P80 headlights Possible to Remove Headlight Reflector, rechroming discussion 8628402 8628403

Post by **matthew1** » 14 Nov 2021, 20:21

dj_v70 wrote: 14 Nov 2021, 18:55 Another option, but not as cheap as tape (or film). Heck it is close to the price of a TYC headlight ...

"Great For Re-Plating Headlight Reflectors"
https://www.amazon.com/E-Z-Way-Restorat ... B00HFER3AE

Would 4oz do one or two? More? This is also a maybe.

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 14 Nov 2021, 20:35

matthew1 wrote: 14 Nov 2021, 20:19 Aimed at the back or the front? The front will reflect most of that energy.

I would try aimed at the front first.

Yep if the film 98% reflective only 2% of the infrared will convert to heat. That is OK, you want the heat power low enough you can control it. You want to soften the film not melt it. Keep in mind the film does not have much mass. While you are forming the film, there not going to be much mass to adsorb the heat or dissipate the heat. Too much heat power and things can get out of control real fast.

Post by **abscate** » 16 Nov 2021, 04:36

dj_v70 wrote: 14 Nov 2021, 18:55 Another option, but not as cheap as tape (or film). Heck it is close to the price of a TYC headlight ...

"Great For Re-Plating Headlight Reflectors"
https://www.amazon.com/E-Z-Way-Restorat ... B00HFER3AE

It’s easy to put down a layer of silver but it has to be optical quality on the surface, or else it will just scatter. Just painting on silver won’t work, neither will silver paint

Post by **RickHaleParker** » 16 Nov 2021, 16:42

dj_v70 wrote: 14 Nov 2021, 18:55 Another option, but not as cheap as tape (or film). Heck it is close to the price of a TYC headlight ...

"Great For Re-Plating Headlight Reflectors"

Have you tried this on plastic ? The manufactures website indicates it for certain but not all base metals. It is 99% silver. Silver tarnishes, you would need a clear protective coating that can stand up to the heat and not distort the optics.

Post by **Sveedy** » 16 Nov 2021, 18:09

Ditch them entirely and go with these ( Okay not possible....yet )
https://www.autoblog.com/2021/05/19/leg ... s-opinion/

Post by **abscate** » 28 Nov 2021, 05:24

abscate wrote: 09 Nov 2021, 04:06 PSA by the way. Open up those headlight twist covers and inspect your headlight wires periodically

Should have added, this was probably addressed with the TSB 101B adding the headlight pigtail to P80s dated 2001

Post by **abscate** » 10 Dec 2021, 16:47

Very early look at the data comparing a dull reflector , a 3m taped reflector , and a new TYC LAMP. all measurements with same battery and bulb. Exposure on integrated aperture priority , shutter speeds indicate approximate light out out was

25% dull
75% taped
100% reference TYC

Conclusion. You can improve your light output by a factor of 2-3x by taping a dull reflector

Traceable to NIST.. not in Steve’s T5

dj_v70 · Post by **dj_v70** » 12 Dec 2021, 12:51

Abscate, thanks for going through all of that. Are the pictures deceiving? Taped doesn't look nearly 75% of TYCs. Did you polish tape?

Post by **abscate** » 12 Dec 2021, 13:13

These are coarse measurements. What is apparent is the taped reflector is redirecting the light into a spot much better than the dulled ones

Post by **FireFox31** » 14 Dec 2021, 10:58

Which photo is which headlight? The top photo is nice and focused while the other two are diffuse, perhaps detrimentally so.