9-5 Xenon headlight - dismantling?

[BOF]

Afternoon all. Long time no post, but I'm back.

I'm trying to sort out one xenon headlight on my '03 9-5. I have a spare (dismantled) unit for parts.

The problem is that the levelling motor within the unit is knackered; it turns, but the beam does not move. Typical Valeo stripped internal gearing, I think.

The only way in is by removing the headlamp plastic cover. Can anyone tell me whether the mastic that holds the cover in place softens with heat? (If not, I probably can't get it off without doing too much damage...)

Please help.

BOF

[sgould]

I've heard that it does.  But some brave people put have put it in the oven!  There was a recent report that someone who did this had the oven too high and it was not just the mastic that melted 

[BOF]

I was thinking more of using a hairdryer....

[sgould]

Depends on how strong it is.  It might work.  or you may need an electric paint stripper sort of thing and move it about quickly!!

[Petemate]

Bosch heat gun, but be careful and use on the lower temp setting. Also ideal for two-man job. I speak from experience - my lad and I successfully stripped a couple of Audi headlights. The trick is to tease the lens away from the bode bit by bit as the second operator plays the heat on it. After getting around halfway, one can then work a bit quicker and the last stretch parts much easier.
HTH

[BOF]

Bugger! I used the spare headlight (both polycarbonate cover and main plastic moulding) in the oven. It melts at somewhere between 150 and 170 degrees Centigrade; the mastic (I took a little slice off the heasdlight unit I want to repair) is a little bit more pliable, but definitely not soft or sticky, at that temperature.

As I said, BUGGER! Looks like a s/h unit off eBay is favourite, then.

BOF