Firstfives.org

Most of My headlights , particularly the inner high beams, have become foggy, which is a licensing fail.

Typically the inner high beams are Hella units 1K3 114 155-001 , Hella part no HL 1053 A to take a H1 55w globe with lends id number 14464R8

The outer low/high beam lights I think are Hella Units 1M3 114 178-001 Hella trade no ­E1 7076 to take a H1 55w globe + 5w globe

see hella Australia PDF http://db.hella.com.au/downloads/3rd_ed_adr.pdf
Hella globe instruction sheet is here - pdf http://db.hella.com.au/downloads/911-351-14.pdf

https://retromotion.com/en/hella-1k3-11 ... detailpage for $34 Euro
or
311110C https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BMW-E12-E21 ... SwWkJY9Bv4 according to a local BMW wrecker for $50

Ive also got Bosch headlamp no 0 301 303 028

According to partsbook they are used on E3, E9, E21 E12 and E24 http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/63121356415/

and also used on VW passat, toyota corona + celica, Nissan datsun 160 + 240 , Honda Accord, Ford Capri III, Audi 80 + 100

I also have them on my E28 525e !!! - although with a different mounting system
fogged up E12 headlights


fogged up E28 headlights




Any ideas on what This fogging is caused by?

I'v spent a lot of time trying to clean out used euro lamps. Even older brand new lamps seem to get that fogging. Its damn hard to clean out. Ive used a stick with bits of rag and cleaner to try to scrub the fog off the glass with some success but access is also very hard. theres lots of posts online of people saying to put vinegar and other things inside and swirl it around and it will come clean. None of it works in my experience. Not sure what causes it but its a pain in the ass.
I did have success with some lamps a while ago when I was rebulding my headlights for my e24. These lamps were fairly fogged and I had a few others I could never get clean. These ones came out pretty good although there is a little pitting on the outside of the glass I couldn't fix
053D37E3-3D56-40C0-AB06-CADE5C3A8B49_1_105_c by Dave Grayson, on Flickr
736BC3D9-AD6A-474C-BF9B-6088E72F9413_1_105_c by Dave Grayson, on Flickr
C3383012-6611-4F69-AAA6-02356D6AA02F_1_105_c by Dave Grayson, on Flickr

Dave,
wow they look terrific - just by cleaning the inside via the small globe hole.

I was considering separating the lens from the mount - seems to be only sealant holding it in. I read on the E9 coupe site that some have put the whole thing in an oven @ 110 deg for 15 mins, till the sealant softens , then pull the lens off - somehow!!

Since Ive got a lens which maybe too far gone, I might give that a go.

I did a quick test with methlyated spirits.

It was a surprise.

worked amazingly well - just pour a bit in , shake it about - have a look - gees it clear now!

here is foggy lens with a few drops of meths - can see already its now transparent! where the meths is in contact with glass


fully covered -what a difference.
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and the other one
before

after


Heck - Iv got this one to try.

I was told that hi beams tend to fog as they are rarely used, that is why lo beams tend to be much clearer. Run your hi beams when you can it might help.

I've used rubbing alcohol with good results. One thing I found not to use is lacquer thinner, it took the mirroring right off the reflector.

The meths once dried /evaporated, didnt leave a lasting transparency - glass went back to fog.

I tried a few other experiments

sprayed degreaser , rubbed with brush, washed out with water x 3 - made an improvement

sprayed steam with steamer into it - didtn't do much , made it all very foggy - hot air on cold glass = condensation - duh!

sprayed inside with "tyre wet look" stuff - did nothing

I made a brush with a bit of wire and hem section of a shirt





this enabled me to get into all the crannies and hard to get bits - I kept changing the fabric, as sometime it would just smear rather than clean.

Also my warm hand would cause condensation on glass it I happened to hold it - so hands off glass when doing final clean/drying.

I think they came out okay.

Mike W. wrote: Tue Oct 13, 2020 11:24 am I've used rubbing alcohol with good results. One thing I found not to use is lacquer thinner, it took the mirroring right off the reflector.

I found the same thing Mike. LOL

Gary, Thats about what I did. It seems to me the only way is to actually scrub the crap off. I also experimented with a bad lamp and cut of the rear metal bulb housing from the reflector using a dremel to cut the caulking/epoxy. then you can get in there easier. It worked well. Then used rubber caulking to reseal the lamp housing. You have quite a collection of lamps there.......hours of cleaning fun

here is them now reinstalled

right one is sorta okay - lots of minute stone chips on the glass


left one still has bubbles on th background - giving a slight unclarity.


might run the headlight for a bit a see if that drys it up!

which I did
looks light its drying up the condensation - in parts


but once it cooled off


went back to its old state - fog = which appears to be a a very fine condensation.

following this video, I had a go a separating glass from housing using the oven method.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK6dcrnICKk

It actually worked - maybe 20 minsin oven initially, take out, fiddle iwth glass to get it to separate - enough to get a thin bit of metal in,


put back in oven for another 20 mins - gets quite hot

using sharp blade (stanley knife) I scored around the edge and gently pryed the glass up further - scoring adhesive as I went around - going slowly

here are the bits separated.

firstly a Bosch lamp



then a tried a Hella lamp



wasn't too difficult.

however after cleaning the glass a bit more on both sides.
I cant really say that all this work is worth it. There is a temptation to "improve" the chrome surface of the housing - but it scratches very easily, and I cant say that the glass is much better - yet both of these have rather pitted external faces.

maybe be simpler just to buy now ones .


I see Hella NZ have them indicated

https://www.hella.co.nz/en/products/dri ... -beam.html

Gary, great post, I've heard of the oven method of prying the glass off. I just was too lazy to try. Although grinding the caulking off the bulb holder to gain access to the reflector part of the lamp was a lot of time wasted as well. I may try that glass removal method some time. I assume those Hellas for sale in NZ must be RHD lamps?

I presume RHD
do they differ? I thought all the high beams were the same.

I've installed the lamp after cleaning the lense

Its okay but the housing is a bit scratched so its not super shinny now, so it looks a bit cloudy.

looks like can get the Hella units from

Nold trading @ $65 each
https://www.noldtrading.com.au/146mm-h1 ... kQQAvD_BwE

COVS parts @ $95 part no 1053 local pickup in 3hrs! - looks like they might be part of the NAPA auto parts chain https://www.napaparts.com.au/locations/

skrfilmsq $40 Us each - but the web site looks a bit dodgy - don't state location!

https://www.skrfilmsq.com/index.php?mai ... _id=380565