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Headlamp lense

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flybobbie
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Headlamp lense

Post by flybobbie » Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:07 pm

Noticed today close up how battered and grazed inside the headlamp lenses are.
One for a long time looked like someone placed their gritty shoe on one lense and dragged it down, leaving deep scratches..
Saw these, ordered a pair and give them a try.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353536481337
Be an opportunity to evict a few spider and try improve the angel eyes.

Not sure if the originals have glass coated on the plastic.
Only few years ago i learnt about glass coated plastic.

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B21
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Headlamp lense

Post by B21 » Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:06 am

When you say inside…I’m lost as to how the inside of the headlight lens gets scratched?

Can you explain pls?

Also I thought the lens unit was one piece? Hence is this a cut and shut job?
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard..

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Headlamp lense

Post by Busterboo » Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:19 am

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flybobbie
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Headlamp lense

Post by flybobbie » Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:54 am

The minor grazing is on the inside. Looks like fine brittle fractures.
Can be seen as a blurring of headlight beam on glass.
Typical of acrylic, doesn't age well. But has better clarity then polycarbonate, although poly is lest brittle.
Also being open to moisture, 12 years worth of bits of dust and spider legs.
Also some scuffing on right lamp.
Looks like someone rested a shoe on the lamp to tie a shoe lace, then dragged foot down.
The outer glass is relatively smooth with a few chips.
Last edited by flybobbie on Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

flybobbie
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Headlamp lense

Post by flybobbie » Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:00 am

B21 wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:06 am When you say inside…I’m lost as to how the inside of the headlight lens gets scratched?

Can you explain pls?

Also I thought the lens unit was one piece? Hence is this a cut and shut job?
Yes i think someone in the past on forum, or somewhere removed lense with heat gun applied to soften the glue holding lense in.
Would be interested if someone had that link.

flybobbie
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Headlamp lense

Post by flybobbie » Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:05 am

Might have a play around with these:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254587768837
And these:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254587768837
To improve the angel eyes and perhaps light the non lighting inner lamps.
Always thought it was mean of BMW not to light the inners.

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Headlamp lense

Post by flybobbie » Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:10 am

Good video to get at lamps, not sure if bumper really needs to come all off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmy6KSvaw0E

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Headlamp lense

Post by flybobbie » Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:21 am

Someone done BMW similar lense;
https://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthr ... ?t=1539936
Looks like bit of a chore.
Like like butyl strip required to restick.

Dav the wheel nut
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Headlamp lense

Post by Dav the wheel nut » Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:30 am

Lens singular
Lenses plural

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Headlamp lense

Post by Silverstar » Tue Oct 12, 2021 12:14 pm

You can remove the front lens by applying heat to it either with a hot air gun or better in an oven. That will loosen the adhesive enabling you to separate the lens from the housing. Make sure to apply a good sealant when putting the new lens back. You can replace the existing Angel Eyes with aftermarket ones, those in your link are CCFL, LED ones will be better more brighter but beware that they don't last anywhere near as long as the factory ones do and in a 3 to 5 years (or less if you are unlucky) you maybe opening the lamps back up again.
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Headlamp lense

Post by Busterboo » Tue Oct 12, 2021 2:20 pm

Are OE units too expensive?
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flybobbie
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Headlamp lense

Post by flybobbie » Tue Oct 12, 2021 4:25 pm

Busterboo wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 2:20 pm Are OE units too expensive?
£600-800

flybobbie
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Headlamp lense

Post by flybobbie » Tue Oct 12, 2021 4:30 pm

Dav the wheel nut wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:30 am Lens singular
Lenses plural
Ok...but in reality the part i am talking about isn't a lens or lenses.

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Headlamp lense

Post by flybobbie » Tue Oct 12, 2021 4:38 pm

I think there is a vent hole at the bottom, i would cover that in brass mesh to stop future spiders.

We had to do the same with the yellow call boxes at road crossings. The holes in the bottom for buzzers, etc became an entrance for all sorts of bugs to crawl and live inside.

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