Anyone have experiance with installing these headlight adjusters? My dealer informed me that these adjusters were broken and I would have to replace the headlights themselves, just like the advertisement states. Looks like a great fix, if it is something someone with mimimum mechanical experiance can do.

 

x2 i would also like to know about DIY

 

good deal

 

ttt

 

Just FYI: The fitment is for 10/2000-2003 E39s....

 

In Stock and READY to ship

 

will they work with the dj auto headlights?

 

Does someone have a link for a DIY for the 2003 lights? I see reference to cutting an opening in the light and then seal up the hole after the adjuster replacement. However, I have not actually seen the steps described in detail and possibly pictures?

Thanks

 

I just did both my headlights last night without cutting or baking. There's a pdf with step by step from a guy on another forum, but I changed a couple steps it in. When putting the blind adjusters in, first thread in the adjuster, then pop the socket on it after it's in. Too difficult getting them in while together. Then you can rotate the socket until it lines up with the base where the torx screw goes. I probably got my second lamp done in 30 minutes after doing the first.

 

How long did it take to change out the adjusters in the first lamp?

Thanks

 

Baking the light open does give you opportunity to clean the lens and reflector with Windex or whatever. A decade of dust and condensation takes a toll on light output....

 

IF they bake open that is.

 

I'd say around 2 hours, but that's including the time to take them off the car, and pull all the bulbs/motor. There's a slight learning curve on just taking it all apart. Probably less than an hour fiddling with the adjusters to get them out and the new ones back in. I recommend using surgical clamps for removing all the little pieces of broken adjuster inside the lamps. Sometimes they shake out, but it's a little more controlled pulling them out with the clamps. They (the clamps) also work pretty well to help align the new adjusters if you have big hands.

 

If you cant get access to surgical clamps? What tool would you recommend to use to get the broken bits out and put the new ones in? Im assuming needle nose vise grips would be too big?

Ordering aluminum parts now!!

My lights are on my kitchen table awaiting surgery!

 

You can probably get all the bits out by just shaking, and using fingers. The clamps really helped me with getting the new adjusters in the right position, and holding them there while you thread the back screw into them. Half the battle is figuring out how to insert them into the housing so they can back in to their "slot". Once it's in the blind slot you've got it.

 

75$ for both or each?

 

would also like to know, website now lists them for $89.95..

 

They are not hard to change. The hardest part for me was removing the black goo. I had reused it but after a while moisture got in the headlights so I took them off again, removed the goo and put some new silicone. The adjusters that I had bought did not work for my headlights. I have some dj auto headlights.I think the ones that I had bought were the CA automotive aluminum adjusters. The good thing was that the old adjusters had just popped out so I was able to fix the headlights

 

I'm trying this next weekend; how much beer do I need to do this job? Maybe I should rephrase this, can I drink while I'm doing this repair; or, should I wait?

 

It's not too bad with the right tools. I used some long surgical clamps, and it probably took me longer to get the lamps off the car than it took to thread in the new adjusters.

 

Well you are pretty good at getting adjusters in or your terrible at removing the headlights. I did this job just a couple weeks ago and getting the hidden one in place was a chore. having to use gravity and luck to drop that into place. I was successful in the end. Happy to have good lighting, my adjusters were broke when I got the car.

 

So basically; once you can access them, it's almost done. Thanks for the reply!

 

Well, I got to the part where I needed to reaasemble the "easy" adjuster; and I had the wrong part, not happy! The battle continues on monday!

 

The harder of the 2 adjusters has me baffled; what's the best angle of attack? The lens facing down; or, having the assembly resting with the lens facing in a normal position? Are there any visual clues/ports to view the adjuster install, or is it blind?

I am really amazed how crispy the adjuster's get in that housing!

