RENAULT ALPINE GTA

Headlamp Cover Replacement

by Nic Lyons 

Headlamp covers are astronomically expensive - but you're worth it! 

You guessed it. To replace either headlamp cover you will first need to remove the nosecone. Having done this get your hands on a very sharp Stanley knife and some spare blades - and a long, thin sharp knife such as a paring knife.

Use the paring knife to cut the sealant securing the hood to the nosecone. You will need to be persistent and probably pry the hood from the nosecone as you cut, to make sure that the knife does not bind in the sealant. The hoods are bonded at their outside faces (indicator side) and on their top edges. Both can be freed fairly easily. Unfortunately the hoods are also bonded on their lower front edges - and these are very difficult to cut free. You may be able to pull the hood free at this stage -- but only if the sealant has been applied on top of paint and therefore is not bonded as strongly as it might be. It's worth a try - the hoods are very resilient and you won't break them unless you're careless.

Failing that, you will need to pull the lower front edge of the nosecone back to expose the bead of sealant securing hood to nosecone. This is really a 2-man job - one to hold the nosecone and the other to cut. Be careful not to let the knife slip as it will run through the plastic of the hood like butter. Be careful also not to accidentally slice through the soft plastic of the nosecone. Take your time - the hoods are even more expensive than the headlamp covers. And as for the nosecone - well you could buy yourself a sensible car for the price of one of those.