We study (quasi-)twilled pre-Lie algebras and the associated $L_infty$-algebras and differential graded Lie algebras. Then we show that certain twisting transformations on (quasi-)twilled pre-Lie algbras can be characterized by the solutions of Maurer-Cartan equations of the associated differential graded Lie algebras ($L_infty$-algebras). Furthermore, we show that $mathcal{O}$-operators and twisted $mathcal{O}$-operators are solutions of the Maurer-Cartan equations. As applications, we study (quasi-)pre-Lie bialgebras using the associated differential graded Lie algebras ($L_infty$-algebras) and the twisting theory of (quasi-)twilled pre-Lie algebras. In particular, we give a construction of quasi-pre-Lie bialgebras using symplectic Lie algebras, which is parallel to that a Cartan $3$-form on a semi-simple Lie algebra gives a quasi-Lie bialgebra.