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I'm certain this would be a common issue, but I can't find the answers I'm looking for.

Basically I imported my GT-T at the start of the year, the headlights looked almost perfect when it arrived. Gradually over the course of the year the headlights have gone cloudy and oxidised. I used plastic polish on them and it worked to a degree, but as soon as any car wash solution hits them again they turn to shite. The driver's side particularly up close looks like the plastic is stressed, something a polish isn't going to remove.

My question is - how much would be reasonable to pay for second hand set? And is it common for the headlights on an R34 to do this? Or are the lens replaceable rather than buying the whole headlight? The headlights are HID, they weren't converted to halogens at compliance :rofl:

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Permatex do a special Headlight Restorer kit...It involves sanding the face of the headlight smooth with very fine grit sandpaper then using a special plastic polish/protector to buff it up with. Best part is you dont even have to pull the lights out. Did it on my missus' car, her lights were real bad and they came up perfect. Still are and I did them about 6months ago..

Read my thread on polishing glass stains... you can use the same procedure on your headlights.

I recommend a heavy cut like Meguires Heavy Cut 9 on it... it'll come up a treat.

I honestly think one headlight's lens is beyond saving, the plastic looks stressed. I'll try and get some pictures tomorrow to show you what I mean.

So I guess the main point of my question is how much is a good pair of second hand headlights, or is the lens a replaceable item?

Edit: had a look at your thread. All most my windows and badly etched by acid rain. I'll get some of the Meguiars Diamond cut polish you recommended. Thanks for the tip :)

machine polish, with paint polish

Headlight_Ass_After_01.jpg

don't worry, your headlights aren't gone, they just need a MACHINE polish.

Final Inspection might even be able to quote you just a headlight polish, althought i'd recommend getting a full detail anyway, Stage 2 includes headlight polishing i believe.

Ah thanks for that, I'll have to ask them. But here's the photos I've been promising to get (I have higher res photos but I shrunk these down):

Passenger Side:

Passenger_Side_1.jpg

Passenger_Side_2.jpg

Passenger_Side_3.jpg

Passenger_Side_4.jpg

Driver's Side:

Drivers_Side_1.jpg

Drivers_Side_2.jpg

Drivers_Side_3.jpg

And from the front:

Front_Cloudy_Headlights.jpg

I think my use of PlastX has made them worse. As you can see, the passenger side head light is clearer but is pitted towards the top and has spots that are patchy on the face. The driver's side headlight is just terrible all over.

Do you think they're too far gone?

i don't know about the pitting, but i reckon the rest will come out fine. where bouts are ya? i might be able to pop round one day and run the RO over them (asked masking the surrounding areas of course)

EDIT: saw croydon, hmm... bit of a hike...

I've sent Final Inspection an email to see what they say. As you can see, it's not a case of them just being oxidised - something has happened to the plastic to cause that sort of pitting effect. What shits me is that it's happened over a period of 7 months or so. Prior to that they were fine :wub:

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