Genuine Factory Replacement Headlights are fast becoming scarce.
The current scarcity of new genuine factory parts, especially headlights on late Aussie made Holdens and Fords, like VE/VF Commodores and FG Falcons, means that sourcing replacement parts is a growing concern in the automotive world. With Holden ending its Australian manufacturing operations in October 2017, after 61 years of manufacturing and Ford in September 2016, after a 88 year history, parts can be hard to find. Especially headlights, as they are the most common part of the vehicle that is damaged in a road accident.
With vehicle manufacturers continuously evolving their designs and technologies for safety and appearance as new models are released, the production of parts for older models often slows down or ceases altogether. This shift in manufacturing focus, means that genuine factory headlights for older models become scarce over time. The discontinuation of certain models exacerbates this issue, making it increasingly difficult to find original parts for these vehicles.
Another reason for the dwindling availability of genuine factory headlights is not just the ceasing of manufacturing, but when a vehicle is in an accident, the front of the vehicle is usually the point of impact and the headlights in most cases are damaged. This pushes up the need for replacement headlights for insurance companies and automotive repair shops, reducing the number of headlights in the market. Especially on upgraded models which are rarer.
The Issue with Aftermarket Headlights
While aftermarket alternatives in headlights provide an immediate solution, they often fall short in terms of quality. The UV protective clear coat usually peels and discolours after approximately 12 months and the fitment in many cases is always slightly askew, leaving the headlight not sitting in the vehicle correctly. Also, in our experience, parts of the internals often break leaving parts of the headlight rattling around in the assembly. For this reason, most, if not all insurance companies do not fit aftermarket headlights, as repairers quite often have a lifetime warranty on repairs.
Holden and Ford Repalcement Headlamps
Quite often a vehicle like a VE Commodore or FG Falcon or earlier, are completely written off, even if the accident only requires a replacement headlight from a cracked lens as they can not source a genuine headlight. For Aussie made Holden and Ford enthusiasts or purists, the rarity of genuine factory headlights poses a unique challenge. Maintaining the authenticity of a vehicle often requires sourcing original parts, which can be a daunting task, as these parts become increasingly scarce and in turn increasing the price because of supply and demand.
How to maintain your current genuine headlights
Headlights are made from a mix of different plastics. The lenses are made from a hard plastic called polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is one of the strongest, most durable plastics around. In fact, polycarbonate is what is in installed between bullet proof glass. Glass headlights were discontinued for safety reasons circa 1994, as emergency services would have to stand in shards of glass while on an accident scene.
While polycarbonate is extremely strong and not easily broken, it does discolour extremely fast in UV rays. To combat this issue, manufacturers apply a UV protective hard coat to the outer of the lens for longevity.
Unfortunately, over time this UV protective coat degrades and starts to look crusty and inhibits light output rendering the vehicle unroadworthy. (In Queensland, discoloured dull headlights can incur a defect fine of $143 and one demerit point).
Headlight Restoration done correctly for lasting results
Operators such as car detailers and mechanics may offer a service by sanding the degraded UV protective coating off and buffing the unprotected headlights clear often only lasting mere months. This is a quick fix as they are only removing the all-important UV protective coat. This will cause the polycarbonate lens to start to degrade developing little cracks in the lens called ‘crazing’. The lens will also eventually discolour through the thickness of the lens leaving them unable to be restored again. When this happens, new headlights need to be sourced and fitted at a much more expensive cost than the price of restoring them correctly with a professionally sprayed-on UV protective coat, as Headlight Restore does.
Headlight Restore are the only company replacing the old, degraded UV protective coat, masking up your vehicle and spraying onto to the lens a cured, UV protective coat, which lasts as long as new replacement headlights. By understanding the value of genuine headlights and maintaining them via the correct method, we can ensure that our vehicles remain safe, reliable, and true to their original design. Also the vehicle does not unnecessarily end up at the wreckers due to not being able to source a replacement headlight.
Call Headlight Restore today to book an appointment!