Introduction
Headlights are certainly an essential functional part of any vehicle. Without them, no car would be deemed safe for night driving. They serve to alert other drivers as well during the day, when it rains, when it snows, and even when someone is barreling down the wrong side of the highway in a high-speed chase. The function is obvious, and thankfully due to the more commonly adopted use of LEDs, many people will grow up today without ever thinking twice about having to replace a burnt-out bulb. Advancements in headlights have made them more useful, reliable, and bright than ever before. All that said, there still seems to be one underlying problem.
What’s the problem with headlights?
The major concern of headlights is the material they are made out of. Manufacturers use a tough, clear plastic to protect the inner workings of a headlight fixture and protect it from the elements. Glass easily shatters if when a collision occurs, while plastic will simply chip off pieces, or even be able to withstand certain shock damage that glass could not due to its increased flexibility and durability. Along with being easier and cheaper to make, plastic is here to stay, even in the high-end. Though, the major disadvantage of plastic headlights is that it oxidizes. Everyone’s seen this if they’ve owned a car long enough. The clear coat wears away and the plastic begins to become hazy and yellow. This process isn’t super fast, but within just a couple years of driving off the lot, the plastic begins to change. The problem lies more in the clear coat. Much like paint, the clear coat is a protective layer that prevents the plastic underneath from becoming damaged by the outside elements, like road debris, salt from the beach air, salt from the Winter road, the hot summer Sun, and simple time. Once the layer is gone, the plastic is exposed and it quickly reacts with that yellow and hazy characteristic.
What’s the danger in yellowing headlights?
Headlights serve as your ability to see the world in unideal conditions and also allows others to be aware of you as well. According to research from AAA, published in 2018, yellow and hazy headlights can reduce visible light by up to 80%. They also state that 50% of crashes occur at night. The yellow and hazy appearance of old and worn headlights isn’t just about not being pretty, but also a matter of safety. Headlight restoration can even help save money as well as retain the value of a car by maintaining its OEM parts.
How do you restore headlights?
There are a range of methods of restoring headlights. Some are more effective than others, but many of the DIY methods are possibly slow, time-consuming, require special equipment, difficult, and/or ineffective ranging from a toothbrush and gritty paste to buffing machines and gritty paste. Another big concern is that many unprofessional applications may result in more glare than ever before. There are also precautions to take into account like taping off the car’s body’s paint to prevent any scratches. There is a level of expertise that may not be achievable on a first attempt. That said, there are also much better and proven methods that result in clear plastic and a new fresh layer of clear-coat without any lumps or bumps. The process works by removing and roughing up a very thin layer of the plastic and sanding it down until it’s completely and evenly smooth. Simply, a new layer of clear coat is applied to protect the plastic against any further damages and enable it to remain protected for more years to come. If these steps are done poorly or incompletely, the plastic will return to its previous haze at an alarming rate. When performed by highly skilled experts, headlights can return to their former glory
Would it be viable to simply just replace the headlights after they’ve become too old?
There is certainly always the chance and opportunity to restore headlights beyond their former glory. It’s more sensible to do this than it may seem. Restoring headlights means you’ll be able to keep the original fixtures completely intact for the duration of the car’s lifetime. OEM fixtures are usually built to higher quality than cheap aftermarket options. An aftermarket light is not built with the same requirements an OEM light might be. Often resulting in less bright, or even more glaring light output. Newer vehicles also often require an entire headlight fixture to be replaced (including the sometimes motorized LEDs inside) even though only the plastic is the issue. With a restoration, anyone can save a significant amount of money and be confident in maintaining their car’s headlight’s features and functions that are already still working. It just doesn’t make much sense to replace a $1,000 headlight fixture that is still working when only the outer plastic is the issue. Thankfully due to the expertise of detailers, headlight restoration remains not just a valuable option, but also retains the car’s original capabilities without compromise.
What can Detailing Wizards offer?
Detailing wizards uses high-quality and proven methods that work to restore a car’s value, safety, glamour, and maintain its original parts. We offer service that is catered towards high-quality first. Jake has built his expertise and excellence since 2018 and he’s proud to serve Norwalk, CT’s community of families, car enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs with high-quality service that enables durability, perfect beauty, and the ability to retain value. Thank you for reading this week’s blogs after the holiday break. We’ll soon be announcing a limited promotional event for a free detail! Please stay tuned for more soon!
