Anyone replaced all the front lenses?

[lsupcar]

Both my eyes and my car's headlamp assemblies are getting older, making it more difficult to see at night. Over the years I have polished the exterior of the lenses several times and each time the improvement lasts less time. I am thinking of replacing the headlight assemblies, and to match, might also replace the center piece and side marker lenses as well. They are all quite dull. It would be easy if the pieces were not so expensive. Close to 1/3 the value of the car.
Has anyone else replaced these lenses at an affordable price?
Thanks.
Bill

[Sean486]

Originally Posted by lsupcar

Both my eyes and my car's headlamp assemblies are getting older, making it more difficult to see at night. Over the years I have polished the exterior of the lenses several times and each time the improvement lasts less time. I am thinking of replacing the headlight assemblies, and to match, might also replace the center piece and side marker lenses as well. They are all quite dull. It would be easy if the pieces were not so expensive. Close to 1/3 the value of the car.
Has anyone else replaced these lenses at an affordable price?
Thanks.
Bill

The polish will last if you put clear Lamin-X film over them. It's less than $50 to cover both lights and easy to install. Going on 2 years now and they are crystal clear.

[theflystyle]

There are replacement lenses (ebay) that are clear but do not have the beam patterns in them. You could also go the better route and get glass headlamps from Germany.

Just out of curiosity, when you refinished your plastic lenses, did you apply any protective films to the headlamps?

[lsupcar]

Originally Posted by theflystyle

There are replacement lenses (ebay) that are clear but do not have the beam patterns in them. You could also go the better route and get glass headlamps from Germany.

Just out of curiosity, when you refinished your plastic lenses, did you apply any protective films to the headlamps?

No, I just used Mequire's cleaner and polish after very fine grit sanding to remove the yellow haze.
Thanks for the heads up on the ebay lenses. I think I would want a good beam pattern.
I haven't thought about applying protective film.

[bheinen74]

get some 2000 grit, 3000, 5000 and 7000 grit sandpaper. (ebay has a few sellers to get small combo packs of these grits, about 10 bucks)
remove both headlights off the car completely. Take them inside where it is nice to work this time of year.

use the sandpaper. take your time.
when done, they will look as good as new

spray with a UV preventing clear coat.

BUY all NEW oem style bulbs. (regular Phillips, Osram or Sylvania, REGULAR. Not any of that blue, superbright, Xenon, xtravision ….. CRAP etc, just plain old OEM Halogens)
install the NEW bulbs. (old bulbs get dim, like xmas lights on a tree, the bulbs get dim, an old lightbulb gets brown or yellow but still lights, just not well.)

Put them back on the car.
Aim them properly.
done.

Those "ebay clear lens kits are junk for function" they are only for looks. no beam focusing ability, it will be worse than what you have now, only for looks, not form or function.

How old are the bulbs in there?

cleaning up the grounds in the engine compartment, and the battery terminals may help some too.

polish up both side of your windshield too.
car will be like new for visibility if you do this list of things.

[lsupcar]

Originally Posted by bheinen74

get some 2000 grit, 3000, 5000 and 7000 grit sandpaper. (ebay has a few sellers to get small combo packs of these grits, about 10 bucks)
remove both headlights off the car completely. Take them inside where it is nice to work this time of year.

use the sandpaper. take your time.
when done, they will look as good as new

spray with a UV preventing clear coat.

BUY all NEW oem style bulbs. (regular Phillips, Osram or Sylvania, REGULAR. Not any of that blue, superbright, Xenon, xtravision ….. CRAP etc, just plain old OEM Halogens)
install the NEW bulbs. (old bulbs get dim, like xmas lights on a tree, the bulbs get dim, an old lightbulb gets brown or yellow but still lights, just not well.)

Put them back on the car.
Aim them properly.
done.

Those "ebay clear lens kits are junk for function" they are only for looks. no beam focusing ability, it will be worse than what you have now, only for looks, not form or function.

How old are the bulbs in there?

cleaning up the grounds in the engine compartment, and the battery terminals may help some too.

polish up both side of your windshield too.
car will be like new for visibility if you do this list of things.

Thanks for this.
I will try and find the sand paper and UV clear coat spray.
I have seen where people take off the lens to clean the inside. Is that still recommended?
I am sure I have replaced the bulbs in the past, but it has been so long I don't know how long it has been.
Windshield is clean.
Thanks.

[Blacky]

Sandpaper...http://www.ebay.com/itm/261476258015...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[kjoyes]

try this after the sandpaper process, it looks like a good product.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/36577099?w...678768&veh=sem

[Sean486]

Here is the film I have on my car, I purchased a clear 20 mil flat sheet because they did not have precut SVX template.

http://www.lamin-x.com/

I have not had real good luck using clear paint on the headlights. The one time I tried it I ended up sanding it back off.

Here is my filmed headlight. It has not hazed or yellowed at all since installing 2 years ago.

[lsupcar]

Thanks for all the suggestions and links.
I will try and incorporate as many of these methods as possible in my next effort.
Bill