Headlight Plastic Cover - cannot find anywhere

[mckots]

Hi all,

I'm looking to replace the headlight cover. Not the actual lens of the bulbs, the plastic covers that encase the headlights. I don't want smoked and I'm not looking for the protectant film. The actual plastic casing.

I can't find anywhere online, can someone please help me find it.

I have a 2004 mazda3 2.3liter - 4 dr

Thank you!

 

[njaremka]

the actual lens of the headlight is not available separate from a complete headlight

 

[NCZ13]

why do you want to replace it? because its yellow and hazy?

 

[mckots]

Yes its totally yellow and hazing and crudded up. Is there an alternative? Will it clean off easilly or is that permanent stains? I haven't takend them off. I don't even know how.

Honestly I'm not much of a car guy, i just found this forum cause I was looking for that part. I can't fix s*** myself lol.

 

[Chiller]

Maybe a junkyard with a mazda 3 may help. Doubt they would let u just take the cover off the headlights, but you might be able to swing a good deal on the headlamp itself.

 

[sl0wthe0ry]

with a little bit of elbow grease or buffer you can get it off. check out Plast-X at your local autoparts store. it works wonders.

 

[NCZ13]

plastx is ok...

where are you located? a professional detailer should be able to bring the headlights back to life easily...

 

[mckots]

I'm in delray beach, florida. I bought a new car stereo, and the dealer said he had a guy that cleans them for $200. I thought it was a ripoff, and until he mentioned it, I didn't even notice how bad they were.

Now that I see it, the headlights are barely even coming through the plastic thats how bad it is.

 

[NCZ13]

200 is kind of steep... thats just the guy making a buck. I personally dont charge that much for my corrections. What drives the price up for me is how bad the headlights are.

but for 200 dolalrs you could buy all the proper materials you need to fix it yourself.

a DA polisher (like the PC 7424, or the UDM)
a proper polish (menzerna Final Polish is really good)
quality MF
a proper compound (i use menzerna powergloss, but theres also Meguiars M105, Optimum hypercompound)
Foam polishing pads (you would need orange and white in your case.)

example of my work:
http://sdrev.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9084&postcount=20

 

[mckots]

Thank you. I'm going to take your advice and try to find a detailer. I'm not gonna pay $200. And I just don't have the time to do it myself.

Appreciate the help.

 

[NCZ13]

no problem! and good luck, be sure to post the results when you do get it fixed.

Theres alot of really good detailers in the florida area that i know of, however i dont know how close or how far they are from you.

You might want to join up on autopia.org, and post in the regionals section, and i guarantee youll find someone good.

 

[sl0wthe0ry]

I'm in delray beach, florida. I bought a new car stereo, and the dealer said he had a guy that cleans them for $200. I thought it was a ripoff, and until he mentioned it, I didn't even notice how bad they were.

Now that I see it, the headlights are barely even coming through the plastic thats how bad it is.

holy hell. well i guess it's cheaper than two headlights that run $370+ a pop. Ask if they apply a protectant to keep that from happening again. The dealership I work at does that same. But our service runs about $100. big difference in my opinion.

 

[sl0wthe0ry]

post up pics before and after!

 

[mckots]

So you think the mazda dealer would clean them for less than $200?

 

[njaremka]

i think the dealer will make you replace them