Hairline Cracks in Headlight Lens

70419 Views 221 Replies 87 Participants Last post by scott.oke27, 14 d ago

62porsche

Discussion Starter · Oct 27, 2016

Recently I have been doing more highway driving with my Macan, and I am noticing that my headlights (especially the passenger side) are really taking a beating (see photo of some of the small cracks) . I try to avoid following trucks and vehicles that might be throwing up rocks, but I guess that isn't enough. In addition some of the small lights below the hood are also getting chipped. The front hood is doing well - I don't see any chips there.

I think the passenger headlight was replaced at some point due to issues with dust inside, but I am not 100% sure.

Anyone else having issues with this happening? Are these headlights a little more susceptible to wear and tear?

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TopElement

· #2 · Oct 27, 2016

Wow, that's not good. Wonder if others are having this problem.

A clear headlight protection film may be very helpful here.

notmac1

· #3 · Oct 27, 2016

Just FYI headlight protection Xpel or any other product is NOT approved by Porsche!

Shark

· #4 · Oct 27, 2016

notmac1 said:
Just FYI headlight protection Xpel or any other product is NOT approved by Porsche!

Yes, the owners manual specifically states not to do this. I was planning to but changed my plans.

bobblehead

· #5 · Oct 27, 2016

No issue if you would have wrapped the headlights. I wrapped mine for all my current & past cars.

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synergize

· #6 · Oct 27, 2016

bobblehead said:
No issue if you would have wrapped the headlights. I wrapped mine for all my current & past cars.

Totally agree, what's going to happen if you wrap your headlights, are you going to drive into a tree or something! However, if you wrap damaged headlights your going to see air bubbles and that will look worse!

mstraka

· #7 · May 26, 2017

A heads up to Macan owners. Today on close observation I noticed hairline cracks in one of my headlight lens. They ran about an inch from the edge of the lens (where it meets the lens washer) into the lens body. They were contained in an area about 3/4" wide running parallel, irregular not straight lines.This was on the passenger side lens, the drivers side was OK. They were deep enough that I could feel them with my fingernail. It looks to me like a manufacturing defect. I've not spoken to the dealer about this. 2015 Macan Turbo, 19,000 miles.

bobblehead

· #8 · May 26, 2017

maybe due to road debris and tiny pebbles that struck it.

notmac1

· #9 · May 26, 2017

Agreed 100%

bobblehead said:
maybe due to road debris and tiny pebbles that struck it.

Your probably looking at an unfortunate collision with a rock or something. I can attest with over 25k on my car the front end gets plenty of hits and my lenses look worse for wear with plenty of small blemishes.

Good luck at the dealer but with 19k this is probably going to be considered plain old wear and tear.

mmassey0125

· #10 · May 26, 2017

I have the same problem on my 2015 Macan S. 20,000 miles. I agree it looks to be a defect. If it were a stone of some sort their would be some damage on the outside of the lens. There is not.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

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mstraka

· #11 · May 26, 2017

mmassey0125 said:
I have the same problem on my 2015 Macan S. 20,000 miles. I agree it looks to be a defect. If it were a stone of some sort their would be some damage on the outside of the lens. There is not.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

Yes not from road debris as not the result of any impact. This is a result of a manufacturing defect. Its easy to miss if you don't look closely. My worry is that over time it will get worse and become deeper fractures that spread further (when there is no warranty left it could result in an expensive replacement.) mmassey0125 is yours in the same area I described?

mmassey0125

· #12 · May 27, 2017

Exactly same please same side. Going to contact the dealer next week about the situation. Will let you know the results!

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Teddis

· #13 · May 27, 2017

Can you guys post a picture ?

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mstraka

· #14 · May 27, 2017

Teddis said:
Can you guys post a picture ?

It may be hard to capture in a photo as its hairline running through the lens material not just the surface. It appears that both of us have it in the same location and on the passenger side lens.

Teddis

· #15 · May 27, 2017

A picture would be great guys......

iconoclast

· #16 · May 28, 2017

If there is no damage to the outside (hard for me to believe) then, see if the dealer will replace under warranty.
mstraka says he can feel the crack with fingernail which proves it IS damage to the outside.

Even if the damage is to the outside, that does not mean that it was due to a rock strike or wear and tear. It still could, in fact, be a manufacturing defect. It's just that I would not be confident that the dealer would buy into that. However, perhaps it's known that some headlights develope cracks?

Good luck at the dealer!

I have PPF on my headlights & hope that protects them somewhat & doesn't itself cause any issues.

brain

· #17 · May 30, 2017

I have the same cracks. 2016 S with PDLS. Had them covered to protect them. Believe the cover caused overheat and cracking. Now by protecting them I am going to be out big $ to replace them. DONT COVER YOUR LENSES!

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bobblehead

· #18 · May 30, 2017

I ppf mine for 3yrs already. No crack at all. I ppf all my past cars. No crack as well.

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mstraka

· #19 · May 1, 2018

I brought this up a while back but I didn't get much response cofirming that others have this problem. My Macan which is in warranty has very fine hairline cracks running through both transparent headlight covers. Not on the surface but 'in' the cover plastic. These cracks are located near the bottom where the washer cover is and at the top on the covers. You have to look closely and they are visible with an angled light source (sun) and also at night where they catch the headlight lumination and look like bright particles of dirt on the inside of the lens. The dealer says wait until they spread further until making a warranty claim. Other Macans I've seen as old as mine don't have this problem.

The light assembly is a very expensive part so this is something I don't want to ignore. Does anyone else have this problem?

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Masscan

· #20 · May 1, 2018

What "type" of headlights do you have, have you upgraded the bulbs, and have you applied PPF on them?

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