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Comments

  • #62
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,581 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    BohsCeltic wrote: »
    There's a thread on here about restoring headlights yourself, bit of sandpaper, water and clear coat

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=97457487

    Thanks

    I'll definitely give this a go tomorrow since I wont be able to get a replacement for a few days so I'll give it a go.
    The toothpaste helped a bit but not to the levels I saw in some videos, not to a level I'd risk a retest anyway.


  • #63
    JohnBoy26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,525 ✭✭✭JohnBoy26


    Esel wrote: »
    To help with your budget, you could consider getting 4 part-worn brand names from TyreLand or similar. My guess would be about €180 balanced and fitted for their 'grade A' (i.e. more tread).

    A false economy


  • #64
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,350 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    JohnBoy26 wrote: »
    A false economy
    A pearl of wisdom.

    Care to expand?

    Not your ornery onager



  • #65
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,327 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    It'll come down to how long you intend to keep the car, how much comparable new tyres cost, how much usable tread is on the tyres, and whether you actually have the money to pay for 4 new good tyres.

    I wouldn't be paying €45 for used tyres unless they were some oddball size that were super-expensive new.


  • #66
    The Sidewards Man
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,570 ✭✭✭The Sidewards Man


    What price would you pay for part worn fitted?


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  • #67
    JohnBoy26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,525 ✭✭✭JohnBoy26


    Esel wrote: »
    A pearl of wisdom.

    Care to expand?

    Part worn tires are either old, well worn or both. They also usually don't come in matching sets.

    For around €250 you can get decent new mid range tires for that car which at the end of the day is much better value as you know what you are getting and the tires will be new and matching also.


  • #68
    The Sidewards Man
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,570 ✭✭✭The Sidewards Man


    Johnboy you are wrong there, part worn tyres with 5mm average as a pair are often sold by us. Dont be branding us all with the same brush.


  • #69
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,350 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    JohnBoy26 wrote: »
    Part worn tires are either old, well worn or both. They also usually don't come in matching sets.

    For around €250 you can get decent new mid range tires for that car which at the end of the day is much better value as you know what you are getting and the tires will be new and matching also.
    You may not get 4 matching tyres, but you will get pairs. I got 2 Michelin, 2 Pirelli, 6mm tread, 16 inch, for €180. I don't do high mileage, so will probably have changed car before they are near 2mm.

    Not your ornery onager



  • #70
    JohnBoy26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,525 ✭✭✭JohnBoy26


    The Sidewards Man wrote: »
    Johnboy you are wrong there, part worn tyres with 5mm average as a pair are often sold by us. Dont be branding us all with the same brush.
    I'm not branding anyone with any brush.

    I did say old or worn or both

    Truth be told though I've looked at many part worns and I wouldn't be satisfied with any of them on my car. Maybe there are good ones out there but I've yet to see them.

    How old on average are the part worns you sell and can you supply matching sets?


  • #71
    JohnBoy26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,525 ✭✭✭JohnBoy26


    Esel wrote: »
    You may not get 4 matching tyres, but you will get pairs. I got 2 Michelin, 2 Pirelli, 6mm tread, 16 inch, for €180. I don't do high mileage, so will probably have changed car before they are near 2mm.

    What's the date on them?


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  • #72
    The Sidewards Man
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,570 ✭✭✭The Sidewards Man


    4 years is the line we draw with tyres, after that they go out of date.


  • #73
    JohnBoy26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,525 ✭✭✭JohnBoy26


    The Sidewards Man wrote: »
    4 years is the line we draw with tyres, after that they go out of date.

    You are more specific than most suppliers so which is good to see. Most will give you any old rubbish in my experience.

    Can you supply matching sets?


  • #74
    The Sidewards Man
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,570 ✭✭✭The Sidewards Man


    Sell a pair, is a set a pair in you language?


  • #75
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,350 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    JohnBoy26 wrote: »
    What's the date on them?
    Two years old when I got them.

    Not your ornery onager



  • #76
    colm_mcm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 73,327 ✭✭✭✭colm_mcm


    The Sidewards Man wrote: »
    What price would you pay for part worn fitted?

    It depends on the size and what that size costs new. For example on my jag which had a tyre size that pretty much only Continental does, I paid around that for them, but the new ones were over €200 each.

    I know the size the OP needs and its really common. I got matching good year ones with plenty left on them for €30 in the same size before.

