removing headlights w/o removing the bumper?

I am wondering whether it is possible to remove the headlights w/o removing the bumper. I am planning to clean inside the headlights, I did that for the fogs and worked fine, but it is too cold out there to mass with the bumper. I checked the mounting assembly and saw that only method could be turning the adjustment screws all the way to one direction so that they may be out of thread and would leave the headlights.
thanks for the comments

you can’t remove the headlights without removing the bumper.

but removing the bumper is just about the easiest thing in the world. takes no more than 5-10min.

there are two bolts behind each bumper lense
two screws on each side of the bumper near the wheel well
two bolts underneath the car

then the bumper pops right off. gives you access to the 2 or 3 lower bolts that need to be removed to take the headlights out. and you ann even remove your resonator while you’re there.

Just be careful when you take off the bumper, have a friend help you. The metal support beam is a little on the heavy side, and if you’re not careful the bumper will fall suddenly with your hand under it, and kill one if not many fingers. Hurts like hell. But hey, if you get the right finger you can flip people off when showing them your injury! Whee!

OW.

zoom

Yes, you can remove the headlights without removing your bumper! I know this for a fact because I did it myself when I installed my one-pieces. There’s just one screw on each headlight that faces out towards the side of the car that you have to get at with an extension on a socket wrench. It’s a lil tricky. I had to use two extensions when I installed my one-pieces.

Thanks fom the replies, ý guess I will try removing the screw, 2 months ago I removed the bumper it was as easy as you say but now outside it is freezing and ý don’t wanna mess with the bumper at such a cold weather. By the way for the socket wrench extension,does it have to be a flexible one which goes through corners and angles or can I use a rigid rod extension.
Thanks again

IntegrAZN, how did you do it? How did you get to the mounts behind the bumper on the BOTTOM of the headlight? Or did your 1 pieces not come with mounts on the bottom of the lights as they’re supposed to? Please tell!

that would save us G2s so much work…

i second E-DA9’s question, please do tell. It sounds like your one pieces only have 3 or 4 bolts holding them in----they are supposed to have 6.

i wasnt able to remove the headlights without taking off the bumper but i have a suggestion for after u clean the headlights…
my friend just left the bottom screws out and only used the top ones when putting his lights back in, this way if he ever needs to take lights out again he will not have to remove the bumper and can save some time
hes had no problems and lights seem pretty secure
just a thought for u

I would definitely NOT recommend taking out the bottom brackets…they’re the ones that actually hold the light snug on the car…with only the top ones in, the lights can still be wiggled around…which I would bet isn’t all that heavy for the brackets.

Even if they were ok for the brackets, it ain’t cool to have your beams bouncing around over every bump; the bumper can only put so much support on it.

E-DA9, b17avtec and 91IntegGS, you guys are all right. I only installed my one-pieces with the 3 brackets on top. I didn’t bother with installing the bottom ones cuz 1) when I installed my lights, I totally forgot about them and 2) I’m too lazy :stuck_out_tongue: . So far the one-pieces have been on my car since mid-August and they’re just fine. But E-DA9 might have a good point there with the vibration and the beams bouncing. Maybe I’ll install the bottom brackets next spring when it’s warm outside again.

mert-teg, I suggest you just install your one-pieces with the 3 brackets on top for now and leave the bottom brackets til spring.

It can be done

You can remove the lights without removing the bumper. This only applies to the lights themselves NOT the entire braket. Maybe the braket will also come out, but I only need to replace the main lens, so I didn’t try and can’t say for sure. Take the corner lens off. Take the corner lens braket off (two philip screws to the main braket). Take off the 3 top bolts. Loosen the side nut for the fog light and remove (pull bolt/nut side towards front of car at angle, then entire light sideways towards opposite side of car). Using about a 12" extension, slide this in from where the corner braket used to be, behind the bumper, until you reach the bottom bolt. I removed my air filter and battery, and could guide the extension by reaching from the inside. Angle the braket, fog light area coming forward, and remove the small nut holding the main lens. Reaching from the inside remove the adjuster covers with a philips screwdriver. Unscrew both adjusters and the main lens will slide forward and out. It takes some patience and if you don’t already know where these screws and bolts are, it will be tricky.