The popular vendors sell replacement new headlight lens/covers for most E46 configurations, except the 330CI 2004 coupe vert. Do you know of vendors that sell the covers? Or what other options are out there for a clear lens (beside a brand new unit, or sanding). Thanks in advance!
330dz
Refinishing kits are very effective these days.
I managed to get the lenses on my Lincoln Town Car looking refreshed with just rubbing compound, an orbital buffer, and Turtle Wax. Now I will mention that removing the Headlight on a 2004 Lincoln Town Car was real easy.
Removing the Headlight on an E46, baking it in the oven, removing the cover and then installing a new cover is not a road I would ever travel down.
I managed to get the lenses on my Lincoln Town Car looking refreshed with just rubbing compound, an orbital buffer, and Turtle Wax. Now I will mention that removing the Headlight on a 2004 Lincoln Town Car was real easy.
Removing the Headlight on an E46, baking it in the oven, removing the cover and then installing a new cover is not a road I would ever travel down.
i have only ever removed the lenses on a daytona 675 in order to install dual headlight beams... but holy hell you are right.
i would not do that again ... it came out all goopy plastic dripping everywhere.
i would try the refreshments kit and keep sanding etc
i would not do that again ... it came out all goopy plastic dripping everywhere.
i would try the refreshments kit and keep sanding etc
You can find lenses for the other E46 variants because their lenses were removable and designed to be changed, ours weren't. That said, some Chinese lenses have appeared for the FL coupe/verts, but service longevity is unknown and you'd have to bake the headlight (or go around the butyl-like seal with a heat gun) to get the old one off. Everyone who's fitted angel eyes to FL coupe/verts has done that and it's not terribly difficult, but it can be messy and the seal you make putting them back together never looks factory. Search on here and you should find the threads where the Chinese lenses have been linked.
With regard to refinishing, I've done that my father's E60 three times now (you can't even bake those lenses off). Twice was using kits but it didn't last so the third time I did the job properly, to avoid having to do it a fourth time. That was dry sanding 800 grit, wet sanding 1200, wet sanding 2000, compound, polish and protect with a headlight-specific clear lacquer by E-TECH. I was sceptical the lacquer would adhere to a polished surface but that's how its instructions said to apply it, and it came with a wet wipe to apply before spraying. At first I thought that would be a degreaser but it may have been an adhesion promoter. Whatever it was the lacquer stuck, and they still look like new.
With regard to refinishing, I've done that my father's E60 three times now (you can't even bake those lenses off). Twice was using kits but it didn't last so the third time I did the job properly, to avoid having to do it a fourth time. That was dry sanding 800 grit, wet sanding 1200, wet sanding 2000, compound, polish and protect with a headlight-specific clear lacquer by E-TECH. I was sceptical the lacquer would adhere to a polished surface but that's how its instructions said to apply it, and it came with a wet wipe to apply before spraying. At first I thought that would be a degreaser but it may have been an adhesion promoter. Whatever it was the lacquer stuck, and they still look like new.
The Griots kit - which I think is Cerakote will buy you a few years for $30. I did a Mini in Aug 2021 - still ok.
I baked the headlights on my WRX to lose the amber bits. Was a bit nervewracking.
My experience with the Chinese lenses for sedan has been that they yellow very quickly and are almost certainly lacking a coating that the OEM ones have to prolong their lives. Given that, I would refinish what I had.
My experience with the Chinese lenses for sedan has been that they yellow very quickly and are almost certainly lacking a coating that the OEM ones have to prolong their lives. Given that, I would refinish what I had.
Removing the headlight, baking it, and installing new lenses would take 2 hours max from start to finish. Although not as easy as the removable lenses, it is still very easy to remove headlight lenses sealed with butyl and also very easy to install new ones. I just run a bead of new butyl in the sealent channel, bake at 250 degrees for 7 minutes, and use large clamps to ensure the new lens is pressed all the way in. The butyl will cool enough to remove the clamps in about 10 minutes.
I also have good experiences with cheap Chinese lenses on a number of vehicles, including my E46, E60, E83, and C219. The ones in my E46 are over a year old - they do have some rock chips, but even OEM lenses would have some too. Otherwise they look as good as new. I cannot say that every aftermarket lens is made with the same quality, so ymmv.
As a professional detailer, I am perfectly capable of wetsanding, polishing, and clear coating (if warranted) existing lenses. However at this point, I always opt for new lenses if available, for three reasons:
If new lenses are not available, then I sand up to 5000 grit (starting grit varies based on how bad the lenses are to start), and then compound and polish. I used to recommend the M101/M205 combo, which is still great, but now I've switched to 3D One for both steps as it cuts just as well as M101, polishes just as well as M205, but has better working time than either and also does not dust. There are a million compounds and polishes that will work out there for polycarbonate lenses; I just tell people to do some research and stay away from anything you can find over the counter at a place like Walmart.
