New headlight lens?

[jbl0072k2]

I am about to purchase Sylvania Silverstar Ultras (they say they're brightest among halogen)...and to get the most out of my new bulbs...im wondering if i should restore my old plastic lens for each headlight...OR...replace the old plastic lens with a new glass lens.

Wouldnt a brand new glass lens allow more light out over a new plastic lens?
any opinions?? restore plastic or new glass lens.

 

[koda2000]

Don't do it! Those expensive bulbs (although they are brighter) won't help you a bit if your lenses are cloudy. You can buy replacement headlight housings, but not just the lens. I'd suggest you first try restoring your lenses. There are multiple kits and products on the market for this purpose. Depending how bad your lenses are, plan on spending around $20 for a good restoration kit and don't believe the products which claim "just wipe it on and youre done". You're going to have to put some work into the restoration process, but good results can be achieved and $20 is a lot less than it would cost you to replace the entire headlamp housing (probably $85-200 each). If when you're done you still want to buy the expensive bulbs go ahead, but be warned they don't last very long. I worked in an auto parts store and found that people would buy the $50 bulbs and be back a month or two later to buy a replacement bulb for one which had burn out. I think it's because that get so much hotter than the standard bulbs, and of course NEVER touch the glass part with your fingers or they won't last a week. The other big bulb killer is water in the housing.

 

[Joe Dirt]

There are no glass lenses. OEM is plastic, that is all that is available.

You can get headlight housings for $18 from rock auto, they're fine, I've had 2 sets on different rigs, and they were stellar... You can get CAPA certified ones for $50, but the others are fine, and one set I ordered CAPA and got the same exact lenses as the economy line. One set includes sockets and bulbs too for $22 each. That's a deal...

I've done the restorations for a while, and for that price, I don't even mess with them. My time is worth more.

 

[toypaseo]

Look into Philips X-Treme Power bulbs, or Philips X-Treme Vision bullbs, before you opt for the Silvania bulbs...

I can vouch for the X-Treme Power bulbs...

 

[Steeda90GT]

There are no glass lenses. OEM is plastic, that is all that is available.

You can get headlight housings for $18 from rock auto, they're fine, I've had 2 sets on different rigs, and they were stellar... You can get CAPA certified ones for $50, but the others are fine, and one set I ordered CAPA and got the same exact lenses as the economy line. One set includes sockets and bulbs too for $22 each. That's a deal...

I've done the restorations for a while, and for that price, I don't even mess with them. My time is worth more.

+1

Most of the times, it's worth it to just buy new lens. Same deal in the Mustang world.

I'll usually give each headlight about 5-10 min each side first just to see if they come out clean. Sometimes they do, but they never quite look brand new. ..and even when cleaned up, they dont last too long. (They usually require attention every few months.)

 

[drdoom]

For 2G Explorers re-finishing is not worth it, when replacements can be had for less than the kit & the time spent.