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Jamesp76
Samba Member
Joined: September 15, 2018
Posts: 3
Location: Evansville Indiana
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 Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight Lens Seals |
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I can't thank you enough for having this on the web site. I washed my seal with a little dish soap and it slipped right on. Thank you! 
The image cleared it all up! |
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malachai
Samba Member
Joined: August 02, 2004
Posts: 650
Location: Großbritannien
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| Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2024 9:54 am Post subject: Re: Headlight Lens Seals |
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Does anyone have any tips on fitting the light housing to fender seal? I’m not sure what make mine is but it just pings off and even with help I can’t get it to stay there, should it be glued? Also where did those hella seals come from that go round the lens? I might have to get some of those for when mine disintegrate
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OldSchoolVW's 
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2020
Posts: 1597
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2024 12:00 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight Lens Seals |
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| malachai wrote: |
| Does anyone have any tips on fitting the light housing to fender seal? I’m not sure what make mine is but it just pings off and even with help I can’t get it to stay there, should it be glued? Also where did those hella seals come from that go round the lens? I might have to get some of those for when mine disintegrate |
By "light housing" are you referring to the chrome bezel that holds the lens? There is a seal that goes between that and the fender. With the seal in place on the fender, it may be necessary to bend that hooked lip at the top of the opening outward so the bezel can catch it and slide down against the seal.
If I am misinterpreting your question/situation, perhaps you can post a photo to clarify.
_________________
Tom
"Following distance is proportional to IQ."
"It's okay to think."
"If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do." Warren Miller
'63 Beetle Sedan
'69 Beetle Sunroof
'70 Beetle Sedan
'73 Type 3 Fastback |
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malachai
Samba Member
Joined: August 02, 2004
Posts: 650
Location: Großbritannien
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| Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2024 2:53 am Post subject: Re: Headlight Lens Seals |
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Yep, that’s what I meant, I will try bending the lip a little bit but I’m a few thousand miles away from the beetle for a couple of weeks so it will be a while. So there’s not meant to be any glue holding it in place, just elasticness?
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OldSchoolVW's
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2020
Posts: 1597
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2024 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight Lens Seals |
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| malachai wrote: |
| Yep, that’s what I meant, I will try bending the lip a little bit but I’m a few thousand miles away from the beetle for a couple of weeks so it will be a while. So there’s not meant to be any glue holding it in place, just elasticness? |
I didn't use any type of adhesive. Just set the seal behind the hooked lip at the top of the headlight opening, then work the bezel down the hooked lip and against the seal. It's meant to seal out moisture, so it will be a snug fit. Be sure to use the spacer on the bottom mounting screw so you don't bend the bezel tab when you tighten it down.
https://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=111941195
_________________
Tom
"Following distance is proportional to IQ."
"It's okay to think."
"If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do." Warren Miller
'63 Beetle Sedan
'69 Beetle Sunroof
'70 Beetle Sedan
'73 Type 3 Fastback |
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itsjustdj
Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2025
Posts: 2
Location: Wheaton, IL
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| Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 2:38 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight Lens Seals |
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I'm having a helluva time fitting the new outer seal onto the fender. With the flat side against the fender and the edges tucked into the grooves it seems to go okay until I'm halfway around and then the other side just comes right off. I even tried it with an extra set of hands, but we just couldn't get it to stay on there.
Is it possible it's just a poorly made seal? All the tips I read make it seem like it should go on easily and stay put. |
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OldSchoolVW's
Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2020
Posts: 1597
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight Lens Seals |
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Funny you you ask about this today. I just took both of my headlight assemblies off today so I could run new ground wires. They went right back on with a little wiggling. The rubber seal came off while I was working on the wiring, but I put it back on and it stayed in place while I reinstalled the headlights.
Are you saying that the rubber seal seems too small to fit around the headlight bucket opening? If so, you could try heating it in the sun and applying a little stretch to it. As I mentioned above, it can be helpful to pull the raised lip on the top of the opening outward a little to accommodate the thicker new seal. This will make it easier to work the chrome bezel behind the lip and get it to seat downward.
_________________
Tom
"Following distance is proportional to IQ."
"It's okay to think."
"If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do." Warren Miller
'63 Beetle Sedan
'69 Beetle Sunroof
'70 Beetle Sedan
'73 Type 3 Fastback |
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itsjustdj
Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2025
Posts: 2
Location: Wheaton, IL
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2025 12:00 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight Lens Seals |
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| Thanks. I put the seal on the other side and it went on fine, so I think I found my issue. It seems like the flanges around the bucket are just a hair too shallow in a few areas, so the seal doesn't stay put. I'm going to try and adjust them a bit and hope I don't need to do any welding. |
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