Help! Concorde Headlamp Lens

The plastic lens on my 99 Concorde has taken on a rough surface,
almost like it was sandblasted. The replacement cost for this part is
over $300! Has anyone encountered this problem and if so, what did you
use to smooth out the surface? I'm thinking of something like the
Maguire body scrub. Thanks for any help.

 

If it's *pitted*, then it has indeed been sandblasted, by road grit. If
it's *frosted* with a cloudy white-to-yellow opaque film, that's the
anti-UV/anti-scratch hardcoat deteriorating. You can polish it a couple
times with TR3 Blue Label car polish or even toothpaste, but each time
it'll frost faster and worse afterwards.

If you need to, Pick up a good used one from a state with less hostile
roads. www.car-part.com , searchable used auto parts online.

DS

 

http://www.carlightswholesale.com
they have them new for $197.00 with free shipping.


Life is not like a box of chocolates
it's more like a jar of jalapenos-
what you do today could burn your ass tomorrow!

 

Many people have tried polishing them out (including yours truly who
also owns a '99 Concorde). Some claim to have been successful, but it's
a lot of work, and the results aren't usually long-lived - usually
involves progressively finer grades of sand paper and some form of
chrome polish or wax that fills the remaining scratches and has to be
repeated periodically to keep anything even close to a clear
appearance). One of mine was replaced by the insurance co. due to an
accident, so I'm good on that one (would not suggest having an accident
to have it replaced) 8^) .

I'm saving money for my other one now. I also have Ston-Gards sitting
on the shelf ready to put on when I get it - hopefully they will block
the damaging UV light and slow down the hazing process so they last as
long as the car.

Some on-line dealers have the headlight for under $300 (take a look at
http://www.mechanicsvilledodge.com/parts.htm - hit the "Parts" link and
drill down with the vehicle info. and part you're looking for).

IMO, this is a problem that needs to be solved in general across the
board - having to replace $600+ worth of what should be durable parts
after 4 years from normal wear and tear is highly unacceptable.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

Wow - that is a (relatively) good price! Only *one* question: Are they
true OEM re-packaged OEM, *or* are they off-shore cheaply-made
knock-offs? If they are OEM, that is a good find and I'm ready to buy
now.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

ALL of these "carlightswholesale.com" type sites -- and there are many --
sell Taiwanese-made knockoff lamps. Some of 'em are half decent. Some of
'em aren't any worse than the OE. Some of 'em are garbage. D'you feel
lucky?

DS

 

Gotcha! Thanks for the heads up.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")