    I haven't bothered with part worns for a good while, my current yoke has a very common size tyre (205/55/16) so it's possible to get well priced premium stuff. I kept this car long term (4 years) as well so it made sense in this case to get new ones (plus I got the last pair for a ridiculously low amount)


  • #77
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,581 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Hey just wondering on what I should do about the light.

    I followed the instructions for the clear coat restoration as per the link above.

    This is as good as I can get it.

    Its obviously not brand new looking, the main problem seems to be the first coat of clear coat, it kinda smoked and ran.

    I read that white spirits cleaned it but they didn't seem to make any kind of difference.

    I know the average person cleaning them was doing it for visual purposes.

    I just want it to pass the NCT, it that standard enough would ye think?.

    My only other option is to top up my loan tomorrow and replace the light for e40 + installation.
    If its at a level that should pass id rather not spend the extra money.

    It was really bad to begin with so I've improved it considerably just not to the level of the other.

    I've the NCT Wednesday so need to decide by tomorrow.


  • #78
    shietpilot
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,880 ✭✭✭shietpilot


    Keep polishing and it will come out good :)


  • #79
    Beau Worried Ritual
    Posts: 4,333 ✭✭✭ Beau Worried Ritual


    gilberto_eire wrote: »
    Hey just wondering on what I should do about the light.

    I followed the instructions for the clear coat restoration as per the link above.

    This is as good as I can get it.

    Its obviously not brand new looking, the main problem seems to be the first coat of clear coat, it kinda smoked and ran.

    I read that white spirits cleaned it but they didn't seem to make any kind of difference.

    I know the average person cleaning them was doing it for visual purposes.

    I just want it to pass the NCT, it that standard enough would ye think?.

    My only other option is to top up my loan tomorrow and replace the light for e40 + installation.
    If its at a level that should pass id rather not spend the extra money.

    It was really bad to begin with so I've improved it considerably just not to the level of the other.

    I've the NCT Wednesday so need to decide by tomorrow.

    That was my guide, how many coats did you put on and have you used white spirits on it already? how long did you wet sand it for

    If the first coat ran and went cloudy you didnt sand it enough, surface wasnt clean applying the clear and/or you sprayed way too much on


  • #80
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,581 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Mya Tender Police wrote: »
    That was my guide, how many coats did you put on and have you used white spirits on it already? how long did you wet sand it for

    If the first coat ran and went cloudy you didnt sand it enough, surface wasnt clean applying the clear and/or you sprayed way too much on

    I've sprayed it three times.

    The first two times was two days ago.

    I've sanded it 3/4 times, went for a fair bit the first time and then the two today were more trying to get the runny clear coat off.

    I went to town earlier to get white spirits, read it'll take it off. It didn't do anything though.

    I'd say the main issue the first day was I sprayed it from too close or surface was still wet/dirty.
    I gave it a fair sanding though tbh.

    Any solutions to clear it off and try it fresh?.

    In terms of the NCT is it close to being acceptable for a pass?.
    That's all I really want to do.


  • #81
    Beau Worried Ritual
    Posts: 4,333 ✭✭✭ Beau Worried Ritual


    gilberto_eire wrote: »
    I've sprayed it three times.

    The first two times was two days ago.

    I've sanded it 3/4 times, went for a fair bit the first time and then the two today were more trying to get the runny clear coat off.

    I went to town earlier to get white spirits, read it'll take it off. It didn't do anything though.

    I'd say the main issue the first day was I sprayed it from too close or surface was still wet/dirty.
    I gave it a fair sanding though tbh.

    Any solutions to clear it off and try it fresh?.

    In terms of the NCT is it close to being acceptable for a pass?.
    That's all I really want to do.

    Are you using the wet and dry sandpaper I used, high grit like 2000 or 1600 grit?

    Sand it down with loads of water until it goes hazy and you get all that clearcoat you sprayed on off.

    It will take 15 minutes a headlight and look exactly like mine did in the pic, really hazy.

    Clean it thoroughly with fairly liquid and water and leave completely dry.

    Spray 1 coat only of clear on it, about 15-20 inches away from the headlights in wide strokes and leave dry, give it a good coat but dont go nuts over the same area, maybe do the light and then give it a final haze spray over the whole thing.

    When it dries it should be good enough, if its not get rubbing compound and very very lightly polish it. If you go too aggressive you will remove the clear.


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  • #82
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,581 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Mya Tender Police wrote: »
    Are you using the wet and dry sandpaper I used, high grit like 2000 or 1600 grit?

