Delaminating Headlamps 2006 E90

FORDMANWITHA330 · 05-16-2011, 04:25 PM

Contemplating replacing my headlamp assembly. Lots of pitting & the top of both assemblies is delaminating. J Levi Street Works has a complete projector set, but unsure if my Factory Adaptive Xenon set-up will mesh. Considered the painted "Brow" idea, but that just covers the issue. Don't think the "Headlight Restore" is going to address the delaminating issue. Any success stories???

StealYourFace · 05-16-2011, 04:44 PM

I had a similar issue with mine.

I took some very fine sandpaper and wet sanded them.

Then I took a small air driven buffer and small wheel and used an agressive polish, then a medium polish, then a fine polish.

After all that, my headlights look pretty damn good.

yakev724 · 05-16-2011, 04:44 PM

Not sure what you mean by 'delamination' but if it's surface damage, buy the 3M kit for $20 and do your best. Tape everything off and follow instructions closely. The key is to take your time to be 100% sure each stage has done it's job completely.

Once you're done, the largest pits won't come out, but nearly all should. Any surface imperfection/cloudiness/etc. should all come out since it should all be contained in a small layer of the plastic.

1 or 2 more fine polishing steps (with a rotary) to get them as close to perfect as they can get, but this is by no means required.

Don't get non-OEM replacements. Replacement housings to which you can transfer all your parts go for $600-700 so worst case, do that. You should be able to get a solid 200-300 out of yours if you go that route as well.

05-16-2011, 04:25 PM	#1
FORDMANWITHA330 Race It All 1 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 (330i Sport, Sedan) Join Date: May 2011 Location: So Cal iTrader: (0)	Delaminating Headlamps 2006 E90 Contemplating replacing my headlamp assembly. Lots of pitting & the top of both assemblies is delaminating. J Levi Street Works has a complete projector set, but unsure if my Factory Adaptive Xenon set-up will mesh. Considered the painted "Brow" idea, but that just covers the issue. Don't think the "Headlight Restore" is going to address the delaminating issue. Any success stories??? __________________ So Cal Smoke Eater
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05-16-2011, 04:44 PM	#2
StealYourFace Lieutenant Colonel 261 Rep 1,794 Posts Drives: F30 328i M 6mt, E36 M3 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Shakedown Street, Buffalo NY iTrader: (1)	I had a similar issue with mine. I took some very fine sandpaper and wet sanded them. Then I took a small air driven buffer and small wheel and used an agressive polish, then a medium polish, then a fine polish. After all that, my headlights look pretty damn good. __________________
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05-16-2011, 04:44 PM	#3
yakev724 Brigadier General 231 Rep 3,561 Posts Drives: 15 S3 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NYC iTrader: (49)	Not sure what you mean by 'delamination' but if it's surface damage, buy the 3M kit for $20 and do your best. Tape everything off and follow instructions closely. The key is to take your time to be 100% sure each stage has done it's job completely. Once you're done, the largest pits won't come out, but nearly all should. Any surface imperfection/cloudiness/etc. should all come out since it should all be contained in a small layer of the plastic. 1 or 2 more fine polishing steps (with a rotary) to get them as close to perfect as they can get, but this is by no means required. Don't get non-OEM replacements. Replacement housings to which you can transfer all your parts go for $600-700 so worst case, do that. You should be able to get a solid 200-300 out of yours if you go that route as well.
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