3200 Headlamps

[lovellracing]

Hello all,

How easy is it to remove the outer plastic Headlamp lens to clean/polish ??

Cheers Ray

 

[CatmanV2]

It's a sealed unit. You're probably better advised to do it in place but with care. My understanding is the coating fails, and when you polish it, you take all the coating off, which leaves the actual lens vulnerable.

I think there are some coatings you can put on afterwards, but can't recall the thread they were discussed in.

C

 

[allandwf]

I need to do this to mine. There are various youtube guides etc, I just haven't had the bottle yet to tackle them. You need to recoat/seal them when finished. As C says they are sealed so do in situ.

 

[Contigo]

Don't take them out, major PITA. Doing the Project 3200 ones this week. I've not seen or owned one 3200 which doesn't have the top layer of coating flaking off. It looks like a lacquer but it's not.

 

[safrane]

Phil is right ints not lacquer and some blends of that react with polycarbonate.

 

[RW3200]

I have stripped and refurbished some headlamp units, also been trying to find a UV protector for the outer casing. I have tried everywhere I can think of but failed...so far.

I thought there would at least be a coating or film that would be available but so far I've found nothing.

Any ideas would be appreciated, extremely frustrating having done everything else.

Cheers.

 

[highlander]

Both meguiars products seem to be getting good reviews, g2000 in particular because of its ease of use. Not used it, but like most will need to do something sooner or later about scruffy headlights on an otherwise spotless car......argh!

 

[SteveM]

I used the 3M kit to polish off the flaking film - I did take some pictures at the time that I can show before and after (unfortunately no internet at home currently - joys of living at the end of a village). I've struggled to find replacement UV protector so just made sure liberally cover with polish and seems to be OK after 2 years. I took lights out to do it properly - easier and safer to do on bench in case I slipped.

 

[RW3200]

Has anyone ever used a marine spar varnish? I read a lot about this at the time of stripping the units and am tempted to give it a try, I'd imagine it could work here but would be a bit of a gamble.

Cheers.

 

[redsonnylee]

Ive thought about trying a few products but was to worried in case it made things worse. I remember looking at the marine spar varnish but didn't give it ago as not sure what solvents are used.

 

[lovellracing]

So the lens is bonded to the unit ?? what about 2pack clear lacquer once the lens has been polished I Dont think a marine varnish would be any good as usually oil or synthetic based.....would soon go yellow. My Alfa Spider Head lamp covers dont have any coating on them and their fine!

 

[RW3200]

Yes, the lens is bonded to the unit. They can be separated with a bit of patience. There is a helpful thread on here which was very helpful showing where the 3 lipped parts of the case were as to not snap them off, I can try and locate it if it's needed.

Thank for the views on the varnish, would a lacquer protect against UV?

 

[RW3200]

http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/showthread.php/7925-3200-Headlight-Strip-Down

Here is the link to the headlight strip-down to illustrate where the lipped areas are.

 

[LDM 3200]

Any good?

http://headlight.proteaminfo.nl/

 

[Contigo]

Here is the thread SteveM talks about.

http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/sho...ng-headlight/page2?highlight=headlight+polish

 

[lovellracing]

Cheers All,
I have found this very useful. Seems like a good cut and polish with a couple of thin coats of 2pack lacquer will do the trick. I reckon the lenses will have to come off to clean the inside. They can easily be bonded back on with a decent sealer. I will give this a go when I get a chance
Ray