Gen III Headlamp Lense Replacement - Viper Outlaw Purchased/Discussion

[Stray Cat]

As previously discussed, a trim shop ruined my Headlamps. I have since removed my headlamps and purchased the new lenses from Viper Outlaw. He has been very responsive and great to work with. I am having his source, Ryan, take off the old lens, and replace with the new Viper Outlaw Lens. Unknown to me, a novice on these things, these lenses are not Polycarbonate. They are a softer resin. Which is good in some ways, bad in others. Because I take care of my cars, and because this car won't be driven except on nice days and evenings etc., I think I will be OK. Does anyone have experience with this? Ryan has been wonderful as well, making sure that the lenses are properly installed, clear and will put a Ceramic coating on them. For now, this seems to be the ONLY option for those of us with cracked Headlamps. Here is what Ryan sent me for discussion with regards to keeping them clear and scratch free:

"Using PPF on them is debated, they are resin, so they are not as durable as OE polycarbonate, polycarbonate is prone to crackle and craize though. If you put thick ppf on the OE they actually can develop white burn marks in the beam areas. The polycarbonate can't cool off through thick PPF. We assume resin will have similar issues but instead of burning white marks it would most likely deform slightly. It is however softer and easier to buff, and likewise scratches easy. A thin PPF like normal clear vinyl would probably work fine, I would not use Lamin-x, laminx is about .10 thick, almost as thick as the lens itself and most of the cooked lens I have swapped had it or something similar."

If anyone has experience etc., let me know. I am excited to get these back and get the car back. I am repainting the side sills and the front and rear Facia. The car will be beautiful when I am done. Already drives and rides beautifully with all the work we have done.

Thanks,

John

 

[Stray Cat]

From Viper Outlaw : "I think the most important thing is to not use any bulbs that will run hotter than OEM wattage. I agree on using very thin PPF. There's no need to put really thick PPF on the lenses and they do have a bit of flex to them."

John

 

[Stray Cat]

So I take it no one has had experience with these lenses and/or a thin ppf type of protection on our headlamps ? I'll let you know how mine turn out. Praying for all of this to work out properly. What a mess with these cars and some of the parts you can not get for them. John

 

[MoparMap]

I haven't taken the plunge yet. My passenger side light got damage when my tire picked up a chunk of concrete and rolled it around the inner fender and through the fog light access hole, hitting the back of the headlight along the way, so that light got replaced a few years back and looks pretty good. My driver side lens is starting to look pretty scratched and yellow, so wondering when I'll have to bite the bullet and replace it. Just glad to see that there are some options out there. I debated putting ppf on my newer headlight to try to protect it, but never got around to it.

 

[Stray Cat]

I will keep you all informed here - just spoke with a Plastics Engineer who is on this site and gave me some really good advice. While the resin will be softer, there are things to do to keep them looking good and in nice shape. More to come but if anyone has experience let me know. Thank you,

John

 

[Stray Cat]

Thoughts ? I will check on how thick they are. That is important. https://www.weathertech.com/lampgar... Gen&msclkid=b085c5433c0219651d12adcc67686c0b

 

[Steve M]

I've never tried PPF, but having witnessed what you're going through, I have zero intent to ever try it on my Viper's headlights, nor either of my other two vehicles.

My experience in general has taught me that sunlight exposure seems to be a big (if not the biggest) factor in whether or not the lenses will cloud over. My daily driven truck is 18 years old (~200,000 miles), still on the original headlights. The lenses are pretty clouded over at this point, but a light (and I mean light) cleanup with a dual action polisher + something like Klasse AIO, which has no abrasives in it, cleans them right up. The only issue is that only lasts ~4 months or so given that it sits out in the sun all day during the week, year round. I've tried a ceramic product, and while it lasted longer (~1 year), the problem still came back. It is what it is.

My wife's car is 11 years old, and is just now starting to show a little cloudiness on the top of one of her headlights. I've never polished hers at all (nor have I ever used any type of wax/ceramic coating), but her car sits in the garage most of the time.

My Viper, which almost exclusively sits in the garage (with the headlights never in the sun even with the garage door open), has zero issues over the 17 years it has existed (14 of which were in my care). To date, it has ~21,000 miles on it, and the lenses look great. You can come over and see for yourself if you like.

I'm a little disappointed to hear that the replacement lenses are made with a different material. I'm sure there's a good reason (likely to do with production costs), but disappointing none-the-less. Still better than cracked lenses for sure.

I'm starting to get really tired of the aftermarket "race to the bottom"...seems like you just can't even find options for any non-OEM part that aren't total garbage. I've certainly run into this with my truck (a Toyota), and will now go out of my way (and pay a lot more $$$) to use OEM replacement parts whenever possible.

 

[Stray Cat]

Hi Steve,

My lenses were siper clear and perfect despite being from Arizona and then TX. Spent most of its time in a garage you could tell. But the guy who I hired to take off the PPG plastic from the front Facia, hood and fenders, ruined my lamps. As of now, has not offered me ANYTHING to remedy the situation , reimburse me so I'll have to deal with that.

