headlight help please

[blackmajic]

Hi,

I'm not sure if i'm posting this in the most appropriate place. However if anyone able to help me then that would be much appreciated.

I have a 06 prefacelift (i think) is April 06 if that helps, ibiza sport 1.4. However, my headlights have a common problem of steaming up sometimes and one looks like theres some kinda greasemarks or some residue which is left over from this problem, and it is visible when looking at the headlight and there is no way of being able to clean this as they are a sealed unit.

I'm thinking of buying a replacement headlight, however my question is, would any headlights of the MK4 but off a later model say 2007 fit my 06 or would there be a slight difference due to it being prefacelift?

I have noticed, on my car the bulbs of the main headlight have like a grill thing in front of them which is something my brothers '56 ibiza DAB doesnt have, is it again a model spec or because his is the facelift version of the MK4.

This one shows what my car has
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/seat-ibiza-dri...3A1|294:50

I know thats an 05 version, but this one is an '07 and doesnt have that thing in front of the light

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Seat-Ibiza-N-S...3A1|294:50

Does this affect the light quality as my standard ones arent great.

Sorry its alot to answer, but I have been to seat and they tried to see if i could get done under warranty but they were having none of it. I want to try replace the headlamp because when the lights are on you can see the streaks interfering with the beams of light slightly and I want to get some HID's and this look wouldnt be kewl! lol.

Thanks for your help with this.

BM

 

[beezanick]

Firstly, your links dont work

Any set of lights should fit, both pre and post facelift.

If you are going to replace them, you could try removing the old lights, washing the insides and then dry thoraly. Youve got nothing to loose by doing this and it could save you money - lights arnt cheap!

 

[Neo]

I agree.. you could try cleaning your units out first, if you have access to an airline you could blow air through the bulb holes after washing them, I did this and it worked well.

 

[Leigh15]

If the picture in your avatar is of your car and you haven't changed the front bumper, then you have a facelift car.

The headlight units are the same across both variants anyway, so you don't need to worry.

Personally I wouldn't bother replacing the units - they're very expensive and the odds are the new set will do exactly the same!

If you do decide to change, the only thing you need to check is that you get the twin lamp version same as your car will be fitted with - the pre-facelift low end models had single lamp versions which aren't as good.

 

[Neo]

Once you`ve cleaned them, get a couple of silica gel bags from a shoe-box or somewhere,
put a COUPLE of pin holes in them and tape them to your headlight covers. Also you could smear some grease on the cover seal to help it, er.. seal!

 

[blackmajic]

Hi,

Thanks for your post. I have already had the bumper off and didnt have much luck trying to get the lights out. It was preety difficult to disconnect the connection to the back of the headlight, any tipes with this? Also once I decided to give up on that, I tried to look and see if I would be able to take apart anyway, but came to the conclusion that it looked like a sealed unit and I wouldnt be able to. Or is it that it unclips from the back bit. Cos around the edge of the light where the back meets the outer of the glass/lens part is sealed. Also the car had cupra bodykit fitted to it, so i guess its not facelift.

Thanks

BM

 

[beezanick]

The cable can be a pain to disconnect, I had this problem when I took my lights out. I cant remember exactly how I managed to disconnect them in the end, but patcience is the key.

The lights are a sealed unit as far as im aware, but it should be possible to pour water + washingup liquid in and then use a bottle brush or small paint brush ect through the hole where the bulbs go. Then try drying them out thoraly and placing some silica jell packs in behind the cover. As said, it may not work perfictly, but it is worth a try if you are planning to get a new set of lights anyway.

 

[Neo]

Yeah I just rinsed mine out with washing up liquid/water, then dried them out thoroughly.
But mine were`nt stained as you say yours are!

 

[blackmajic]

headlights

Yeh I reckon that might an alternative. Its just getting the lead disconnected from back of headlight as its a tight***. Maybe try a bottle brush with some washing up liquid. Is it safe to immerse the whole lamp in water? Or will this ruin the reflectors of the light?

 

[beezanick]

I cant see how it would damage the silvering TBH. I know of lots of people who have done this, and theyve come out fine. The trick is to dry them out well. I would leave them in a warm dry place for a few days - like an airing cubourd, and blow the air out of them every now and again with a hair dryer to make sure there is no moisture left in them. Some people have dried them in an oven - but I wouldnt recomend that... Another trick is to wash lights in a dish washer (mainly used for rear lights) but again I wouldnt advise that either...

just make sure you dont scratch the silvering with the brush when you wash them.