A real key, regardless of whether you replace lenses or polish existing ones, is to ceramic coat the lenses after installation or polishing, respectively. Wipe down with IPA and use a quality ceramic coating, then don't let the lenses get wet for at least 24 hours. Ceramic coating goes a long way toward preserving the lenses and preventing yellowing. Another great option is to get clear-bra on the lenses. I did this on my E60 but found clearbra very difficult to work with compared to vinyl wrap, so that is probably a job for a professional or someone with more experience wrapping than me.
I also have good experiences with cheap Chinese lenses on a number of vehicles, including my E46, E60, E83, and C219. The ones in my E46 are over a year old - they do have some rock chips, but even OEM lenses would have some too. Otherwise they look as good as new. I cannot say that every aftermarket lens is made with the same quality, so ymmv.
As a professional detailer, I am perfectly capable of wetsanding, polishing, and clear coating (if warranted) existing lenses. However at this point, I always opt for new lenses if available, for three reasons:
- New lenses are always going to look better than refinished old ones.
- A lot of times, lenses will start to get yellowed/cloudy from the inside of the lens. There is no way to polish that out without removing the lens, and polishing the inside of a lens would be a huge pain, so at that point I'd rather replace.
- The inside of the lens is bound to have a thin film of dirt built up which typically cannot be cleaned off without removing the lens; see point #2.
If new lenses are not available, then I sand up to 5000 grit (starting grit varies based on how bad the lenses are to start), and then compound and polish. I used to recommend the M101/M205 combo, which is still great, but now I've switched to 3D One for both steps as it cuts just as well as M101, polishes just as well as M205, but has better working time than either and also does not dust. There are a million compounds and polishes that will work out there for polycarbonate lenses; I just tell people to do some research and stay away from anything you can find over the counter at a place like Walmart.
A real key, regardless of whether you replace lenses or polish existing ones, is to ceramic coat the lenses after installation or polishing, respectively. Wipe down with IPA and use a quality ceramic coating, then don't let the lenses get wet for at least 24 hours. Ceramic coating goes a long way toward preserving the lenses and preventing yellowing. Another great option is to get clear-bra on the lenses. I did this on my E60 but found clearbra very difficult to work with compared to vinyl wrap, so that is probably a job for a professional or someone with more experience wrapping than me.
You rarely see the lens covers for sale. This looks legit.
Amazon.com: Zhisheng Front Headlight Head Lamp Cover Lens Replacement for BMW E46 2DR Coupe 325ci 330ci 2003-2006, 1 Pair : Automotive
Buy Zhisheng Front Headlight Head Lamp Cover Lens Replacement for BMW E46 2DR Coupe 325ci 330ci 2003-2006, 1 Pair: Light Covers - Amazon.com âś“ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
I had the same issue when I bought mine over four years ago , and after being unable to find any lens covers for replacement I bought some new units (Depo) from Italy through E-bay and never looked back.
Also these are angle eyes but not the bright type and they are superb !!
These covers are not avaliable for the face lift version (not found any yet) and the depo ones were bulls eye type and very good quality.
Sorry no link as a while ago now.
Mart
Also these are angle eyes but not the bright type and they are superb !!
These covers are not avaliable for the face lift version (not found any yet) and the depo ones were bulls eye type and very good quality.
Sorry no link as a while ago now.
Mart
I think any stuff should work as butyl is butyl, but this is what I used and it works well. It's about 1/3" thick. You can get thicker stuff too and just stretch it to make it thinner, and thinner stuff can be doubled up. It'll get super soft in the oven and become close to a liquid so application doesn't matter as long as there is enough of it and enough pressure is applied to the lens during installation.
FWIW, I’ve had good results with this coating:
I’m over three years and counting with no yellowing or oxidation. I am fearful of heating up the entire unit in the oven because it might accelerate the degradation of the interior wiring, but on the other hand, opening up the unit would present an opportunity to more easily replace all the bad wiring.
I’m over three years and counting with no yellowing or oxidation. I am fearful of heating up the entire unit in the oven because it might accelerate the degradation of the interior wiring, but on the other hand, opening up the unit would present an opportunity to more easily replace all the bad wiring.
90033
Boyle Heights
They’re off an old set of lights, probably need the clear coat redone but they’re OEM
I used this kit and was very surprised how well they cleaned up and held up, its been over a year here in the Florida sun... $17 or so...
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