Hello

I'd thought I would document how I removed my 380 headlights from the car. The reason I am doing this is because I am going to black out the chrome inside the housing.

Step 1:
Take off inner mud splash guard from the inside of the wheel well. Pry, mangle and break off those tabs holding it in while swearing.
http://i.imgur.com/Pow4RPz.png

Step 2:
Realise that the whole splash guard thing is connected all the way around the wheel well, swear once more and just bend the thing back as pictured, so you can get your ugly mit through the backside of the front bumber.
http://i.imgur.com/9YuEzws.png?1

Step 3:
Get on the ground, and slide your fat head under the bumper and look up to the bolt that prevents everything from coming apart. Fun fact, if Mitsubishi decided to thread this bolt from the inside of the engine bay, you would not have take apart the front bumper. #thumbsup
http://i.imgur.com/bCATkCG.png

Step 4:
While you are still lying on your back with ants crawling all up in your pants, grab a 10mm socket and remove the two bolts holding the front bumper on
http://i.imgur.com/Aarozjy.png

Step 5:
Notice the bolt hiding underneath the front bumper.. yay
http://i.imgur.com/IKQIWla.png

Step 6:
Use your hairy bear hands to undo said nut.
http://i.imgur.com/80Ltkke.png

Step 7:
Now go up to the top of the light and undo the easy nut holding on the housing.
http://i.imgur.com/9klDh4X.png

Step 8:
Remove the front bar grill by popping off and destroying each plastic clip thing holding the grill on. The bottom part of the grill is held in by mechanical clips, which you can just simply hold the bottom of the grill, and pull. Then once removed, you will see another plastic guard thing with two more clips. These are a lot easier to remove. Then slide this plastic guard away to reveal the other hidden bolt.
http://i.imgur.com/Mp6Ewre.png

Step 9:
Proceed to round off the bolt as you try to undo it from its awkward position. A uni joint in between socket and extension helps here.
http://i.imgur.com/F1yR9jn.png

Step 10:
Scratch the shit out of the your paint while trying to remove the headlight assembly from its eye socket.
(not shown)

DONE!

Good work. Just a note, get a set of trim removal tool from eBay or superchepa etc. Use the one with the forked end to lever the scribes out. Again, the trim removal tools wrapped in cloths would have help to remove the whole light assembly.

had you gone the extra bit and removed all the lower trays and the actual bumper skin...it would have been so much easier for you

Looks like you already have the black VRX lights, what do you intend to paint black now. If you are doing the reflector in the headlight that is really a very silly idea

Paint doesn't take well on chrome and the heat absorbed will damage the light or the paint will just flake off, so +1 on the 'bad idea' comment if you are thinking of painting the reflector part.

Looks like you already have the black VRX lights, what do you intend to paint black now. If you are doing the reflector in the headlight that is really a very silly idea

Nope I do not currently have the VRX headlights. I think in one of the photos it kind of looks like it is black inside the light? I think that was just the crappy photo giving it that look.

I will be pulling these apart and painting the chrome yes. Before painting i will be prepping the surface with an undercoat and using a high temp paint to colour it to a satin finish. Actually a mate of mine will be doing it for me :-)

Cheaper than buying overpriced second hand vrx lights, since they are pretty much identical.

Paint doesn't take well on chrome and the heat absorbed will damage the light or the paint will just flake off, so +1 on the 'bad idea' comment if you are thinking of painting the reflector part.

Madmax,

I've have come up with plenty of 'bad ideas' in my life before. This might just have to be piled on top of the previous ones. Until then, I'm having fun doing this! :-) Thanks for the concern though.

Good work. Just a note, get a set of trim removal tool from eBay or superchepa etc. Use the one with the forked end to lever the scribes out. Again, the trim removal tools wrapped in cloths would have help to remove the whole light assembly.

Cheers Vlad! Another tool that i need for sure!

Madmax,

I've have come up with plenty of 'bad ideas' in my life before.

Same! lol
Good luck. You might start a new modding trend on this forum. lol

I think the reflector part is plastic, plasma sprayed with chrome. No idea how it will take to prep/undercoat/paint, really. You or your friend may want to research how best to do it.

Here is the final product.

In my opinion, looks 50 times better than chrome surrounds. Also each light has been refinished, sanded and sprayed with a plastic clear to revive the finish of the plastic. Also heres a pic of the back, with isntalled VRX lights and lip.

http://i.imgur.com/oUZxprB.png

http://i.imgur.com/KMsaswY.png