Headlight repair service?

[Jesda]

I posted this a month ago and someone apparently deleted it. This is not a GD ad. It's a question.



Has anyone ever used a headlight repair service like this one? They claim to work on XLR lenses.

Frank Olvera on Instagram: “Comparing components from old XLR to new model, adaptive lamp and new ballast upgrades, I-car certified quality on automotive…”


The video on IG shows them repairing a burn mark. They say they charge $250 which seems MUCH cheaper than buying them used.

Thoughts?

 

[Z1.]

Sketchy

These cats seem sketchy...you don't just repair a burn mark on plastic. The nature of plastic is; burned through or cracked plastic has to be replaced. It costs me at least $250 to make a DRL lens and around $800.00 to make the outer lens. Their math just doesn't add up.

 

[Jesda]

Are you referring to a lens service that you perform or do you go through a shop?

 

[Z1.]

Lens service that I perform. I can't afford to have a shop in Socialist California.

 

[Fireduck69]

So, are you saying you can make the external lenses?

 

[Z1.]

Yes, I have the 3D scanned STL files with RE. But it's complicated; because not just the outer lens, but the bezel under the outer lens needs to be 3D printed.

 

[long Tall Sally]

the upper post that started this thread is a super guy. he does not repair the plastic. he took a good lens from one light and swapped it over. He also modified and swapped the articulating motor. I just spoke with him and he knows what he is doing. I have the inner lens already made of the proper material that will last . I will be providing them to him for repairs and he will do the rest. We will set up the contact info and post here. Z1 if you can make the outer for 800 lets get them done. I will buy them from you .I know what I have in making the inner DRL and I sell them for less than 250 but then I don't make anything. I provide a service. If you want make them for 250 I am sure I can refer people to you. I would be interested in a 3d printed clear outer. I have been to a lot of manufactures and not seen but one and it only made small parts and was like 500,000 for the machine. I have the inner reinforcements already made , Just looking for the outers.

 

[Z1.]

Well, I HATE opening headlights, especially these rare ones. So if Mr. super guy will do the work for $250.00 and you supply him the parts, that's a great deal.

I don't make the outer lens with my own printer, because like you said the machines are very expensive, but I rent machine time in downtown San Diego. I haven't made an outer lens in over a year because of lack of demand and print error cost risk, so $800 is not certain. It could cost more now. I would need at least a 4 pair outer lens order to get back to it.

I'm not going to be bothering your DRL Lens sales. I don't really want to be making DRL Lenses (I have only made two) . It's not like I can sell them on eBay, and the buyers can just pop them in their headlights.

 

[Z1.]

Well, I HATE opening headlights, especially these rare ones. So if Mr. super guy will do the work for $250.00 and you supply him the parts, that's a great deal.

I don't make the outer lens with my own printer, because like you said the machines are very expensive, but I rent machine time in downtown San Diego. I haven't made an outer lens in over a year because of lack of demand and print error cost risk, so $800 is not certain. It could cost more now. I would need at least a 4 pair outer lens order to get back to it.

I'm not going to be bothering your DRL Lens sales. I don't really want to be making DRL Lenses (I have only made two).

It's not like I can sell them on eBay, and the buyers can just pop them in their headlights.

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[long Tall Sally]

totally agree. I am fully capable and have rebuilt 100 s of lights over the years . I Know the fail points on these and how the outer is heat welded to the reinforcement ring I can not duplicate that. The guy above has been in the light business for 20 plus years so he has done them and others. He was telling me the same problem the xlr have with outer lens popping off of the 06 Gm went back to the same process for the 16 and 17 tahoes or one of the new trucks and they are doing the same thing. Lens pop off. They did not learn from their mistakes. I don't really see the return on risk and time to duplicate oem in this case. I would rather just build a light that works and looks good and fits and is cheap to replace both sides so people can take their stock ones out and run the cars like they were intended. I have taillights in the works and with a few problems ironed out I think they may look ok. I also have a buck that this winter I am going to work on my vacuum forming machine t see if I cannot form an outer lens. that one little rippled diffusor area over the tiny little bulb is a sore spot but I just cam up with a 3d printed piece that duplicates that area that I can bond on the outer and it looks good.

 

[PLH]

Sally,
I would still like to see a pic of your re designed tail light.
Thanks, PLH

 

[Z1.]

Vacuum forming: now that's a good idea. You can use tougher plastics with that. I got an outer lens sitting in my workshop, if you are interested in it.

 

[long Tall Sally]

I hope to have my taillights checked out soon. Just have so many other projects to get done outside before winter.

 

[Z1.]

Good, I may be a buyer.

 

[redvett94]

Lens service that I perform. I can't afford to have a shop in Socialist California.

The whole USA is socialist, we have fire depts, police, public schools, public hospitals, veterans benefits, weather service, unemployment service, military and much more all. Which of these programs scare you?

 

[Z1.]

If the USA was truly a Socialist state, there would be no XLR's. We would be confined to public transportation (which is so damn wonderful) and living in public housing complexes which would never have such an elitist installation as a a garage. And last time I checked the public schools were ****, I had to pay a lot to use a quote "public" hospital and the fire department charges me $6k for a friendly visit.

 

[Jesda]

And just to be extra sure (I know I'm beating a dead horse), this doesnt happen at all to 06+ model years, correct?

 

[pure zen]

Quote Originally Posted by Z1. View Post

Lens service that I perform. I can't afford to have a shop in Socialist California.


red V,,, Maybe Z1 is referring to the exorbitant California high real estate cost to rent/lease/or buy space for a repair shop? Or maybe he is concerned with having a business address location where the huge influx of illegals and homeless souls will set up residency in tents on the "public streets and sidewalks" in front of the location,,,which leads to 'public urination and Tootsie roll splatter' at his doorsteps.

I sympathize with Z1.....and would never 'set up shop' in the high tax, Golden State

 

[redvett94]

Cadillac was around since 1909 and we have has socialism before then. Socialism provides police ,fire hospital, Social Security and much more. If you dont depend on any of these and more services you must live in a cave.

 

[rexster314]

Cadillac was around since 1909 and we have has socialism before then. Socialism provides police ,fire hospital, Social Security and much more. If you dont depend on any of these and more services you must live in a cave.

To pay into a Social Security account, like many of do/have done, is NOT socialism. We're getting our own money back after retirement, the govt isn't giving us a damn thing. And it's not an entitlement. If you don't pay into SS, you shouldn't be drawing any money from it. AND, police, fire, ems, all government supplied services is not socialism. It's paid for with the taxes you pay into city/county/federal coffers.
And I'm not living in a cave.

Geez.