Headlight trim removal

[Certified Lotus]

Anyone have the secret to removing the headlight trim ring on a 72 Europa? The shop manual shows a "special tool" for removing, which I don't have.

My past English cars only needed a rotation of the trim ring and it would come off. Not this one. Seems you have to pull out the bottom of the trim ring and then pull out the top of it.

[Europa73]

Hi there,

I made my own.

The metal needs to be thin and quite stiff.

I used an old reciprocating saw blade - worked like a charm.

[Roger]

I have made a tool from about 8in of steel strip, an inch or so wide, 16ga, with a 60deg or so bend in it about 3/16" from the end. The upturned bit slips under the trim ring, you move it from side to side till you find a spring, then a kind of lift and pull and the ring pops off.

[Certified Lotus]

Thanks for the quick feedback. I had a funny feeling I would be making my own tool.

[Bud]

wow...this is a great tip  and now I will get the trim ring off rather easily compared to what I was thinking had to be done...lets not go there!!!
Being new to Europas, I will be checking out a lot of tips over the next few months and hope that they are as simple as this

[Sandyman]

Just be sure to protect the paint from scratches. I used painter's tape and a cloth. The rim required some force to remove.