Replaced my plastic headlight lenses with glass

[NarfBLAST]

Thank you http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Eurosport-Garage

Before:

After:

 

[TDICADDGUY]

oooh...sparkly.

 

[Joe_Meehan]

That sure looks a lot better. I would guess you can also see better at night. It should also last longer. Win Win Win situation.

 

[diesel-dave]

do they have those for jettas?

 

[diesel-dave]

Saw these on DUBTUNING.com


FREE Shipping within the continental United States Only.

Quality Helix Headlight!
Type: Headlight E-Code - Just in from Europe! Glass Lense, not cheap plastic!
Color: Chrome Housing
Lens: Glass
Bulbs Included: Yes
Bulb Specifications: HIGH H1/ LOW H7 / Signal PY21W / FOG H3/ Celis Rings H6W (All bulbs included - $100 value!)
Perfect for a nice aggressive look!
Euro R32/OEM HID Look!
Euro light pattern for increased night time visibility with a sharper beam pattern.
Hella Celis Technology Angel Eyes! Each headlamp has a tiny Ballast!!!
Direct Plug and Play (Those without stock fogs will have to wire them up)


Helix Mk4 Golf Headlight W/Fog Lamp, Chrome W/Celis
[HXVWG4HLD-AC] - $379.99

 

[BrianCT]

I went to the website and there is only a left side for the MKIV Golf.

 

[fitzski]

do they have those for jettas?

I doubt they are available. Golf OE HIDs (and eCodes) came with glass lenses, so that's likely what these are from/made for. Jetta OE HIDs had the same plastic lenses as the "regular" lights.

Nice to find them for individual sale; great idea for a retrofit.

 

[NarfBLAST]

Last I checked Eurosport-Garage had glass headlight lenses for Mk4 Golf and Jetta in pairs or sold separately left and right... I will check again after I finish posting these pictures. Edit: Maybe the Jetta never came in glass, I did not look that closely at that item.

Thanks for looking at my pics. These came out better than I imagined! I also did a variation of the "joey mod" but only painted the chrome surround which comes out when you take the lenses off so it was really easy, no masking take or worrying about over-spray or chrome pulling off.

Anyone considering buffing, or anyone who has buffed and polished in the past should consider this. The pictures do not do the lenses justice, it is like trying to take a picture of a diamond ring... but here are some more pics anyway.

 

[gixxer0.6g]

Looks much better. I noticed my 05.5 lights are a little foggy as well.

 

[fitzski]

They currently only show a plastic Jetta lens:
eBay link

I'd be very interested in glass lenses - but I won't hold my breath!

 

[Farfromovin]

Narf- that looks really good! Yeah, I'm getting sick of my plastic lenses scratching. Had them all polished up pre-winter and I guess all the ice really took a toll on them already...

 

[TDikook]

They look Good Narf, WTG

 

[NarfBLAST]

Yep, only one Jetta right in polycarb and three Golf lefts in Glass listed now? http://stores.shop.ebay.ca/Eurosport-Garage_VW-Volkswagen-Parts_W0QQ_fsubZ13QQ_sidZ44268313?_nkw=lens&submit=Search
I sent Eurosport-Garage an email through ebay looking for availability and/or updates on glass lenses for Mk4 Golf and Jetta.

Any other leads please post here.

For reference:
Helix Golf GLASS lens part numbers are:
HVW153-G1L1F1 for left
HVW153-G1R1F1 for right

P.S. I paid $30 per lens and $23 for shipping. No Tax. Sweet.

 

[NarfBLAST]

Got this reply regarding the Golf Glass lenses:

unfortunately, right now we are out of stock on them. We weren't aware that a lot of people actually need them so we ordered a small quantity and we were sold out of them in less than a month.we have already ordered some more so it will probably be back in stock in about 6-8 weeks.
- eurosportgarage

 

[whatnxt]

The Hella e-codes for the Golf are glass. Get a set of those with fogs and your set.

