Can this headlight lens be fixed?

OnlyGerman · 05-19-2024, 05:51 PM

Can these micro scratches be corrected or do I need a new headlight / lens?

Haven’t tried any of the restoration kits as I’m not sure if it’s even worth it.

Opie55 · 05-19-2024, 09:38 PM

That can be made to look literally like new in under an hour. Headlights have a relatively thick UV coating on them, and that is what gets all cracked like that. It needs to be wet sanded off and a new coating of some kind applied. There are a fair number of posts about the process including some by me. So I won’t type it all out again. But run some searches.

OnlyGerman · 05-20-2024, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opie55

That can be made to look literally like new in under an hour. Headlights have a relatively thick UV coating on them, and that is what gets all cracked like that. It needs to be wet sanded off and a new coating of some kind applied. There are a fair number of posts about the process including some by me. So I won’t type it all out again. But run some searches.

Thank you! I was getting conflicting info from some shops. I’ll definitely try fixing it.

Opie55 · 05-20-2024, 09:10 AM

Thoroughness is the key. You MUST erase all scratches from the prior grit with each finer grit. It's not rocket science, but there are a lot of threads with people saying "it looks a lot better, but you can see a bunch of scratches." It's 10 minutes between that and perfection.

OnlyGerman · 07-19-2024, 07:59 PM

Thanks for advise. I took it to my friends Bodyshop and he got it looking almost like new

MADBMWX5MC · 07-20-2024, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnlyGerman

Thanks for advise. I took it to my friends Bodyshop and he got it looking almost like new

How, was it, like clear coated or something?

Qsilver7 · 07-21-2024, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnlyGerman

Thanks for advise. I took it to my friends Bodyshop and he got it looking almost like new

Ralph III · 07-21-2024, 01:32 PM

Hello OP,
Like Madbmx inquired. Did your friend sand and then clear coat it? Because if he just sanded and buffed it, it won't last. You need a new layer of UV protection applied because the coating that was on your lens is cracking and thus failing. I'm a former professional Detailer (14 yrs) and have a video, as found HERE, for a quick restoration. This was on a lens where the clear coat had just faded/yellowed. So, I can expect several more years out of it. Yours is beyond that and it needs more clear applied.

Good luck,
Ralph

05-19-2024, 05:51 PM	#1
OnlyGerman Major 373 Rep 1,295 Posts Drives: G12, F15, F13, F10, E60 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Sunshine State iTrader: (0)	Can these micro scratches be corrected or do I need a new headlight / lens? Haven’t tried any of the restoration kits as I’m not sure if it’s even worth it. Attached Images
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05-19-2024, 09:38 PM	#2
Opie55 Colonel 1233 Rep 2,928 Posts Drives: '15 650i Convertible Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	That can be made to look literally like new in under an hour. Headlights have a relatively thick UV coating on them, and that is what gets all cracked like that. It needs to be wet sanded off and a new coating of some kind applied. There are a fair number of posts about the process including some by me. So I won’t type it all out again. But run some searches.
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05-20-2024, 09:10 AM	#4
Opie55 Colonel 1233 Rep 2,928 Posts Drives: '15 650i Convertible Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Thoroughness is the key. You MUST erase all scratches from the prior grit with each finer grit. It's not rocket science, but there are a lot of threads with people saying "it looks a lot better, but you can see a bunch of scratches." It's 10 minutes between that and perfection.
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07-19-2024, 07:59 PM	#5
OnlyGerman Major 373 Rep 1,295 Posts Drives: G12, F15, F13, F10, E60 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Sunshine State iTrader: (0)	Thanks for advise. I took it to my friends Bodyshop and he got it looking almost like new
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07-21-2024, 01:32 PM	#8
Ralph III Private First Class 106 Rep 103 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW 650i Gran Coupe Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: Alabama iTrader: (0)	Hello OP, Like Madbmx inquired. Did your friend sand and then clear coat it? Because if he just sanded and buffed it, it won't last. You need a new layer of UV protection applied because the coating that was on your lens is cracking and thus failing. I'm a former professional Detailer (14 yrs) and have a video, as found HERE, for a quick restoration. This was on a lens where the clear coat had just faded/yellowed. So, I can expect several more years out of it. Yours is beyond that and it needs more clear applied. Good luck, Ralph
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