Vantage (old shape) Replacement Headlight Lenses
Discussion
Evening all,
We have a V8V and a V12VSM. The V8 is 2006 and we have now polished the headlights a few times but it’s clear that the lenses will not last forever.
At £2,500 each for a replacement from AM (that’s a discounted price) you can see how for a car worth £20 - £40k a £5k bill would be quite destructive.
I have found someone who will create moulds for the lenses (not the black rear parts which also suffer from becoming increasingly brittle) and then make me a few (it is very expensive to just make 1 set). It is then not the hardest job (we did it already) to take the lights apart and re-attach a new lens, apply some tiger seal and off you go. The hardest bit is actually getting the lights out of the car, removing air boxes etc is a bit of a PITA.
Before I commit a bunch of funds and try to figure out how to market and sell such things, would there be any interest from forum members?
Hopefully this doesn’t breach rules, I would be unlikely to retire off the profits, I am just trying to syndicate the costs a little!
We have a V8V and a V12VSM. The V8 is 2006 and we have now polished the headlights a few times but it’s clear that the lenses will not last forever.
At £2,500 each for a replacement from AM (that’s a discounted price) you can see how for a car worth £20 - £40k a £5k bill would be quite destructive.
I have found someone who will create moulds for the lenses (not the black rear parts which also suffer from becoming increasingly brittle) and then make me a few (it is very expensive to just make 1 set). It is then not the hardest job (we did it already) to take the lights apart and re-attach a new lens, apply some tiger seal and off you go. The hardest bit is actually getting the lights out of the car, removing air boxes etc is a bit of a PITA.
Before I commit a bunch of funds and try to figure out how to market and sell such things, would there be any interest from forum members?
Hopefully this doesn’t breach rules, I would be unlikely to retire off the profits, I am just trying to syndicate the costs a little!
Credit where credit is due. I read about it here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
That was my original thread for the lenses earlier in the month 
I am still yet to move forward with replacements and would be highly interested in what you could offer - to reiterate, my units are in otherwise excellent order apart from crazed lenses which i'd really like to sort, by removing, separating and replacing.
I'm really ignorant of the materials used on these... would your's be of the same material as OEM, with the same optical performance/refraction/longevity/standards etc? Or are they (and OEM) simple plastic moulds with little science behind them? I've no idea about headlight technology
I am still yet to move forward with replacements and would be highly interested in what you could offer - to reiterate, my units are in otherwise excellent order apart from crazed lenses which i'd really like to sort, by removing, separating and replacing.
I'm really ignorant of the materials used on these... would your's be of the same material as OEM, with the same optical performance/refraction/longevity/standards etc? Or are they (and OEM) simple plastic moulds with little science behind them? I've no idea about headlight technology
Honestly speaking I am in contact with someone who could do two lenses for less than the ECPS ones, but that is delivered to me if I buy 10+ as they need to invest in the tooling.
I would then need to figure out if it is worth my while to spend all that then try to either setup a webshop or just ping people on here which may fall foul of forum rules.
If I add 25% to what they would charge me; the two lenses would still come in at around 25% less than the 2x £500+VAT+Shipping from ECPS. But then ECPS have a great reputation and it would not be hard for them to just trim their prices and I am left with a shelf full. I think delivered from ECPS it would be nearly £1,500 for 2 after everything (shipping, VAT etc).
If enough people reply on here we could always do a group buy. The guy I am talking to does high quality product for other makes and all the reviews are positive on his stuff.
I am also looking at a way to get the rear black plastic housings re-made. The ones on our old car now have multiple replacement bolt mountings glued to them and just don’t sit right in the wings anymore.
Thoughts welcomed, as these cars get older the risks of them becoming not economically viable increase with little but essential failures like lights!
I would then need to figure out if it is worth my while to spend all that then try to either setup a webshop or just ping people on here which may fall foul of forum rules.
If I add 25% to what they would charge me; the two lenses would still come in at around 25% less than the 2x £500+VAT+Shipping from ECPS. But then ECPS have a great reputation and it would not be hard for them to just trim their prices and I am left with a shelf full. I think delivered from ECPS it would be nearly £1,500 for 2 after everything (shipping, VAT etc).
If enough people reply on here we could always do a group buy. The guy I am talking to does high quality product for other makes and all the reviews are positive on his stuff.
I am also looking at a way to get the rear black plastic housings re-made. The ones on our old car now have multiple replacement bolt mountings glued to them and just don’t sit right in the wings anymore.
Thoughts welcomed, as these cars get older the risks of them becoming not economically viable increase with little but essential failures like lights!
Definitely interested if the quality is right.
BTW I suspect Aston Installations would be interested too as they do headlight repairs (LED failures) and must come across tired lenses that the owner would want replacing.
We are definitely in the transition phase with these cars when parts prices and availability from AML become unacceptable and the aftermarket comes up with solutions. Bring it on because, personally, I don't want a "connected", computer-game car and there's little else on offer now that's affordable.
BTW I suspect Aston Installations would be interested too as they do headlight repairs (LED failures) and must come across tired lenses that the owner would want replacing.
We are definitely in the transition phase with these cars when parts prices and availability from AML become unacceptable and the aftermarket comes up with solutions. Bring it on because, personally, I don't want a "connected", computer-game car and there's little else on offer now that's affordable.
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