 

[runonbeer]

Why is it so easy for me to dispose of my disposable income? Lucky for me I'll be 5000 miles away from my car in 6-8 weeks so this will have to wait until September.

My car currently needs:

-The headlight lenses we're talking about here
-A timing belt (102,000 on this one)
-Monster Mats
-New Tint
-A new windshield
-and a good waxing.

Good find Narf!

 

[diesel-dave]

Any one want to do a jetta /golf front end swap black?

 

[LNXGUY]

It's funny, even the OEM HID's for the Jetta aren't glass.

I wonder what was going through VW's head when they thought up that great idea...

 

[NarfBLAST]

It's funny, even the OEM HID's for the Jetta aren't glass.

I wonder what was going through VW's head when they thought up that great idea...

I originally debated making the subject of this thread "The VW engineer who put plastic lenses on my Golf can kiss my glass!"

 

[mrGutWrench]

It's funny, even the OEM HID's for the Jetta aren't glass.

I wonder what was going through VW's head when they thought up that great idea...

__. Lots of things on these cars appear to have been designed on the Monday after Oktoberfest!!!!

 

[BrianCT]

I originally debated making the subject of this thread "The VW engineer who put plastic lenses on my Golf can kiss my glass!"

 

[demox]

I originally debated making the subject of this thread "The VW engineer who put plastic lenses on my Golf can kiss my glass!"

Think....about security ...glass flying all over in a collision.
Not legal in the EU.

 

[BrianCT]

Think....about security ...glass flying all over in a collision.
Not legal in the EU.

I thought you'd like to read an article from 04-Jul in the state of NY over head light non-glare lenses. En plus this is in the year of 1920.

Bon!

 

[NarfBLAST]

Think....about security ...glass flying all over in a collision.
Not legal in the EU.

Huh? What about the windows?

P.S. I just did a little searching and apparently most headlight lenses have gone to plastic for these reasons:

The manufacturers argument for plastic:
- less weight than glass
- more resistant to breaking
- more complex shapes easier to produce
- less cost than glass

I could find no mention of "safety" issues.

 

[JASONP]

Think....about security ...glass flying all over in a collision.
Not legal in the EU.

We're not in the EU eh!

 

[demox]

99% of lenses are made from Polycarbonate Plasitic glass
they could be low grade or high grade optical Polycarbonate(lexan)90- 94% efficient... Injection molded at 300c.
Now to have real glass replacement lense....??????...maybe,
It requires a lot of research (glass manufacturing) etc...

 

[NarfBLAST]

I believe after 8 years and 330,000km my old polycarbonate lenses were 50% efficient. They were yellow, pitted, and had spiderweb cracks from one side of the lense to the other... it was like looking thru cob-webs.

Demox, What do you mean maybe? Helix made glass lenses for their aftermarket headlamps and they sold them separately and I installed them on my Golf. It only took 10 years since the introduction of the mk4 golf but they did it!!!

 

[phaser]

This was the reply I got today from eurosport about glass for the MK4 Jetta.

There's actually no such thing for the MK4 Jetta. Only Golfs and GTI had aftermarket or OEM glass lenses for the headlights. Even the OEM HIDs for the MK4 Jetta were plastic lenses.

.

 

[petea4]

One thing to consider:

This would not happen wth a poly lens. My pitted poly's were still in one piece for more than 7yrs. This glass got hit last night, about 1 yr after the install.

As you can see inthe pic, glass will also pit.

I was really upset last night. Figured another $400, and a call to Germany for another set. Thanks to Narf, i'll be looking for some replacement glass. *thumbsup*

Pete

 

[NarfBLAST]

Bummer Pete! I sent you a PM with the link to the Eurosport-Garage item they say they have three left lenses available. Hey, maybe this is an opportunity to joey mod those mk5 look Hella's?

Hey, no guts, no glory, I understand polycarbonate is stronger, but glass is just so gorgeous... anyone seen those car polish commercials where all the guys are walking backwards from their cars, I am still doing that three weeks later.