    Sand it down with loads of water until it goes hazy and you get all that clearcoat you sprayed on off.

    It will take 15 minutes a headlight and look exactly like mine did in the pic, really hazy.

    Clean it thoroughly with fairly liquid and water and leave completely dry.

    Spray 1 coat only of clear on it, about 15-20 inches away from the headlights in wide strokes and leave dry, give it a good coat but dont go nuts over the same area, maybe do the light and then give it a final haze spray over the whole thing.

    When it dries it should be good enough, if its not get rubbing compound and very very lightly polish it. If you go too aggressive you will remove the clear.

    I bought 1500 alright.

    But that initial spray just doesn't seem to want to come off.

    I guess ill give it another go tomorrow. If I could improve it as much tomorrow than I did today it would probably be decent.
    Just about 10-15% off.

    Any thoughts on what 100%(to number it) it needs to be to pass the NCT?.


  • #83
    Beau Worried Ritual
    Posts: 4,333 ✭✭✭ Beau Worried Ritual


    gilberto_eire wrote: »
    I bought 1500 alright.

    But that initial spray just doesn't seem to want to come off.

    I guess ill give it another go tomorrow. If I could improve it as much tomorrow than I did today it would probably be decent.
    Just about 10-15% off.

    Any thoughts on what 100%(to number it) it needs to be to pass the NCT?.
    Dont have a clue man sorry, I doubt they need it to be 100% clear.

    Its all in the prep, you are using sandpaper it has to come off. If it doesnt go down to 600 grit and once its hazy and you have the clearcoat off go over the whole thing with 1500.

    cant emphasise how much is in the prep. If you havenet got the surface perfect it will look ****e when sprayed as it just highlights any imperfections.

    With the clearcoat on and sanding by hand I am not messing you need to spend 25 minutes on 1 headlamp sanding.


  • #84
    brembo26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,338 ✭✭✭brembo26


    You should be pretty close as it is. In the test center they are checking for the focus of the beam and that seems clear enough to have a sharp focus.

    EDIT: on a second look id say give it another go at cleaning it up and bring it back for a retest and see. Id say its very close to passing.


  • #85
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,581 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    brembo26 wrote: »
    You should be pretty close as it is. In the test center they are checking for the focus of the beam and that seems clear enough to have a sharp focus.

    EDIT: on a second look id say give it another go at cleaning it up and bring it back for a retest and see. Id say its very close to passing.

    It definitely improved a bit today, so hopefully with another go I can get it another notch.

    Its a shame I couldn't have known about the issue at first
    The light has basically been like that since I bought the car in Feb last year IIRC so it didn't seem like I had to worry about it.
    If I had known I could have cleaned and just chanced, main concern is it being a retest and only two more weeks to address the issues before the full test is needed.

    Just a silly mistake I'm sure that gets a fair few people.

    I'm not working and have already spent e25 on the restoration stuff so replacing it for another e60 odd is a bit of an expense when it could nearly pass as it is.
    If you had the money handy you'd nearly just replace it and not take the risk.


  • #86
    Beau Worried Ritual
    Posts: 4,333 ✭✭✭ Beau Worried Ritual


    gilberto_eire wrote: »
    It definitely improved a bit today, so hopefully with another go I can get it another notch.

    Its a shame I couldn't have known about the issue at first
    The light has basically been like that since I bought the car in Feb last year IIRC so it didn't seem like I had to worry about it.
    If I had known I could have cleaned and just chanced, main concern is it being a retest and only two more weeks to address the issues before the full test is needed.

    Just a silly mistake I'm sure that gets a fair few people.

    I'm not working and have already spent e25 on the restoration stuff so replacing it for another e60 odd is a bit of an expense when it could nearly pass as it is.
    If you had the money handy you'd nearly just replace it and not take the risk.

    Man if you want you can give me a call tomorrow and il walk you through what you need to do to the light, just pm me.


  • #87
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,581 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Just to provide closure on this as I'm sure someone will come along and wonder "How clean do they have to be" and its something that you can't get an answer on as such.

    So I passed on the light at this condition. I gave it another solid go yesterday, a long sanding, clean dried, polished but realistically it didn't really improve it any further or remove the first clear coat that ran.

    So there you go, you can pass once its somewhat clean, doesn't have to be restored to an immaculate level.

    Thanks for the help, appreciated it.

    Glad I didn't spend e60 odd replacing it after e25 on the cleaning materials, as I overlooked a second tyre fail but thankfully its only a visual so I'm only losing time and petrol money.


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