Toyota Estima Headlights

[152bobby]

For a few years now, I have had MOT advisories about the headlights on our 2003 Estima.

The plastic lens on the headlights has faded.  I have had them professionally cleaned, but the guy only charged me half price because he could not get them up to his satisfactory standard.  He spend 2 hours on them.

Eventually these will cause a fail on the MOT.

I expect trying to get a second hand pair that are CONSIDERABLY better may be difficult!!

Any suggestions ?

Thanks

[RUToyota]

Not an uncommon problem.

My 2003 Estima has some evidence of the same but I use a Turtle Wax headlight cleaner and sealant a few times a year and that seems to do a good job of cleaning and protecting them.

In the 7 years I've had the Estima I've never had an advisory for the headlights.!

I'd guess yours are much worse if you've had a "professional" deal with them and they are still not acceptable.

A used pair may well be the best route. They won't be perfect but hopefully they are better/treatable than your current ones and take away the risk of a MOT advisory/fail.

Good luck.

[Beaufighter]

Hi 152 Bobby

No problem  to bring back your head-lights lenses to spec, I have used T_Cut  for removing body scraches on my 1997 MPV Estima with great results, good luck.  

[152bobby]

From what I've found on YouTube etc, does the front bumper REALLY have to come off to change the headlights and EVEN to just change the headlight bulb ???

If so, what were Toyota thinking !!!

By the way, it's a 2002 Petrol 2.4 Auto (ACR30).

Edited February 26, 2023 by 152bobby
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[RUToyota]

Not sure about the bumper but unless you have hands like a Barbie Doll then I think the wheel arch liner has to be removed to get decent access.

It's not uncommon for many cars these days to have such difficult access I'm afraid.

My wife had a Renault Megane C.C. some years back and it was a nightmare to change a bulb.

It is frustrating I agree and yet again proves whoever designs them never have to work on them.!!..☹️

[152bobby]

Managed to do this myself, just by tinkering at the rear of the bulb housing.  Take off the rubber cup that prevents moisture etc, there is a sort of metal prong clip and then you can get to rear of the bulb.  There is reasonable space for a " normal" sized hand (if I'm allowed to say that nowadays).

I can't believe all the videos that I found on YouTube show dropping the bumper down and taking off the inner wheel arch cover blah blah blah!!!

Anyway, I've replaced my bulbs with Ring Pro +200% 472 H4 bulbs (I always wanted better ones fitted anyway) and polished them with Turtle Wax Car Headlight 2 in 1 Cleaner and Sealant and to be honest, they look pretty good.

It's the best I can do, if it fails the MOT, it will have to be the expensive headlight change option.

PS: Maybe this process differs for each Estima model and year, but for my 2002 model, this was fine to do, once I worked out what to do.