Headlight lens for my Legacy Outback

[celdt celdt]

Hello group. Purchased a '96 OBW that had been in a front - ender.
They had replaced the damaged side with a new lens assy. So far so
good. But now I have a crystal clear lens (the replaced one) and a
sun-cracked, yellowed-with-age one. I need just the lens, but am told I
must buy (for $128) the whole ass'y. I need a cheaper fix if possible.
Ideas? And as always, thanks in advance.

subaroo Jim

 

[johninKY]

Can't buy just the lens/cover. All or nothing. No option if you want
matching pair other then to buy a new headlight.

 

[celdt celdt]

oh drat! ok then. thanks..................

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

Hello group. Purchased a '96 OBW that had been in a front - ender.
They had replaced the damaged side with a new lens assy. So far so
good. But now I have a crystal clear lens (the replaced one) and a
sun-cracked, yellowed-with-age one. I need just the lens, but am told I
must buy (for $128) the whole ass'y. I need a cheaper fix if possible.
Ideas? And as always, thanks in advance.

subaroo Jim

Likely still won't match perfectly, but, there are kits and DIY
instructions for removing the pits/yellowing and refinishing plastic
lenses. I think Meguiars makes a kit for that. If you search the
internet, you will find DIY instructions involving wet
sanding/polishing,etc.

Carl

 

[Danno]

Likely still won't match perfectly, but, there are kits and DIY
instructions for removing the pits/yellowing and refinishing plastic
lenses. I think Meguiars makes a kit for that. If you search the
internet, you will find DIY instructions involving wet
sanding/polishing,etc.

Carl

Yes, in fact a local shop in my area (that happens to specialize in
Subarus) started advertising this service. At first I thought it was
rather odd to advertise such a specialized service so extensively, but
maybe there is demand. Not sure what the cost is.

 

[VanguardLH]

Hello group. Purchased a '96 OBW that had been in a front - ender.
They had replaced the damaged side with a new lens assy. So far so
good. But now I have a crystal clear lens (the replaced one) and a
sun-cracked, yellowed-with-age one. I need just the lens, but am told I
must buy (for $128) the whole ass'y. I need a cheaper fix if possible.
Ideas? And as always, thanks in advance.

subaroo Jim

http://www.crystalviewchemicals.com/

I used it on both my headlight's lenses. Worked great. I probably did
more elbow work than was required because I didn't do this before and
wanted to make damn sure that all the yellowing in the lens had been
removed before applying the acrylic coating.

I found it at Advance Auto while buying some touch-up paint. I think it
was around $20 and figured it was worth a shot rather than having to
replace both headights. You can build your own kit for cheaper provided
you find the proper substitutes. Most of the kit can be found at, say,
Menards but the acrylic coating would be something you need to be sure
it proper for use on headlights. I've heard some using the acrylic
coating that is used for the plastic windows in airplanes.

http://www.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/asp/ccr/ccr20041101pp.asp

Basically they all provide a water-soluable polishing compound and a
couple of sheets of super-fine grain sandpaper (the kind that can be
used with water). Whether the results are spectacular (and last)
depends not so much on the polish and sandpaper (just use LOTS of
strokes instead of pressure until you can stand it anymore) but the the
quality of the coating and your application of it. You obviously don't
want just some mirror wax on them. I think it took about an hour on
each headlight to gently but gradually get rid of the yellowed portion
of the plastic headlight lens.