Well, since there is no "how to" on doing this and the modification becoming more common, I though I'd run through how to do it.

This modification takes patience, time and balls.

If your not sure about doing it, leave it.

I'm not taking the blame for you breaking headlights, parts can be brittle.

Time taken roughly 2hours.

Difficulty 6/10.

I already had the headlight out of my car before i started this but I'm also going to put up a how to on changing and removing headlights.

Tools needed for the task.

• Flat headed screw driver.
  
• Torx 10 screwdriver or bit.
  
• Sand paper, I used 180Grit.
  
• Paint of your choice, I opted for fluorescent green. Black is more common.
  
• Remington Power 1600 hairdryer (any hair dryer will do)
  

People have used the "oven" method for heating up the headlights but I've not got the balls to.

You will have already removed the standard headlight.

First off you will need to remove the metal clips round the headlight.

There are 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom.

Remove with a screwdriver, these will come pinging off so be sure to catch them.

Remove all 4 like so.

Next get the hairdryer.

(Please be sure to ask Wife, Girlfriend, Mum, Sister, yourself before use.)

Im not taking the blame either.

Start to heat up round the headlight, where the lense attaches to the black plastic backing. This will soften the glue/sealent in the headlight.

Start on the underside, this will be the side you will be prizing open with the screwdriver.

At the bottom corner start to prize the black plastic backing away from the light.

As said before, be sure this is the bottom because it will leave cosmetic marks on the plastic.

Keep heating the plastic and prising the headlight apart.

This takes about 20mins to do.

Be sure to heat right the way round the bottom part and sides of the headlight.

Once you can feel the headlight starting to come apart it will start to look like this.

You wont need the screwdriver any more. The use of the hands is needed. Good tool.

Pull the headlights apart, the bottom and sides should now be apart.

Now heat along the top for a few minutes and the lense should pull right off.

It will still be quite tight but keep at it.

Once the lense is off it will look like this.

Flip the lense upside down and you will now see the insert to be painted.

This is held in by 2 torx10 screws.

See pictures.

Remove both screws.

The insert will now come out of the lense housing.

This is quite tricky as it is tight.

Be sure not to pull to hard or it will break.

There are small tabs round the insert that may need to be pushed out a bit.

Pull out by the top first (thiner part)

Once you have the insert out you will now need to sand off the "chrome" on the plastic insert.

If this is not done the paint will not stick.

Give it a good seeing to with the paper, getting all of the "chrome" off.

I used 180grit paper for this.

Before.

After.

......

......

Next comes the painting part.

You know what to do.

I did not use primer or laquer.

You can if you want, it just means waiting longer.:(

While waiting on this drying start splitting your other light.

Or to speed up the process, get that hairdryer on the go again.

Once dry start to rebuild the light again.

Make sure the inside of the lense has not got any dirt or fingerprints in it.

Once sealed back up you wont be able to clean it.

I used a microfiber to make sure there were no marks left inside.

Place the insert back in the lense housing.

Take care as it is as tight going back in as coming out.

Make sure the insert is sitting flush and the tabs are back inside the lense.

Now screw the both torx10 screws back in.

Once back in, it looks like this. Sun specticle time.

Now you want to get the other part of the headlight back.

Start once again to heat round the headlight where the sealer is.

This causeing the sealer to go tacky again so you can stick it back together.

I suppose you could take out the old sealer and use new stuff.

But again, thats more time and the sealer thats already on it will do the trick.

Heat both parts of the headlight, the housing and the lense untill sealer is tacky again.

Before putting the both parts together again make sure these is no sealer overlapping inside the headlight.

You will be able to see this when the lights are put back together so make sure it is all off.

Now mate the two parts together, give the headlights a good push together all the way round making sure they are back sitting flush.

Once done, put the 4 metal clips back on.

This will pull the two parts together a bit more.

Once the clips are on go round the light again checking it is sitting flush.

Now your done.

Next light please.

Awesome, now lets see them on the car

Just realised this should really be posted in the " Technical Guides " part of the forum.

Move if need be.

Will get pictures of them on the car tomorrow.

Wont be on long, just did it for somthing to do really.

To match the wheels.

They are getting split again shortly and painted black.

Then sold.

Good guide......

Great guide.

Xenons can be done in the same manner.

cheers for the guide, i really want to attempt this when i get spare time and its not so cold out there.

but seriously... green inserts?!!! pics required asap!

Only picture i have.

Just a laugh really.

2 of my wheels are that colour, so i though i may as well. Haha.

Just a laugh really.

2 of my wheels are that colour, so i though i may as well. Haha.

glad you said that lol i really like your car but i really do not like the lights done green.

very nice guide mate - have to resist the temptation..

Anyone got a nice pic of a black surround on a black Fabia perchance?

Cheers

Bas

Anyone got a nice pic of a black surround on a black Fabia perchance?

Post #17 Basil:thumbup:

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/vrs-203-johnny50-mikesm56-top-blokes/135412/

is it easy to remove the headlights ?

I'm going to be attempting something similar too soon.

Want to know though: Are the "shiny" bits transposable between headlights? I have a very clean pair of headlights with broken clips, and obviously my own headlights on the mongrel which are structurally fine but the insides are starting to show wear/fade. Can I split both sets of lights, swap the "shiny" bits into the mongrel's casings, and then attempt something similar with the painting of the surround inside the lens?

Opinions welcome.

I'd have a look at Lummox' post - that shows all the component parts

I'd have a look at Lummox' post - that shows all the component parts

I tried to find it! Many kittens' lives have been saved! I suspect it's somewhere tangled up in your 500+ post strong thread! :P

Its in this thread, about five posts upwards.

Yes is the simple answer.

I couldn't see anything about length of time to leave in the oven, tactics for oven-method (I don't possess a hairdryer), etc.

120 degrees, 3 mins.

So 20 mins per lb @ gas mark 7 would not be wise?

Not for the headlights - perhaps for some meat though hehehehe

i put my old Hyundai Coupe headlights in the oven to seperate them. Just make sure none of the headlight is touching the sides of the oven...... there will be a mess otherwise.

Only picture i have.

Just a laugh really.

2 of my wheels are that colour, so i though i may as well. Haha.

Looks like Kermits eyes.

Are the headlights on the facelift fabia differant as I have a W reg.?

Are the headlights on the facelift fabia differant as I have a W reg.?

As you have split yours now, you'll see that they are not.

Here's my latest play with my lights.

Oversprayed to the max, but i dont care.