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Old 04-07-2019, 06:39 PM   #1
ilovedemhotrides
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Member#: 326147
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Philly
Vehicle:
2004 STI
wrb

Default Headlight lens swap

I have been in dire need of getting my headlights redone, the problem I faced is they were done a few times previously and the plastic was just too tired. It had been sanded and re-cleared one too many times.

Unfortunately, after much searching online, no one sells replacement lenses for Subaru’s! The replacement HIDs cost 4-500 for a set of used ones. So I got a new set of those projector type from eBay for 140, and went to town.

Here is the result:
Before...




After:



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Old 04-09-2019, 11:48 PM   #2
FreakyFrog
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Member#: 500175
Join Date: Apr 2019
Default Looks good

That sounds like a good deal on them were they hard to install?
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Old 04-15-2019, 04:50 PM   #3
PrettyFlyForABlobeye
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Member#: 500166
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: North Carolina
Vehicle:
2005 WRX
WRB

Default

Nice work. I'm in the same boat, maybe not as bad. My acrylic is cracked from UV damage and no amount of sanding and buffing will fix that. I HATE the cheap D-Spec projector headlights but never thought about buying them just for the lenses. The biggest difference I noticed and still don't like is how the OEM headlights are molding in the top corners around the side marker light whereas the D-Spec headlights are smooth on the outside.
Nice work!
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Old 04-21-2019, 12:11 PM   #4
subaru_gc8
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Member#: 29292
Join Date: Nov 2002
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: Orange County CA
Vehicle:
2004 WRX wagon
silver

Default

yeah that is what i did to mine too. I wish they did sell the lenses alone but oh well
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Old 10-03-2019, 08:51 PM   #5
ilovedemhotrides
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2004 STI
wrb

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by FreakyFrog View Post
That sounds like a good deal on them were they hard to install?
Not hard. But they require patience. I used a heat gun to separate the lenses from the housing.
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Old 10-04-2019, 09:18 AM   #6
Scooby921
Merci Buckets
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Michigan
Vehicle:
2018 Grand Cherokee
Velvet Red Pearl

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovedemhotrides View Post
Not hard. But they require patience. I used a heat gun to separate the lenses from the housing.
Old school (I can say that, I've been here for a little while) way was to put the entire headlight housing in the oven at like 200F for 20 minutes to soften / melt the sealing adhesive between the cover and the housing. That's how we got them apart to remove the orange reflectors "back in the day". A little easier than a heat gun since it heats everything all at once. You also don't get the hot spots and potential melting if the heat gun stays in one place too long.
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Old 10-06-2019, 11:07 PM   #7
ilovedemhotrides
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wrb

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooby921 View Post
Old school (I can say that, I've been here for a little while) way was to put the entire headlight housing in the oven at like 200F for 20 minutes to soften / melt the sealing adhesive between the cover and the housing. That's how we got them apart to remove the orange reflectors "back in the day". A little easier than a heat gun since it heats everything all at once. You also don't get the hot spots and potential melting if the heat gun stays in one place too long.
Lol oh I remember those days. I did that back maybe 10 years ago when I turned at and got my first car (rsx).

I did end up going around the entire housing. Luckily I did have the heat gun as the factory gunk holding mine was stubborn.

Stay tuned I am almost done a front bumper crack repair and repaint
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Old 04-21-2020, 08:47 AM   #8
gregnauman
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Member#: 97453
Join Date: Oct 2005
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Kansas City MO
Vehicle:
2013 STI Hatch
Satin White Pearl

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Old 05-18-2020, 12:41 AM   #9
ObsoleteSeed
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Member#: 514832
Join Date: May 2020
Location: New England
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2010 Impreza 2.5i
silver

Default

Why not just use a refinishing kit? I would only do this if the effect lasted (glass lenses).
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Old 05-18-2020, 01:24 PM   #10
gregnauman
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Kansas City MO
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2013 STI Hatch
Satin White Pearl

Default

refinishing doesn't seem to last IMHO.

On a side note that company I posted doesn't have our lenses for the GR. They have them for many cars just not ours
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Old 05-18-2020, 02:46 PM   #11
pokeavice
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Default

Hi man. Looks way better now. PM about getting a hood strut from orailleys I can give you a part number too if interested. 37 bucks.
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Old 06-12-2020, 03:01 PM   #12
blovesubaru
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Default

Yeah refinishing is only temporary
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