 

the adjusters are relatively easy to replace the way to do it is to open the headlamp by either baking it or best invest in a +- 30$ heat gun. Take the headlamp out by removing the 4 screws holding the lamp, disconnect all the plugs there are 5 or so plugs (they are all different so putting them back is easy, note that the short beam for xenons needs to be rotated to be disconnected DO NOT just pull! ) remove the trim under the lamp by prying it starting from the inner end careful with the inner end as it has a tab that needs to be compressed to pull the trim out.
Once you have the lamp out take the bulbs out (all of them) then take the heat gun and heat the lamp around then apply a little force to separate the lamp body by the glass, you can actually gently use a large flat screwdriver twisting it between the front glass lip and the lamp body. Make sure that you first heat the lamp around well. Once the glass starts separating force it gently and at the same time use the heat gun to help the black glue separate (you will reuse it after). Now that you separated the glass from the body of the lamp unscrew the three (four?) screws holding the electrical adjusting motor in place, after you take the screws out you need to move the motor lateral to pull it out of the C nut holding it (be patient and gentle though firm these nuts are either broken or if not they are resistant so don't be afraid to work on them). Depending which of the adjusters are broken the inner plastic piece should come out easily, don't forget to remove the angel eyes just lift them up they are not held by anything at this point. Remove the broken parts by unscrewing adjuster's base and replace them with the new ones, screw in the new adjusters (the adjuster screws are the withe ones on the back of the lamp. Putting back the lamp is the exact reverse of what you did taking it apart just remember the self leveling motor adjuster arm needs to be put back not by pressing it but by moving it laterally, on the other hand the lamp mirrors need to be pressed in the new adjusters; when you get to the point of putting the glass back heat the lamp around then put the glass and continue to heat it while pressing gently the glass onto the body.
Obviously you should clean the interior of the lamp, avoid to leave fingerprints on the inner parts, etc.
Honestly the process sounds worst than it is, took me 30 minutes start to finish, so someone that is not mechanically inclined but has logic can do it in an hour or so.
Good luck and if any questions lease feel free to contact me.

 

Can anyone confirm that the 03 lenses cannot be removed by baking or a heat gun? Ive done this on other cars and this one is so different that im afraid I'll break something.

 

This is fact; they CANNOT be opened thru heat. You can probably order new Euro lenses and dremel yours off.

 

LMFAO no way! I'll just subject my hands to a painful lesson in BMW engineering and do it threw the headlight holes..... giggidy.

 

Me and you are on the same tiny boat!

I have an extra set of OEM Hella euro lights and all the damn adjusters are broken.. might just have to order a new set of clear front lenses and break open the headlights. ouich

 

Just did my April 2002 headlight - took about an hour. I ended up baking them twice in order to separate the lens, otherwise all went well. I looked at trying to fix them without baking, and frankly, that looked like an exercise in frustration. 200 degrees isn't all that hot when you stop and think about it (your engine runs around 212 on a hot day, right?), and once you soften the materials a bit by doing so the chances of anything breaking are about zero. All of the clips are still intact, etc, on my lights - just be patient.

Doug

 

Just did my April 2002 headlight - took about an hour. I ended up baking them twice in order to separate the lens, otherwise all went well. I looked at trying to fix them without baking, and frankly, that looked like an exercise in frustration. 200 degrees isn't all that hot when you stop and think about it (your engine runs around 212 on a hot day, right?), and once you soften the materials a bit by doing so the chances of anything breaking are about zero. All of the clips are still intact, etc, on my lights - just be patient.

Doug

Holy Crap...Its Doug Baker!!! Glad to see your still in-it-to-win-it Doug....I hope your beast is as good as always
:byee55amg

 

Geez, you'd think I only stopped in once a month or so. Oh wait... Great to see you guys are still around

One of the joys of being a consultant is that I'm just now on Inspection 2 @ 85K. Lots of fun research coming to make sure I get the correct collection of parts over the next couple weeks. That and LED's. Angel eyes died, so off I go to find the collection of LED's to upgrade all the interior lights as well!

d-

 

Is there an aluminum version for adjusters for earlier build dates (pre 10/00)? My M5 is 03/00 build.