Replacing C5 headlamps

[swiveleyedgit]

Hi all, I'm thinking about getting some new headlamps for my C5, and have been looking at the selection on ebay. New assemblies can be got for a reasonable price from people in Germany but I was wondering if European lamps would be set up for left hand drive vehicles?

New UK supplied lamps are about twice the price so there is quite a saving to be made.

Cheers

[vborovic]

Yes, non-UK headlamps are for a LHD setup ... same reason why I never though of getting them from the UK (actually did, but the conversion bothered me) ...

[Stickyfinger]

What is wrong with yours ?

[citroenxm]

2004 and 54 c5 seem very septible to frosting outer lens' s ... which if really bad are mot failures

[swiveleyedgit]

What is wrong with yours ?

They are badly scratched. I'm surprised it got through the last MOT to be honest. I have tried cleaning them but I think they are too far gone.
Half of my commute is down unlit country roads and the lack of focus along the nearside of the road is very noticeable.
Looking through the ones for sale on ebay it's pretty easy to see the difference between ones that are knackered like mine and others which are much clearer. I suppose 50 or 60 quid for a decent second hand pair isn't too bad.

[GiveMeABreak]

They can be polished out with suitable compound and a polisher. Citroen have repair guidance on this unusually if you wanted to go down this road, or have a chat tou your local body shop as they will have the kit already.

[Stickyfinger]

They can be polished out with suitable compound and a polisher. Citroen have repair guidance on this unusually if you wanted to go down this road, or have a chat tou your local body shop as they will have the kit already.

This

[elma]

Yes, there's kits on eBay etc to do it yourself. I'd only bother if I had a buffer though. Done polishing spectacle lenses by hand, not fun really.

[Hell Razor5543]

I do not know how good it is (as I have not used it), but Asda are doing a Rain X headlight restoration kit for £15.

[swiveleyedgit]

I have tried polishing them, in fact I've had a couple of attempts but whilst there was an improvement they still haven't come back up to anywhere near how they should look. My local Citroen specialist echoed Citroenxm's post re. the model years when I was talking to them a while back, the headlamps on earlier Mk 1's seem to have been made with tougher materials than my later 2004 car.
I've bought a couple of secondhand ones on ebay now, both from 2001 vehicles, that look like new compared to mine. I have been assured by the sellers that the actual items are the ones in the photographs........... there are some for sale on there advertised as 'could do with a polish'!, er, no thanks.

Cheers

[Stickyfinger]

I have always found you need to wet & dry sand the headlamp with 2/3 grades before using the polishing kits as the UV coating is soft so does not abrade with the kits....It is this that needs removing to be able to polish the plastic.

[swiveleyedgit]

I have always found you need to wet & dry sand the headlamp with 2/3 grades before using the polishing kits as the UV coating is soft so does not abrade with the kits....It is this that needs removing to be able to polish the plastic.

Yes I've tried that but still didn't have much success, I'm probably not cut out for headlight restoration