Headlamp lense removal

I really find it hard to believe that I have to buy the entire headlamp assembly just to replace the lense. Now, the front of my car looks like ass. One nice, clean, and reallly clear lense, and one that looks like glaucoma.
Oh, and btw, is with trying to get the assembly out? I had to nearly remove the fender to get the driver's side out to replace.
The replacement that I bought, it looked to be nothing more than a used part with a new lense on it. All the markings were identical, until you got to the glass. So they must be available somewhere. And there are those nice and easy clips to undo to remove the lense.
I could easily unbolt the whole thing, maneuver it to take the lense out, replace it, and clip it on, and bolt it back up faster than what it took to replace the whole thing.

I am a tad frustrated.

Have you tried PlastX from Meguiar's? I found some at Pep Boys. On my Riv it restored clarity to both the headlights and rear tail. Meguiar’s uses microscopic diminishing abrasive technology to remove light oxidation, chemical degradation, surface contamination, stains and light surface scratches with ease. Water resistant polymers provide long lasting durable protection to keep clear plastics clear.

if scratchx is too light, you can try 0000 steel wool and some brass-o metal pollish to remove oxydation. then i coat it with rainx for protection. i need a high speed buffer to get mine glossy again, but they are not yellow or oxydized.
does the scratch-x pollish it to a glass like shine or clarity?

Anyone remove a headlight from the Riv? I was going to pull the whole assembly BUT I don't think the whole assembly will come out without removing the bumper cover. Yo' thoughts?

jax95riv wrote:

Anyone remove a headlight from the Riv? I was going to pull the whole assembly BUT I don't think the whole assembly will come out without removing the bumper cover. Yo' thoughts?

You are correct!
The bumper cover does have to come off to remove them.
It's not really that difficult, just a couple of bolts on each side and lots and lots of push pins.

anybody know how to do this im stumped. it looks like i need to take off the bumper to get to them.any help would be great

If you are talking about the complete headlight assembly then yes the bumper cover has to come off.

Anyone have a write up?

IBx1 wrote:

Anyone have a write up?

I don't have anything handy but could get something together in the next couple of weeks. Sorry if you need it sooner.

Don't sweat it, I might not even need it. I'm going to do an HID conversion writeup, but keep that hush-hush for now. I'll see tomorrow if I can reach behind the headlamp fixtures to take the bulbs out and put the new ones in, but if I can't I'll have to take the lights out to do it.

you need to remove the front bumper

cragmor wrote:

Now, the front of my car looks like ass. One nice, clean, and reallly clear lense, and one that looks like glaucoma.

LedMAO Funniest shit I've head in a long time!!! I seriously laughed for like 10 minutes....
My Rivi also has glaucoma in both eyes.....

i agree that is sum funny shyt. this weekend i will be goin to my fava junkyard to get a set of headlamps for da riv to do a projector conversion on. i'll see if i can get my brother to come a along to take pics of it wit my camcorder. either or im gettin those lens.

i feel like an idiot because everyone says removing our head lamp assembly is really easy but i cant seem to do it! the instructions in my owners manual are not helping me at all. i cant seem to figure out which set of two bolts it is talking about! can someone please give me a simple walk through?

Are you trying to replace the bulb or remove the whole assembly? What year car? Which side headlight?

quickboat97 wrote:

i feel like an idiot because everyone says removing our head lamp assembly is really easy but i cant seem to do it! the instructions in my owners manual are not helping me at all. i cant seem to figure out which set of two bolts it is talking about! can someone please give me a simple walk through?

???

deekster_caddy wrote:

Are you trying to replace the bulb or remove the whole assembly?

im just trying to replace the bulbs, i thought it was necessary to remove the whole assembly but if its not then all the better. both sides

No, just turn the bulb 45 degrees or so from the back of the housing. You may need to remove the top half of the air cleaner box on the drivers side, but the pass side is accessible. Remember that the bottom of the bulb rotates toward the center of the car. It changes on the passenger side, that's the bit that confused me the first time I tried it.

I need to change my bulbs. I can get to the high beam bulb, but I can't even find the other ones. what do i need to do to get to those?

97rivsc wrote:

I need to change my bulbs. I can get to the high beam bulb, but I can't even find the other ones. what do i need to do to get to those?

Which side? The pass. side should be accessible, even I with my big clunkers can fit my hands in there. On the drivers side I find it's necessary to remove the top of the airbox to get to the low bulb.

I have no airbox, maybe I just need to take a quick look again

ya I found them and they were a pretty easy removal

Today when trying to take out the headlights (yes the assembly), the rude awakening of needing to remove the bumper hit. This is new to me and I need help. Is that write-up anywhere?

R1V 1T UP wrote:

Today when trying to take out the headlights (yes the assembly), the rude awakening of needing to remove the bumper hit. This is new to me and I need help. Is that write-up anywhere?

I don't know where the write up is BUT when I did it I found it was obvious on inspection. They make it a lot lot easier than it sounds. If you open the hood and look around the edges of the bumper skin you'll eyeball *all* the fasteners, except remember you may also have to /want to pull the front license plate frame also dep on how yours is fastened. That is, it can be screwed into the backing or poprivited onto the skin.

Really, just look.

Albertj

I looked and removed all the screws to both headlamp assemblies. The front bumper panel is just too much in the way for the assemblies to make a clean exit. I tried holding the panel down enough to squeeze the lights through but it wasn't enough. They are both loose but the bumper is in the way. Since it is a parts car I am thinking of cutting the panel because the car is on three wheels. The front driver side is on the ground due to a rotted engine cradle and removed rack and pinion.