Clear Headlamp Lens Covers - Anyone with Experience?

[Pabby1980]

Hi,

My original headlamp covers with the orange hockey sticks (E85 2004) are getting a bit cloudy and I've never liked the orange bits. Question is do I replace them completely with something like these, and if so how much of a job is it to do;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E84-E85-2003-2008-CHROME-PROJECTOR-LED-HALO-ANGEL-EYE-HEADLIGHTS-E-MARK-/151630000224?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

Or do I save a few quid and just replace the covers, and again, how much of a job is this to do?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-for-BMW-Z4-E85-2003-2008-Headlight-Headlamp-Lens-Cover-Clear-Lampshade-/373433930187?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

It seems like there's some value in the OEM lights so I don't really want to ruin them but I'm certain I want a newer look as the old lights make the car look....well....old. :wink:

Thanks in advance.

Paul.

 

[blunderthumbs]

Don't buy the covers. More shite from China and will make your Zed look cheap. Either polish up the existing lights (Lots of kits on the market will do this) Or bite the bullet and purchase a set of lights from the later facelift models.

 

[Sidewaze Samm]

Even if the covers are actually of decent quality (doubtful...), you'll still have the issue of separating the units and rebonding the new covers, which I believe involves a not insignificant amount of effort. Just polish up with one of the kits or buy some facelift lights on ebay.

 

[yipikayee]

i would not risking using the covers and playing with headlight.
Get the one you like and sell the old ones, ppl buying them all the time

 

[kis]

Discussed not too long ago https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=126711

 

[Daz W]

Just restore the lenses, you'll be surprised the difference it makes. I removed the headlights to deal with the condensation and restore the lenses, great result

 

[Chris_D]

Just polish them. Get a kit off amazon/ebay.
2 hours of your time. Easy
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=125218&hilit=headlight

 

[Jamie2.5]

I had mine restored by a local guy only cost me £50

 

[HU51A_FU]

Deffinately worth restoring the lenses then PPF the headlights to stop yellowing/stone chips and discoloration. ✔

 

[kis]

I had mine restored by a local guy only cost me £50

Your driver side looks kind-of cool with the diagonal cloudy section

 

[Jamie2.5]

I had mine restored by a local guy only cost me £50

Your driver side looks kind-of cool with the diagonal cloudy section

Right state weren’t they, previous owners didn’t look after it, should see the alloys lol

 

[kis]

Right state weren’t they, previous owners didn’t look after it, should see the alloys lol

You should see mine, they look like they've just been hit with wet/dry 1000 grit! Bit of WD-40 on them when I need to use the car... just need to get round to sorting them out, properly! Trust me, yours look great before compared to mine! :lol:

 

[Mike123]

Adding - just buy some sanding pads with velcro (various grades) and some paste (tape is also needed to protect those edges) - way cheaper.

 

[Coolruler]

If the clouding is on the outside, toothpaste with a damp cloth.
No I am not joking, it worked fine for me.

 

[Ali0191]

Just restored mine on the weekend with the autoglym kit, takes years off the car!

 

[kis]

Looks like a good job! Bet you can see the road better now

 

[PeteyZ4]

For milder cases of cloudyness, you can just use Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish.

Even just a couple of minutes polishing by hand makes a big difference, but a pad on a drill attachment is better.