I do not recommend doing that. You would wind up with rust, worst lens condition b/c of residue, it won't even dry out after that, and

 

Hmmmm....point taken...how about this?...I can use a non-residue detergent and do a triple rinse and then put in the oven to dry.

Sounds like a lot less hassle than all that baking and prying and re-sealing!!

 

Better safe than sorry Walnut We don't want you to come back a couple months down the line asking to buy 92-96 headlights

Also, what if the dust/crap is on there tougher than you expected? I had to lightly rub quite a bit with my MF towel to get it off the projector lenses

Its easier than it sounds man. Just takes a day to do it all if you are being extra careful. The second time I did it, it took under 3 hours both sides for everything

 

Well, I say Walnut's idea might be worth a try. And after washing it and rinsing it REALLY well and putting it in a warm oven to dry, you might even want to try hooking up a portable blow-dryer for an hour or more (on low setting) to one of the vents (by making up a DIY hose attachment) to dry it out REALLY well inside.
If it still doesn't look clean inside, you're no further behind than if you didn't try washing it, and you can go ahead then with the "heat-and-pry" cleaning method.
Just seems like a lot less "invasive" approach, if it works. Sort of like laparoscopic surgery vs. ripping your chest cavity open.

 

Exactly!!

Could be trouble though as I had a look yesterday and don't see any definite openings where a liquid could flow nicely into the main cavity in front of the projector lenses

 

You'll still end up with rust and residue... i remember theres a pic of an es300 after a hurricane, it got flooded and the headlights were 1/2 full of water

 

Well, from my memory, the only openings I could find were the turn signal bulbs are and the low/high bulb holes themselves...

 

There are 3 vent holes in the back.

 

Thanks for the clarification lol