Headlight Plastic Lens Replacements

Post by **IdahoBob** » 22 Sep 2018, 22:02

Our '06 XC70 (US Model) has the plastic headlight lens (Hey, Volvo! Terrible idea, especially on a 'near-luxury' class priced vehicle). They are fogged inside and out. I've polished the outsides annually, twice. The insides are badly fogged.
1) Does anyone have a source for replacement lens?
2) Has anyone successfully removed the plastic lens from the plastic back, and polished the inside of the lens, or replaced only the plastic lens?
2) Has anyone replaced the entire assembly with the 2001-2004 assembly with glass lenses?

Please Advise, Thanks!

Post by **Rattnalle** » 23 Sep 2018, 01:33

I've heard of people successfully removing and polishing the inside of the lens but IIRC it was a lot of work and not something you'd do without a plan b if the headlight broke.

A lot of people over here stick newer plastic headlights on pre face-lift cars so the other way around should be possible as well. The wire harness is slightly different so you probably need to do a little work there.

Volvo was quite late among the euro brands to switch to plastic lenses btw. I kind of like my - 04 since it means I still have actual wipers for the headlights during winter..

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 23 Sep 2018, 03:16

I buff plastic lens clear all the time with Meguiar's PlastX and a buffer.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 23 Sep 2018, 03:34

RickHaleParker wrote: ↑23 Sep 2018, 03:16 I buff plastic lens clear all the time with Meguiar's PlastX and a buffer.

You don't do the insides all the time though?

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 23 Sep 2018, 06:25

Rattnalle wrote: ↑23 Sep 2018, 03:34 You don't do the insides all the time though?

Buff the insides all the time ... no.

Idaho Bob:
If the headlight is foggy (Water vapor) on the inside you got a leak or a crack somewhere letting water in. Patch the leak/crack, remove bulbs, blow warm air in to evaporate any water then reassemble.

Post by **vtl** » 23 Sep 2018, 10:17

Did yearly polishing too, it usually lasted maybe for couple of weeks. Last time I polished the lens and wrapped them in Lamin-X.

Almost indistinguishable from new XC60 lens. Year later, they are still clear, even that I use the car for light offroad in bushes and on old roads. Only wipe them occasionally, and nothing beyond that.

I also totalled that car, and bought a donor to swap everything. The donor had fresh TYC headlights, they were giving worse light than 12-y.o. originals wrapped in Lamin-X, so I swapped my old lights too.

Post by **abscate** » 25 Sep 2018, 04:50

What kills these things? Stones, heat, UV?

Post by **vtl** » 25 Sep 2018, 05:14

Road particulates wear UV coat off, then UV fogs them. Polishing and coating with one or another kind of lacquer restores clarity, but does not return mechanical protection, thus it wears off quickly.

Post by **shiloh51933** » 29 Sep 2018, 08:28

Best fix for glazed over plastic headlight lens is set of glass lens. My 2004 XC70 has glass lens with bi-xenon low/high beam and separate day running beam.

I believe it can be seen here sitting next to my 1998 V70XC.

Post by **vtl** » 30 Sep 2018, 02:21

shiloh51933 wrote: ↑29 Sep 2018, 08:28 Best fix for glazed over plastic headlight lens is set of glass lens. My 2004 XC70 has glass lens with bi-xenon low/high beam and separate day running beam.20180927_142917.jpg

My 2002 V70 had hazy glass lens, because even the glass suffers from particulates.