Cloudy headlights --> Buy new? Bora headlight aftermarket options?

[RubAVeeDubDub]

Hi all,

I've spent a good 2hrs unsuccessfully trying to restore my very clouded headlights, I've hit it three times with a variety of sandpapers (from 400 to 3000grit) and obviously headlight cleaning fluids/compounds and the cloudiness is still mostly there. The kit made very little difference.

The next stage will be to rip out the rotary buffer, but I'm wondering if I'm not better off doing an upgrade instead of spending the money on new rotary pads and cutting compounds?

What sort of aftermarket options are there? I wouldn't mind upgrading the headlights if I can for a reasonable price. Not wanting HID's for legal reasons but is there lights that look better than the standard fog light version headlights?
Where can I get them from?

Appreciate any advice on this conundrum.

Cheers,
RubAVeeDubDub

[Back Door Shenanigans.]

A few options. Most of them you can find here. I've got the FK ones at the moment and they're not too bad
ECS tuning

Another option is to grab a set of glass headlight covers.

[Gravey]

Just be aware that US Spec headlights dip the opposite way to what we use here, which is not only a safety issue, but also a compliance issue. If you install US headlights you'll be blinding oncoming drivers, even when you are using low beam as the low beam will point to the right, not the left.

[EDIT] just read that some of the aftermarket lights come with a switch, which will change the projection from LHD to RHD! BDS - do the lights you got from ECS come with the switch?

[EDIT EDIT] I now I see that ECS are actually stocking Euro Spec lights now! This is great, because they never used to when I was last looking

[Bernoulli]

I emailed ECS a week or so and supposedly they do not offer any RHD headlights for us - maybe I got the wrong info though?

Perhaps someone could email them to see if Euro spec means RHD, just to see if a different answer is given?

[Back Door Shenanigans.]

Very good point forgot to put that in. Mainly just suggesting ECS as a look at some of them.

Yes mine came with a switch but i'm not sure i got them from ecs but it shouldn't be any different for the FK stuff.

Just be aware that US Spec headlights dip the opposite way to what we use here, which is not only a safety issue, but also a compliance issue. If you install US headlights you'll be blinding oncoming drivers, even when you are using low beam as the low beam will point to the right, not the left.

[EDIT] just read that some of the aftermarket lights come with a switch, which will change the projection from LHD to RHD! BDS - do the lights you got from ECS come with the switch?

[EDIT EDIT] I now I see that ECS are actually stocking Euro Spec lights now! This is great, because they never used to when I was last looking

[dylan8]

Can confirm the fk ones switch left to right
The euro oem ones from ecs are still ldh I believe. It's just the way the light spreads rather then the cut off angle gravey mentioned

[Bernoulli]

Can confirm the fk ones switch left to right

Hey mate, which FK ones did you get?

Just confused as I've asked both FK and ECS about their RHD headlight options...

Response I got from FK:

This light is LHD only not for your roads....

This is all we have for your car in RHD:

http://www.carparts-tuning.co.uk/Lighting-Tuning/Headlight-RHD/?filterKategoriePfadROOT=Lighting+Tuning&filterKat egoriePfadROOT%2FLighting+Tuning=Headlight+RHD&fil terVehicle+Model=Bora&filterVehicle+Manufacturer=V W&verbose=true&catalog=true&searchparam=%2A
Mit freundlichen Grüssen / Best Regards / Très cordialement
David Howe | Export Department

And the response I got from ECS...

As for the headlights we only carry LHD drive lights and to my knowledge none of them can switch to RHD.

[dylan8]

Tuning FK Automotive | headlight Angel Eyes VW Bora Typ 1J Yr. 98-04 black | purchase online
These. Tricky simon also had a set and had no problems switching them to rhd.
I never ran mine on the road, but beam pattern looked ok for us on my garage wall.
There was a dirty big metal lever inside you had to lick into lhd or rhd before fitting

[RubAVeeDubDub]

Thanks for all the help guys - seriously!

I've given up on restoring these headlights (tried to hand buff them today with no real results) so I'm looking at trying to locate a 2nd hand set in Oz, buying headlight covers or an aftermarket set of headlights.

If I was to buy a 2nd hand set, which bora models came with fog lights? This is probably my least favourite option because they'll likely be at least half hazed at best.

The whole RHD vs LHD issue is not something I even considered so thanks for the heads up on that folks.
If I was to buy new headlight covers, I assume I'm going to have the same problems?

Glad to hear from first hand experience with aftermarket headlights.
With shipping, a set of those FKs equate to about $200AUS.
More than I was hoping to rectify this issue, but I suppose I'll end up with a new headlight.

I'm assuming the headlights would NOT be ADR approved though?
Are the 'Angel eyes' basically parkers or are they like a DRL function?

Dylan - do you know how Simon wired these in? On a separate switch or how a set of DRL's are meant to be by ADR laws - i.e. DRL turn off when the beams are turned on.

Sorry for all the questions!

Appreciate any help on this.

[dylan8]

They are the parkers unfortunately. Ruins the look of one of the only ok looking after market set

[RubAVeeDubDub]

I like the idea of "Angel eyes" on the right car. Just not sure it looks good on the Bora.

I suppose in one way it means we dont have to worry about ADR complications with trying to set it up as a DRL. Cops have no idea about the laws and are fining cars left, right and centre for them so trying to avoid having them on my car unless its a factory setup.

How is the light output of these lights?

Otherwise, can you get RHD covers for these lights?
Thinking I might replace the covers and maybe spray the insides of the light black and do the "joey mod".

[dylan8]

Nar halos should only be on bmws that came with them from factory, such a eBay thing otherwise.

Light output was much better then stock, (not hard to be a improvment though...) But I didn't leave the garage so not sure as to how good.

Not sure what you mean by rhd covers.

[ian]

I recently polished my grand daughters cloudy. Astra. Headlights First I used1200 wet&dry. Then I used. Mothers. Aluminium polish. A lot of elbow grease but the end results were worth the effort I would say I restored them to about. 90%


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[LeStig]

You need to spray the lenses with a UV sealant to finish them off .....

[RubAVeeDubDub]

Nar halos should only be on bmws that came with them from factory, such a eBay thing otherwise.

Light output was much better then stock, (not hard to be a improvment though...) But I didn't leave the garage so not sure as to how good.

Not sure what you mean by rhd covers.

Haha fair enough. Unless it's a bimmer or audi, you know it's a fakie.

Well good to hear they at least have better light output. The stock ones are pretty average to say the least.

I was referring to buying new len's instead of a whole headlight assembly. I'm guessing the headlight len's that you can buy online are likely made for LHD vehicles or it doesn't matter?

I recently polished my grand daughters cloudy. Astra. Headlights First I used1200 wet&dry. Then I used. Mothers. Aluminium polish. A lot of elbow grease but the end results were worth the effort I would say I restored them to about. 90%

Thanks for that input. I've used 4 different grits of sandpaper with little change. The cleaning solution seemed to more than anything else. Mine were dark yellow so I think they just be a bit too far gone. I think if I was to try and repair these, I'd need to pull out the rotary buffer and an aggressive cutting compound.

You need to spray the lenses with a UV sealant to finish them off .....

Thanks. Yep would do if I was happy with how much of the cloudiness was removed.