Headlight “Peeling”?

[rcorona]

Hey everyone. Has anyone ever seen this in their headlights? Looks like some sort of peeling. Any idea on how to fix it?

 

[billy_vk]

You can have them wet sanded and polished, then wrap them with clear paint protection film and that is a permanent fix.

 

[KDM_lostboy]

Hey everyone. Has anyone ever seen this in their headlights? Looks like some sort of peeling. Any idea on how to fix it?View attachment 78537View attachment 78537View attachment 78537

I have something similar going on with my 2019.. its way worse than yours. Its actually spidering everywhere and raised up on the top of the lense that you can feel lines when you run your finger across it. It's annoying as at car shows. Im trying to figure out what it is too. Im not sure if this is the clear coat or if there is an exterior clear sticker over the lense but I did notice it pealing at the edge of one of my headlights today also. cant believe were the only ones with this issue. Thinking about asking the hassleous dealer about a warrenty to replace them but Im betting its a
"non covered"
Damage or surface corrosion from environment such as acid rain, airborne fallout (chemicals, tree sap), stones, salt, road hazards, hail, wind storm, lightning, floods and other acts of God. Normal wear, tear or deterioration such as discoloration, fading, deformation, etc.

Idk ill keep this thread and see if anyone else stops by and come back if when I get to the dealer about this stuff.

 

[Thomby]

You can have them wet sanded and polished, then wrap them with clear paint protection film and that is a permanent fix.

Sanding & polishing headlights is typically what you do when they've sat in the sun for years and gotten yellow & cloudy. As I understand it, they'll eventually haze over again because they're no longer protected from UV, unless you use a proper two stage (2K) clearcoat.

I would hope that even the earliest Stingers aren't old enough for that to be an issue, but maybe @rcorona has a 2018/19 that's lived in intense sun?

As a first step my recommendation would be a nice thick layer of paste wax (like Turtle hard shell) to see if that will fill in any imperfections, and not strip off the clearcoat/UV protection.

 

[rcorona]

Sanding & polishing headlights is typically what you do when they've sat in the sun for years and gotten yellow & cloudy. As I understand it, they'll eventually haze over again because they're no longer protected from UV, unless you use a proper two stage (2K) clearcoat.

I would hope that even the earliest Stingers aren't old enough for that to be an issue, but maybe @rcorona has a 2018/19 that's lived in intense sun?

As a first step my recommendation would be a nice thick layer of paste wax (like Turtle hard shell) to see if that will fill in any imperfections, and not strip off the clearcoat/UV protection.

Yeah I have a 2018 GT2. Thinking I may ask the dealer about it, but if that gets me nowhere I'll try to have them sanded/polished and then ceramic coat.

 

[NS_Stinger]

Sanding & polishing headlights is typically what you do when they've sat in the sun for years and gotten yellow & cloudy. As I understand it, they'll eventually haze over again because they're no longer protected from UV, unless you use a proper two stage (2K) clearcoat.

I would hope that even the earliest Stingers aren't old enough for that to be an issue, but maybe @rcorona has a 2018/19 that's lived in intense sun?

As a first step my recommendation would be a nice thick layer of paste wax (like Turtle hard shell) to see if that will fill in any imperfections, and not strip off the clearcoat/UV protection.

If you wax them those little pits are more than likely just going to fill with dry wax. I would buy one of the headlight PPF kits, buff the lights to a nice shine and apply the PPF and call it a day.

 

[GT Elite]

Yeah I have a 2018 GT2. Thinking I may ask the dealer about it, but if that gets me nowhere I'll try to have them sanded/polished and then ceramic coat.

A ceramic coating will not prevent them from pitting again. Once they have been polished I think, as already been suggested, is to cover them with a good quality PPF. Over time the PPF will also get pitted but it can be replaced. I have Xpel PPF on my Stinger and Corvette headlights.

 

[Thomby]

Yeah I have a 2018 GT2. Thinking I may ask the dealer about it, but if that gets me nowhere I'll try to have them sanded/polished and then ceramic coat.

If the ceramic coat doesn't block UV, they will cloud & yellow. A two-stage (2K, base+hardener) clearcoat is what I've seen recommended.

If you wax them those little pits are more than likely just going to fill with dry wax. I would buy one of the headlight PPF kits, buff the lights to a nice shine and apply the PPF and call it a day.

That's what normally happens when you wax your paint, windshield, or windows: wax fills and smooths out tiny imperfections. Unless the pits are too big, it should be clear and glossy. Do you know if the PPF blocks UV? If not the headlights will be physically protected, but still get cloudy/yellow underneath the film.

A ceramic coating will not prevent them from pitting again. Once they have been polished I think, as already been suggested, is to cover them with a good quality PPF. Over time the PPF will also get pitted but it can be replaced. I have Xpel PPF on my Stinger and Corvette headlights.

Same question: does PPF block UV, or is it intended to be put over the existing OEM clearcoat? Sanding headlights works really well short/medium term, but does remove the clear.

 

[billy_vk]

It works

Sanding & polishing headlights is typically what you do when they've sat in the sun for years and gotten yellow & cloudy. As I understand it, they'll eventually haze over again because they're no longer protected from UV, unless you use a proper two stage (2K) clearcoat.

