How to remove grille from MY12 L322

[Graeme]

How does the grille un-clip after removing the 3 top screws? I've used as much force in every direction that I'm game to use - lifting, pulling the base forwards, trying to fold the top down but no success yet. The D4 grille is simple once one knows the process so I expect the same for this vehicle.

[rar110]

Powerful UK website has a heap of how to videos for the L322. No 10 is the grill. Link below.

http://www.powerfuluk.com/videofittingguides.html

[Graeme]

I tried the procedure shown without success but perhaps there's a knack to unlatching the side hooks before the centre hook so I'll have another attempt.

[rar110]

The demonstrators grill will have been taken out previously. I'm sure it will not be as easy as that when it first comes out.

[Graeme]

I fitted HIDs to the high beams without removing the lights but they're too low. I need to remove the lights to see if the globes aren't sitting properly or if some special adjustments are needed as the low beam cut-off and the bi-xenon high beam are about right.

[RR44TDV8]

I fitted HIDs to the high beams without removing the lights but they're too low. I need to remove the lights to see if the globes aren't sitting properly or if some special adjustments are needed as the low beam cut-off and the bi-xenon high beam are about right.

Pardon? What do you mean? My car has the biXenon package......how do you fit HID to it and why would you Graeme? Piccies?

Rgds
Grant

[Graeme]

A HID kit fitted in place of the high-beam-only H7 halogens. They produce a lot more light - fitted them to the D4 for a great improvement. Being HID they're a little slow to get to full brightness from cold but the bi-xenon high beam does a reasonable job on its own during the warm-up time.

A hole needs to be cut in the plastic dust covers for the wires to and from an externally mounted ballast and their grommet. I'll take some pics when I pull the lights out.

[Graeme]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/08/214.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/08/215.jpg

Mine's grille needs to have its bottom edge pulled directly forwards, one side then the other to release 4 clips after having removed the top centre screw and loosened the outside 2. The headlights seem to require the bumper to be removed at least to some degree as the bottom edge of the light assemblies tuck behind the bumper. A clip low on the outside edge of the light needs to be pulled directly forwards but is inhibited by the bumper.

[GregMilner]

I'm following this thread with interest Graeme. Drove home from the north west last night, kangaroos everywhere. The standard high beams just don't have the grunt for peace of mind. Which is why I hate driving in the bush at night. Avoid it wherever possible.

[Graeme]

I just had a drive and a fiddle with the headlight adjustments but the aim of the fill-ins is just too low compared with the bi-xenons. The effect of the HIDs could be glimpsed for a moment after the vehicle crested small rises, lighting-up the road quite well into the distance.

I changed the angle of the D4's bi-xenon assemblies because their fill-ins are all normally possum lights shining high into the trees so hope do do a similar trick on these. Alternatively I would see if the mounts on the globes can be bent enough to have the desired effect, albeit with the light source no longer in the centre of the reflector.

[Graeme]

I gave-up the idea of removing the bumper to extract the headlights, removing the top rail instead, although the left headlight didn't really want to play so left in-situ pending investigations on the right assembly.

I concluded that I could not adjust the angle of the bi-xenon mount due to insufficient access past the adaptive components so simply bent the tab on the globe mount to about 45 deg towards its glass, which points the globe downwards when mounted. There is an internal horizontal adjustment for the adaptive bi-xenon but no vertical adjustment could be spotted. Looking at the lights from a distance whilst switched on it seems the left one might still be a bit low compared to its bi-xenon but a test tonight will reveal if further adjustments are necessary.

[Graeme]

The verdict: the lights are more than I need at 100 kph and good deal over that too as I accidentally discovered. They have more depth than the HID-converted D4 fill-ins due to their aim being directly ahead rather than the D4's broad band across the road but the headlights still produce plenty of verge light.

I suspect that the original downwards angle of the fill-ins is to get the halogens to be of any use at all, but with HIDs fitted they need to aim higher up. IMO a very worthwhile conversion.