How to: Remove NNBS Headlights & change bulbs

[04ctd]

You hear all kinds of horror stories about paying $260 for bulb replacement at the dealer, or having to remove the whole front bumper cover.

the lower outer assembly of the headlight is held in place by a 10mm bolt that is accessible via the front wheel liner.

you could probably do this by turning the tire, but I had to drill holes for the mudflaps. so I took the tires off.

you NEED one of these tools...i wrapped the end in masking tape to prevent scrathes









here's how to get the panel pins out:

start the edge in the grooove:


get up under it:




and get on it:


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theres one panel pin in front of the front tire:




take out three panel pins, and two screws:



you can see the back of the DS headlight here:

you NEED a 10mm Box End Gear wrench, and you do NOT have to take it all the way out (but I did, so i could wiggle it around more)



masked off the front fender. you will wiggle the light around SO MUCH...you will scratch something.

there's two 10mm bolts on top




it comes out a little bit, but not all the way




the manufacturing tabs on the bottom catch the lip:

 

[04ctd]

due to lack of space, i installed jumpers along with the bulbs, and put convoluted tubing on the wires to protect them as they went thru the radiator support:





I put the ballasts right in the corner, stacked them up:













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here's the passenger side:

it that tapes look familiar, it's because i recycled it from the other side



here's the lower/inside mounting tab, you can see the back of it is open, so it will slide off the bolt, without fully removing the bolt.





I mounted the ballasts BELOW the air box plate.
I used Carb Cleaner on a paper towel to clean the mounting surface, and the back of the ballasts, and I trimmed off the extra sticky pad with big scissors, because it would just attract dirt.





I stuck the camera down there to get this pic:




I tie wrapped the wiring to the cross brace to keep it from hanging by it's own weight, and ripping wires loose.




I have found that most of the kits are the same chinese junk, no one better than the other, so here's the coupon that came this kit:

 

[BEEMDUB]

Nice...Theres already a writeup for removing the headlights though made my modded I think, but still good to know...Taking the wheels off make it a little bit easier but definitely a extra pain in the ass and make it take way longer...I like the way you loomed your wiring looks real clean!!

 

[04ctd]

FWIW, those HID kits are crap, almost worse than the OEM Lighting.

with this much pain to get to them, I would def buy "retro solutions" and put in there.

wife wants me to pull these & replace them....uggg