Headlight peeling

[lukeadams]

Hi. I’ve noticed one of my headlights film has started to peel. The other one seems to be fine. I believe my headlights are OEM xenon if that makes any difference. Has anyone experienced this before and if so how can it be recovered?

 

[DXX]

Try some Greygate plastic polish, very good product. Available on Ebay

 

[lukeadams]

So the lighter part in the image is actually the headlight plastic. I’m not sure polishing will do anything. Wondering if I need to get something which removes the film and then apply a new film?

 

[roadtripper]

You might be polishing off the UV protection layer, if you do you want to get some reasonable quality UV sealer.

I've used products from Glass Polish Ltd on Amazon (and eBay if you dig) to restore and seal the headlights on the Volvo and happy with them.

GLASS POLISH

Glass Polish Repair Renew Restore

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[lukeadams]

I haven’t used anything on the headlight yet, I just noticed it was like this the other day. Does it need to be re-filmed or do I just re-seal it? Can you recommend anything?

 

[roadtripper]

I haven’t used anything on the headlight yet, I just noticed it was like this the other day. Does it need to be re-filmed or do I just re-seal it? Can you recommend anything?

Apologies, I meant if you polish out that damage then I believe you would be removing the outer UV coating.

I don't know VW well enough yet, I'm basing my thinking on my experience with my Volvo. Depending on the age of your vehicle I'd be talking to VW about warranty because that looks like a failure of the outer coating. That's not fixable as such - you either need to replace it or try your best to make good using after market polish and sealer. If it is the UV protection layer than the acrylic will start to degrade unless you protect it.

Have you ever had them coated with any sealer or PPF that might have reacted?

 

[lukeadams]

Ahh I see. That makes sense. I bought the van about a year ago but don’t believe the seller used anything that caused it to fail. I was wondering if anyone else had any similar experience with this issue. I might contact VW and see what they say.

 

[BIgben]

Ahh I see. That makes sense. I bought the van about a year ago but don’t believe the seller used anything that caused it to fail. I was wondering if anyone else had any similar experience with this issue. I might contact VW and see what they say.

Interested to see if you ever resolved this?

 

[lukeadams]

Interested to see if you ever resolved this?

So having taken the van to a detailer it turns out the van has had a small bump on the front corner and been re-sprayed. They believe some form of laquer has been used on the headlight and with the heat of the Xenon lights it has burned onto plastic and failed. They said it was unbelievably difficult to rub off but just about saved it!

 

[BIgben]

Oh nice.
That’s interesting. They do have an original coating on them that will come off with a lot polishing so was wondering if that was a failed unit.

 

[lukeadams]

Oh nice.
That’s interesting. They do have an original coating on them that will come off with a lot polishing so was wondering if that was a failed unit.

Yea I believe so. The detailer didn’t believe that was the case. It also ties into the fact I couldn’t see any other similar failures online.