| Author | Message | ||
     Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 505 Registered: 4-2009 |
I have always been intrigued as to why nobody has yet started to make replacement reversing light lenses for the Corniche models that have the square reversing lights either side of the rear number plate. The originals start off clear and then go yellow very very quickly. It is pointless replacing them because the new ones will also go yellow quickly. Is there no aftermarket replacement for these? | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1871 Registered: 4-2003 |
Omar, the potential market for these is limited and would not attract attention from after-market manufacturers. I suspect the answer to your problem is to find a specialist automotive lens maker who can use the original lens as a pattern to make a mould to cast new lenses in a modern UV-resistant material. I am not familiar with these reversing lights but a search to find which other makes used this light might allow you to find an after-market source for replacement lenses [I am presuming they would have been a Lucas product]. | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 821 Registered: 5-2015 |
Is it possible to have them made of glass. Ask a glass company and see where it leads. My father in law was a glass crafts man. He used to make glass stuff for chemical engineering and glass ornaments such as swans and owls. So making a pair of lens would be easy for such a person. Focus (they are just reversing lamps) is not really a problem as long as they are a pair. The lens doesn't have to look the same as the original as long as the pair looks the same. The RR logo could be added. Blue glass logo on white would look good. Glass lasts for thousands of years. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1411 Registered: 6-2006 |
Happy new year Omar. There are several clear UV blocking coatings available for fibre glass and plastics. Perhaps that might help. Also a clear car wrap that they use on printed wrap to stop UV and the elements damaging the colours. I'm guessing it's a sunlight problem because we don't seem to get it here in the UK. | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 506 Registered: 4-2009 |
To everyone's surprise - they are not Lucas - they are Bosch products!! Glass is a great idea although they are "frosted" in appearance. Thanks Paul for your input. is it true that these lights don't go yellow in the UK? what about Australia? My car has come from the USA and it arrived here with lights that are already yellowed. | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 507 Registered: 4-2009 |
happy new year to you all..... | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1874 Registered: 4-2003 |
Omar, I have used the 3M marine vinyl restorer successfully on clear vinyl boat screens to remove dirt and UV degradation but never on automotive "plastic" lenses. A search of the 3M product range reveals the following products that may be worth testing: 1. Commercial Kit for trade use: http://solutions.3m.com.au/wps/portal/3M/en_AU/AU_AAD/Home/Solutions/Detailing/?PC_Z7_RJH9U52308ESC0IASV2LUL3043000000_assetId=1273685229362 2. Home use mini-kit: https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/9925630/01036#tab3 http://www.amazon.com/3M-39008-Headlight-Restoration-System/dp/B001AIZ5HY The following YouTube video has been posted by 3M and illustrates the results obtained: https://youtu.be/_t1RBw0IGXA I have not used either of these systems so cannot comment on their effectiveness - the 3M marine vinyl products I have used were very effective in removing UV degradation and produced an excellent outcome. | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 509 Registered: 4-2009 |
Dear David, That's a great idea. I will give it a go and report back with before/after photos if successful. I still cant comprehend that this problem only affects me. Every Corniche I have seen in Dubai has yellowed reverse lights. Clearly this does not seem to bother anybody else. (the pun was not intended.....) Thanks again Omar | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 825 Registered: 5-2015 |
Frosting glass can be done with acid. Maybe your fellow Corniche owners may like glass ones thus making your pair a bit cheaper. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1875 Registered: 4-2003 |
Bob, The usual commercial glass-etching acid is Hydrofluoric Acid which is a highly aggressive acid which requires careful and cautious handling due to its adverse affects on flesh and bone. Less-aggressive glass etching creams are sold commercially but are less effective than the Hydrofluoric acid solutions: http://www.glassetchingsecrets.com/acid.html Not a method I would recommend to anyone who does not have chemical laboratory experience, suitable protective clothing and face shields, close-by wash stations and appropriate acid neutralising solution. IF IN DOUBT, DO NOT USE HYDROFLUORIC ACID SOLUTIONS AS THEY ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF MISHANDLED. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1876 Registered: 4-2003 |
Omar, Can you find the Corniche Bosch reversing light in the images on the following link? https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Bosch+reversing+light&biw=1366&bih=644&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiOpcup2YrKAhUD2qYKHXB_AJAQsAQINw If not, would you please post a photo of your Corniche reversing lights so I can try and find other vehicles they were fitted to in an effort to find if replacement lenses/lights are available. | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 510 Registered: 4-2009 |
Dear David, Firstly a big thankyou for the warning. I will not go near the stuff. I will simply use a rubbing compound. Secondly, the images attached suggest there must be an off the shelf Bosch reversing light that will work....  | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 511 Registered: 4-2009 |
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| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 512 Registered: 4-2009 |
Well done David. Thanks to you I have found these at a sensible price from https://spareto.co.uk/products/0-314-105-001-reverse-light lots of places selling them at $200 but this one place has got it right. | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1412 Registered: 6-2006 |
Looks like Dubai can be aa city of crystal clear reversing lights again.  Never seen one like that Omar. . . Must be something on the rain out there. ;) | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1877 Registered: 4-2003 |
