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Headlight Restore
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2020 5:32 pm
by cherub72
Hi all,
Just got my car back from the body
Shop after being repaired ( a wall dropped on it ). Now I have one brand new headlight that's lovely and clear and one that's all fuzzy and cloudy.
Has anyone used one of the headlight renovation kits? if so any you would recommend?
thanks
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2020 5:53 pm
by Mav8
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2020 11:45 pm
by cherub72
Thanks, I'll give that a go now that I suddenly have a lot of time on my hands
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 11:56 pm
by murph7355
It'll depend on how they've gone fuzzy.
If it's on the outside, polishes may work.
But I think this normally happens on the inside.
One of mine went so bad it was an MOT failure point. New light units are very expensive and the places linked to on here doing repro cases were out of stock...so I bought a light unit from a lesser A4, dismantled it for the front lens and replaced the front lens on my RS4 unit. Job done.
Replacement light unit was £50. Bit of black silicone sealant a few quid. Then a few hours messing about (mostly as I'm an incompetent buffoon - so if I can do it, anyone can)
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 10:13 am
by Covkiller
cherub72 FYI
You can buy a new OEM Magneti Marelli headlight from here, they're about £300ea. They don't list a B7 RS4 both Surrey Sam and I have both bought from here.
http://www.allpartsas.com
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2020 10:25 am
by mikep99
I did what murph did above.
Picked up an A4 light for about £20 iirc. There's normally a few for sale on ebay with damaged lugs.
Although I had some sealant I didn't use it as there was sufficient existing sealant left on the RS4 case and A4 lens after removing.
Just heated them up with a heat gun to split and reassemble.
Been fine for a year or so now, no misting etc so seem to be air tight.
Quite a messy job due to the sealant but easy enough to do.
HTH
Mike
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:43 pm
by maars
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:34 pm
by cherub72
So after a lot of sanding grinding and buffing the outsides of the headlights look amazing. Problem is, as suggested, that the hazing is on the inside. Going to look and see what the cheapest option for getting a new lens is and try to fit it without breaking anything important on the current ones. Off to
YouTube to see if there is an instructional video
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2020 12:19 am
by murph7355
They were out of stock when mine went.
They may, of course, have had stock in the intervening period...who knows

Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2020 12:20 am
by murph7355
cherub72 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:34 pm
So after a lot of sanding grinding and buffing the outsides of the headlights look amazing. Problem is, as suggested, that the hazing is on the inside. Going to look and see what the cheapest option for getting a new lens is and try to fit it without breaking anything important on the current ones. Off to
YouTube to see if there is an instructional video
I think there might be instructions on here.
It's dead easy if you take your time. Biggest ball ache is getting the bumper back on (easier with two people I should imagine).
(For "heat gun" I used OH's "hair dryer"

).
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2020 12:38 am
by cherub72
Thanks for the hairdryer tip Murph, I remember getting a stupid expensive GHD one off the Christmas list of demands a couple of years ago so that will finally get some use. I've found a coupe of videos on how to remove the headlights without removing the bumper but I'm sure there will be an "except on the RS4" clause in there somewhere
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2020 10:11 pm
by Covkiller
You need to remove the bumper to remove your headlights.
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 10:36 pm
by maars
B7 head lamp change out without dropping the bumper
https://youtu.be/1qDWWM-fjQQ
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2020 10:32 pm
by Owain55
Depends what tools you have available but this could be useful
https://youtu.be/bzCgi5TgoMU
Re: Headlight Restore
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2020 8:48 pm
by docurley