I basjoosed my headlights today (sealed the surrounding gap)

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Intrigued

after a while the foam seems to draw up, and leaves a sticky mess.

That pretty much describes the situation.

I'm just going to reposition the foam to act as a backstop for black silicone caulk.

[Chris D.]

great mods, I'll be doing this to the hood and front end of my truck
tomorrow if I can get my oil change and other maintenance done..

[Eddles]

Looks like filling in gaps is the definite way forward. I've got an ECO4 which is a factory modified Astra to increase fuel economy. I just had a look at the headlights and they have a rubber surround which looks like used to fill in gaps. I don't know whether it's an ECO4 specific mod, or standard on all Astras, but it's interesting to see this. It has the same rubber at the bottom of the headlights but it's hard to take a good picture of that.

[vtec-e]

Nice. And i see they insulated the battery, with an opening to the front to admit cold air. I guess the engine bay can get pretty hot then?

ollie

[Eddles]

No idea. Didn't think too hard why they insulated the battery. Can't guess why.

Back on topic, yesterday went to the supermarket, funnily enough while there were about 20 cars there, I parked between 2 identical silver astra's. They were even the same model level - LS (but not LS ECO4 like mine). I checked out their headlights they both had the same rubber strip all the way round. I now doubt they put that in to improve areodynamics, they are probably just there to prevent bonnet rattling on the lights and cracking them?

[MetroMPG]

I wouldn't discount the aero benefit as a reason they've done it. Also possibly to keep down soiling in the engine compartment, and possibly to improve cooling performance (higher pressure differential if you keep high pressure air from "leaking" into the engine compartment past the radiator).