All, My '07 Mini has headlight covers that seem to be damaged from the inside. like the headlight heat has made them burnt inside and they are not as bright as they should be.. They are noticably dimmer at night. Is there any way to just remove & replace the light covers? If so, how do you remove them? I'm hoping to NOT have to replace the complete headlamp assembly.

 

You can take it off but you can't just buy the cover.

 

Bad news...
They are sold as complete units....
One thing you might try...
Look up "joey mod"....think folks are doing it on gen2 now...has instructions on how to split the lense from the body...you MIGHT be able to clean/polish the inside...

 

Zippy,
Joey Mod on here??

 

Yup...search will get it for you...might even be a sticky with a "how to"...
But I'm guessing that the discoloring is due to high heat...
Most likely from a prior owner using non-stock headlight bulbs, aka "off road" high wattage bulbs or maybe a high output e-bay xenon's....
You could try to investigate by trying to reach into the housing through the bulb hole with a long q-tip swab type of item to see if you can surmise if it is dirt or discolored plastic...
The "joey mod" involves unmounting the headlights, and basicly baking them in a oven on warm or using a heat gun to soften the lens sealent to seperate the parts (some folks then paint parts of the inner housing), then reassable in reverse....not for the faint of heart...but possible....surely no intented by the builders... Hense the lack of parts.

 

Zippy, I'm the original owner purchased in 2007... I've been told it is probably from excessive heat... Didn't really notice it until she was hit last winter. The left side fender parts were replaced, including the headlight assembly..really noticeable now.. Body shop people told me about the heat actually 'burning lens from inside..