I have had the same experience as you several years ago. I looked at replacing lights and the cheapest I could find, new, we're through FCPEURO. I ruled out used as it would be just a short length of time and I would be in the same boat, so used assemblies were ruled out. Some have taken the time and effort to cut the lense off and rewire the entire fixture. Didn't have the desire to entertain that. I ended up taking the lights out for 2 days and applied multiple coats of liquid electritions tape as you have started. I would do 2 wires at a time with several coats per wire for multiple coats and then move on to the next group of wires. Time consuming but it has worked. After completing the project, I reset the LM1 module short circuit counter and have not had a problem sense.

 

Fun. I agree used would be a repeat of the same issues unless the price was right and I could rebuild it. But I really don't want to go through all that effort. My time has value.

 

2 days in and all seems good still. So nice to have 2 working headlights again. I also sanded them and then used some self etching primer and then finally re-cleared them. They look so much better in addition to working.

 

Yea, you guys that are still working, time is worth money. In my case took early retirement, soon to be 15 years ago. So my time does not carry the same monetary value.

If you have to go back into the housing to replace a bad bulb, that's when wires have the best chance of shifting and shorting. If you do go back in, just apply additional liquid electritions tape product and keep moving forward. I'm still nursing my 1981 e21 along, purchased new in 1/81.