I think that the Fact that Viper Outlaw is doing these is great, no one else that I can see has stepped up to the plate to do anything at all and Ryan informs me that one of my lenses was so cracked that it would have not made it much past 12 more months, would have crumbled. The refinished lamps are on their way back to me, I will take super good care of them and yes, UV light will over time ruin them.l That being said, I have been told the Resin is highly buffable and will clean up. You can not believe what some people want for their lamps. For around $1700 bucks I have new lenses, completely redone lamps from Viper Outlaw and I have them professionally assembled and glued, sealed. I can tell Ryan (the gentleman who is doing them for me) is knowledgeable and somewhat of a perfectionist - I'll let you know how they look once they are here. I am very hopeful and for now, Thankful for the work Viper Outlaw is doing. Just making the proper molds etc. takes a lot of time and effort.

As an owner of 14 cars, from old Pontiacs (Circa 1960's) to newer stuff and rare stuff, I echo your sentiments about parts and replacements. Our hobby is changing rather rapidly.

John

 

[bluesilver06]

Hi Steve,

My lenses were siper clear and perfect despite being from Arizona and then TX. Spent most of its time in a garage you could tell. But the guy who I hired to take off the PPG plastic from the front Facia, hood and fenders, ruined my lamps. As of now, has not offered me ANYTHING to remedy the situation , reimburse me so I'll have to deal with that.

I think that the Fact that Viper Outlaw is doing these is great, no one else that I can see has stepped up to the plate to do anything at all and Ryan informs me that one of my lenses was so cracked that it would have not made it much past 12 more months, would have crumbled. The refinished lamps are on their way back to me, I will take super good care of them and yes, UV light will over time ruin them.l That being said, I have been told the Resin is highly buffable and will clean up. You can not believe what some people want for their lamps. For around $1700 bucks I have new lenses, completely redone lamps from Viper Outlaw and I have them professionally assembled and glued, sealed. I can tell Ryan (the gentleman who is doing them for me) is knowledgeable and somewhat of a perfectionist - I'll let you know how they look once they are here. I am very hopeful and for now, Thankful for the work Viper Outlaw is doing. Just making the proper molds etc. takes a lot of time and effort.

As an owner of 14 cars, from old Pontiacs (Circa 1960's) to newer stuff and rare stuff, I echo your sentiments about parts and replacements. Our hobby is changing rather rapidly.

John

I was in the same process to manufacture lens with my engineer & other viper owner that owns a plastic product manufacture...

 

[Stray Cat]

Well, I got everything completed and will post on another thread. Im mostly very happy with the lenses and the work. Had the detail shop not cracked my originals, I would have still had perfect lenses. But these look great and i spoke with a gentleman on this site who is a plastics engineer, he agreed, keep these out of UV exposure. Now, on another note, I couldn't be happier with the paint etc. My car finally looks as it should and is beautiful. Ecstatic!

 

[Stray Cat]

PS. I am happy that ViperOutlaw produces these and that Ryan can replace them. There are ZERO other options out there and for now, these look really really good. Hats off to both of them!

John

 

[MoparMap]

Is there any reasonable way to increase the UV resistance of these? I had my passenger headlight replaced many years ago due to some loose concrete on the highway getting picked up by my tires and rolled around my inner fender and into the back of the headlight, but now my driver's side one is starting to look pretty bad and yellow. I can try to polish up the stock one, but I'm guessing once it starts going it's only going to keep doing it. A replacement lens seems like a nice backup option, but my car gets pretty regular driving use, so I can't keep it out of UV exposure (though it's parked in my garage, so it wouldn't be terrible, just while I'm at work and it's in the parking lot).

 

[Stray Cat]

I am researching and asking the same thing. Did you replace that lens with a factory lens ? I am being advised that a "too thick PPG" will not be advised. could discolor the lens or even warp it from the heat. He recommends P4 Polish from Chemical Guys for "General Maintenance" to remove any scratches or swirl marks. Also recommends Meguires Cleaner WAX for regular Maintenance. Chemical Guys makes a V4, Polish and Sealant which has UV Protection. Recommends avoiding Ceramic Wax or Coatings as they have not been tested. I am checking with them to see what to use. As I understand it from a Plastics engineer, UV is the worst offender. I would imagine that bugs and road debris would be bad too so I would like to put a thin protectant on them and then UV coat that. Checking to ensure compatibility before I do ANHYTHING to them. Stupid Manufacture's, My 2002 Trans Am's still had glass Lamps. Much prefer those.

John

 

[MoparMap]

My passenger side got the entire assembly replaced, not just the lens, so it's a factory piece. The driver's side is still completely factory as well, just really starting to show its age. I think I would be more inclined to put the UV protectant on before any film cover so it more directly protects the plastic, but I guess anything that stops the UV before it gets to the plastic would probably work. Could always treat both before and after a film to cover all bases.

 

[Stray Cat]

There are many kits on the market that can clean up those original Lenses. Clouding over is one thing, Cracking all over the place is another and that was what was happening to me. John