Removing the headlight rim

[Grumblebuns]

Has anyone been able to remove the headlight rim from the bezel recently. I remember doing it many years ago but don't remember how I was able to remove the rim. The manual specifies a special tool which I don't think I used. To make the tool, what type of material is best. It needs to be made of thin spring steel type material possibly a feeler gauge?

Also, I noticed a small hole in the bodywork just below the headlight rim. Anyone know its purpose, see photo?

Joji Tokumoto
 

[4129R]

Two wide screwdrivers, and ease it away at the top works for me.

I just prise the rim over the two clip things at the top of the headlight bowl. 

The hole is to drain rainwater.

[Exlimey]

Some types of headlight rim were held in place by a small screw in the bottom,maybe why the hole is there. However I thought  Europas were the pry off type due to the bottom screw not being accessible . Maybe the PO did a mod ?

[EuropaTC]

I had also thought the hole was for drainage but the comment about a bottom screw retaining the trim made me think again. My headlights are definitely "push on easily, struggle-to-get-off" type.

Like Alex I've also been tempted down the screwdriver route but it does take some fiddling. A wide (1" ?) strip of steel bent as in the manual illustration works better. It needs to be fairly stiff though, I would think a thin spring steel would just bend underneath the trim.

Brian

[dakazman]

 I use a o ring hook . Pull up and forward on ring where release points are.
Push inward and up on bottom to give you a looser fit on top .
Dakazman

[BDA]

I have a paint can opener I got from Home Depot or Lowes. It has a hook on one end that is about 3/8" wide. I have tried to bend the hook to make it more of a hook with some success. I use the hook on the bottom of the trim ring - being careful not to scratch the paint. some tape would probably be a good idea - IIRC, there is a kind of a slot or cut out on the bottom and then I pull.

I've heard other reports that a tool made like the picture in the manual works really well as Brian says.

[Grumblebuns]

Thanks for the suggestions. I used the two screwdriver method per 4129R with a modification and managed to to get the ring off with minimal damage. As suggested by 4129R, prise the ring upwards using two screwdrivers under the ring at the 11:00 and 1:00 position with one hand, then use a third screwdriver from behind to pop the ring off. Be careful to protect the body work doing this. I'm not sure if the small scratches in the photo are from this attempt or other previous ones.

The holes appear to be from the factory. The three TC bodies I have along with two S2 bodies all have the holes.

[Roger]

I used a tool made from a good quality thin steel table knife with th e end cut off the make it square, then slightly bent like the  tool in the manual.
Slide it around the bottom between lens and rim and the rim pops off .

[Sparkrite]

I recently removed my complete headlights and they were a nightmare. Even with the units off the car and trying to replicate the process it is impossible to remove the rim without damage to the retaining clip.