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      05-10-2014, 10:33 AM   #1
crvz
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How to fix scuff headlight

About an hour ago a later model Toyota SUV decided to pull a u-turn from the middle lane of a 3 lave surface street, didn't check his blind spot, and did the move with me cramming the brakes and laying on my horn (I was in the left lane). I knew I hit him, but either he didn't realize there was contact or didn't care, as he just kept going. I've got a four inch gash on the bumper that will need to be sanded and resprayed, and then these scuffs on the headlight. How hard a job is it to fix the headlight?



And how would you go about the task? The damage is not that bad, arguably would be way worse if I was in a heavier car or had worse brakes (though arguably I wouldn't have been going that fast and would have been more visible in those cases).
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      05-10-2014, 10:36 AM   #2
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Here's the gash right under that headlight.

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      05-11-2014, 02:22 PM   #3
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Damn man that sucks. Did you get the guys plates at least? I would have filed a hit and run regardless of how minimal the damage was. Are you able to feel the scratch on the headlight with your finger nail?
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      05-11-2014, 06:24 PM   #4
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A headlight restoration kit (sand and polish) will probably make it look significantly better. I have had good luck with scratches, oxidation and pitting.

Have you tried a little cut and polish on the bumper? Sometimes scratches are partially paint transfer.
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      05-11-2014, 07:42 PM   #5
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I stopped immediately to check for damage, assuming the other car would do the same, and by the time I got out of the car he was gone. So I didnt get the plate number.

And I was actually bringing the car to buddy so he could borrow it for a few days. He had been rear-ended by a drunk driver with terrible insurance and had been without a car for a few weeks (because the other driver's insurance hadnt owned up to anything yet), so I was going to let him drive this while I was out of town. Point is, I havent inspected the damage other than those photos to determine how deep the scratches are. I'll get it back later this week and try to clean up the headlight. I may just live with the bumper gash, depends on what insurance says (I have vanishing deductible so it would probably be a free fix) and whether or not I like the character of it. I try not to obsess about the car, as much as I love it, and having a ding or two may help that notion.
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      05-11-2014, 07:48 PM   #6
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same thing happened to me almost exactly. The bumper buffed off. I agree it is likely paint transfer from the other car on top of yours. I have not done anything about the light. I've been thinking about a headlight restoration kit, but I'm too chicken to try it. Has anyone used one with good results?
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      05-11-2014, 08:18 PM   #7
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Try Meguiars Plastx first. I have used it for light oxidation and the headlights look much better.
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      05-11-2014, 08:46 PM   #8
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You can polish it just like the paint. Going from wet sanding to different stages of polish. I saw my smash repairer do this to a scuff on my headlight.

If it's not too deep you could just try a simple polish. I've used Autoglym super resin polish before with excellent results on another car with a faded yellowed headlight. Made it look brand new.
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      05-11-2014, 09:24 PM   #9
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One thing to consider is that whatever sealant you put on there may oxidize faster when exposed to the sun than the OEM coating. So you can also consider living with the scratch or replacing the full headlight.

If you do polish, you may want to reseal with helmans spar urethane (gloss). Most people have good results, but mine started peeling within less than a year (on my old WRX). So if it were me, I may consider just living with the headlight scratch (or sanding/polishing in just the confined area).

But this is just my experience, which may have been a uniquely bad one with polishing out a headlight.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Good luck.
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      05-12-2014, 08:52 AM   #10
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The best kit on the market right now is made by a little company out of Hernando Florida called Dvelup. The chemist there had made a process that make headlight look like factory new. I used it on my old Z4 as the headlights were becoming foggy and they looked like brand new afterwards. It takes a little patience and at first it looks like you are ruining the lights becasue of the sanding process but afterwards it is magnificent. Here is the product page if you are interested. At liittle more pricey than the other guys when you figure in shpping but worth it.

http://www.dvelup.com/Cart/index.php...products_id=78
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      05-12-2014, 09:34 AM   #11
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Another reason why to have a dash cam!

