Hammer Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Like quite a few on here my headlights are not in the best of condition. Both have flaking chrome and the nearside light gets condensation on the inside. I had a two day window this week, car is a daily driver, so I bit the bullet and took the nearside light out to attempt a quick referb. on it. I only worked on the chrome rings as time was limited but intend to do them both in full at a later date. So first thing to do is take out the light. This went well and was alot easier than I thought it might be. Next to separate it. This was the part that worried me most, into the oven 80 for 10 mins. This was not enough to get it apart so another 5 mins. Some elbow grease and we were good to go. The chrome was really bad on the big ring but all would need to look the same so prep. was done to all. Next to spray. Three coats of undercoat and three coats of Halfords chome paint. OK I know it is not going to be as good as chroming but as a quick fix I felt it was worth a punt. Left for a day and then unrapped. Now again back to the scary bit. Back into the oven at 80 this time for 17 mins. to ensure the sealant was really soft. Pushed back together with ease, thankfully. Now back onto the car. Sorry it's a bit picture heavy. That is the results, what do you guys think? I’m quite pleased myself. I don't think I will have cured the condesation problem but now I have the confidence to do the job again more thoroughly at some point and get the offside light done. Hopefully if you have been thinking of doing this yourself this will give you the confidence to have a go, it was alot easier than I thought it would be and I think was well worth the effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Nice job you've done. Not sure if it's just the pictures, but it's not as shiny as I'd expect chrome paint to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westy Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Good job. A pic of the front end from further away would help so you could compare the two lights!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammer Posted December 30, 2011 Author Share Posted December 30, 2011 Cheers guys. I know what you mean about the paint Josh but I wasn't expecting too much as it's only silver paint at the end of the day but the dark day is not helping the matter. I'll get a pic, up of the front Westy but at the moment it's raining Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Good job you did there. I did a set not so long ago but decided to leave the good chrome as it was and only touch up the not so good areas, came up fine. The chrome paint isn't great but it's better than normal silver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbloodyturbo Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Looks good, I have my jspecs in the garage, i might give this ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastnfurious Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 cool... but what kinda oven you used? you mean "microwave oven" but won't this lead to problem with the reflective chrome parts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammer Posted December 30, 2011 Author Share Posted December 30, 2011 Cheers guys. Fastnfurious, not microwave oven, it would have to be a massive one, just a normal electric oven, misses not to impressed but she's used to me and my car obsessions by now By the way, loving your XXR's man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drift_bear Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 nice job there adam, now get a pic of that lovely aerotop up i miss the green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 cool... but what kinda oven you used? you mean "microwave oven" but won't this lead to problem with the reflective chrome parts? He means an oven bud, when saying "80" he means 80 degrees not 80% I'd love to see someone try to split a headlight with a microwave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripped_fear Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Well done for doing it adam! looks a good job! will have to have a look at them in the new year. how hard was it? thinking about buying some old jspec ones and having ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastnfurious Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 hahaha... you guys are so funny... imagine your wife opens the oven door and spotted a headlamp, then a Garett T88 turbine in the fridge and engine shortblock in the bathtub... LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammer Posted December 30, 2011 Author Share Posted December 30, 2011 hahaha... you guys are so funny... imagine your wife opens the oven door and spotted a headlamp, then a Garett T88 turbine in the fridge and engine shortblock in the bathtub... LOL! You've been to my house then Cheers Jake, just trying to catch up with you on the improvment front mate. Buddy we will definatly have to catch up soon. Will sort some pics. soon Alex. Go on go get it, you know it makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomgeer Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Looks like a good job to me, well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammer Posted December 31, 2011 Author Share Posted December 31, 2011 Good job. A pic of the front end from further away would help so you could compare the two lights!? It's hard to really see the difference but you can see the flaking chrome on the left side and I don't think the refurbed right one looks too different to good chrome at a glance. You can see from the close up though why they need doing. For Alex, enjoy mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iky Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Nice job matey I love the colour of your Supra! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a98pmalcolm Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 nice mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammer Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest paul bell Posted January 7, 2012 Share Posted January 7, 2012 Cracking job m8 im gonna do mine and spray the insert matte black. What sort of polish do you use to for the plastic face id heard plastx is good stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammer Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 The plastic face wasn't that bad to be honest. I just polished it up inside and out with Simoniz colour restorer (T-Cut). I need to do the main body aswell really and was going to do mine black but having seperated the light I am going to do them in the origanal graphite or as near as I can get. The job is well worth doing though, 100% improvement to the look of the front. Good luck and post up your work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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