Omar, Nothing beats the feeling that comes from being able to help solve a problem for someone else - one of the reasons why this forum exists. I was reasonably confident we could find a solution if the right Bosch light was identified as Australia has a lot of European classic/collectible cars which would have Bosch electrics together with helpful specialist spare parts suppliers who would either have suitable parts or would point us in the right direction to a source. | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 826 Registered: 5-2015 |
The light shown is like a Ring product which has a red or clear lens. In the UK there was a product for etching reg. numbers on glass thus making the car expensive to disguise when stolen. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1878 Registered: 4-2003 |
Paul, The UV degradation is something we have to live with being the price we have to pay for our climate and bountiful sunshine and the "hole in the ozone layer" above Antarctica thanks to the effects of chlorinated, fluorinated hydrocarbons humans release into the atmosphere that destroy the ozone layer that nature provided to shield us from excessive UV radiation from the sun. | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 1814 Registered: 6-2009 |
Is this yellow tint something that "works its way from the exposed side slowly inward toward the center" or something that UV exposure causes the entire lens to do? The problem is solved with the replacement, but I'd never thought about whether this could be an "outer layer" problem before. Brian | ||
| Paul Yorke Grand Master Username: paul_yorke Post Number: 1413 Registered: 6-2006 |
David Well done on the detective work Again. Sunshine and Ozone holes. We all have our crosses to bear it seems. TBH I would find the Ozone hole a challenge and even the light British UV levels have damaged my over exposed skin  Living on a hill (thankfully), rain is probably the lesser of two evils as far as my health is concerned. Best wishes to you and all on this forum and beyond. | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1880 Registered: 4-2003 |
Brian, The UV degradation is on the outer surface only; this is why the 3M grind and polish repair works as well as it does. The only problem is you will eventually grind the lens paper thin . Paul, Having Welsh ancestry on my mother's side of the family, I did not choose my parents wisely as far as our climate is concerned as skin cancer and melanomas are endemic in our family and guess who never wore hats let alone sun screen until his late 40's just like his parents did! As far as the detective work goes, I cannot resist a challenge and my reward is helping someone achieve a successful outcome. | ||
| Brian Vogel Grand Master Username: guyslp Post Number: 1815 Registered: 6-2009 |
David, I understand that removing the surface layer cannot be repeated infinitely. But I would be surprised if there isn't something that might be applied as a UV barrier as well. There are some great abrasives that are made specifically for getting scratches out of plastic watch "crystals." I'll bet these would be ideal polishers for this particular application. Brian, who shares your enthusiasm for detective work, and for the same reason | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1882 Registered: 4-2003 |
Brian, As far as I am aware, the UV surface protectants for vinyl/plastics only have a limited life and have to be regularly re-applied as required for the exposure conditions involved. In my case, it was clear vinyl boat screens and involved two annual applications, one in early spring and one during autumn. I have no experience with other types of plastics and I suggest anyone thinking of using the 3M Marine Outdoor Vinyl Cleaner, Conditioner and Protector on "plastic" light lenses should contact the 3M Technical Division for more specific information before "jumping in off the deep end" and using this product. If there was a long-life solution to the UV degradation of polycarbonate plastics, I am certain we all would be aware of any proprietary products made for this purpose. The 3M marine product catalogue specifically states their 3M Marine Clear Plastic Restorer 09044 has to be mechanically applied as hand application on polycarbonates does not produce the desired outcome [see page 11 of the 3M Marine Product Catalogue which can be downloaded using the following link]: http://solutions.3m.co.uk/wps/portal/3M/en_GB/MarineSolutions/MarineSupplies/MarineProducts/ProductCatalogue/?WT.mc_id=catalogue.3m.eu/en_GB/GB-Marine | ||
| Robert Noel Reddington Grand Master Username: bob_uk Post Number: 827 Registered: 5-2015 |
I didn't see the photo of the rear of the car. The presence of the red lights means making from glass is probably not doable unless 4 are made. Try T cut or Brasso. I notice the car is black. Any chance of a photo because I have never seen a Black Corniche. I have only seen 2 black Shadows, my car and a SY 2 in 1979 which was new. It looked magnificent. Unfortunately the 1979 car got rear ended and written off 6 months later. The roof of the car was even bent. The owner was un hurt and the car still drove ok. He left it at HR Owen who sold him another new car. | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 513 Registered: 4-2009 |
Dear All, Your responses have been tremendous and we will have a success soon when I buy those lights at a fair price. I only have 2 black cars and both of them have had help from this from this forum to rectify rear light lens issues. Gore fixed my Bentley Continental issue and Vogel sorted out my Ford Thunderbird rear light issue. What a great forum!! Bob - the car is not a Rolls, its a Bentley and it is in the middle of lots of work right now. When the job is done and she doesn't look a mess, I will post a photo. Thanks again to all. Omar | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 514 Registered: 4-2009 |
Dear Paul, This car has been in the USA all its life. I bought it from California only in June of last year. All the yellowing took place in the States. Having said that, all the same model cars in Dubai also have yellow reversing light lenses. The problem is the quality of the material that Bosch used to make this part. In contrast, the Lucas made indicator and tail light lenses are like new. The car is a 90 model yet the reverse light lenses look like they are 40 years old. | ||
| Omar M. Shams Grand Master Username: omar Post Number: 515 Registered: 4-2009 |
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| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 965 Registered: 9-2004 |
Omar, this link may help for a US product of mosquito repellent that looks like it works on plastic lens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB6WeQAb14Q |