Sorry OP, but hopefully you can polish that out. Can't tell from pics if that's primer or the other guy's paint. +1 on headlight restoration kit and if that doesn't work, maybe try wetstanding + polish.
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      05-12-2014, 09:56 AM   #12
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Claybar and PlastX first. It doesn't look that deep. The paint is another issue entirely.
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      05-12-2014, 04:23 PM   #13
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It felt pretty deep, but I don't know yet. I'm going to get an estimate and see about insurance (I'm well protected in uninsured/underinsured, which this should fall into). I called the police department to see if the cameras there are recorded, but no dice (they're live feed only).

I'll keep this thread posted with what I decide to do. I don't mind aiming to fix it myself, but if insurance is going to offer to pay for a new headlight and to respray the bumper (which is certainly worst case and arguably unlikely), I may let them do that and then do most of the mechanical work myself.

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      05-12-2014, 09:25 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3002 tii View Post
Another reason why to have a dash cam!

Sorry OP, but hopefully you can polish that out. Can't tell from pics if that's primer or the other guy's paint. +1 on headlight restoration kit and if that doesn't work, maybe try wetstanding + polish.
Agree with the cam. I just ordered a G1W for $35. Look it up, very good cam for the money.
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      05-13-2014, 07:01 AM   #15
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I had a fairly deep scratch on my Speed6 and a body shop got it out. Saved a few hundred. Worth a shot sanding and buffing since you have nothing to lose.
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      05-13-2014, 08:12 PM   #16
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Hard to judge depth from pictures but if you don't want to live with it you could give it a go ahead at a repair.

Maybe if your lucky you are local to one of us detailing freaks and are willing to help you out.

You can be a bit aggressive with wet sanding the head light. ~1000 grit then move on up through to around 3000 and start your polishing
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      05-14-2014, 09:26 AM   #17
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So the estimate is ~$1200 to replace the headlight and paint the bumper. And then I've got a $250 deductible. What's the move? Take the money and try to buff the headlight? Or just let the shop to the work?

edit: as long as the insurance companies agrees with me that I was not at fault, this will be uninsured motorist and will not impact my rates in any way.

Last edited by crvz; 05-14-2014 at 10:00 AM..
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      05-14-2014, 10:34 AM   #18
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Another question... I know there are blackline taillights, but is there something comparable for the headlights? I do have xenon and adaptive headlights, and in my search it looked like they only offered products for cars without those two options.
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      05-14-2014, 11:35 AM   #19
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If it's a good shop, let them do it. $250 is cheap for the work that needs done.. good luck.
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      05-14-2014, 03:24 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crvz View Post
Another question... I know there are blackline taillights, but is there something comparable for the headlights? I do have xenon and adaptive headlights, and in my search it looked like they only offered products for cars without those two options.
No- your only option is the OEM lights specific to your vehicle. If you can 100% claim the insurance *Without a hit on your policy* I would pony up for the repair deductible. Be certain that you're getting OE parts as some shops may lean toward using "equivalent parts" instead.
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      05-15-2014, 01:43 PM   #21
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in scrubbing through the estimate a little more, they had stuck on there a used headlight from a junk yard. My policy states they can used parts as long as they are of the specific model year or newer. I asked them how they intended to find a 09/2013 build 135i headlight, and then they agreed to change the estimate to reflect a new OEM unit. So that increased the estimate $600.

Still waiting on the final word on uninsured motorist or not. That will determine whether I try to fix it myself or not.
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      05-16-2014, 11:19 AM   #22
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For the scuff on the bumper, I would try some automotive clay. I've used that when someone has opened there door and dented mine and it removed the other vehicle's paint pretty well. I'd try that on the headlights as well.

Also I just did a DIY where I wetsanded and polished my headlights and they look great. For you it might even be easier since there is just that scuff and not the entire headlight to do
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