D1S Headlamp Bulb Change

[Gerry]

Has anyone changed the headlamp bulb (HID D1S) in their headlamp? The shop manual says it's not serviceable, but it looks easy enough to change if you can get to it inside the lamp body. The high beam function si just a metal cover that rotates in front of the bulb to change the reflection of the light from the bulb. Just curious.

Gerry

 

[Specracer]

Ive read about people servicing sealed headlights. The tough part is getting the pieces separated. The preferred method is an oven to soften the glue. I guess if it doesnt currently work, what go you have to loose.

 

[HighHP]

The bulb shows to be available at your local auto parts store. See pic of passenger side gray bulb cover with screws.
I have not actually changed the bulb but I have looked into how to do it and I have removed the cover. The hardest part is removing the inner fender splash shield. You will want to put protectant tape around your fender prior to removing the shield. The shield needs to be at least room temp or warmer. I would NOT try to remove it outside in cold weather. It needs to be flexible. You might post your changeout process and results for others to see. Good luck.
I have a spare headlight ssembly. I will remove the bulb cover and post pics later today.

 

[KJD]

I like efforts like this and members' sharing their experiences.

I also agree completely with Specracer, not much downside if any.

Good luck with getting that assembly apart, hope it works!

 

[twobjshelbys]

Someone here (Kendall?) has replaced bulbs in the sealed headlights.

 

[HighHP]

Ok, here are the headlight bulb replacement pics, in addition to my other pic above. Looks like the bulbs are readily available in Sylvania as well as Philips. The hardest part, as I mentioned above, is removing the inner fender splash shield.

 

[Specracer]

Having just done this couple weeks ago, to clean the turn signal connection, I agree.... Not the easiest thing I have done on this car.

The hardest part, as I mentioned above, is removing the inner fender splash shield.

 

[twobjshelbys]

RE: Fender liner. For some things merely loosening it within the confines of the wheel well is enough, but sometimes you need to remove the whole thing. In that case a hair dry can help soften the liner to make it easier to move it around. Lots of blue tape.

 

[Specracer]

I have to correct myself. The reason to crack the light open is to attempt to fix the high low beam shutter, which is an active mechanical action in the headlight assembly.

 

[fjpikul]

There is a reason no one does this. It doesn't work. You can't seal the headlight well enough to look nice.

 

[HighHP]

The reason to crack the light open is to attempt to fix the high low beam shutter, which is an active mechanical action in the headlight assembly.

I did not know this. Always learning new GT stuff on this forum, GREAT. So I looked up the operation of this shutter. It appears that an electric solenoid operates what I assume to be a spring loaded shutter or something. High beam occurs when 12v is applied to energize the solenoid. The solenoid de-energized state is low beam, so in case of failure of operation the default is low beam. This makes sense, since, standard design is to a fail-safe mode, which would be low beam. So if it quits working, it will stay on low beam, not ideal but no big deal. Anybody know if these assumptions are correct?