I would hope that even the earliest Stingers aren't old enough for that to be an issue, but maybe @rcorona has a 2018/19 that's lived in intense sun?

As a first step my recommendation would be a nice thick layer of paste wax (like Turtle hard shell) to see if that will fill in any imperfections, and not strip off the clearcoat/UV protection.

It works if they are rough or faded too. We do probably a half dozen sets of lights a week in my shop. They all get sanded and polished out then ppf coverage. I have customers that come back every year for annual renewals on rust and paint protection and the lights look just as good six years later. They are UV protected, environment protected and just plain road rash from daily driving protected.

 

[Snicklefritz]

I had the front half of my car ppf protected three months into ownership, including the headlights. they still look very clear almost five years later.

 

[GT Elite]

I‘ve had Xpel PPF on my 2016 Corvette since new (whole car including headlights) and the lights are still crystal clear. But then again, I’ve also been using Zaino products on top of the PPF and Zaino polishes block UV as well.

 

[TURBODOC]

It works

It works if they are rough or faded too. We do probably a half dozen sets of lights a week in my shop. They all get sanded and polished out then ppf coverage. I have customers that come back every year for annual renewals on rust and paint protection and the lights look just as good six years later. They are UV protected, environment protected and just plain road rash from daily driving protected.

BILLY - if you get this - can you reply or PM me or something - I would like to know more about your shop and what experiences you have - I had different lists of issues but would like to learn more !!

 

[G-526427]

I have something similar going on with my 2019.. its way worse than yours. Its actually spidering everywhere and raised up on the top of the lense that you can feel lines when you run your finger across it. It's annoying as at car shows. Im trying to figure out what it is too. Im not sure if this is the clear coat or if there is an exterior clear sticker over the lense but I did notice it pealing at the edge of one of my headlights today also. cant believe were the only ones with this issue. Thinking about asking the hassleous dealer about a warrenty to replace them but Im betting its a
"non covered"
Damage or surface corrosion from environment such as acid rain, airborne fallout (chemicals, tree sap), stones, salt, road hazards, hail, wind storm, lightning, floods and other acts of God. Normal wear, tear or deterioration such as discoloration, fading, deformation, etc.

Idk ill keep this thread and see if anyone else stops by and come back if when I get to the dealer about this stuff.

I have something similar going on with my 2019.. its way worse than yours. Its actually spidering everywhere and raised up on the top of the lense that you can feel lines when you run your finger across it. It's annoying as at car shows. Im trying to figure out what it is too. Im not sure if this is the clear coat or if there is an exterior clear sticker over the lense but I did notice it pealing at the edge of one of my headlights today also. cant believe were the only ones with this issue. Thinking about asking the hassleous dealer about a warrenty to replace them but Im betting its a
"non covered"
Damage or surface corrosion from environment such as acid rain, airborne fallout (chemicals, tree sap), stones, salt, road hazards, hail, wind storm, lightning, floods and other acts of God. Normal wear, tear or deterioration such as discoloration, fading, deformation, etc.

Idk ill keep this thread and see if anyone else stops by and come back if when I get to the dealer about this stuff.

This is happening to my 2019 lens on the side that gets more socal sun. Ugghh. Assuming dealer will be the typical Kia shady operator I've come to expect. Neighbor thinks it is a clear coat overlay issue. Hmm

 

[sarabalara]

Has anyone had success at the dealership? I just noticed a spot on mine today where the clear coat has started to come off too (2019 GT).

 

[D.J.]

Has anyone had success at the dealership? I just noticed a spot on mine today where the clear coat has started to come off too (2019 GT).

Are you expecting this to be covered under warranty?

What do you mean by "success at the dealership"?

 

[sarabalara]

Are you expecting this to be covered under warranty?

What do you mean by "success at the dealership"?

Two people mentioned in their post about speaking with the dealer/dealership so I was curious if they had and what they said. I don't expect it to be covered under warranty but was curious.

 

[D.J.]

Two people mentioned in their post about speaking with the dealer/dealership so I was curious if they had and what they said. I don't expect it to be covered under warranty but was curious.

I had 1 headlight replaced under extended warranty at around 115,000 kms (coverage for 10y/200,000km)

Crazy expensive if I would have paid. This was covered.

$3876.89 CAD

 

[sarabalara]

I had 1 headlight replaced under extended warranty at around 115,000 kms (coverage for 10y/200,000km)

Crazy expensive if I would have paid. This was covered.

$3876.89 CAD
View attachment 82722

Thanks!

 

[ivoyan]

Just noticed this 'balloon' on my headlight. I've had Llumar protection foil on there for 2 years. At first, I thought it was an issue with the foil, so I asked the guy that installed it. He said it is almost certainly the protective lacquer of the headlight is peeling underneath. What the actual f***? Will visit him with the car for inspection, but if he's right that's just appalling.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Just noticed this 'balloon' on my headlight. I've had Llumar protection foil on there for 2 years. At first, I thought it was an issue with the foil, so I asked the guy that installed it. He said it is almost certainly the protective lacquer of the headlight is peeling underneath. What the actual f***? Will visit him with the car for inspection, but if he's right that's just appalling.

Where is this "balloon"? The picture looks normal.