Headlight protective guards ?

steviewonder7 · Unread post by **steviewonder7** » 11 Jun 2005, 01:41

Hi all,
Does anyone know of anyone who makes/sells perspex(clear plastic) headlight guards with the idea of preventing stones from chipping your headlights.I have a work colleague who has them fitted to his saxo.(he had a stone badly chip his headlight and fail the MOT).I've trawled the net for them,many places sell them but not for the Xantia.
I feel sooner or later(because of my daily motorway mileage) I'll be replacing the headlights or the glass lenses soon.It happened on my previous car and was a little expensive.I feel sorry for the folks with
newer vehicles(their headlights must cost a bomb).Thanks in advance for any replies
Stevie [?]

rossnunn · Unread post by **rossnunn** » 11 Jun 2005, 02:15

same for me with front foggys for the zx/306
cheers

citronut · Unread post by **citronut** » 11 Jun 2005, 03:35

try main dealer

wilkobob · Unread post by **wilkobob** » 11 Jun 2005, 06:11

Keep a check on ebay, thats where I got mine (for zx headlights). I wonder if its possible to get them for the fogs? Has the other european car parts shop on the net (euroc*rparts) got any? I seem to remember they had them for the ZX, but were expensive.

Unread post by **alan s** » 11 Jun 2005, 06:30

Have a look at these two cars of ours; both have protectors fitted to the headlights. Can you see them?

Out here particularly where I am, the roads are pretty basic with stones and rocks always all over them as well as soft edges that also contain rocks.
On the BX, I had gone through 3 headlights and both driving lights before I fitted this stuff, Altrex brand out here, it's a clear plastic protectant that is actually adhesive that is about 3mm thick and sticks straight onto the clean lens and is a permanent fix.
I have never had a chip or a crack since.
We also use it on the race cars and in one case, an XJS Jag and with headlight prices of scarey proportions on that particular car, it has been a godsend. Wouldn't own a car without it here.
Advantages; can't be stolen, doesn't fade or crack, doesn't go yellow, dirt can't get behind it, will absorb enormous impacts, doesn't fall off if applied correctly and most important of all, it cost me less than 10UK pounds to do both cars.
Alan S

sooty · Unread post by **sooty** » 11 Jun 2005, 11:21

I once had them fitted to my car by the previous owner. But I removed them due to being dulled from the road use, washing and polishing. Now I can see alot better at night.

Unread post by **alan s** » 11 Jun 2005, 14:04

If you mean same as the ones I have on my cars, they couldn't have been fitted right or the headlights weren't cleaned before they were fitted.
Those on the white one were fitted almost 5 years ago and last year at a French car day, I caught some old git digging his ignition key into them to see how hard they were and couldn't tell just by appearance they are still so clear and I drive in both very hot and very dusty conditions.
Never heard that complaint before on these types. The clip on ones; different story..
Alan S

oilyspanner · Unread post by **oilyspanner** » 11 Jun 2005, 14:16

I have the clip on type and they dont clear the bonnet on one corner, causing damage to the moulding, they are now a bit scratched and tend to trap dirt between their inside face and the glass, I did blame them for lousy headlamp preformance until investigation revealed that the previous owner of the car had managed to fit new headlamp bulbs without fully removing the old ones (he had broken the spot welds and replaced the centre part of the bulb without the mounting collar?????)They might help with stone chips but the aussie solution sounds far better, Alans, can you still get the cut to fit stuff?
Stewart

rbruce1314 · Unread post by **rbruce1314** » 11 Jun 2005, 15:11

I have had no problem with clip-ons (fitted new by Cit) except in REALLY filthy weather last winter when they had to come off (but nobody drives really fast then do they?)[:D][:D][:D]
I doubt if Cit still list them: when I needed a replacement rear mudflap I was told they were only made whilst the cars were being sold new![:0][:0]

Unread post by **alan s** » 11 Jun 2005, 15:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by oilyspanner

I have the clip on type and they dont clear the bonnet on one corner, causing damage to the moulding, they are now a bit scratched and tend to trap dirt between their inside face and the glass, I did blame them for lousy headlamp preformance until investigation revealed that the previous owner of the car had managed to fit new headlamp bulbs without fully removing the old ones (he had broken the spot welds and replaced the centre part of the bulb without the mounting collar?????)They might help with stone chips but the aussie solution sounds far better, Alans, can you still get the cut to fit stuff?
Stewart
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Stewart,
We found out here that with a lot of single lane roads with soft edges there's a tendency to suddenly find a rock the size of a golf ball heading at you whilst you're doing 100kph and these tend to just shatter the clip on variety and sometimes the headlight lens as well.
These adhesive types just bounce them off; I've copped a few now and they don't even chip.
The Altrex adhesive gear comes in a pack of usually tow sheets, and all that I do is cut a cardboard template, lay it over the sheet and then reverse it so I can manouvre it to get either two froim one sheet or at worst a headlight and say a driving light depending on the size of the sheet and then just cut it out. Peel off the backing and lay it on progressively over the lens and rub out all the air bubbles.
It should be easity accessible over your way as the sheet comes with a "3M" trade mark on the backing sheet.
Alan S

pwatson · Unread post by **pwatson** » 11 Jun 2005, 15:31

Bought some for my Berlingo at main dealers for about £45 mainly because they had marking for blanking when on continent (cheaper in long run than Halfords deflectors that fly off in the rain).
Also found these
http://shop.formula4x4.com/shop/webstor ... sp?txtout=
http://www.protectyourheadlight.co.uk/d ... image=show
http://www.egrauto.co.uk/ENG/html/HOME_EGRAutoEURO.html (Download the vehicle application catalogue PDF)
HTH

drpau · Unread post by **drpau** » 11 Jun 2005, 15:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by alans

.....last year at a French car day, I caught some old git digging his ignition key into them to see how hard they were and couldn't tell just by appearance they are still so clear and I drive in both very hot and very dusty conditions
Alan S
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Did you not fill him in!? Ive never had it happen to a headlight but have on a fog...

rossnunn · Unread post by **rossnunn** » 11 Jun 2005, 17:50

My brother bought his 306 with foglight protectors on it, his has the same square type fogs as the ZX & the covers are genuine Pug. I fancy a set for mine because unlike the headlights they seem more prone to stone chips / being smashed & they aren't the cheapest things to replace.

davek-uk · Unread post by **davek-uk** » 13 Jun 2005, 15:21

The other parts place (e-c-p) lists headlmp protectors for the Xantia at just under £30. They also do wind deflectors for the front windows at about the same price.