DIY HEADLIGHT REMOVAL AND HEADLIGHT BLACKOUT GUIDE AKA Baked Headlight

Inside oven is fine. There's a small odor but it goes away quickly. GL

 

@Michael Mann
Nice, I like it better with the chrome bezel around the projector.

A0001 ?

 

I finally found the b@ll$ to bake open mine and was so happy with the results! I love the way my headlights look now without all the chrome.

I used a scotchbrite pad type to scuff up the chrome areas that I was going to paint. I used 3M blue masking tape.
I used 2-in-1 paint/primer spray paint. I used hair dryer to help speed up the paint curing process (since it was cold and rainy) in between coats.

I was so upset because on closing back the second housing after paint, I forgot the orange reflector after closing and putting the last screw (because I was trying to rush)!!!
So, I had to rebake to separate it again and put in the reflector back and reseal the housing.


OnePlus One?

 

Let's see the pictures

 

OnePlus One?

 

-- So I have to remove half the front end in order to replace headlight assy? Looks like two bolts on top and one clip beneath, but ya have to remove the front end in order to get the headlights out? Am I the only one here that thinks that's ridiculously designed? I mean last time I did this was on a Ford truck and ya didn't have to remove the front end of the darn truck to get to em.

 

You just have to remove the bumper to get to the bolts to remove the head lamp assembly.
Just the plastic covering actually.
It is a stupid design. But that's how cars are designed today.

You actually don't have to fully remove it, but it only take a few seconds to remove it....
Then it's out of the way.
It's not hard to do, only 1000 nuts and bolts!!!! You can do it by yourself. It's a little tricky
to put it back on, but not difficult.

I removed it to replace the broken black plastic grill piece. I couldn't reach around to get to
the bolts....

 

You don't need to remove the bumper cover, under covers or auxiliary wiring to change the headlight assembly.

No lifts or jacking up the car.

There are only three 10 mm screws and a snap in clip holding it in.

You remove the top radiator cover plastic (2 minutes), then the easy to access top bumper cover screws and pushins and then the bumper cover 10 mm and a pushin at the wheel well.

At that point you can pull back the bumper cover enough to access the side headlight 10 mm and the headlight's retaining clip on the side facing the front.

On a gen2 this method is my preferred go to for simply removing the bulbs. On a gen3 bulb removal is easier and does not benefit from headlight assembly removal.

Reference this video for 10 mm and clip location.

Don't worry, you won't crack the paint by pulling on the bumper cover.

Top tip: The "extra bright" H11 halogen bulbs burn out in 1/10th of the time which is documented as bulb life on the Sylvania bulb packaging.

 

You do NOT have to remove the bumper to replace the bulbs.
Only this air intake part. 2 bolts, bottom left, top right. And moving the
coolant hose. Then it's easy to reach the bulbs.