Difference between pre- and post-87 headlights

[James]

Hi all - I'm hunting for replacement headlights for my '85 T16s, and while I can see plenty of references to a change in headlight design, I'm having trouble finding a good before-and-after, so I can pick through the assorted distorted, badly angled and lit pictures on eBay and figure out which is which... Any pointers? Thanks, James

[euromobile900]

I went through a big web-search for some pre-'87 headlights in the UK a while back. Was looking for some to get shipped over here.

Anyway, I found next-to-nothing. I would recommend not buying used ones, because they are so rare you probably won't find any. As for new ones, nobody makes them anymore! I would recommend taking your lights apart and getting the lenses polished and reflectors re-silvered. There ought to be some place that can do that for you, and I can tell you it'll be cheaper even than buying used ones!

[peva]

You can't polish them and replate. They are plastic. It is possible to get them re-vacuum deposited as I did here and these are the guys I used; Contact VMC Limited. Vacuum Metalising & Spray Painting Specialists. Or contact Steve Lewis. He does replacements. Headlight Reflector Replacement - SAAB SPARES 01582 499777 It's cheaper if you just take the reflectors apart and either get these done or replace them.

[James]

You can't polish them and replate. They are plastic.

They look very like pressed metal to me: definitely not the same as the ones Steve is selling. Having had a better look in daylight, these are just square reflectors with rounded corners, not the complex shape that all the reflectors on eBay have (except for the ones that are also losing their coating...).

[peva]

They look very like pressed metal to me: definitely not the same as the ones Steve is selling. Having had a better look in daylight, these are just square reflectors with rounded corners, not the complex shape that all the reflectors on eBay have (except for the ones that are also losing their coating...).

Ahh, you may be right James. Earlier ones were indeed metal. If so you may be able to improve them by some very gentle application of silver polish. Otherwise get them replated as suggested. Plenty of people do it. This is one service. http://www.ashfordchroming.com/headl...ng-restoration

[euromobile900]

Yep, pressed metal are the old style. I have a pair sitting around my shop. You have to take the Graves Shield (combined with bulb mount) out of the center of the reflector itself, and remove some adjusting hardware, but after you do that, they'll be ready for plating. Every time I've tried to polish a set, they just get worse. My recommended course of action is not to touch them until you're ready to go to the platers.