Notices
996 Forum 1999-2005
Sponsored by:

996 Headlight tint modification

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-30-2012, 01:18 AM
  #16  
ctoro99
6th Gear
 
ctoro99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Very ingenious on your part Heima. Do you think I can get the lumin-x in a midnight blue to match my C4S?

Philooo, your car looks amazing...nice touch making the cut smaller.
Old 08-30-2012, 07:48 AM
  #17  
tbanasiak
Instructor
 
tbanasiak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 249
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by ctoro99
Very ingenious on your part Heima. Do you think I can get the lumin-x in a midnight blue to match my C4S?

Philooo, your car looks amazing...nice touch making the cut smaller.
Lamin-x has 4 color options, if you go to their web you can check them out. They do have a blue.
Old 08-30-2012, 02:38 PM
  #18  
ivangene
Parts Specialist
Rennlist Member
 
ivangene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,326
Likes: 0
Received 24 Likes on 17 Posts
Default

damn Phil - your car looks great!
Old 01-24-2013, 11:07 PM
  #19  
philooo
Rennlist Member
 
philooo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,328
Received 18 Likes on 12 Posts
Default

BAd news after removing the tinted film from my headlight, because they started to peel a bit from the side.

I see that the film must have had a bad interaction with the headlight lens and accelerated the wear.

I had the film everywhere except the center of the main projector, and I can see a clear difference of wear between the two.

Strangely it is not the usual fogged lens type of damage but instead mini cracks. I wonder if those will buff right out... doesn't look like it

any input on what to do next ?
Attached Images    
Old 01-25-2013, 12:35 AM
  #20  
Hurdigurdiman
Drifting
 
Hurdigurdiman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Ephrata, PA, USA now. Originally from the UK
Posts: 3,075
Likes: 0
Received 20 Likes on 15 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by philooo
BAd news after removing the tinted film from my headlight, because they started to peel a bit from the side.

I see that the film must have had a bad interaction with the headlight lens and accelerated the wear.

I had the film everywhere except the center of the main projector, and I can see a clear difference of wear between the two.

Strangely it is not the usual fogged lens type of damage but instead mini cracks. I wonder if those will buff right out... doesn't look like it

any input on what to do next ?
You could come with me Phil and bang your head against this wall. It may help...... God dammit. That sucks.
Old 01-25-2013, 12:44 AM
  #21  
jumper5836
Nordschleife Master
 
jumper5836's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: great white north
Posts: 8,531
Received 72 Likes on 48 Posts
Default

I don't get the try to hide the head light thing. I think it's ugly. Do a front end conversion if you want 60's lights.
Old 01-25-2013, 12:59 AM
  #22  
MiamiC70
Three Wheelin'
 
MiamiC70's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 1,809
Likes: 0
Received 13 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Oh damn...that sucks dude. Maybe one of those headlight polishing places can buff that down to clearer plastic.
Old 01-25-2013, 09:03 AM
  #23  
frisbee91
Three Wheelin'
 
frisbee91's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Delaware, USA
Posts: 1,683
Likes: 0
Received 65 Likes on 49 Posts
Default

That definitely sucks. I would try polishing a small spot with some fine polish and a dremel buffer (just a small test area) to see if the defects are removable.

Keep us updated and good luck!
Old 01-25-2013, 10:49 AM
  #24  
alpine003
Banned
 
alpine003's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Chicago
Posts: 7,697
Likes: 0
Received 28 Likes on 26 Posts
Default

Are you sure those micro cracks aren't adhesive remnants?
The following users liked this post:
murage (04-22-2021)
Old 01-25-2013, 11:04 AM
  #25  
skiracer
Rennlist Member
 
skiracer's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Louisville, CO
Posts: 1,589
Received 177 Likes on 130 Posts
Default

Almost looks like it froze overnight w/ crystals - but not likely in Miami...they might polish right out.
Old 01-25-2013, 11:15 AM
  #26  
Dennis C
Rocky Mountain High
Rennlist Member
 
Dennis C's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 17,398
Received 1,433 Likes on 895 Posts
Default

Was that caused by Laminex headlight film, or was it another brand?
Old 01-25-2013, 12:55 PM
  #27  
philooo
Rennlist Member
 
philooo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,328
Received 18 Likes on 12 Posts
Default

I bought my tinted headlight film on ..ebay.. yes I know ...
So I don't know the brand of the film.

The headlight plastic is soft to the touch, even where the scratch appear, so it seems a bit deep in the plastic. I'll try some buffing but I don't think it will come off.
Old 01-25-2013, 01:15 PM
  #28  
B r i a n
Racer
 
B r i a n's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 379
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Default

I would try the 3M lens polishing kit (can find them online also walmart carries) - to see if they come out.
Spend a little more time with the early grit polishes.
I would remove the headlights from car to make it easier - good luck.
Old 01-25-2013, 01:25 PM
  #29  
Akshun
Advanced
 
Akshun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Milton,Ontario
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

could it be that those cracks are from the heat used to apply the tint???
i had body work done on the fender of another car i owned and the shop did not remove the headlight when baking on the new paint and it look very similar to this.
Old 01-25-2013, 07:29 PM
  #30  
aviography
Drifting
 
aviography's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oakville, Canada
Posts: 2,414
Received 11 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

That's some very interesting pattern, especially the longer ones in pix 1 & 3.

Years ago I applied some temporary low tack adhesive film to the leading edge of the bumper on my car before installing the removable vinyl bra, the intent was to prevent scuffing between the underside of the vinyle bra and the paint on the hood.

Within two years the film deterioated to the point it dried out and fused into the clearcoat of the paint....., I had to have the hood repainted.

It's possible the eBay tint film you used reacted with the plastic of the headlight housing, before you give up on them, it's possible some good old fashion elbow grease with multiple grade of sandpaper can remove enough of that mess before polishing the surface to as-new condition.

I guess we've got to remember the tint film is usually attached to glass surface which is pretty inert and will not react chemically with the adhesive.

If you do sand and polish, then you should use Xpel or Lamin-X film to protect the surface from UV yellowing, although it would be tough to get the same look you had before, unless you either apply two layers (clear than tint), or apply the clear, mask it, and then use one of the spray tint to get the same effect.


Quick Reply: 996 Headlight tint modification



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 06:23 AM.