635 - dreaded light was / wipe

I thought I'd have a bash at dismantling the front end to see if I can clean up headlights and get the washers / wipers going again.

Minor problem - although I can see the 4 screws holding on the grills over each set of headlights - I can't find whats holding them on at the corners (where the indicators are)

Any ideas how these grills come off? It appears impossible to get at the lights from behind (without removing bonnet & engine!!)

As an aside - following previous post - I have picked up a set of refurbished 20 spoke 17" Alpina's (with 235x45 Eagles) - which have somewhat transformed the car after what I now realise were appalling Avon metrics!!

Now only radiator, multiple bushes....and inner wings to sort

Taking that 8mm nut off is a horrible exsperience. They will probable shear off rather than unscrew.

I would highly recomend upgrading your bulbs whilst you are messing around with the lights. I have Osram Silver stars in the main beam and Philips vision plus on the side lights. Have a look at www.powerbulbs.com. You need H1 bulbs. The difference will be as large as changing your tyres and wheels to imperials.

Avon metrics = The worst tyres ever made

17" Alpina's = The ultimate wheel for a six = Jealous Horsetan =  from me

As for the radiator, inner wings etc. You think you have a relativerly small list. The list never gets smaller as all six owners will tell you there is always something to spend your money on. Good luck with the car it sounds as if it is comming together nicely

James

chaps - thanks - will cut off a few fingers so I can get access to have a look at the lights at the weekend! - Any known faults causing one side of the washers / wipers to be dead - and the other side slow and labouring?

As the lights / reflectors themselves are somewhat dull / lenses chipped & cracked - are the light units themselves easily replaced? how much? (I'll change the bulbs when I get new lights I think)

Any views on the costs for a radiator (1986 635CSi - auto)? - I should probably get this sorted asap. I replaced the viscous fan coupling - which stopped the needle climbing much above halfway in traffic, but as it usually sits at about a third when on the move, there's still a problem. Rad is old with a leak - which is suspect, and rad cap is also dodgy!

On the wheels front - is it worth keeping hold of the original metrics? what for? - apart from the fact it seems a shame to start losing original bits of the car - but I won't be shelling out for set of metric tyres in a hurry!

cheers

horsetan,

Motormec have quoted £118 +Vat for the rad, £4 for the cap, £13 for the thermostat - seems affordable - but no idea what brand! - does it matter?

As for the wheels - I've got 17" Alpinas now - but the knackered Avon shod metrics are cluttering up the garage. Do they add any value if and when it comes to selling?

when you say its a pain replacing the lights - how much of a pain??! - this isn't a critical job yet - but might be worth it while i'm in there delving around with the wash / wipe system.

Nice motor - wanna swap!!!?

I sourced my 235/45/17 - 20 spoke Alpinas on eBay - refurbed - with new centres, complete with tyres for less than the cost of a new set of metric tyres, which I needed anyway! - money well spent I say.

As for the lights - wow - £440 + Vat + wiper assemblies - I think I'll try the skinned knuckles, WD40 approach to fixing what I've got first! What exactly does 'ellipsoid' mean (If anything more than 'not circular'!) - are they different to OE lights?

Thankfully my headlight wash/wipe actually does work, albeit a bit on the slow side, so not going to play with that on the premise that if it ain't broke, don't mess with it.

As for the Avon metrics, got a new set on mine and still waiting to go and play...so will inevitably swear at them constantly once the car is out and about.

(Still waiting for the dodgy non existant welding to be rectified and the MOT again)