OEM LED Headlights - beyond repair, maybe?

moomin-j

Get busy living or get busy dying.
VIP Member
T6 Legend
I'm a little bit upset...
I ticked the "extras" box when ordering the T6 from Vw & paid a stupid amount of extra cash to upgrade from standard candles to LED bulbs.
I was very impressed when driving at times of darkness and felt happy at being lit up on dark Derbyshire country roads.
That was 2019, when the T6 was new -
Roll on 7 years and 30,000 miles later...
Both headlights are like this:

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This happened over a 2/3 day period.
It was immediately after the 2 really scorchio days we had a couple of weeks back - daytime temp reaching record highs.
On the morning of the 2nd day, we had rain for 15 minutes.
I'd used Autoglym Super Resin Polish (as I've always done) on the bonnet in the PM, the weekend prior, when the bodywork was cool.
Same wash / wax procedure as always.
It seems, but I can't be sure the waxy resin has melted in the heat from the bonnet & dribbled onto the headlights.
I can't see / think of any other explanation.
Both are the same.
I can't see it being a MOT failure, but will ask a tester in the next few weeks or so.
It's definitely pitted & marked the plastic lens - you can feel the depth with your fingernail.
Been to a respected long time detailer who has seen this before (but not as bad) on Jaguars & Porsches.
He couldn't offer a 100% sure way of getting rid, so guided me to a couple of bodyshops.
Both bodyshops suggested the same - potentially grind back & re lacquer the lens but weren't 100% confident that it would work with the amount of damage.
Potential cost of £350 - £400 as both wanted to remove the bumper & take the headlights out.
1 even tried using 800 grit paper & a polishing compound - but sadly to no avail.
Do I go down this if / maybe repair route or bite the bullet & pay OE new headlight prices?
Do I then PPF new headlights so it doesn't happen again?
@AJCConversions - maybe another Christmas thing for you to do?
I know @Ads_Essex managed to melt & replace the covers on a similar set, but is there a way to repair what is damaged?
I'm going to drop Trup Patel at EM Tuning to see if they can / are prepared to replace the lenses with new & at what costs.
Thoughts / help / advice needed....
 
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It does look like run off from the bonnet in my opinion. Sorry to see them go like that and appreciate how galling it can be.
Don't know what the cost of new units would be, but I'm sure you could flog those as they are to recoup some losses.
 
It just needs stripping back to plastic then re clear coating with proper headlight clear. Normal clear is to thick and soft and is prone to stone chipping so don't be fobbed off with its the same.
 
IF its eaten into the lense it can't be that deep surely ?
You can certainly feel the “depth” with your fingernails at certain points.
I don’t mind taking a risk & fully commit to sanding & re coating, but don’t want to waste £’s if it doesn’t work. The folk who have looked at it can’t say it will work, just that it “may work”.
 
I'd remove them and take some various grade wet and dry to them , followed by some plastic polish rather than a lacquer.
I've never known SRP causing this kind of damage before
 
I'd remove them and take some various grade wet and dry to them , followed by some plastic polish rather than a lacquer.
I've never known SRP causing this kind of damage before
I’m not sure that the SRP has caused this damage, but I can’t think of anything else. It wasn’t driven for 3 weeks.
 
I’m not sure that the SRP has caused this damage, but I can’t think of anything else. It wasn’t driven for 3 weeks.
I used AutoGlym SRP on my H7 lenses to clean some of the bugs and marks off and it’s not impacted the finish at all.

Hope you get it sorted.

Pete
 
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