Nicely done .All pre facelift X5 E53 to 10/2002 are easy to do.Done many ....difficult are the 2003 ones..need to be cut.

Dr. Frank, love the work on this video!! I did not know about the plastic melting/fusing tool... Thank you!!

@Garageaholic

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah really cool isn’t it Gil!?!

Must be a pre-face lift thing with that sealer that needs heating. Post face lift e53 uses a rubber gasket and easier to change once the housing is removed from the vehicle. Significantly more difficult to remove the housing though...

Another great video. Well paced and clearly spoken

@Garageaholic

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!!

Awesome video. You make it look so EZ. Thank you.

Great video. Will do my headlight soon too. Thnx!

I use plastic wedge tools to split the lights. Picked up a set at Advance Auto Parts for under $10. Can also bake the headlight to weaken the glue. I think that Sikkaflex is the proper glue for this.

Before you let go of heater on plastic welder; while the clip is melting the plastic on both parts - twist it on one side. So the metal clip also gets stuck sideways also, much better grip on both parts.

@Garageaholic

2 жыл бұрын

Good point that helps a lot!

@josiptadic8301

2 жыл бұрын

@@Garageaholic just to be clear, do the twist before pulling out!

@Garageaholic

2 жыл бұрын

Yes! It smooshes the melted plastic together more coherently!

Hi frank love the video I have a 2006 x5 4.8is my head lights have condensation in them I was wondering if I send my headlights to you will you repair them for me ? Ty

Any need to clean out the old adhesive first? Also I question using RTV/silicone here. Thinking something like butyl rope would be less messy and less permanent. Anyway, good info, my E53 will get new eyes installed soon! It's also a 5-speed, with the xenon headlights.

You make it look simple

which lens can i use for a 2004 x5?

I just did mine, a 2001 with Xenon. There are four connectors for the Xenon, not three, and the light and Xenon ballast must come out of the car separately.

Thanks

Use butyl tape instead of Permatex.

@Garageaholic

2 жыл бұрын

That's pretty cool actually. thanks for suggesting!

@Garageaholic

2 жыл бұрын

Dude - that stuff is awesome!! Thanks!!

Gr8 job m8, you`re so crazy!

@Seb-Storm

Жыл бұрын

Gee arr eight emm eight lmao

I just tried to do the passenger side one -- it was replaced at the dealer years ago for condensation. The glue that holds the lens on was not meltable. The housing melted but the glue did not. I basically destroyed the light trying to get the lens out. So beware of the different glue used in some of the headlights which makes this job impossible.

Where can i buy those lens for my e53 is there a link for those ?

@Garageaholic

2 жыл бұрын

Did you read the description of my video?

That came out great Frank. Thanks for sharing. And btw, can Jess drive stick? Dutch regards, Nico.

@Garageaholic

2 жыл бұрын

She does! All of my cars are manual - all 6 of them! Not an auto in sight!

THX bro

@Garageaholic

Жыл бұрын

NP mang

@powerspeedutube

Жыл бұрын

@@Garageaholic Not true ,you obviously never done 10/2002 onwards headlights ...when Hella changed the sealant to non melting ..these can only be opened by cutting.

To be correct. Outer adjustment is for horizontal and inner adjustment is for vertical

@Garageaholic

2 жыл бұрын

One is for high beam, one is for low beam. Might be different on facelift e53’s

Like it. Brp Brp!!!

So Jan 2022... in 6 months price went up to $141... Inflation is real. But in any case, I didn't think that you could replace just the plastic cover, and spent 3 hours polishing the thing with the 3M Headlight Restoration Kit and it's still a bit hazy. Should have just replaced it like you did. I know some people put the whole thing in the oven, but I like the heat gun method better, less chance of melting the whole thing in the oven. And your cookies won't taste like plastic.

hello please help does this apply to x5 2003

@Garageaholic

2 жыл бұрын

2001 to 2003 have same design. 2004+ went to updated shape of the covers.

@powerspeedutube

Жыл бұрын

No ....after 10/2002 Hella changed the glue to non melting,needs cutting

Could someone advise where I can buy these? I’ve seen many on eBay but it looks like they’re simply a cover that snaps on over the existing lens. If anyone can direct me I’d sure appreciate it. Thanks!

@Garageaholic

Жыл бұрын

It doesn’t snap on the existing lens. It replaces the factory lens

@anthonychicoine9372

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the reply. Just to clarify, are you telling me that all of the ones on eBay are actual replacements and not just some sort of accessory that snaps over the existing headlight? I had one eBay seller tell me that but I’m not so sure they knew what they were talking about. Wouldn’t be the first time with eBay sellers.

@anthonychicoine9372

Жыл бұрын

@@Garageaholic do you know where I can buy replacements? The link you have on eBay says they are not currently available. Thanks so much for your help. 😊👍🏼

@Garageaholic

Жыл бұрын

I’m not surprised, the auctions expire, get replaced or supplanted with similar items. The ones you buy are just like the ones I had in the video. Just need to look. Try ECS or FCP to get replacement lenses

@geeniusatwrok

11 ай бұрын

eBay, $100 or so, and they're direct replacements for the old ones. I got a set today and will install once the butyl rope shows up. If your E53 is post-LCI (facelift, 2003-06) this will not work. The ones I got look exactly like the ones in the video.

Mate, good video but your should of bought the proper butil tape to seal the headlight.

where can i buy

@Garageaholic

2 жыл бұрын

I don’t understand your question

@taffaalia3897

2 жыл бұрын

Ebay

Pay close attention. This impossible to do without crunching up the light housing. It’s even wrecked in this video. Can’t soften the glue without softening the plastic along with it

@Garageaholic

2 жыл бұрын

“Crunching up” the light housing? These covers were installed and sealed originally with Butyl tape, which is OEM. Replacing these e53 covers is as easy as replacing e46 covers. I’ve done both.

@TalesFromTheCity_

2 жыл бұрын

@@Garageaholic Yeah the lip of the housing that the cover sits in gets crunched/bent/chipped. 2:08 on this vid can see it’s the same as mine. Can’t be helped and is still hidden inside the guards and rubber seal when re-installed. Was more of a reference for people to realise it’s going to happen but doesn’t hurt the install

Should probably identify pre-facelift 2001-2003 in your video title... nice work though!

@Garageaholic

Ай бұрын

Right most enthusiasts know from the thumbnail that it’s pre facelift but good point!

Mate, an absolute non-worker for me. Got nowhere with this. Mine is a 2004 and this just did nothing.

@Garageaholic

Жыл бұрын

Yeah you have the facelift version.