General Headlight mount broken - MOT failure?

[PoorlyPunto]

I replaced one of the headlights this week because it was fogged up/clouded and letting water in. I ordered a new old stock genuine Fiat one off eBay for £35. However when taking the headlight out of the box and removing all the bubble wrap, I found one of the mounts detached from the housing! Don't know if it was like that already or if I was a bit rough unwrapping it (I really don't think I was but can't be 100% sure).

I've fitted it anyway, and tried to get the broken piece to line up so it at least don't look broken (it is quite a clean break), but the results are not satisfactory as the pictures show it's obviously damaged. Also had to put a new bolt & nut on because the old one was cross-threaded and seized, so had to cut it out. Now the mount on the old headlight unit was partially broken and did pass the MOT, but it wasn't completely detached like this one is. Even if I can line it up better, they may still discover it's broken if they have to remove it to adjust the alignment of the beam, which I'm pretty sure needs doing. The unit itself is secure with no movement.

What do you think?

P.S How do I adjust the alignment?

Thanks in advance!

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi

I hit a Deer last summer.. I glued up the mount in situ

It has since come detatched.. but passed MOT without issue

If its secure.. it should be fine

I will Araldite : Epoxy mine next time

(On a day when its not driving 110 miles after work..)

Beam adjustment.. it there a plastic screw with a philips screwdriver slot on the plastic casing?

 

[PoorlyPunto]

Thanks for your reply. Was it mentioned on the advisories or did they just completely ignore it? I ask because for the last few years I've had "Nearside Headlamp deteriorated but light output not reduced (1.7.5a)" on my advisories and I'd hate for that now to be replaced with "Nearside headlamp mount broken" or something similar after I've gone to the effort of replacing it.

The car's not with me at the moment but I'll have a look for an adjustment screw next week.

 

[Brendan W]

If the tester can rock the headlamp it will fail. Least around here it will fail the NCT. No point in aligning something that is flapping about. Don't get me started on those self levelling flip flops.
Glues etc won't work. Maybe it is secure and will pass. To improve the look of it I would be looking for a backing pad to go behind the break and then four self tappers or bolts. The backing pad could be plastic or sheet metal.
There is a car close to here with the tabs so bad the headlight is screwed directly to the car with a big self tapper. Tester was fine with it just said good luck changing a bulb.

 

[portland_bill]

There are kits of new brackets available for various Fiats.
I think yours is in here somewhere: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...0.l1313&_nkw=punto+headlamp+brackets&_sacat=0

 

[varesecrazy]

Cloudy lenses is so common that they all look at it.. and it gets onto the MOT advisories : comments

On my sons 1st car.. we drilled 2mm holes either side of the break.. and laced it together with wire
That wont work if the whole bracket sheared off at the light unit