where the leg used to join... this makes it much easier for getting it out of the socket, if you spin it round so the flat spot is where the wee tab is, you should then be able to use a small screwdriver to just give it a good shove out from the back.

    and just on the last 2 comments there, mine were halogen models and the whole thing was spot on, took a few hours mind, but not that bad really. The high beam was the trickier side alright, i found getting the new adjusters in was the hardest bit, especially on the high beam side, getting it lined up in the correct position was a PITA.

    A wee tip i found for getting the high beam adjuster into place.... remove the small circular cap in the top of the clear lens (used for accessing the beam corrector lever for foreign driving)... with this off you can see the end of the high beam adjuster and manoeuvre it from both ends to get it into position. even at that it still took a bit of fiddling, but it can be done

  15. #40
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    San Diego
    Posts
    45
    My Cars
    2001 530i
    Quote Originally Posted by rdl View Post
    I saved the post on my drive as an mht file.
    Converted to PDF (with pictures included) attached.
    Not quite as pretty as the original but I had to cut a bunch of trimmings to get the file under max size. All Ben's original content is present.

    And sorry for the banner - I didn't realize my trial had run out.

    Regards
    RDL

    Thank you!!!

  16. #41
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    San Diego, CA
    Posts
    2,012
    My Cars
    too many
    i hate baking headlights - they never glue back together "the same"

    i will try this method. Thanks

  17. #42
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Shadyville, NJ
    Posts
    2,893
    My Cars
    '17 Durango, '10 Panny
    Fantastic DIY...just replaced the adjusters on a set of facelifted headlights...even with my bear mitts I was able to handle this!...takes time and patience though.
    BMWCCA #389756
    e39 Touring SOLD.

  18. #43
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    lancaster, pa
    Posts
    170
    My Cars
    94 bmw 740il, 98 lincoln navigator, 85 mazda rx7
    mad love for adjustment break fix!

  19. #44
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Portland Oregon
    Posts
    706
    My Cars
    '17 330i M sport Touring
    I received my aluminium adjusters from EAC so I'll be tackling this project tonight.

    '17 BMW 330i XDrive MSport Touring
    '20 BMW R 1250RS Imperial Blue Metallic-Exclusive
    '02 BMW Z3 2.5i Titanium


  20. #45
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Portland Oregon
    Posts
    706
    My Cars
    '17 330i M sport Touring
    Okay so I've been working on the high beam side now for two days. This sucks! The low beam adjuster went a lot smoother. The old high beam adjuster literally came out in so many pieces that I cannot figure out the orientation of how to reinstall it.

    I'll keep trying though and will eventually get it. Good thing I have two cars for my use.

    Any tips? I'm working on the driver side HL.

    Thanks in advance

    '17 BMW 330i XDrive MSport Touring
    '20 BMW R 1250RS Imperial Blue Metallic-Exclusive
    '02 BMW Z3 2.5i Titanium


  21. #46
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Shadyville, NJ
    Posts
    2,893
    My Cars
    '17 Durango, '10 Panny
    Quote Originally Posted by daveycrocket View Post
    Okay so I've been working on the high beam side now for two days. This sucks! The low beam adjuster went a lot smoother. The old high beam adjuster literally came out in so many pieces that I cannot figure out the orientation of how to reinstall it.

    I'll keep trying though and will eventually get it. Good thing I have two cars for my use.

    Any tips? I'm working on the driver side HL.

    Thanks in advance
    Suggestion for you is to look at the other headlight that you hopefully haven't taken apart for the orientation...once you take a look it becomes a no brainer...its just hard to get the orientation due to the tight fit.
    BMWCCA #389756
    e39 Touring SOLD.

  22. #47
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Portland Oregon
    Posts
    706
    My Cars
    '17 330i M sport Touring
    Quote Originally Posted by oekundar View Post
    Suggestion for you is to look at the other headlight that you hopefully haven't taken apart for the orientation...once you take a look it becomes a no brainer...its just hard to get the orientation due to the tight fit.

    I haven't even removed the other HL from the car yet. However when I took the DS out of the car I tried to figure out the orientation and couldn't view the HB side at all. Perhaps because it was in so many pieces.

    I guess I'll remove the PS side tomorrow and look at it closely. Maybe I'll pick up a dental mirror and use that. Hopefully the PS isn't a pile of dust!

    After this experience is over I'll be very glad that I spent the extra money of aluminum adjusters from EAC


    Oh...And what method is used to get the plastic dust out of the interior of the light? I thought about using compressed air but don't want to introduce moisture. I do that while all lights are removed of course.

    Quote Originally Posted by daveycrocket View Post
    I haven't even removed the other HL from the car yet. However when I took the DS out of the car I tried to figure out the orientation and couldn't view the HB side at all. Perhaps because it was in so many pieces.

    I guess I'll remove the PS side tomorrow and look at it closely. Maybe I'll pick up a dental mirror and use that. Hopefully the PS isn't a pile of dust!

    After this experience is over I'll be very glad that I spent the extra money of aluminum adjusters from EAC


    Oh...And what method is used to get the plastic dust out of the interior of the light? I thought about using compressed air but don't want to introduce moisture. I do that while all lights are removed of course.

    Okay I obsessed over this all night at work last night and came straight home and sat in my shop and got it done! The flattest, widest part of the adjuster is up against the flattest portion of the light housing. As soon as I figured that out it slipped right into place. Still difficult mind you but so much easier understanding the orientation.

    Next up...sanding and polishing
    Last edited by daveycrocket; 03-19-2012 at 10:53 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

    '17 BMW 330i XDrive MSport Touring
    '20 BMW R 1250RS Imperial Blue Metallic-Exclusive
    '02 BMW Z3 2.5i Titanium


  23. #48
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Madison,WI
    Posts
    463
    My Cars
    E91
    I have to tackle this today as found my drivers side headlight has the un-bakeable sealer.

    When do you reinstall the auto level adjuster in the process or did I miss that somewhere?
    You ask any ricer, any serious ricer. It doesn't matter if the other guy is racing or not. A win is a win.

  24. #49
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Portland Oregon
    Posts
    706
    My Cars
    '17 330i M sport Touring
    Quote Originally Posted by Madtown View Post
    I have to tackle this today as found my drivers side headlight has the un-bakeable sealer.

    When do you reinstall the auto level adjuster in the process or did I miss that somewhere?
    When you're putting everything back together. I used a coat hanger bent at the tip and put it through the hole for the low beam light as I was inserting the ball into the U-shape adjuster. Worked like a charm within seconds it was seated and I was buttoning up everything else to reinstall the light on the car.

    This is an excellent write up!

    '17 BMW 330i XDrive MSport Touring
    '20 BMW R 1250RS Imperial Blue Metallic-Exclusive
    '02 BMW Z3 2.5i Titanium


  25. #50
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    2,973
    My Cars
    2001 530i (E39) 128k
    I can't even imagine trying to replace these adjusters without baking open.
    If yours can open, trust me, open them.
    And, I have done one headlight, so I know exactly what is inside...
    If you've never done an adjuster job before, I think is basically impossible to even understand what is going on here.

    The one near the angel eyes blub, you can't even SEE!
    Hats off to you, my man, but the non-bake method would literally take me months.
    If really did pull this off, you should have been a surgeon, and picked the wrong line of work!
    In fact, I'd have to see it to believe it.
    Last edited by OnTheFence; 04-01-2012 at 02:09 PM.

Page 2 of 6 FirstFirst 123456 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •