Exposed Headlight Cover
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,984
Likes: 0
From: Central Coast CA
Exposed Headlight Cover
Does anyone know how long the new exposed headlight covers are supposed to last? The reason I ask is I have never seen headlamp covers that don't yellow out, start to crack or peel. I just had peeling on another car of mine. Plastic never lasts very long when exposed to sunlight. From what I understand plastic headlight covers have a UV coating and once it peels, the plastic doesn't last very long before yellowing or getting brittle.
Maybe this is a non issue. But when I'm ready to upgrade to a C6 I would like to know my headlight covers will last well past the warranty.
Maybe this is a non issue. But when I'm ready to upgrade to a C6 I would like to know my headlight covers will last well past the warranty.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,984
Likes: 0
From: Central Coast CA
I do worry about it. All you have to do is look at any 10 year old vehicle with encased headlights and you will see issues. Considering the Corvette tax for parts and the fact that I keep my cars for many years after they are paid off, yes this concerns me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 32
From: New Smyrna Beach FL
Originally Posted by Shylor
Does anyone know how long the new exposed headlight covers are supposed to last? The reason I ask is I have never seen headlamp covers that don't yellow out, start to crack or peel. I just had peeling on another car of mine. Plastic never lasts very long when exposed to sunlight. From what I understand plastic headlight covers have a UV coating and once it peels, the plastic doesn't last very long before yellowing or getting brittle.
Maybe this is a non issue. But when I'm ready to upgrade to a C6 I would like to know my headlight covers will last well past the warranty.
Maybe this is a non issue. But when I'm ready to upgrade to a C6 I would like to know my headlight covers will last well past the warranty.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Liquordale Florida
How about cleaning the INSIDE of these things?
Yeah, it's ****, but with the lights on, there's all kinds of dirt & schmutz visible on the inside surface of the cover.
Short of pulling the fender off, is there a way to get to the inside of these?
Rick
Yeah, it's ****, but with the lights on, there's all kinds of dirt & schmutz visible on the inside surface of the cover.
Short of pulling the fender off, is there a way to get to the inside of these?
Rick
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,984
Likes: 0
From: Central Coast CA
It's a sealed unit, no way to get inside.
I'm more concerned about the UV coating coming off and then the plastic breaking down turning yellow and getting brittle. I've already had this coating come off the headlights of another car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,043
Likes: 2
From: Bergen County, NJ Sarasota, FL
Plastic shouldn't be a problem.
Clean weekly with Plexus.
Every six months (or as needed) polish with PlastX:
http://www.meguiars.com/estore/produ...lish&sku=G-123
Clean weekly with Plexus.
Every six months (or as needed) polish with PlastX:
http://www.meguiars.com/estore/produ...lish&sku=G-123
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,984
Likes: 0
From: Central Coast CA
Again, I'm not talking about keeping the lens clean. I'm talking about the UV protection peeling off and then the plastic turning yellow and getting brittle. I just saw a car on the road today (not a vette), and it's covered headlights were all yellowed out. This is something plastic does with time. Considering how expensive the C6 headlights are, this is a big concern.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,028
Likes: 2,510
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
Kinda off the subject slightly...
What about tinted headlights??
Not the cheezy covers, but like what Ford did with Mustangs around the 2000 or 2001 model year, where they had "clear" headlight buckets and then the following year, they were lightly "smoked" from the factory
I think THAT would look cool on a C6
Back to the subject @ hand - my one Chevy, delaminated the plastic trim in the hot sun within 3 mos. of parking it out of the garage and leaving it outdoors 90% of the time - it was in the garage or covered parking prior to this
What about tinted headlights??
Not the cheezy covers, but like what Ford did with Mustangs around the 2000 or 2001 model year, where they had "clear" headlight buckets and then the following year, they were lightly "smoked" from the factory
I think THAT would look cool on a C6
Back to the subject @ hand - my one Chevy, delaminated the plastic trim in the hot sun within 3 mos. of parking it out of the garage and leaving it outdoors 90% of the time - it was in the garage or covered parking prior to this
Last edited by *89x2*; Jun 7, 2005 at 04:36 PM.
