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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Wilks

· #201 · Mar 14, 2022

Page 8 on this thread has a great write up on how to do.it. Mine were worse than yours. I had to start with 200 and went 200 400 600 800 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 and used 3 different polishing compounds. Took a long time but good as new.

Reactions: 1

PAC Shrink

· #202 · 10 mo ago

Had them replaced under warranty.

Automotive parking light Grille Automotive lighting Automotive tire Hood

Automotive parking light Car Vehicle Land vehicle Grille

before and after.
full day of labor but, completely covered by warranty

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2

e85sbm

· #203 · 8 mo ago

Hello, I love my Porsche, but as it is getting older I am noticing a few wear and tear items appearing. Most notably is the drivers side headlight with cracking showing on the inside of the glass.

Is there an easy cure for this? Or would it require a new headlight assembly to be installed?

Car Hood Automotive lighting Grille Motor vehicle

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scornwel

· #204 · 8 mo ago (Edited)

Maybe a 3M headlight correction kit?

Or watch this.

or this? Ouch!

www.macanforum.com

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Selling another complete PDLS LED conversion kit: Including Lights, all modules, covers, etc. I will also send the coding instructions that I had received from another forum member that successfully did the upgrade. In theory, you should be able to install the lights, drive to your...

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tqpolo

· #205 · 8 mo ago

Anybody tried the headlight restoration service to remove the crazing?

e85sbm

· #206 · 8 mo ago

Thanks to this thread, I am going to attempt this later in the week once I have a chance to collect all of the necessary sandpaper.

Should I start at 200 or is it ok to go higher, 400 or 600?

Reactions: 1

acronymous

· #207 · 8 mo ago

Wilks said:
start with 200 and went 200 400 600 800 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 and used 3 different polishing compounds.

Start with 200 to remove the damaged surface as quickly as possible. If you start too fine it will take you forever. The number of different grades in the quote might seem excessive but it works out as being the most efficient way to go in the long run.

Jules

Reactions: 1

Her95B

· #208 · 8 mo ago (Edited)

e85sbm said:
Thanks to this thread, I am going to attempt this later in the week once I have a chance to collect all of the necessary sandpaper.

Should I start at 200 or is it ok to go higher, 400 or 600?

You should not start with less than 600, then all the way down to 1500 and then clear coat.
The headlights will look way better but not perfect, on the early cars they can be restored, on the Macan there's cracks on the inside of the lens too so those will not go away, you'll restore the outer surface that often gets burned by the sun but the interior will remain the same.
You must clear coat the lenses or they won't last, polycarbonate comes from factory with clear coat and it's not meant to be exposed to the elements.

acronymous

· #209 · 8 mo ago

Her95B said:
You should not start with less than 600, then all the way down to 1500

Not the accumulated wisdom of the earlier part of this thread, if you mean start with 600 and work through to 1500.

Jules

e85sbm

· #210 · 8 mo ago

Ok. Thanks. Thought 200 might be too aggressive, so I was asking if starting at 600 would be coarse enough.

Appreciate the advice and will watch for the interior cracking as well.

acronymous

· #211 · 8 mo ago

200 is scary and when you first get into it you might wonder if you've gone in too hard. It works though and as you get to the finer grades it gets progressively more rewarding. You need to remove the thickness of the layer which is crazed and that means getting stuck into it fearlessly.

Jules

Reactions: 1

e85sbm

· #212 · 7 mo ago

acronymous said:
200 is scary and when you first get into it you might wonder if you've gone in too hard. It works though and as you get to the finer grades it gets progressively more rewarding. You need to remove the thickness of the layer which is crazed and that means getting stuck into it fearlessly.

Jules

Thank you, I have some time that is blocked off to attempt at least one headlight - sounds like an extensive and time consuming project.

mephisto_4711

· #213 · 7 mo ago

I had my lights on my 996 done twice, 1st time sanding and clear coat, that didn't last a year and peeled off. 2nd time sanding and a headlight PPF.... that was the way better way and lasted.....both times done by a shop, not myself.

acronymous

· #214 · 7 mo ago

e85sbm said:
Thank you, I have some time that is blocked off to attempt at least one headlight - sounds like an extensive and time consuming project.

With the coarser grade abrasive, the first one you use, the idea is that you remove all of the crazing in that step. The rest of the process is polishing out the "scratches" made by the previous grade of paper/abrasive. If you don't get rid of all the crazing in the first pass, it takes longer to try to remove it with the finer, less aggressive, grades.

Jules

MACANatalie

· #215 · 7 mo ago

I assume this is a non-issue for newer Macans equipped with LED headlights?

acronymous

· #216 · 7 mo ago

MACANatalie said:
I assume this is a non-issue for newer Macans equipped with LED headlights?

The light source, whatever it is, is not the cause of the problem. The issue is prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Reactions: 1

ferdiaz

· #217 · 3 mo ago

MACANatalie said:
I assume this is a non-issue for newer Macans equipped with LED headlights?

See post #202 above:
Hairline Cracks in Headlight Lens

3p3dls

· #218 · 27 d ago

Has anyone had their lenses replace under the Porsche financial services vehicle service protection platinum extended warranty?

signde

· #219 · 27 d ago

i bought my '15 turbo not long ago from carvana. upon delivery i immediately noticed the headlight issue, which i am well aware of as i have seen in on 991s also. both sides looked rough:

Car Vehicle Automotive tire Automotive lighting Hood

carvana has a 7 day return for 100% refund policy. i immediately submitted a claim regarding the headlights with the intention to tell them i will return the vehicle if they do not replace. they approved it, repaired with OEM parts on their dime - $7k in parts and labor, $0 cost to me.

they are taking an absolute bath on this car along with the other things we submitted that were found during PPI. i have no idea how this company is still in business.

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WashMyCarPlease

· #220 · 25 d ago

I used this on a 2006 Honda Civic Si and it worked perfectly. Takes roughly an hour per headlight if you follow the directions precisely. https://www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-Headlight-Restoration-Headlights-Protection/dp/B00429NKWK?th=1

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